12 Free Software Development Internships for High School Students
For high school students interested in coding, app development, or computer science, software development internships offer an accessible way to gain professional experience. These programs let you work on projects, learn industry-standard tools, and receive mentorship from professionals. Many of these internships are completely free or fully funded, with some even offering stipends to support your time and commitment. Whether you're exploring web development, artificial intelligence, or software engineering, these experiences can help you build a portfolio, grow your technical skills, and prepare for college or a future in tech.
Below are 12 free software development internships for high school students. We’ve selected them for their accessibility, learning opportunities, and strong mentorship.
1. Google’s Computer Science Summer Institute
Location: Virtual with some residential options available
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 3 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: High school seniors planning to attend a 4-year institution in the US or Canada with a passion for computer science and intending to pursue a degree in it or a related department
Google’s CSSI is a free, three-week summer program where students develop software development skills and collaborate on projects to create web or mobile apps with Python, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. You’ll collaborate with peers in small cohorts, receive guidance from Google mentors, and use tools and workflows similar to those in industry engineering teams. By the end, you’ll present your project to staff and fellow interns, gaining experience in coding, teamwork, problem‑solving, and technical communication.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: 100% financial aid available
Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students
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. 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. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
3. Microsoft High School Discovery Program
Location: Microsoft campuses in Redmond, WA, and Atlanta, GA
Stipend: Paid
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: Opens in early February
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who live around a participating campus and are planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree
During this selective 4‑week summer program, high school seniors at Microsoft’s Redmond or Atlanta campuses join engineering teams to work on software or data projects. As an intern, you assist with coding, testing, and design while learning from experienced Microsoft engineers. The program also includes sessions on career planning, inclusive tech culture, and professional development. Many cohorts conclude with a showcase event where you present your work. This immersive experience is best suited for students ready for a more intensive, in‑person introduction to software engineering and who want exposure to a leading tech company’s work environment.
4. Meta Summer Academy
Location: Meta headquarters in Menlo Park, CA
Stipend: Provided (varies year to year)
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores; minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA; residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City
Over six weeks at Meta’s Menlo Park campus, participants gain exposure to how a major tech company operates through team projects, coding tasks, product design workshops, and introductions to community or social-impact initiatives. Interns contribute to internal projects or prototypes, attend professional‑development training, and learn what it takes to work in a fast-paced tech environment. The program includes mentorship from Meta employees, sessions on career paths and “big tech” culture, and opportunities to present your work to staff. For high school students interested in the tech industry, this internship offers early insight into the company's workflow, product lifecycle, and global collaboration.
5. TECH360
Location: Hybrid (virtual sessions with 2 in-person sessions)
Stipend: $500
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by session and location
Application Deadline: Typically in May
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors currently attending a New York City (all boroughs), Los Angeles County, Miami-Dade/ Broward County, or Atlanta high school
During the TECH360 internship, you'll build foundational skills in computer science and AI through practical experience and teamwork. You'll work with web development tools like HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap, while also learning about AI topics such as machine learning and predictive models. The program covers ethical issues in technology, including algorithm bias and AI's social impact. A key part of the program is the group project, where teams create an AI-based tool or website and present their solutions to judges at Demo Day.
6. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program
Location: Various Department of Navy (DoN) research laboratories across the U.S.
Stipend: $4,000 for new participants; $4,500 for returning participants
Cohort Size: 300 placements
Dates: 8 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: U.S. High school students who have completed grade 9 and are 16 or older; labs may have additional requirements
For eight weeks during summer, SEAP places high school students in Navy research labs around the U.S., working on engineering, software, or technical projects. You will assist with experiments, software tools, or data analysis while learning how research supports ships, aircraft, and national security. Alongside lab work, students attend STEM‑career seminars and ethics workshops, and often present their results at the end of the internship. This program works well if you’re interested in combining software development with applied science, national research, or defense‑related technology.
7. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internship
Location: U.S. Army Research Laboratories, engineering centers, and partner universities across the United States (sites include Johns Hopkins, Penn, NJIT, and many others)
Stipend: Provided; exact amount varies
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by location; typically 6-10 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents; additional requirements vary by location
AEOP High School Internships provide hands-on research opportunities in a variety of advanced STEM fields. As an intern, you will work closely with university researchers or Department of Defense (DoD) scientist mentors, gaining experience with cutting-edge equipment in labs. The program focuses on critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork, preparing students for careers in STEM. If you're interested in software development, you can select research projects that center on AI, coding, and software engineering, including those offered by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command.
8. NIST’s Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Location: NIST campuses in Gaithersburg, MD, and Boulder, CO
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Unpaid
Cohort Size: Varies by opportunity
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are juniors or seniors in high school during the application period with a minimum GPA of 3.0
SHIP brings high school juniors and seniors onto NIST campuses for an 8‑week summer internship, where you’ll join teams working on computer science, cybersecurity, or measurement‑science projects. As an intern, you’ll engage in coding, data analysis, lab work, or applied research with professional‑grade tools, working alongside researchers and engineers. The program offers mentorship, practical problem-solving opportunities, and insights into how government research underpins industry standards, public safety, and technological progress. Many labs also host poster or presentation sessions where you share your results.
9. AFRL Scholars Program
Location: Air Force Research Laboratory sites across the U.S., including Kirtland AFB (New Mexico), Eglin AFB (Florida), AMOS in Maui (Hawaii), Wright-Patterson (Ohio), Edwards (California), Whiteman (Missouri), and others
Stipend: $501.60 weekly for high school students
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 8–12 weeks full-time between early June and late August
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: Upper-level high school students who are at least 16 years of age (by session application deadline) with A grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
The AFRL Scholars Program offers high school students an 8–12 week paid internship at Air Force research labs across the U.S. You’ll work with engineers or scientists building software tools, working on sensor data, simulations, or cyber tools relevant to aerospace, defense, or engineering research. Interns participate in lab tours and technical seminars and often prepare final reports or presentations showcasing their work. This is a strong option for students interested in software development with real‑world applications in aerospace, defense, or cutting‑edge technology.
10. Girls Who Code - Summer Immersion Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free ($300 needs-based grant for eligible students in the United States)
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 2 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: April 16
Eligibility: Girls and non-binary students in high school students 9th-11th
This free, two‑week virtual program offers participants an entry point into coding, web development, or simple game/app creation. You’ll learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, collaborate with peers in small teams, and build a final project that reflects a real problem you care about. The program includes live instruction, near-peer mentorship, and a supportive online community. Along with technical learning, you’ll join workshops and Q&As with women working in tech, giving you insight into how coding skills translate into real careers.
11. NYU Tandon School of Engineering - Cyber Security for Computer Science
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: To be announced
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11 living in NYC and Nassau County
This summer program introduces high school students to computer science and cybersecurity through labs covering topics like cryptography, digital forensics, network security, and ethical hacking. Over three weeks, you’ll work with peers on various challenges, practice coding and security‑analysis skills, and build small tools or projects that simulate industry‑level tasks. You’ll also hear from instructors and guest speakers working in cybersecurity or software engineering. The program helps you strengthen your problem‑solving, collaboration, and technical communication skills.
12. Carnegie Mellon's CS Scholars Program
Location: Carnegie Mellon University campus, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Fully funded
Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: June 20 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors of 16 years of age and in 10th and 11th grade; Must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Students who are registered with DACA are also eligible
This one-month residential program covers programming, algorithms, and computer science fundamentals. You’ll attend daily lectures and guided labs, solve coding problems, debug software, and work in teams on a final group project using Python. In addition to technical work, the program includes workshops on college planning, wellness, and student life at a top-tier university. You’ll also get to meet faculty and graduate students who can guide you throughout the process. By the end, you’ll have a stronger foundation in CS concepts, experience with college‑style coursework, and a portfolio project
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