10 Computer Science Internships for High School Students
If you are a high school student who wants to pursue Computer Science in the future, you should consider doing an internship. Internships allow you to apply concepts in real life and are a great value-add to any college application.
Here, we have curated a list of 10 Computer Science internships for high school students. In this list, you can explore internships from prestigious companies and research opportunities alongside individuals at the top of their fields. Moreover, you have the added benefit of gaining a stipend from most internships alongside an unforgettable experience!
Why should you consider a Computer Science Internship?
Computer Science is an extremely competitive field, and internships with some companies on this list (e.g., NASA, Meta, or the U.S. Navy and Energy Department) will set you apart. Your success in the internship showcases your drive to go beyond the classroom and your ability to apply theoretical concepts to practical situations.
Moreover, through internships, you can gain real-world experiences and get an insight into your future career trajectory! Each internship is an opportunity to network with highly respected individuals at the top of their respective industries. Networking with your mentors and other peers gives you a benefit in applying for future job opportunities.
Here are 10 computer science internships for high school students!
The AI Internship Program by Veritas AI is founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the 8-week internship, students have the opportunity to work with VC-backed startups on real-world AI/ML projects. Students work directly with mentors from Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, and more. This program is a great opportunity for students who have prior experience with AI/ML and are looking to gain real-world exposure to a career in the field. Students get a chance to network with industry professionals, work closely with company leadership, and receive a letter of completion from the company at the end of the internship. You can learn more about the program here and apply here.
Location: VirtualCost: $2,490
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has launched a summer opportunity for high school students known as the Meta Summer Academy. Running for 6 weeks, from June through July, the program is held in California. In this program, you will learn about Meta's various processes and practices and contribute to its day-to-day work. You have the opportunity to be mentored by current employees in Meta. Moreover, the position offers exposure to potential careers in tech. The selection process is quite competitive, with only 150 students making it to the final cohort.
Cost: No cost; stipend provided.
Location: California
Application Deadline: March 1st
Program Length: 6 weeks (June through July)
Eligibility: High school sophomores who are full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, or Redwood City are encouraged to apply
In collaboration with universities and U.S. Army Research Laboratories and Centers, the AEOP offers summer apprenticeships for high school students throughout the United States. You conduct research in one of the U.S. Army’s research laboratories, working alongside engineers. Moreover, each apprentice receives formal mentorship from a professional scientist or engineer. AEOP has multiple locations across the country, and each program is designed for commuters in the area. Research conducted alongside the U.S. Army adds value to any college application!
Cost: No cost; stipend provided
Location: Varies from lab to lab.
Application Deadline: March 5th
Program Dates: Not specified (expect it to be during the summer months)
Selection Rate: Highly Selective
Eligibility: Be a U.S. citizen. Note: The AEOP offers specific programs for underserved groups (e.g. Native Americans, disability holders, or women). Find the full list of their criteria here!
Students interested in pursuing Computer Science in college would find SPARK interesting. SparkSIP allows applicants to select 5-6 projects they’d like to work on and then assign sponsors to selected students. SPARK provides opportunities and resources that can be used during and after college applications! Past research projects have included detection tools for tick-borne infections or breast cancer, DNA Sequence Classification based on Electrical Signatures, and preparing Python script for crossbar architecture and exploring its various non-idealities. The program allows you to learn from industry leaders, university professors, and mentors.
Cost: No Cost; Stipend provided ($500)
Location: Greater Seattle Area
Application Deadline: May 1
Program Dates: 6-8 weeks, June to August
Selection Rates: Very Selective
Eligibility: Must be a U.S. Citizen or have permanent resident status and can commit to working 40 hours/week for 8-12 weeks.
The Summer High School Intern Program by NIST is a program for students who have finished their junior or senior year of high school and demonstrate an interest in scientific research. In this program, you gain the opportunity to work closely with NIST staff scientists and engineers on a specific research topic. 6 NIST laboratories participate in the SHIP program. Students interested in Computer Science are encouraged to apply for the Information Technology Lab. Your research can include computer network modeling, biometrics for computer access and security, cryptography, and digital data retrieval. You can look at the full list here!
Cost: No participation cost (but students must cover housing and transportation costs)
Location: Varies from lab to lab.
Application Deadline: February 13th
Program Dates: June 18th to August 9th
Selection Rate: Highly Selective
Eligibility: Rising senior or recent graduate who is eligible to work in the U.S. and maintains a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
Sandia National Laboratories is a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s ‘National Nuclear Security Administration’ (NNSA). Their position for digital engineering solutions expects interns to implement scripting and computer programming, assist in the development of new software solutions, and maintain and debug multi-language software projects. Sandia internships are extremely selective. These internships offer you the chance to work alongside researchers and engineers and use excellent equipment and research facilities. The program also includes career advancement and enrichment opportunities.
Cost: No cost; stipend provided.
Location: Varies from location to location.
Application Deadline: Rolling admission.
Program Dates: Varies based on internship: Summer Interns - 40 hours/week; Year-round Interns - 25 hours/week
Selection Rate: Highly Selective
Eligibility: Students enrolled full-time at a local high school with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Students must be at least 16 years of age and must be either a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or asylee or refugee in the U.S.
Syracuse University offers a 6-week, non-residential summer internship for rising seniors in the greater Syracuse area. Interns are exposed to advanced engineering and computer science research intended to deepen their interest in STEM careers. In the program, you will participate in a university-level research project under mentoring from SU research faculty and graduate and undergraduate students. The program culminates with you presenting your research at a symposium with other high school and undergraduate research interns.
Cost: No cost; stipend provided
Location: Greater Syracuse Area
Application Deadline: While the dates for the next cohort have not been announced, expect the deadline to be 2 months before the internship.
Program Dates: 6 weeks during the summer months
Selection Rate: Highly Selective
Eligibility: Be a rising senior in the Greater Syracuse area in good academic standing.
Conducted by the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC), this program offers a paid summer internship to Boston Public Schools high school students interested in computer science. PIC is a non-profit organization connecting Boston residents to promising career pathways. The Tech Apprentice connects high school students to companies in Boston so you can gain work experience and understand career options in the tech industry. Your role could include web design and programming, quality control, and social media and video production.
Cost: No cost; stipend provided.
Location: Boston
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: 6-7 weeks during summer months.
Selection Rate: Selective
Eligibility: Be a high school student enrolled in a Boston Public School.
The TARGET program is a six-week summer internship for Illinois high school sophomores and juniors interested in physics, mathematics, computer science, and engineering. The program aims to encourage high school students to undertake STEM in university and their careers. Each intern works with Fermilab scientists and engineers to conduct research and create content on Fermilab research. Previous work by TARGET students includes interviews with scientists and their current projects (e.g. Kentandu Cheidu interviewing her mentor Lauren Biron on the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment) or participating in workshops to understand 3D modeling and computational thinking.
Cost: No cost; salary of $16.20 provided.
Location: Fermilab site, Illinois.
Application Deadline: February 1st
Program Dates: June 26th - August 4th
Selection Rate: Quite selective
Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors enrolled in an Illinois high school with a minimum of a 3.0 grade average who are eligible to work in the United States.
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagements provides internship opportunities at all their locations around America. You can access their database on internships here (you will have to filter through the database to find opportunities open for high school students specifically). Through this internship, you will explore the real-world applications of computer science. Students interested in pursuing computer science at university can consider this program as it’s a great value-add for college applications.
Cost: No cost; stipend provided
Location: Varies, different for each internship offered
Application Deadline: Varies from internship to internship
Program Dates: Varies from internship to internship, but should be in one of these three cohorts -
Fall - from late August/early September to mid-December (16 weeks)
Spring - from mid-January to early May (16 weeks)
Summer - from late May/early June to August (10 weeks)
Selection Rate: Highly Selective
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens and have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
If you are looking for alternate programs, try the Microsoft Discovery Program, Google’s Computer Science Summer Institute, or Code Labs. Each of these programs offers unique experiences where you gain opportunities to further your knowledge of Computer Science!
Bonus - Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you are interested in doing university-level research in computer science then you could also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students that I founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 2100 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source: Meta logo