12 Computer Programming Internships for College Students

If you’re a college student studying computer science, a focused internship can be one of the most effective ways to build practical skills and improve your career prospects. Internships that involve coding experience and project-based work often stand out on resumes, especially when they connect you with industry professionals or open-source communities. These opportunities not only help you apply what you’ve learned in class but also prepare you for technical interviews and future roles in the tech field.

In this blog, we’ve compiled 12 computer programming internships for college students–programs that involve team collaboration and exposure to software development. Whether you're interested in government research, open-source work, or early-stage startups, this list covers a range of comprehensive internships for college students that can support your academic and professional growth.

1. Ladder's University Internship Program

Location: Remote
Cost: $2,490 (full financial aid available)
Dates: Approximately 8 weeks starting July 14
Application deadline: June 23 (Summer cohort II)
Eligibility: Open to undergraduates and gap year students 

Ladder’s University Internship Program offers an eight-week, part-time opportunity for college students to collaborate with startup companies on projects. The time commitment ranges from 5 to 10 hours per week, allowing you to balance the internship alongside your academic responsibilities. Projects are designed to align with both your skills and the needs of the startup, giving you a chance to contribute directly to live development cycles while building a portfolio of work. This program is a good fit if you're looking to apply programming knowledge in a startup setting without the pressure of a full-time role. It is designed to be outcome-based, meaning you'll leave with practical deliverables that can strengthen your resume, and in some cases, gain a professional reference from your mentor. 

2. Sandia National Laboratories Internships

Location: Various locations across the U.S., including New Mexico and California
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend amount varies with your experience and the internship position
Dates: Varies by internship
Application deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens who are at least 16 years of age, specific eligibility criteria may vary by position

At Sandia National Laboratories, interns get the opportunity to work with experienced scientists and engineers on projects that support national security, advanced computing, and energy innovation. Internships typically fall under the Intern Institute Program, where you’re matched with a team working in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, or engineering systems. As a programming intern, you might work on developing algorithms, optimizing code for high-performance computing environments, or contributing to simulations that solve technical problems. Beyond the core project work, interns also receive mentorship tailored to their academic background and professional goals, while gaining access to tools and research infrastructure. Strong performance during this internship for college students can also open doors to future employment opportunities at Sandia.

3. NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

Location: Boulder, Colorado | Gaithersburg, Maryland
Cost/Stipend: $7,810 (approx)
Dates: Main 11-week program: May 19–August 1 |  Alternatives to accommodate various academic calendars: Offset 11-week program: : June 2–August 15 | 9-week program: June 2–August 1
Application deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents enrolled as undergraduate students at U.S. colleges or universities

Through the National Institute of Science and Technology’s SURF, interns spend 11 weeks in full-time research at one of NIST’s specialized laboratories, such as the Information Technology Laboratory or the Communications Technology Laboratory. If you're interested in computer programming, you might be involved in projects focused on cybersecurity, data science, cryptographic standards, or software reliability, often working with real measurement systems or simulations. You will be expected to participate in ongoing research, contribute to data analysis, and help draft reports or technical presentations. You will also be guided by NIST scientists and engineers, gaining exposure to the kind of multidisciplinary work that influences national standards and policies. This internship for college students is a solid option if you're considering a career in government or research-driven sectors.

4. Idaho National Laboratory Undergraduate Internship

Location: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Stipend: Varies by number of college credits earned and degree program
Dates:10 to 16 weeks, year-round
Application deadline: Rolling enrolment 
Eligibility: Open to full-time students attending an accredited high school or college the semester before and after an internship award, with at least a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA

The undergraduate internship at Idaho National Laboratory places college students within a national research facility where their programming skills can be applied to ongoing projects in cybersecurity, high-performance computing, or information systems. Over the course of the internship, you will work with a mentor to define a specific technical objective, often involving coding tasks, software testing, or data processing pipelines tailored to INL’s clean energy and national security work. Unlike many internships, you’re not just observing; you're expected to contribute to solutions, troubleshoot issues, and deliver a final product or presentation that reflects your efforts. You'll also take part in weekly sessions and tours that offer a broader view of the lab’s ongoing research and priorities. By the end, your work will be part of a public showcase at the INL Intern Expo. 

5. Air Force Research Laboratory Scholars Program

Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Stipend: $615.60 – $861.60/week (based on education level and credits earned)
Dates: Fall: 16 weeks (late August/early September – mid-December); Spring: 16 weeks (mid-January – early May); Summer: 10 weeks (late May/early June – August
Application deadline: October 10–January 10 (summer cohort)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens over 16 years of age with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0

The AFRL Scholars Program is a paid summer internship where you collaborate directly with AFRL scientists and engineers on research-driven projects focused on national defense technologies. You’re expected to contribute to your assigned project, which could include coding, data acquisition, or computational modeling depending on the lab's focus. Throughout this paid federal internship for college students, you will engage in technical problem-solving, apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, and work in a structured research environment. Some projects also provide the opportunity to align your work with academic research or future thesis topics. 

6. NASA Pathways Internship

Location: NASA centers across the country
Stipend: Varies by academic hours completed, position location and grade level of the position being filled
Dates: Multiple semesters until graduation and conclude by 180 days after you complete your degree requirements
Application deadline: Unspecified 
Eligibility: Applicant must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years old, and enrolled in a degree or certificate-seeking program at an accredited educational institution. You also need to have completed a minimum of 15 semester hours or 23 quarter hours of coursework and be able to work at least 480 hours before completing degree requirements and currently have and maintain a cumulative 2.9 GPA on a 4.0 scale

If you’re a college student interested in applying your programming skills in a long-term, real-world setting, the NASA Pathways Internship could be worth exploring. This is not a one-off summer role; it’s designed as a multi-semester program that gives you recurring placements across different NASA departments. Interns in computer science or IT-related fields often work on backend development, mission software testing, data automation tools, or cybersecurity systems, depending on current project needs. You will get to contribute directly to these initiatives, not just observe, making this internship ideal for students looking to grow their technical experience in stages. The structure of this internship for college students is intentional, with many participants transitioning into full-time roles after graduation.

7. NASA OSTEM Internship Program

Location: NASA centers across the country
Stipend: Paid; amount varies
Dates: Spring: 16 weeks (mid-January – early May); Summer: 10 weeks (late May – August) ; Fall: 16 weeks (late August – mid-December)
Application deadline: Spring: September 12 | Summer: February 27 | Fall: May 22
Eligibility: Applicant must be a U.S. citizen, a full-time student (high school through graduate level), or a part-time college student enrolled in at least 6 semester hours, and have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. You must also be at least 16 years old at the time of application and be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in STEM

The NASA OSTEM Internship Program gives college students the chance to apply programming skills in real-time, mission-aligned projects for those studying computer science or a related field. Interns work beside NASA professionals, including scientists, engineers, and IT specialists, at one of the agency’s centers or facilities, either full-time or part-time depending on the session. Through this paid internship for college students, you may work on areas like software development for spacecraft systems, coding tools for data analysis, or supporting simulations used in research and exploration missions.  Each placement is designed to build technical experience and career readiness, with mentoring and clearly defined project goals. OSTEM internships run year-round in three seasonal cycles, making it easier to find a time that fits your academic schedule.

8. CS@Mines Virtual Computing Internship

Location: Remote and in-person options available
Cost: $100 (financial aid available)
Dates: 6 weeks during summer (exact dates unspecified)
Application deadline: April 18
Eligibility: Open to community college students with a strong interest in learning computer science

The CS@Mines Virtual Computing Internship is a six-week remote program where you’ll work in small, mentor-led teams on computer science research projects. Aimed at community college students, the internship allows you to dive into fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, or software development through collaboration. You will first be matched with a team led by an undergraduate mentor from Colorado School of Mines, and then commit roughly 5 to 20 hours per week. Projects typically focus on solving problems or exploring socially beneficial tech applications, giving you a chance to develop both technical and research skills in a guided environment. While the internship is unpaid, it provides experience in collaborative computing projects that are often research-based. 

9. CodeDay Labs – Open-Source Software Internship

Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 20–August 25
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all college students (varies by track)

The CodeDay Labs Open-Source Software Internship offers a remote, team-based experience where you spend the summer contributing to open-source projects with peers and an industry mentor. Interns are assigned to a project based on their experience level (Init, Intermediate, or Advanced) and work on real technical challenges in areas like AI, healthcare, or automation. The experience is designed to help you develop not just programming skills, but also familiarity with tools like Git, collaborative workflows, and deployment practices. Alongside your coding work, you will also take part in career prep activities such as technical talks, resume reviews, and mock interviews. By the end of the internship for college students, you’ll have written and shipped code that becomes part of live, publicly available software.

10. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)

Location: Remote | Hybrid | In-person (George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia)
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee (may be waived based on your financial needs)
Program dates: June 18–August 8
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students must be at least 15 years old for remote internships and at least 16 years old for in-person or hybrid wet-lab internships. Applicants must not have graduated from university before or during the internship

George Mason University’s ASSIP is a full-time, eight-week research experience where you will work closely with faculty mentors on advanced STEM projects. As an intern, you may contribute to projects involving machine learning, software engineering, data analysis, or computational modeling across disciplines like neuroscience, environmental science, or bioengineering. You'll be expected to code, analyze results, and help present findings–developing technical and research skills in the process. The program also includes sessions on scientific writing, communication, and career exploration, helping you build a broader understanding of STEM pathways. Many participants go on to present their work at conferences or contribute to peer-reviewed research.

11. Google Summer of Code (GSoC)

Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: 12+ weeks during the summer
Application deadline: March 24–April 8
Eligibility: Students and beginners in open source aged 18+. Prior programming experience is recommended but not required

Google Summer of Code is a remote, open-source development program where participants spend 12 or more weeks contributing to a project with a mentor from a participating open-source organization. As a contributor, you will begin by selecting an organization and submitting a detailed project proposal based on ideas they’ve shared. If accepted, you’ll first go through an onboarding phase to get familiar with the community, tools, and codebase before starting the actual development work. Throughout the summer, you’ll write code, track your progress against defined milestones, and collaborate regularly with your mentor to refine and troubleshoot your project. At the end, you’re expected to submit working code that becomes part of a live, publicly used repository. 

12. Volvo Group: Digital and IT Intern

Location: Dublin, Virginia
Stipend: $16–$46 per hour
Program dates: August 18–December 12
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Open to students currently pursuing a degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field, having a minimum GPA of 2.75

College students residing in Dublin, Virginia, or nearby areas may want to consider the Digital and IT Internship at Volvo Group, especially if you're looking to apply programming and tech skills in an industry setting. In this part-time, on-site internship, you’ll assist with digitization projects that aim to improve internal processes and IT systems across departments. Your tasks may include supporting system setup and maintenance, automating workflows, performing data migration and analysis, and contributing to software testing and issue resolution. Interns will also work with teams on implementing cloud tools and documenting technical processes, giving you exposure to both the operational and development sides of IT. Scheduled from mid-August through mid-December, this internship for college students offers experience with a range of technologies while contributing to actual business needs.