15 Competitive Computer Science Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 4 hours ago
- 13 min read
Programs are a strategic way for high schoolers to gain exposure to industry and academia, develop professional-level research skills, receive guidance on career and academic planning, and build connections with industry leaders and university professors. Computer science is an increasingly popular major and a competitive industry, making it a challenging discipline to enter. As a result, students in computer science can benefit from pursuing competitive programs in the field.
Why should I participate in a competitive computer science program in high school?
While post-graduate plans may seem far away in high school, the undergraduate pipelines to lucrative and prestigious computer science careers begin early. With computer science being among the five most popular majors across Ivy League schools, participating in competitive computer science programs in high school can help boost your odds of admission and prepare you for future success. You’ll strengthen your resume, prepare for undergraduate-level coursework, and show admissions officers that you have the skills for advanced research and/or internships in the industry. As highly selective opportunities, these programs have the strongest impact on your academic and professional development while adding a strategic edge to your college applications.
In this blog, we’ve reviewed 15 of the most competitive computer science programs for high school students. We’ve identified prestigious opportunities with highly selective admissions processes that offer rigorous professional-level work experience, substantial training and mentorship, and networking opportunities. Hosted at leading institutions ranging from Meta to Princeton to federal laboratories, these programs are a great place to start your search for a summer computer science program.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler, including computer science. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose a computer science research topic in a subfield and focus area of your choosing, tailoring your experience to your exact research interests and goals in the discipline. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Google, Mountain View, CA or virtual
Cost/Stipend: Paid; amount not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Extremely selective; ~1.5% acceptance rate
Dates: 3–4 weeks in summer; varies by year
Application Deadline: Recruitment begins in winter; final deadline in late April
Eligibility: High school seniors; typically planning to major in Computer Science
Google’s CSSI is a highly selective computer science program for high school seniors that offers a paid opportunity to build professional experience and prepare for your future career. You’ll learn technical skills in programming languages across JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, which you’ll apply to independent coding exercises and collaborative assignments. You’ll attend substantial professional development programming in topics across resume building, interviewing skills, networking techniques, and preparing for college academics. You’ll also get the opportunity to build connections with Google through networking events with current staff software engineers, touring Google facilities, and learning about teams and career paths at Google. You’ll build a work portfolio over the course of the program, culminating in a final computer science capstone project and presentation. Many CSSI participants are invited to return for college internships, which in turn serve as a pipeline for full-time careers at Google.
Immerse Education’s Computer Science Track
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions.
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program lets high school students experience university life firsthand. You will live on campus and study in small groups of 7-10, and learn from tutors from eminent top universities like Oxford and Cambridge.
Participants can explore a wide range of subjects, spanning over 20 options, including Architecture, AI, Business Management, Computer Science, Economics, Medicine, Philosophy, and more. The courses are experiential and focus on hands-on learning. You may find yourself conducting dissections in medicine, designing a robotic arm in engineering, participating in a moot court for law, or building creative writing portfolios and business case studies. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback, and receive a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Stipend: Varies. Programs are free OR paid an hourly wage; it varies by lab. Engineering programs include options with a stipend of $15.92/hour.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~1% acceptance rate. 1-2 students per project.
Dates: 5-6 weeks over the summer; varies by project
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ by June 15. Applicants must be enrolled in a New Jersey high school local to Princeton (in Princeton or surrounding communities in close commuting distance). Students must be U.S. citizens currently in the United States. Some research placements may have additional requirements.
Princeton University’s Laboratory Learning Program is a competitive research opportunity offering a select number of local high schoolers research assistant positions with Princeton professors. There are multiple computer science program options in the departments, including Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. You’ll apply to two primary projects of interest; computer science-focused options include Semiconductor laser systems design, Machine Learning and Modeling of Complex Systems, Multi-agent systems: Generating music with BINNs, and more. Your work assignments may range across computer-based quantum and optical design, modeling musical notes with neural networks, or designing and optimizing computational chemical replicators. With faculty mentorship, you’ll apply computer science skills like Python programming, machine learning, and software development while directly contributing to Princeton’s ongoing research initiatives. At the end of the program, you’ll write a report on your project approach and findings; some placements additionally require a presentation and/or research poster.
Location: Meta, Menlo Park, CA
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided; amount varies yearly
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Extremely selective; not specified
Dates: 6 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: Rising 11th-grade students who are full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, or Redwood City; minimum GPA 2.0
Meta Summer Academy is a competitive computer science program for high school students in the Bay Area looking to gain professional exposure and training in a major technology company. You’ll be trained in computer science, programming, and technology skills through courses, workshops, and hands-on projects led by Meta computer scientists. You’ll also receive tailored mentorship and attend weekly guest lectures from leaders in the technology industry. You’ll additionally develop soft skills across leadership, communication, self-reflection, and teamwork. You’ll explore professional opportunities in computer science, including careers at Meta, participate in coffee chats with current employees, and attend networking events with Meta executives. You’ll have access to MSA alumni events to remain connected with the company, and you are encouraged to apply to the Meta University program as a college student.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free ($75 application fee)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; ~80 students, <2.5% acceptance rate
Dates: June 22 - August 2 (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: December 11
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with exceptional achievement in STEM
The Research Science Institute is a prestigious, fully-funded program for high school students, offering intensive research experience in STEM fields, including computer science. After an initial week-long training, you’ll take on an independent computer science research project for the remaining 5 weeks, working under the mentorship of an MIT professor or a researcher from another prestigious Boston-area institution. During the day, you’ll both work on your project and learn skills across research methodologies, project design, presentations, and conducting literature reviews. During the evenings, you’ll attend a lecture series with guest speakers including Nobel Laureates, leaders in the technology sector, and STEM entrepreneurs. You’ll also participate in field trips, recreational activities, and visits to Boston-area STEM facilities. You’ll finish the program by writing a conference-level research paper on your project, which you’ll present to the RSI cohort of students and mentors. Both papers and presentations are considered for awards by leading academic and corporate researchers; the top 5 from each category will receive a prize, adding additional prestige to RSI participation. Projects of prior award recipients can be seen here.
Location: NIST campus in Gaithersburg, MD, or Boulder, CO
Cost/Stipend: Free; unpaid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~5% (ITL); ~10.4% overall (SHIP)
Dates: June 22–August 7
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors with minimum GPA 3.0; must be U.S. citizen; must live within 50 miles of host campus
The NIST Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP) placement in its Information Technology Laboratory is a highly competitive computer science program for high school students, offering 7 weeks of research experience under the guidance of federal scientists. You’ll be placed into an ITL lab to work on an independent project, contributing to the lab’s ongoing computational research. Your assigned lab’s focus areas may include computer network modeling, digital data retrieval, image analysis, computer forensics, and more. You’ll build connections with a wide array of NIST researchers, contribute to cybersecurity and software projects for the federal government, and develop professional-level research experience. You’ll finish the program by designing a research poster on your work to present at the SHIP Poster Session; the top projects will receive awards. You can view former student projects here.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; housing ~$2,450; stipend provided upon completion
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective; <5% acceptance rate
Dates: June 29–August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: Rising seniors aged 16+; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; must be nominated by high school (up to 2 nominees per school)
SSRP is a selective program for high school students with myriad opportunities in computer science research. Based on your skills and interests, you’ll be paired with a mentor to design and complete an independent project contribution aligned with the research team’s ongoing work. Potential computer science research topics may include quantum software and expanders, causal network analysis, machine learning accelerators, Internet of Things security, and more. Outside of research, you’ll attend a weekly faculty lecture series on research developments in STEM, participate in specialized workshops, tour Stony Brook’s campus and research facilities, and more. You’ll finish your time as a Simons Fellow by writing a research paper and presenting your research to other Fellows and program mentors. SSRP is a highly prestigious opportunity due to its low acceptance rate, student funding, and strong track record of student publications and awards.
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $750 stipend; includes fully funded meals, on-campus housing, and activities; $25 application fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Extremely selective; 12 students
Dates: June 21–August 6
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students and graduating seniors aged 17+; must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident
The Clark Scholars Program is a competitive and funded program for high school students providing intensive research experience in a university setting. The program offers both a Computer Science research track and a more hardware-focused Electrical and Computer Engineering option, allowing you to specialize in your preferred subfield. You’ll work under the supervision of a TTU faculty member sharing your interests in the field of computer science to design and conduct an advanced research project over the course of 7 weeks. You’ll also participate in educational field trips, weekly academic seminars, and group discussions. Professional development opportunities include personalized advising from your mentor, career exploration and guidance, and networking opportunities with university researchers. You can view previous student projects here.
Location: Placements in Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive
Dates: Varies by internship
Application Deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: Full-time high school upperclassmen, undergraduates, and graduate students aged 16+; many roles require U.S. citizenship; minimum GPA 3.0; background check, drug screening, and often security clearance required
Sandia National Laboratories’ Student Internships are an intensely competitive opportunity for high schoolers to apply computer science skills to federal national security technologies. You’ll contribute to Sandia’s research in projects such as cyber and infrastructure security, homeland security, or global security remote sensing alongside current Sandia employees. Your work might focus on computational analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, or parallel processing computing. While you’ll work with a primary project area and mentor, you’ll also have opportunities to network with individuals across departments. You’ll also attend a Sandia intern career fair, social events, presentations, and facility tours to explore future opportunities at the company. You’ll have performance reviews at internship milestones with your supervisor, and be considered for future internships or careers at Sandia. You can read more about professional computer science careers at Sandia here.
Location: Multiple U.S. locations, including Air Force bases, laboratories, and the Pentagon.
Stipend: $506.80/week. Some locations with higher costs of living offer larger stipends ($715.60/week for Whiteman AFB and $813.60/week for Edwards AFB). Additional travel stipends may be available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very selective; 8-10% acceptance rate.
Dates: Typically a minimum of 8 weeks, with most internships running 10-12 weeks in the summer. Limited internships are offered in the Spring and Fall.
Application Deadline: Summer: January 10 | Fall/Spring: TBA
Eligibility: Upper-level high school students, undergraduates, and graduate students pursuing and/or intending to pursue a STEM degree. Must be a U.S. citizen. Specific placements/projects may specify additional required or preferred credentials. Must be eligible to obtain Secret Security Clearance upon acceptance.
The U.S. Air Force’s AFRL Scholars Program is a paid and highly competitive opportunity to strengthen your technical skills through federal research in computer science and technology. You’ll work alongside Air Force laboratory researchers on projects with implications for national security and space exploration; your assignment may include developing computer vision algorithms, programming-based data science, or computational aero-optics. You’ll apply to up to three research projects aligned with your interests and abilities; note that not all projects are open to high school students and may require specialized technical skills. You may be eligible for return internship offers through the program.
Location: Placements across the U.S. in 35 states
Cost/Stipend: Paid; amount varies by internship host
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: <5% acceptance rate; ~150 students
Dates: Minimum 8 continuous weeks; typically starts May or June; schedule set with employer
Application Deadline: Rolling evaluation beginning in September
Eligibility: 12th-grade students aged 18+; must plan to attend a four-year college; minimum GPA 3.0; must be authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship
The Emma Bowen Foundation offers paid, competitive computer science programs for 12th-grade students and undergraduates through its technology and media internship program. Upon acceptance, you’ll be matched with one of the program’s partner companies in the tech industry, such as Spectrum or CableLabs, or a tech-focused role at an industry-leading media organization like Warner Bros. Discovery or Paramount. You’ll contribute your computer science skills to your host company’s real-world needs, such as software development, research and development, and telecommunications, working with training and guidance from current employees. You’ll access professional support through the EBF, such as career development workshops, mentorship, annual conference attendance, and networking events. Many interns return in the following years, making this selective program a strong choice for securing future positions.
Location: Lockheed Martin offices in Denver, CO; Sunnyvale, CA; Cape Canaveral, FL; King of Prussia/Valley Forge, PA; Huntsville, AL; and Herndon, VA
Cost/Stipend: Paid; amount not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective
Dates: 9+ weeks from June to August
Application Deadline: December 19
Eligibility: Current high school students aged 16+ who can commute to their selected facility
Lockheed Martin offers competitive internships for high school students, providing computer science and technology experience in the aerospace and defense industry. You’ll work on current research and development projects alongside Lockheed Martin employees with focuses such as automated API generation, software and development testing, and programming in Java and GraphQL. You’ll have employee mentors to support you, whether answering questions on challenging tasks or providing technical demonstrations for new assignments. You’ll attend career development events such as career planning workshops, networking sessions, company tours, and shadowing opportunities with company leadership. Successful interns may be able to continue their internship beyond the program end date or as summer undergraduate interns. Here is a testimonial from a former intern who has continued working with the company into college.
Location: Belin-Blank Center, University of Iowa, IA
Cost/Stipend: $7,500; financial aid and scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective; ~10% acceptance rate
Dates: June 17–July 24
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Rising 11th–12th grade students; one-time participation only
SSTP is a competitive high school program offering computer science research opportunities through its Electrical and Computer Engineering placement. You’ll work with a faculty mentor and a small group of peers to design and execute an independent project in Electrical and Computer Engineering, spending about 35 hours each week on research. You’ll also attend twice-weekly seminars, where you’ll complete readings and assignments to strengthen your research abilities and build cross-disciplinary academic skills. Outside of academics, you’ll participate in evening activities such as yoga and improv comedy. You’ll design a research poster with your team at the end of the program, which you’ll present to the SSTP cohort. You’ll earn three transferable credits for your participation.
Location: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Cost/Stipend: $5,500 + $50 application fee; financial aid available for Florida high school students
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very selective; <15% acceptance rate
Dates: 7 weeks in June–July
Application Deadline: March 25
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students aged 16+
UF’s SSTP is a competitive high school STEM research program providing research experience, specialized lectures, and college-level coursework. You’ll take on a college-level research project in a STEM field of your choice—both Computer Science and computational projects in other STEM fields are supported—that you’ll complete under faculty mentorship. While you’ll take on a specialized project of your own, your work must advance your mentor’s current goals and research focuses. You’ll conduct a literature review, receive training in research protocols and relevant software, and develop a concrete research plan before embarking on intensive project work. You’ll attend daily lectures from UF researchers, covering topics from the professors’ own research developments, intersections between humanities and sciences, research ethics, technical writing, and more. You’ll also enroll in one of the year’s college-level Honors Seminars, where you’ll complete research, participate in class discussions, write reading response papers, and more. At the end of the program, you’ll write a formal academic paper on your work, deliver two lectures on your research, and present a research poster to the SSTP cohort.
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 in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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