15 Amazing Computer Science Internships
Computer science internships provide college students with hands-on experience, helping them strengthen their resumes, improve employability, and gain real-world exposure in tech-driven fields. CS internships allow students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical projects, build problem-solving skills, and work with industry professionals.
For those interested in software development, data science, cybersecurity, or AI, a computer science internship offers an opportunity to explore different career paths and develop technical expertise.
To get you started, here’s a list of 15 amazing computer science internships that can help students build a strong foundation in the field.
1. Google Student Training in Engineering Program
Cost: Free; paid internship
Location: Varies based on the opportunity; internships are offered in multiple global locations.
Application deadline: Varies based on location
Program dates: Typically a 12-week internship between May and August or June and September
Eligibility: Students who have completed the first or second year of undergraduate studies in computer science or a related field by the summer and are currently attending a university in North America. Check more details here.
STEP is a computer science internship for first- and second-year undergraduates that provides hands-on experience in software engineering. As an intern, you will work on real engineering projects, gaining hands-on coding experience while receiving mentorship from Google engineers. The program includes technical training, workshops, and networking events to support career growth. You will also attend talks, learn coding best practices, and get insights into technical interviews, helping you build confidence and industry connections.
Cost: Starting at $1,490 (financial aid available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to college students and young professionals.
Ladder University Program connects ambitious students with high-growth startups across industries like AI/ML, health tech, marketing, and consulting. This selective, 8-week virtual internship allows you to work on real-world projects, collaborate closely with startup managers, and receive mentorship from a Ladder Coach. Interns gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced environment, contributing to innovative startups that have raised over a million dollars on average. The program culminates in a presentation where you showcase your work to company leaders, making it a great opportunity to develop technical, analytical, and professional skills.
Stipend: Students will receive a stipend (exact amount not mentioned)
Location: Various Meta offices across the United States, including Menlo Park, California
Application deadline: Varies depending on the opportunity
Program dates: The program typically runs for 10 weeks between May and August.
Eligibility: Current first-year or second-year college students.
Meta University is a 10-week paid internship designed to support students from underrepresented backgrounds in tech. You will gain hands-on experience in AI, software development, and product design while working on real projects alongside Meta engineers. The program includes mentorship, technical training, and professional development workshops, helping students build skills and industry connections. Running from May to August, it offers a deep dive into Meta’s culture and innovation-driven environment.
Stipend: Students will receive a stipend (exact amount not mentioned)
Location: Several IBM labs across the United States
Application deadline: Varies by opportunity and location, but generally, applications start in late fall or early winter (e.g., November–January)
Program dates: 10-12 weeks starting in May or June
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate students in Computer Science or related fields.
IBM Extreme Blue is an intense, innovation-driven internship where interns collaborate on cutting-edge projects with technical and business applications. Over 10 weeks, interns work in cross-functional teams, tackling real-world challenges in AI, cloud computing, and product development. The program emphasizes leadership, design thinking, and problem-solving, with mentorship from IBM professionals. You will gain hands-on experience, participate in workshops, and even have opportunities to file patents. The experience culminates in an Expo Day, where teams showcase their work to IBM executives.
Stipend: Interns will receive a stipend depending on the academic level and session duration
Location: Various NASA centers in the country. There are also options for remote participation, depending on the project.
Application deadline: Summer: February 28 | Fall: May 16
Program dates:
- Summer Session: 10 weeks, typically from late May or early June to August
- Fall Session: 16 weeks, typically from late August or early September to mid-December
Eligibility: Be a full-time student (high school through graduate level) or a part-time college-level student enrolled in a minimum of 6 semester hours.
NASA OSTEM Internship offers high school and college students hands-on experience in computer science fields like AI, data analysis, and software development for space exploration. As an Intern, you will collaborate with NASA mentors on real-world projects, such as analyzing mission data, developing algorithms, and working on AI-driven systems for spacecraft. The program, available on-site or remotely, helps build technical skills, expand STEM knowledge, and grow a professional network.
6. INSPIRE Future Generations Track
Stipend: Students will receive a stipend (exact amount not mentioned)
Location: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
Application deadline: February 1 - 8
Program dates: Internships begin on June 30, lasting 6 to 10 weeks
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students or recent graduates who have underrepresented backgrounds in medicine, healthcare, and research.
The INSPIRE Future Generations Track at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center offers students a six—to ten-week paid internship focused on the latest technology in healthcare research. You will work with mentors on projects involving data analysis, AI in medical research, and software development for healthcare innovations.
The program includes hands-on experience in research methodologies, coding for data-driven studies, and analyzing health-related datasets. Students also attend workshops on technical skills, networking, and research presentation techniques, gaining insight into the intersection of computer science and medical technology.
7. Microsoft Discovery Program
Stipend: Applicants will be paid. However, an exact amount is not specified.
Location: Redmond, Washington
Application deadline: Applications typically close in March (tentatively, based on previous years)
Program dates: July 7 – August 1
Eligibility: Open to rising first-year students of a bachelor’s degree program who live around Redmond, Washington, OR Atlanta, Georgia
Microsoft Discovery Program is a four-week paid summer internship in which students explore AI applications in product development. You will gain hands-on experience with AI-powered solutions, working alongside Microsoft AI engineers.
The program covers machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, blending theory with practical skills. Students also explore various tech career paths, making it an excellent opportunity for those interested in AI and innovation.
8. Idaho National Laboratory Internship
Stipend: The exact amount is not mentioned, but the INL pays a competitive wage.
Location: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Program dates: INL employs interns year-round, but the largest numbers occur during the summer months. INL’s internship terms are designed to match a typical university term, lasting from 10 to 16 weeks.
Eligibility: Enrolled full-time student status at an accredited U.S. college or university with a minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA.
The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Internship offers paid opportunities for students to work on real-world projects in high-performance computing, cybersecurity, and information management. You will collaborate with experienced scientists and engineers, gaining hands-on experience in areas like network security, data analytics, software development, and critical infrastructure protection. The program provides mentorship, skill development, and a platform to present research at the INL Intern Expo.
9. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) Undergraduate Internships
Stipend: All interns earn an educational stipend in recognition of their participation. The stipend amount varies by internship location and program duration.
Location: There are AEOP locations in almost every state. Students may select their preferred location.
Application deadline: Rolling
Program dates: Dates vary by site and will be discussed if the applicant is offered an internship. Summer Internships are generally 6-10 weeks in May-August.
Eligibility: Participants must be current undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents. Additional eligibility requirements vary by location.
AEOP Undergraduate Internships provide paid opportunities for students to gain hands-on research experience in top university labs and U.S. Army Research Laboratories. As an Intern, you will work alongside professional scientists and engineers, exploring cutting-edge STEM fields while receiving mentorship and career guidance. The program offers exposure to advanced research, high-tech equipment, and real-world problem-solving. Participants also connect with a nationwide STEM community through webinars and workshops designed to support future academic and career goals.
10. NLM Data Science and Informatics (DSI) Scholars Program
Stipend: DSI Scholars are paid according to the NIH Intramural Research Training Award stipends.
Location: NIH Campus Bethesda, Maryland
Application deadline: February 19
Program dates: 8 - 12 weeks starting in June
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 18 years old before the internship begins, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and be accepted into an accredited college, university, or professional program for fall. More details can be found here.
The NLM Data Science and Informatics (DSI) Scholars Program is an 8- to 12-week summer internship focused on computational research in the biological sciences, often incorporating AI and machine learning. Interns receive one-on-one mentorship, contribute to real-world research projects, and enhance their scientific communication skills through seminars and workshops. The program concludes with a presentation at NLM’s Summer Poster Day, with potential participation in the NIH-wide Summer Poster Day.
Stipend: Interns are paid.
Location: Varies depending on the internship
Application deadline: Varies depending on the internship
Program dates: Summer, co-op, and year-round internships exist with different dates. You can check the details here.
Eligibility: Full-time enrolled student at an accredited college, university, or high school. Check additional criteria here.
Sandia Internships offer hands-on experience in cybersecurity, software development, and engineering. You will work on real-world projects with top scientists at Sandia National Laboratories, a U.S. Department of Energy contractor. Through the Sandia Intern Institute, students receive mentorship, competitive stipends, and access to cutting-edge research. CS students can gain experience in cybersecurity, AI, and software engineering, with some internships leading to full-time job offers.
12. National Security Agency Student Programs
Stipend: Interns are paid based on education level
Location: Varies depending on the internship
Application deadline: Generally, applications close on October 1
Program dates: Typically 12 weeks from mid-May or June
Eligibility: Undergraduate students, graduate students, and doctoral students
NSA Student Programs offer multiple opportunities for CS students to work on cutting-edge projects in cybersecurity, AI, big data, and software development. One key program, the Computer Science Intern Program (CSIP), allows students to tackle real-world challenges in areas like machine learning, network security, information retrieval, and data visualization. You will contribute directly to NSA’s mission, culminating in a technical paper and presentation.
Other NSA programs also focus on ethical hacking, cryptanalysis, secure software engineering, and advanced computing, making them ideal for students who want to apply computer science skills to national security.
13. CS@Mines Virtual Computing Internship
Cost: $100 (Need-based scholarship available)
Location: Remote and in-person options available
Application deadline: Generally, applications close on October 1
Program dates: April 18
Eligibility: Community college students are eligible to apply.
The CS@Mines Virtual Computing Internship offers high school and community college students two pathways into computer science. The research track focuses on hands-on computing research under Mines mentors, while the C4G (Computing For the Good) track applies coding to socially impactful projects. Over six weeks, interns collaborate in small teams, develop coding, debugging, and research skills, and tackle real-world technical challenges in a supportive virtual environment.
14. CodeDay Labs – Open-Source Software Internship
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Rolling
Program dates: Typically runs between June and August
Eligibility: College students (exact experience level is based on the track you select)
The CodeDay Labs Open-Source Software Internship is a virtual program in which students work on real-world open-source projects under industry mentors from companies like Microsoft, Nasdaq, and SAP. Interns engage in daily tech talks, career panels, and mentorship sessions, gaining hands-on experience in software development.
The program offers three tracks:
Init – For students with minimal coding experience, focusing on first open-source contributions.
Intermediate – For those with basic CS knowledge, guiding them in building a polished app/feature.
Advanced – For experienced students who want to develop software without committing to a full-time internship.
Stipend: $7,810 for the 11-week program (based on previous year data)
Location: NIST campuses in Gaithersburg, Maryland; Boulder, Colorado; and Charleston, South Carolina
Application deadline: February 6
Program dates:
- Main 11-week program: May 19 - August 1
- Offset 11-week program: June 2 - August 15
- 9-week program: June 2 - August 1
Eligibility: The SURF program is only open to U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents enrolled as undergraduate students at U.S. colleges or universities.
The NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) offers students hands-on research experience in fields like computer science, engineering, and physics. As a participant, you collaborate with NIST scientists on real-world projects, gaining exposure to advanced lab techniques and cutting-edge technology. The program lasts 11 weeks and provides a stipend of up to $7,810, including housing and travel support if needed.