12 Best Computer Science Internships for College Students
If you’re a college student interested in computer science, consider doing an internship in the field to gain professional experience before graduation! Whether you're exploring software engineering, data science, cybersecurity, or AI, an internship helps bridge the gap between what you learn in class and what the industry demands.
A good computer science internship doesn’t just improve your coding skills; it improves how you work in teams, communicate technical ideas, and solve problems under constraints. It also makes your resume more competitive, especially if you're applying to research positions, graduate programs, or tech roles after college.
In this blog, we’ve compiled 12 of the best computer science internships for college students. These programs cover a wide range of interests, including academic research, start-up work, and corporate tech roles.
1. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type (financial aid available)
Application Deadline: June 23 (Regular admission for Summer Cohort II)
Dates: July 14 – September 8 (8 weeks)
Eligibility: Open to university students (undergraduate level), gap-year students, and advanced high schoolers able to commit 5–10 hours/week
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 70-100 students
Ladder offers college students the chance to work directly with high-growth startups across industries like tech, AI/ML, fintech, and digital marketing. Interns are matched with a company based on their interests and assigned a Ladder Coach to guide their progress. You’ll take on deliverables, collaborate with startup teams, and build a project you can showcase. Past interns have worked on everything from market research and UI design to backend automation and pitch deck development. The program runs fully online and includes regular feedback, goal setting, and optional workshops.
2. Breakthrough Tech TDI (Tech Development Internship)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Paid (hourly rate set by host company)
Dates: May 12 – May 30
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Must be authorized to work in the U.S. | Enrolled in a bachelor's program (computing-related major/minor) | Minimum GPA of 2.0
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not available
Sprinternships are short-term, full-time internships designed for students early in their computing journey. Over the course of three weeks, you will work in teams of four to solve technical challenges for companies like Google, American Express, and Capital One. Each team is assigned a “Challenge Project” that mirrors actual tech problems, giving you a chance to work collaboratively while gaining exposure to development cycles. Interns are fully onboarded as employees by their host companies and paid for their time. Depending on the employer, the internship may be held in person, hybrid, or remote. Sprinternships are especially useful for students looking to build confidence, sharpen teamwork skills, and get their first tech-industry credential on a résumé.
3. NASA’s OSTEM Internship Program
Location: NASA centres across the U.S. or virtual (varies by project)
Stipend: Varies and based on academic level and session duration
Application Deadlines: Spring: September 12 | Summer: February 27 | Fall: May 22
Dates: 10–16 weeks (varies by session and project)
Eligibility: U.S. citizenship required | Minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) | Must be a full-time student (high school, undergraduate, or graduate) or part-time college student enrolled in at least 6 credit hours | Must be at least 16 years old by the time of application
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 5%, with some centers reporting as low as 4%
NASA’s OSTEM internships offer high school and college students the chance to work on projects that support the agency’s mission in space, aeronautics, and Earth science. You will be paired with mentors from across NASA’s 18 centers and work alongside scientists, engineers, analysts, and other professionals. Projects span both technical and non-technical fields, including computer science, software development, cybersecurity, data science, communication, and program management. Interns typically work full-time during summer sessions, gaining skills, professional training, and insight into NASA’s operations.
4. Google STEP & Software Engineering Internship
Location: Multiple
Cost: None (paid internship)
Application Deadline: Typically opens September–October (year prior)
Internship Dates: 12–14 weeks during summer (May–August)
Eligibility: For STEP: First or second-year undergraduates in CS or related fields, For Software Engineering: Current undergraduate or graduate students in tech-related fields
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive (often <5%)
Google’s internship program is one of the most competitive in tech, offering roles across engineering, product, UX, and business domains. The STEP (Student Training in Engineering Program) is designed for early-year undergraduates, providing foundational exposure through mentorship, training, and project work. The general software engineering internship, open to more advanced students, allows you to contribute directly to products used by millions. Expect a multi-stage selection process, including resume shortlisting, coding tests, and 2–3 technical interviews. You will receive guidance from Google engineers, attend training sessions, and participate in team-based project development.
5. Meta Summer Internships
Location: United States, Canada, or Mexico (Interns are placed at Meta offices)
Internship Dates: ~10 weeks (Typically May–August)
Application Deadline: Opens in Fall; closes by January (deadlines vary each year)
Stipend: Free to attend; includes competitive stipend (Paid internship)
Eligibility: First- or second-year undergraduate students in a four-year degree program, studying in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~200 interns accepted each year
If you’re in your first or second year of college and curious about tech, Meta University is one of the most prestigious early-career internships in the industry. As a participant, you’ll be paired with a personal mentor and placed within a Meta team that aligns with your interests, be it software engineering, data science, or product design. Across 10 weeks, you’ll build core technical skills, work on real-time projects, and gain firsthand exposure to Meta’s global work culture. The internship includes onboarding bootcamps, hands-on training, leadership chats, and peer learning. It’s a unique way to get early access to Meta’s tools, mentorship, and network while being paid to learn.
6. Data Science Institute (DSI) Summer Lab – University of Chicago
Location: University of Chicago, IL
Cost: Free; students receive a stipend
Application Deadline: TBA
Internship Dates: June 16 – August 8 (8 weeks)
Eligibility: Open to undergraduates and high school students living in the Chicago area
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Small cohort; not published
The DSI Summer Lab is an 8-week, paid research program that pairs students with mentors across disciplines to work on applied data science projects. Hosted by the University of Chicago, the program covers a wide range of fields including computer science, climate policy, biomedical research, materials science, and public policy. You will gain experience in research design, data analysis, and technical writing while contributing to active academic research. You will work full-time in a cohort environment with support from faculty, researchers, and graduate mentors throughout the program. The experience is especially valuable for students interested in building a research portfolio, exploring interdisciplinary applications of data science, and developing foundational skills for future academic or industry roles.
7. IBM Extreme Blue Internship
Location: Global (Program is virtual or in IBM offices like San Jose, TX, NC, depending on placement)
Cost: Free (Paid internship)
Dates: 12 weeks (typically Summer, around June–August)
Application Deadline: Rolling, varies by location and university
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate students (including MBA). Applicants must demonstrate strong technical and leadership skills
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive
Extreme Blue is IBM’s leadership-focused internship where students solve business challenges alongside technical innovation. Each team includes three technical interns and one MBA intern acting as a product manager. You will work on live projects involving cloud, AI, or quantum computing and may even file patents. Benefits include mentorship from senior IBMers, professional development workshops, and a final Expo Day where teams present to IBM executives. Interns from previous cohorts have gone on to full-time roles across IBM’s AI, Systems, and Quantum teams.
8. NVIDIA Internship Program
Location: Global (Offices across the US, India, and other regions; some roles may be remote)
Cost: Free (Paid internship)
Dates: Year-round; minimum 12 weeks (typically Summer for student cohorts)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Primarily open to college and graduate students with strong programming and research backgrounds.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive
NVIDIA internships offer opportunities to work on projects across AI, robotics, computer vision, and GPU architecture. Interns are treated as full employees, collaborating closely with top engineers and researchers on technologies. Many research interns contribute to publishable work or projects tied to their dissertations. The internships run year-round, typically for a minimum of 12 weeks, and come with strong mentorship and benefits. Candidates are expected to have excellent programming skills, a strong research track record, and the ability to work in teams. It’s one of NVIDIA’s primary pipelines for hiring early-career talent.
9. Intel Internship Program
Location: Global (USA, India, Mexico, Brazil, Malaysia, Taiwan, etc.)
Cost: Free (Paid internship)
Dates: Year-round opportunities (Summer internships are most common, typically 10–12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling (varies by role)
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate and graduate students in STEM and related fields. Some roles specify location or language requirements.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive
Intel offers internships across software, hardware, AI, systems, and R&D. Interns are integrated into teams to work on projects and receive training via Intel University, which offers over 7,000 courses. The program also includes leadership development, volunteering opportunities (Intel Involved), and potential full-time pathways through Intel Gigs and the Early Career program.
10. Netflix Internship Program
Location: Primarily USA (Los Gatos, Los Angeles, and other global offices depending on the team)
Cost: Free (Paid internship)
Dates: Typically Summer (10–12 weeks); dates vary by role
Application Deadline: Rolling (varies by position)
Eligibility: Open to students and recent graduates in relevant fields such as data science, engineering, research, and analytics
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Netflix offers internships for college students across multiple teams, including Data Science & Engineering and Consumer Insights. As an intern, you will work on projects that influence content recommendations, streaming optimization, platform strategy, and consumer behaviour analysis. These roles often involve working with cross-functional teams and data infrastructure to support Netflix’s global entertainment mission. Internship roles are posted individually as openings become available, especially under teams like Data & Insights, which improve personalization algorithms, audience research, and platform design.