Internships are important to curating real-world skills in the careers that students are interested in. For students interested in computer science, computer science internships are an opportunity to use coding outside the classroom for real challenges in the field. Furthermore, opportunities of this sort look great on your resume! Future employers will see that these skills were built early on and that you have the experience they are looking for.

You’ll be able to use these skills in any personal or professional research that you pursue. Additionally, applying to professional experiences early on can give you a boost while applying to college. College admissions officers will see your demonstrated interest in the subject, something AOs often indicate they look for in applicants. 

Here are 10 summer computer science internships for high school students! Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.

1. Ladder Internship Program

Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries from tech/deep tech, and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more.  You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form. 

Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.

Cost: $2490 (Financial Aid Available)

Location:  Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.

Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort 

Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year

Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!

2. Meta Summer Academy

Stipend: Upon completion of the program, students will receive a stipend. 

Location: California

Application Deadline: Applications open in December and close on March 1.

Program Dates: mid-June to late July (6 weeks)

Eligibility: Sophomores in high school during application year who are full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City and have a 2.0+ GPA.

Only 150 students are chosen for the Meta Summer Academy, making this a prestigious opportunity. Previously known as the Facebook Summer Academy, this program allows you to understand the daily functions of one of the world's top social media platforms. During the program, you will learn about Meta's various processes and protocols while participating in daily operations. You will engage in coding, explore diverse career paths, and develop essential soft skills. Current Meta employees will mentor you, offering valuable insights. This role also provides exposure to career opportunities in the tech industry.

3. SPARKSIP Summer Mentorship Program

Stipend: Stipends are dependent on the project.

Location: Seattle, WA, or virtual

Application Deadline: Applications typically open in April and close in May.

Program Dates: Dates are dependent on the project.

Eligibility: Must be a U.S. high school student at the time of application

The mission of SparkSIP is to connect high school students with industry experts, professors, and community leaders, providing them with exposure to professional environments. SparkSIP allows applicants to choose 1-5 projects they are interested in. The program also provides resources for college applications. This program offers high school students the chance to apply concepts in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data visualization to real-world scenarios. Previous internships involved preparing Python scripts for crossbar architecture and exploring its non-idealities, understanding the impact of spike-timing and spike rate on Spiking Neural Networks (SNN), and interfacing and visualizing data.

4. National Institute of Standards and Technology Internships

Cost: No participation cost, but students will have to cover their own housing and transportation costs.

Location: Various locations between labs.

Application Deadline: Applications close in February.

Program Dates: June 17 - August 9.

Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, juniors or seniors during the application period, with a 3.0+ GPA

During this program, you will work with staff scientists and engineers on advanced research projects. Students can intern at one of six NIST laboratories. The Information Technology Laboratory is recommended for those interested in computer science. This lab focuses on networking and communications, computer security, software engineering, and human-computer interaction. Research projects include computer network modeling, biometric systems for computer access and security, cryptographic methods, and digital data retrieval. A detailed list of research areas is available here.

5. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships

Stipend: Varies by location.

Location: Almost every state has an AEOP program. Transportation, meals, and housing are not provided. 

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Check here for application dates.

Program Dates: All locations offer a summer internship, but specific dates vary by location.

Eligibility: Current high school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Check additional eligibility requirements per location here.

This program provides the chance to work with a university researcher or a Department of Defense (DoD) scientist mentor on various research projects. You will have the opportunity to use advanced equipment and laboratory facilities. The research projects, sponsored by the Army, tackle significant challenges facing the USA. For those interested in computer science, there are research opportunities involving coding, AI, and ML applications. For example, you might work on projects with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, focusing on GNC Research using the Julia Programming Language. More information about AEOP's Summer opportunities can be found here.

6. NASA Office of Stem Engagements (OSTEM) Internships

Stipend: Stipends are awarded based on academic level and duration of session. 

Location: Internships are offered across 10 field centers across the country

Application Deadline: April/May for the summer session.

Program Dates: The summer program last 10 weeks between late May or early June to August. 

Eligibility: In grades 10-12, 3.0+ GPA, U.S. Citizenship

NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid internships to both high school and college students across its various locations nationwide. These internships provide training, mentorship, and career development, giving you access to professionals in fields like science, engineering, finance, IT, and business. The opportunities cover a range of subjects, including space science, aeronautics, technology, machine learning, computer science, and outreach and communications. You will design experiments, analyze mission data, and help develop new technologies. To find internships with computer science opportunities, you can use the 'Filter' option to view positions available to high school students.

7. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program

Stipend: Weekly stipends are provided based on the education of the students (GS pay scale).

Location: AFRL Scholar internship opportunities are available across different locations in the US.

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.

Program Dates: Because the program offers internships all year, some fall in summer.

Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled or accepted at an educational institution taking at least a half-time academic course load leading to a degree or certificate for the semester immediately preceding the internship session; have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; be 16 years of age by application deadline with a valid government ID.

The AFRL Scholars Program offers a paid internship opportunity for upper-level high school students interested in aerospace engineering. Upon acceptance into the program, you will receive mentorship from AFRL scientists and engineers, including tours of AFRL laboratories and involvement in cutting-edge research and technology projects. While AFRL research primarily focuses on aerospace engineering, certain projects, such as 'Advanced Robot Controller Design and Implementation' or 'AI Opponents for Contested Space,' incorporate computer science applications. These projects involve data processing and control to design, develop, and implement solutions using either Python or C++.

8. TARGET by Fermilab

Stipend: Salary of $17.20/hr.

Location: Fermilab site in Illinois 

Application Deadline: The application for summer positions will open in November.

Program Dates: Mid-June to late July

Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors enrolled in an Illinois high school with a 3.0+ GPA average who are eligible to work in the U.S.

The TARGET program provides a rigorous six-week summer internship opportunity for high school sophomores and juniors from Illinois. It is tailored for students with an interest and proficiency in physics, mathematics, computer science, and engineering. The program's objective is to motivate high school students to pursue higher education and careers in STEM fields. Annually, the TARGET program admits around 15-25 interns, ensuring a highly competitive selection process. The program integrates practical work experience and experiential learning. You will work on projects with scientists and engineers at Fermilab.

9. The Intern Project Summer Program

Stipend: Students are paid (stipend not specified) and earn college credit after finishing the program.

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Application Deadline: Applications open March.

Program Dates: June to August (~ 8 weeks)

Eligibility: High school students completing their sophomore, junior, or senior year enrolled in an LA county high school

The Intern Project offers an opportunity to gain work experience, explore career paths, and develop crucial skills for success in the workforce. Working alongside industry professionals, you will gain insights into workplace dynamics while enhancing your soft skills. You will work on projects centered around current industry trends and challenges. Tasks range from developing mobile applications for social impact to creating websites for local non-profits or undertaking machine learning projects. Utilizing languages like Python or JavaScript, you will work with web development frameworks and data analysis tools. Upon completing your project, you will have the opportunity to showcase demos of your work.

10. Department of Navy’s Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)

Stipend: Housing, meals, and transportation are not covered. Stipends for new participants are $4,000 and for returning students, they are $4,500.

Location: Various locations across the US

Application Deadline: November 1

Program Dates: 8 weeks during the summer. Dates depend on the lab you choose.

Eligibility: High school students who have completed freshman year and will be 16 years old at the beginning of the internship. Please check if the labs you’re applying for have specific requirements. 

Administered by the Department of the Navy, SEAP offers experience in science and engineering. You will work on projects covering cybersecurity, software development, algorithm design, and data analysis. The internship allows you to bridge classroom knowledge with practical applications and exposes you to cutting-edge technologies. Paired with mentors, you will receive guidance throughout your project. SEAP is ideal for students considering careers in science and technology, especially within fields linked to national defense.

One other option - Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’re interested in pursuing research in computer science or related fields, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD 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.

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