16 Coding Internships for High School Students in NYC
If you are a high school student based in New York City looking for a way to enhance your coding skills, consider an internship in the city! Coding internships will offer you a unique chance to gain hands-on experience, strengthen your resume, and explore potential career paths in technology, without having to travel beyond the city. For students passionate about coding, coding internships for high school students can provide practical exposure to programming, problem-solving, and collaboration.
NYC hosts several top universities and institutions, such as Columbia University and Cornell University, that offer a range of coding internships and research programs tailored for high schoolers. Whether you’re interested in data science, web development, or artificial intelligence, coding internships are the perfect first step towards making your career in technology.
This listicle highlights 16 top coding internships for high school students in NYC, including virtual options and research programs, carefully selected to help you find the best fit for your goals.
1. Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) at American Museum of Natural History
Location: New York City
Cost/Stipend: None / $2,500 stipend upon completion
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Typically competitive / Approximately 60 students annually
Dates: Year-long (August to June), starting with a 4-week summer institute
Application Deadline: March 8
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders in NYC | Passing classes for the last three semesters | Enrolled in specific programs or partner schools
The SRMP program immerses you in authentic scientific research under the guidance of museum scientists. Many projects incorporate computational tools, allowing you to develop coding skills in languages like Python or R for data analysis. You’ll participate in a summer institute focusing on data science and machine learning, followed by year-long research in fields like biology or astrophysics. Monthly advisory sessions enhance your skills in scientific communication, and you’ll present your findings at a colloquium. The program fosters mentorship and community engagement, offering a stipend upon completion. Special events at AMNH provide networking opportunities with STEM professionals.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available / None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 10-25% / 70-100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter; Upcoming Winter cohort starts on December 8
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort; Winter cohort: November 16; apply here
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students able to commit 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks
Ladder Internships connects ambitious high school students with high-growth startups for virtual coding internships for high school students in NYC and beyond. Ladder’s startups are dynamic, often having raised substantial funding, with founders from top accelerators like Y Combinator and companies like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. You’ll work on real-world projects in tech, AI, or machine learning, guided by a startup manager and a Ladder Coach. The program emphasizes hands-on coding experience, such as developing software features or analyzing data, and includes opportunities to present your work to company teams. With startups raising over a million dollars on average, you’ll gain exposure to cutting-edge tech environments.
3. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) at NYU
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: None / $1,000 stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive / 76–80 students per year
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are NYC residents attending NYC schools
ARISE at NYU Tandon School of Engineering places you in research labs focusing on fields like data science, AI, or VR/AR. You’ll start with remote workshops focused on writing and research skills, and then move on to hands-on lab work. You’ll engage in coding-intensive projects, such as developing algorithms or analyzing datasets, under the mentorship of NYU faculty and graduate students. The program begins with two weeks of coursework on research methods and ethics, followed by five weeks of hands-on lab work. You’ll develop skills in programming languages like Python and present your findings at a research colloquium. The stipend supports accessibility for NYC students.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here.
5. STEM Research Academy at CUNY
Location: City College of New York campus, Manhattan, NY
Cost/Stipend: None / $1,575 stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective / Typically 25 students for spring course, 10 for summer internship
Dates: Spring course (February 11 – May 22), summer research (June 30 – August 7)
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: NYC public high school grades 10-11 | Highly motivated 9th grade students will be considered on an individual basis | Specific grade requirements apply, check here
STEM Research Academy is a two-semester research mentorship. In the spring course, you learn research fundamentals, scientific writing, and data analysis (MATLAB or Python). Selected students then spend a summer doing hands-on research with a City College or CUNY professor. For example, you might program simulations in the Civil Engineering Lab or analyze computer science data, spending 4–5 days a week in the lab. The program culminates in a poster presentation of your research. You will often write code for experiments or build simple algorithms to test scientific hypotheses. You will gain soft skills in teamwork and communication through weekly seminars.
6. Summer Science Research Program (SSRP) at Rockefeller University
Location: Rockefeller University, New York City
Cost/Stipend: None / Need-based stipends; MetroCard/OMNI card provided
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive / 25 students
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from NY, NJ, CT, aged 16+
SSRP at Rockefeller University immerses you in biomedical research, often involving computational biology or bioinformatics. You’ll work in RockEDU labs with research teams led by trainees from Rockefeller, MSK, and WCMC. You’ll develop coding skills in Python or other languages while working on cutting-edge projects with leading scientists. The seven-week program includes hands-on lab work, mentorship, and opportunities to present your research. You’ll gain exposure to professional lab environments and scientific methodologies. The program enhances your scientific reasoning, problem-solving, and data analysis skills, as well as collaboration and communication skills, by discussing results with peers and mentors and presenting your research findings.
7. NYU Tandon CS4CS (Computer Science for Cyber Security)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: None / None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive / Approximately 48 students
Dates: July 14 - August 8
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: NYC or Nassau County residents currently in 10th–11th grade
CS4CS is a free summer crash-course in coding and cybersecurity fundamentals for NYC high schoolers. Over four weeks, students with no prior coding experience learn “white-hat” hacking, cryptography, digital forensics, networking, and programming basics. The program is taught by NYU cybersecurity professors and uses hands-on labs and mini-projects to build skills. You’ll learn to write simple Python scripts, explore data encryption, and investigate cyber threats. An improv workshop (“Irondale”) taught by theater artists will sharpen your communication skills. You’ll gain coding experience and cybersecurity know-how in a collaborative, hackathon-like environment, making this one of the top free coding internships available.
8. NASA OSTEM Internships
Location: Virtual or on-site at NASA centers nationwide (NYC-area projects at CUNY City Tech in Brooklyn)
Cost/Stipend: None / Paid based on academic level and session duration
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Very competitive / Over 2,000 high school interns selected annually
Dates: Year-round (Spring, Summer, and Fall sessions)
Application Deadline: Spring: September 12; Summer: February 27; Fall: May 22
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens | Minimum 3.0 GPA | At least 16 years old at the time of application
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement offers paid internships where you’ll contribute to projects in science, technology, and aeronautics. During the internship, you’ll work alongside scientists and engineers on development problems and active research, and engage in coding, robotics, algorithm development. and systems design. You may work on coding tasks, such as developing software or analyzing mission data, under NASA mentors. The program provides hands-on experience in a prestigious environment, with opportunities to collaborate with engineers and scientists. Virtual options make it accessible for NYC students, and the stipend supports participation. You’ll gain skills applicable to tech careers.
9. Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None / $300 needs-based grant is available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive / Large cohort
Dates: July 7 – 18 (Round 1); July 28 – August 8 (Round 2); two-week sessions during the summer
Application Deadline: April 11
Eligibility: Current 9th-11th grade girls and all non-binary students
The Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program is a two-week virtual course where you’ll learn coding through game design using p5.js, a JavaScript library. You’ll build interactive projects, enhancing your programming skills in a supportive environment. Mentorship from industry professionals and live classes provide career insights. The program culminates in a project addressing community issues, fostering creativity and collaboration. Its free access makes it ideal for NYC students seeking coding internships for high school students in NYC. The program is designed to encourage female and non-binary students to take up technology as a career and close the gender gap in technology.
10. TECH360 Summer Bootcamp by America On Tech
Location: Virtual with two in-person sessions in NYC
Cost/Stipend: None / $500 stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not selective / About 50 students per cohort
Dates: Cycle 1: June 30 – July 17; Cycle 2: July 28 - August 14; Demo Day: August 21
Application Deadline: August 17
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in NYC | Aged 15-19 | Attending a public high school that meets the program’s Economic Needs Index in NYC
The TECH360 Summer Bootcamp by America On Tech in New York City is an intensive, 3-week hybrid program designed for rising high school juniors and seniors that teaches foundational skills in artificial intelligence and computer science. In this program, you’ll learn web design and development, mastering HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap. You’ll create functional web applications, applying coding skills to real-world projects. The program includes virtual and in-person sessions, with mentorship from tech professionals. You’ll work in teams to develop a website, presenting it at a Demo Day competition. The stipend supports participation, making it accessible for NYC students.
11. NYC Ladders for Leaders
Location: New York City
Cost/Stipend: None / Stipend starting at $16.5/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive / Over 1,800 participants annually
Dates: Six weeks in summer
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-24 | NYC residents | Prior work/volunteer experience | Eligible to work in the U.S.
The NYC Ladders for Leaders program is a nationally recognized initiative that offers outstanding high school and college students the opportunity to participate in paid professional summer internships with leading corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies in New York City. You will then be matched with internships aligned to their skills and interests, and may secure coding internships, working on software development or IT projects. The program includes 30 hours of pre-employment training in resume writing and professional skills. You’ll gain workplace experience and network with professionals, enhancing your tech career prospects. The competitive application process ensures high-quality placements.
12. Google Code Next
Location: Manhattan, New York
Cost/Stipend: None / None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective / About 50 students per cohort
Dates: Year-round (October to June)
Application Deadline: June 30 (Rolling admissions)
Eligibility: High school students residing in NYC
This program provides programming instruction, mentorship, and community-building opportunities to help students develop skills in coding, problem-solving, and leadership. It offers year-round coding education in Manhattan, focusing on computational thinking and leadership. You’ll develop websites and applications, learning languages like Python or JavaScript with Google engineer mentors. The program includes solo and team projects, fostering creativity and problem-solving. No prior coding experience is required to join, and the program emphasizes building confident and purposeful makers who contribute creatively and ethically to the tech world. You’ll gain exposure to tech careers through community events and mentorship, making it a strong foundation for coding internships for high school students in NYC.
13. theCoder School
Location: New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: $309 - $439 / None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment / 2:1 student:coach ratio
Dates: Weekly sessions available year-round
Application Deadline: No deadlines, open enrollment
Eligibility: All high school students
The Coder School is a personalized coding education program designed to build foundational and advanced coding skills through hands-on learning. It covers diverse topics including Python, Java, JavaScript, web development (HTML, CSS), game development, artificial intelligence, and robotics. You will engage in activities such as creating functional websites, designing and coding games, building AI projects, and learning practical programming concepts like conditionals and iteration. What makes theCoderSchool unique is its 2:1 student-to-coach ratio, which allows for personalized mentorship and tailored instruction. You will develop critical skills like logical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration, which are essential both in computer science and beyond.
14. SPARC (Summer Program for Automation, Robotics, and Coding)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NYC
Cost/Stipend: $2,500 (Tuition and fees) + $100 materials fee + $100 events fee (housing and meal plans are optional at $308 and $192 respectively) / None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective / small cohort
Dates: Session 1: June 14 – 28; Session 2: July 1 -- 19; Session 3: July 26 – August 9
Application Deadline: May 1 (or if spaces are available)
Eligibility: NYC high school students in grades 9-11 | Successfully completed Algebra 2 (or equivalent) | Have some computer programming experience
NYU’s SPARC is a two-week summer bootcamp in robotics and coding. In this intensive program, you will learn to build and program robots from the ground up. You’ll dive into hands-on robotics: assembling mechanical parts, wiring circuits, and coding microcontrollers to make robots move. Programming fundamentals like C/C++ and Python as they apply to robotics are covered. Projects culminate in robot challenge competitions: you might code an Arduino-based vehicle to navigate a course, for example. Beyond coding, SPARC includes guest talks and industry field trips. It’s a great choice for NYC students who want a short but deep experience in coding and robotics.
15. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Virtual | In-person camp at New York City
Cost/Stipend: None / None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not selective / 50-100 students
Dates: 2-week camps between July and August (NYC variant)
Application Deadline: Typically late March
Eligibility: Young women and gender-expansive teens aged 13-18 who are curious, passionate, community-minded, and enthusiastic about tech. No prior coding experience required.
Kode With Klossy Summer Camps are intensive two-week coding programs designed specifically for young women and gender-expansive teens. The curriculum offers four focused tracks: Website Development, Mobile App Development, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning. You will engage in hands-on activities such as building dynamic websites with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, creating fully functional iOS mobile apps using Swift and Xcode, analyzing and visualizing data with Python and SQL, and training chatbots through machine learning algorithms. Unique features of the camp include a supportive, inclusive community, mentorship from experienced instructors, and culture discussions addressing gender and racial gaps in tech. Scholars also develop problem-solving, teamwork, and project presentation abilities.
16. Veritas AI Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available / None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 42.5% / AI Scholars: 5:1 student/mentor ratio, AI Fellowship: 1:1 student/mentor ratio
Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November)
Eligibility: AI Scholars is open to all high school students | The AI Fellowship is for students who either have prior experience with Python or have completed the AI Scholars program.
Veritas AI offers an 8-week virtual internship focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning projects, placing students at VC-backed tech startups. You will work on real AI problems (like training neural networks or NLP tasks) under mentors from top companies (Google, Microsoft, etc.). You collaborate with company leadership and receive guidance from PhD-level coaches. Over the program, you’ll use tools like TensorFlow or scikit-learn to build models, analyze data, and contribute code to actual products. The experience culminates in a final presentation to the company’s team, mirroring a real startup demo. You will get a letter of completion from the company at the end.
Image Source - American Museum of Natural History Logo