16 Best Computer Science Internships for High School Students

With the computer science job market growing rapidly, computer science internships are becoming common for students looking to supplement their studies with real-world work experience. Though many internships are designed for college students, some high school computer science internships also provide motivated students with experiences in the professional field. Listed below are some excellent computer science internships for high school students.

Why do a computer science internship?

While many computer science summer education programs can give students a head start with university studies, an internship can be a great way to gain practical skills. Computer science internships can provide opportunities for hands-on experience with projects in a variety of areas, such as web development, software engineering, information technology, security analysis, and artificial intelligence engineering.

In addition, internships can be wise career moves. Certain competitive internships may raise one’s chances of getting into colleges. Plus, they can be useful resume-builders and provide valuable letters of recommendation for future internship and job applications.

16 Best Computer Science Internships for High School Students 

1) NASA Internships

NASA provides paid opportunities for high school and college students to contribute to projects under the guidance of a NASA mentor. These are highly competitive and vary by location (some are also remote).

• Cost: Stipend provided
• Location: NASA facilities or remote
• Dates: Varies depending on internship
• Application Deadline: Varies depending on internship
• Eligibility: Applicants must be full-time students and US citizens with a 3.0 GPA.

2) Ladder Internships

This is a selective program for high school students to work with start-ups and NGOs in a variety of fields including technology and AI. Throughout the internships, interns work on real-world projects and present them at the end of the 8-week period. Interns also work with mentors, who help them to navigate the startup environment. The program involves 10-15 hours of weekly commitment.

• Cost: $1900 (Need-based financial aid is available)
• Location: This is a remote internship, though students are often matched with companies based in their cities.
• Dates: 8 weeks
• Application Deadline: September 10
• Eligibility: This internship is open to high school students, as well as undergraduates and gap-year students.

3) National Institute of Standards and Technology Internship Program

This NIST-wide summer intern program was designed for students who have completed their junior or senior year of high school and are interested in pursuing fields in scientific research. Interns work closely with NIST scientists and engineers on specific research problems. Though students can apply to work in a variety of relevant labs, those interested in computer science are highly encouraged to apply for the Information Technology Lab.

• Cost: There is no participation cost, though interns are unpaid and expected to find their own housing and transportation.
• Location: Gaithersburg, MD or Boulder, CO
• Dates: June 18, 2024 through August 9, 2024
• Application Deadline: Not yet available (application for Summer 2024 goes live December 1)
• Eligibility: Applicants must be rising seniors or recent graduates with at least a 3.0 GPA.

4) SparkSIP Summer Internship Program

This program provides opportunities for hands-on learning to motivated high school students in the Greater Seattle area. Interns interact with industry experts and professors in well-established institutions. Upon applying, students chose 5-6 projects they’d like to work on, and then selected applicants are matched with sponsors. Topics include machine learning, computer programming, computer vision, and neural networks.

• Cost: Stipend provided (up to $500)
• Location: Seattle
• Dates: June-August
• Application Deadline: Students apply in March; interviews take place in April and May
• Eligibility: Applicants must be US citizens or have permanent resident status, and they must commit to working 40-hour work weeks for 8-12 weeks.

5) Boston University’s Research in Science and Learning (RISE) Internship

RISE Interns tackle research projects under the mentorship of distinguished faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students at Boston University. They spend 40 hours a week working on research projects designed to help them gain valuable technical and analytical skills, as well as insight into the scientific process. Though this program has many hands-on research benefits, a drawback is that participants must pay over $5,000 in tuition costs.

• Cost: Tuition is $5,100, plus fees and room/board options
• Location: Boston, MA (interns can live on-campus in dorms or commute from home)
• Dates: 6 weeks (July through August)
• Application Deadline: Mid-February, with offers made by late-April
• Eligibility: Current high-school juniors who are US citizens/legal permanent residents can apply.

Computer Science Internships for High School Students (Continued)

6) Meta Summer Academy

Meta, formerly Facebook, launched a summer opportunity for high school students based in northern California. Through this program, 150 students learn about the daily activities of the company while being mentored by current employees. One advantage of this program is that Meta provides transportation for all interns, though they must already reside in the general area.

• Cost: Stipends provided
• Location: Northern California
• Dates: 6 weeks (June through July)
• Application Deadline: Early March
• Eligibility: Applicants must be high school sophomores who are full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, or Redwood City with at least a 2.5 GPA.

 7) Sandia Internships

Sandia National Laboratories is a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security organization (NNSA). Its internship programs encourage students to take on projects in disciplines such as cybersecurity and software development, while receiving stipends and mentorship.

• Cost: Stipend provided
• Location: Varies depending on internship
• Dates: Summer and year-round internships exist
• Application Deadline: Varies depending on internship
• Selection: Competitive
• Eligibility: Students must be enrolled full-time in a high school, at least 16 years old, with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

 8) Myerhoff Scholars Program

This program is funded by University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). It’s open to students of all backgrounds, committed to increasing the representation of minority students in science and engineering. It begins with a 6-week residential program, followed by mentorship and internship experience throughout 4-years of college.

• Cost: Stipend provided
• Location: 6-week residential program at UMBC (Summer Bridge Program), followed by experiences in a variety of locations
• Application Deadline: The nomination form opens July 1, the application form opens August 31, final submission deadline is January 15.
• Eligibility: This program is open to high-achieving high school seniors who have interest in pursuing doctoral studies in STEM fields. Students are selected based on nomination, academic performance, test scores, recommendation letters, and commitment to community service.

9) American Collegiate Adventures Internship Program

This internship program matches students with internships in New York City or Boston, which are 4-weeks long and full-time. Though it has high tuition fees, the costs cover room and board.

• Cost: Fees range from $1,995 to $6,495
• Location: New York or Boston
• Dates: 4 weeks (June through July)
• Application Deadline: Refundable enrollment until February 1, 2024
• Eligibility: Students completing grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 by the summer of 2024 qualify. There is a $150 application fee, along with an essay. Enrollment is determined on a rolling basis.

10) Forage Virtual Work Experiences

Busy with school or a summer job? Don’t have time for a full-time summer internship program? This Forage opportunity could be a great fit, since each internship only lasts a few hours. All you have to do is register with your email and complete a project at your own pace. Job simulations replicate work at top companies (J.P. Morgan, Lyft, and General Electric, for example) and connect students to the companies themselves.

• Cost: Free
• Location: Virtual
• Dates: Flexible
• Application Deadline: Flexible
• Eligibility: No experience is required.

Computer Science Internships for High School Students (Continued)

 11)  Army Educational Outreach Program

AEOP offers summer apprenticeships for high school students throughout the U.S.. Students conduct research in a U.S. army research laboratory, and they receive formal mentorship from professional engineers and scientists.

• Cost: Educational stipend provided
• Location: This internship takes place onsite in one of several locations. It is designed for commuters, since meals and transportation are not provided.
• Dates: During summer months
• Application Deadline: Not listed yet, though the 2023 deadline was March 5
• Eligibility: U.S. high school students may apply, though some locations have specific age and grade requirements. Some locations also target participants from underrepresented or military-connected families.

12) Boston Tech Apprenticeship

This is a paid internship program for high school students at Boston Public Schools (BPS) interested in pursuing computer science in college. Accepted students are matched with companies in Boston so that they can better understand the local job arena. Projects may range from troubleshooting support, to web design, to quality control, to social media and video production.

• Cost: Stipend provided
• Location: Boston
• Dates: 6-7 weeks during summer months
• Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
• Eligibility: Students must be enrolled in a high school in the BPS system.

13) TARGET by Fermilab

The TARGET Program is a competitive 6-week summer internship designed for Illinois high school sophomores and juniors who have interest in physics, math, computer science, and engineering. The program combines work and experiential learning, and students deliver oral presentations at the end of their research periods. TARGET aims to increase the number of minorities and women in science, and accepts about 15-25 interns per cohort.

Cost: Stipend provided ($16.20/hour)

Location: Fermilab site (west of Chicago)

Dates: 6-weeks (June through August)

Application Deadline: Early February

Eligibility: Applicants must be a sophomore or junior in an Illinois high school by the time of application, with a minimum GPA of 3.0.

 14) Microsoft Discovery Program

During this 4-week internship, students are introduced to core computer science concepts and develop skills for career readiness. While receiving mentorship from Microsoft employees, interns have the opportunity to discover what a career could look like at the company.

• Cost: Stipend provided
• Location: Redmond, Washington
• Dates: 4 weeks (July through August)
• Application Deadline: Information will be posted in February 2024
• Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors that live within 50 miles of Redmond, Washington may apply. Students must be 16-years old and have a legal right to work in the U.S. They also must have completed pre-calculus or an equivalent course by the start of the program.

 15) Simons Summer Internship Program

At Stony Brook University, this program offers rising high school seniors the opportunity to conduct STEM research under distinguished faculty members. With weekly talks and special workshops, the program culminates in a closing poster symposium.

• Cost: There is no tuition, though if students opt to live on campus, housing and dining costs $3,046. A stipend is awarded at closing poster symposium.
• Location: Stony Brook University (Long Island, New York)
• Dates: 10 weeks (June through August)
• Application Deadline: Not yet listed for 2024, but the deadline was February 10 for 2023
• Eligibility: Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents in junior year of high school, and at least 16 years old by the start of the program. Students must first seek nomination from their high school to apply.

Computer Science Internships for High School Students (Continued)

 16) MITRE Nationwide High School Student Program

Through MITRE, students are offered paid summer positions in STEM research areas, including defense, cybersecurity, healthcare, homeland security, and transportation issues. Internships are full-time and include hands-on duties.

• Cost: Stipend provided
• Location: Various locations
• Dates: 8-weeks (June through August)
• Application Deadline: Not yet posted
• Eligibility: High school students who will be at least 14 years old by the start of the internship may apply. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Computer Science Internships for High School Students – Final Thoughts

We hope that this list is helpful! All-in-all, whether you’re looking to add to your resume in computer science or you’re looking to dip your toes in the field to decide if it’s right for you, a computer science internship could be a great way to gain experience. Want further reading on computer science education and training? Check out this information on top university computer science programs, as well as top feeder programs into Silicon Valley tech jobs.