13 IT Summer Internships for High School Students
Are you a high school student thinking of an IT career? Internships can give you a head start by helping you develop practical skills, strengthen your resume, and explore potential career paths before entering college. Internships are especially valuable if you’re interested in Information Technology because they offer experience with professional tools and technical skills, helping you figure out whether paths such as software development, cybersecurity, or data science are the best fit for you.
If you're serious about exploring IT, consider choosing a structured program designed for high school students. After reviewing national opportunities, we narrowed our list to 13 of the best summer IT internships for high school students in the United States.
1. Yale Information Technology (IT) Summer High School Internship
Location: Yale University Information Technology, New Haven, CT
Cost/Stipend: Unspecified
Dates: Variable
Application Deadline: Representatives of schools participating in the program nominate high-achieving students.
Eligibility: High school students in New Haven–area public schools
This internship allows high school students to explore technology roles that support Yale’s teaching and research mission. You might work in systems support, applications, networking, or other technology operations, gaining firsthand experience of how large-scale technology operations are managed in a professional environment.
You develop practical skills, including troubleshooting, documentation, and support processes, depending on your placement. The program also offers networking opportunities with Yale staff and other interns. Because the program is part of Yale’s New Haven community initiatives, you see how IT is integrated into broader institutional goals.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
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 offers a selective internship program that connects high school students with early-stage companies across a wide range of fields. As an intern, you are placed with a start-up in areas such as technology, artificial intelligence, health technology, marketing, journalism, and consulting.
Many of Ladder’s partner companies are in an active growth phase and have secured outside funding, giving you exposure to a fast-moving professional environment. Throughout the internship, you work directly with a manager on assignments and share your final work with the organization. The internship is conducted virtually and typically lasts eight weeks.
3. National Institute of Standards & Technology’s Summer High School Intern Program
Location: Boulder, CO, or Gaithersburg, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who have a minimum GPA of 3.0
The NIST Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP) is an eight-week research experience for high school students with an interest in science. In this program, you work alongside scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), contributing to a defined research project. Past interns have worked in labs such as the Communications Technology Laboratory and the Information Technology Laboratory, where research often involves computer science and statistical analysis. If you are especially interested in programming, you should clearly indicate this in your application. Familiarity with languages and tools such as Python, Java, or web development frameworks can be helpful for certain projects. In addition to research activities, the program includes opportunities to tour NIST campus facilities.
4. Meta Summer Academy
Location: Meta, Menlo Park, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost to participate; stipend unspecified
Dates: June 16 – July 25 (tentatively)
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: You must be a sophomore in high school during the academic year, a full-year resident of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City, and have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
Meta Summer Academy is a six-week program that introduces high school students to the day‑to‑day operations of a major social media and technology company. You spend about 30 hours per week on site, where you observe and engage with teams that work on different aspects of Meta’s products and services. During the program, you learn coding, explore a wide range of careers in technology, and learn soft skills such as communication and collaboration that are important in IT workplaces. The program is designed to introduce you to early career pathways in tech and to help build skills that can support your economic stability and mobility.
5. NYU’s Cyber Security for Computer Science
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–11
Cyber Security for Computer Science is a fully funded program designed for high school students who want an introduction to how digital systems are protected and attacked responsibly. Over the course of four weeks, you study core principles related to cybersecurity and ethical hacking, focusing on real-world issues such as privacy, data protection, and secure systems. The curriculum includes topics such as responsible hacking practices, cryptography, steganography, digital forensics, privacy, and data management. You also spend time learning coding, programming, and basic security analysis as part of the coursework. In addition to technical training, the program includes theatre-based workshops that focus on strengthening your communication and presentation skills, helping you explain technical ideas creatively and confidently.
6. George Mason Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program
Location: Science and Technology Fairfax campus, or Potomac Science Center, George Mason University, VA
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee/unpaid
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old (remote or computer lab in-person or hybrid internships) or 16 years old (‘wet-lab’ in-person or hybrid internships)
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) is a research program open to high school and college students who are interested in conducting structured academic research. In the program, you work with faculty mentors and use specialized tools and technologies to complete an original research project from start to finish. For students interested in information technology, available research areas include software engineering, human–computer interaction, game design and serious games, computer modeling, and related technical fields. As you progress, you develop skills in scientific writing and technical communication, while learning how researchers analyze results and share their findings. The program also includes discussions and meetings with professionals who introduce you to different STEM career paths. Depending on the scope and outcome of your work, your research may be submitted for publication or presented at academic conferences.
7. Tech Apprentice — Boston PIC
Location: Boston Private Industry Council (Boston PIC) / host companies, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost to participate; paid internship at $15/hour
Dates: Six to seven weeks in summer (tentatively)
Application Deadline: Unspecified (tentatively)
Eligibility: Boston Public Schools high school students who are tech‑savvy and interested in pursuing IT‑related majors in college
Tech Apprentice allows high school students to spend six to seven weeks in a paid technology internship at a Boston‑area company, arranged through the Boston Private Industry Council. You will be placed in a host company that relies on IT and digital support, giving you exposure to how technology functions in everyday business operations. Your assignments may include helpdesk and troubleshooting support, web design and programming, quality control tasks, or social media and video production work. You gain exposure to real workplace tools and workflows while applying and strengthening your existing technical skills. You also learn how IT functions inside different types of businesses, making it easier to decide the subject of study in college and tech career paths that might be the best fit for you. You can learn more here.
8. ISB High School Summer Intern Program (incl. Computational/IT Projects)
Location: Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA
Cost: No program fee mentioned; stipend details unspecified
Dates: June 30 – August 22 (tentatively)
Application Deadline: Mid-March
Eligibility: Current 11th graders only; competitive selection; must commit full-time
This internship allows you to work in research labs at the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) on projects that may include computational biology and other data-intensive areas connected to IT and programming. You are assigned to a lab and mentor, and contribute roughly 300 hours over about eight weeks, giving you a realistic view of how full-time research operates. You learn research methods, data handling, and possibly scripting or coding, depending on the project. A unique part of the experience is the creation of a personal web page, guided by a web designer, to document your work and reflect on the experience, helping you build skills in web technologies and digital communication. You may also attend group activities and talks that explain different research themes and career pathways.
9. High School Tech Internship Program — ESC of Central Ohio
Location: Educational Service Center of Central Ohio / participating employers, Columbus, OH
Cost/Stipend: No cost to students; interns must be paid at least $12/hour as W‑2 employees (employer wage, not a program stipend)
Dates: January 2 – September 30 (internships can occur within this window) (tentatively)
Application Deadline: June 13 (registration for 2025 internships has closed) (tentatively)
Eligibility: Ohio high school students who will be 19 or younger on the internship start date; students graduating in the spring are eligible; must be hired by an eligible Ohio employer into a technology‑focused role
This program allows you to work for an Ohio employer in a technology‑focused role such as software development, data, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, broadband/5G. You are treated like an entry-level employee, with real responsibilities and expectations that mirror professional IT roles. You can be placed in a variety of organizations across Ohooo, including private businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, and local governmenYou apply through a regional intermediary that coordinates between schools, students, and employers. Unlike many internships limited to summer, this internship can occur anytime between early January and the end of September, providing flexibility around school schedules. Overall, the program is designed to help you build technical skills while gaining early exposure to what working in IT really looks like.
10. STEM@GTRI High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), Atlanta, GA; Cobb County Research Facility, GA; Warner Robins field office, GA
Cost/Stipend: No program fee; paid internship (hourly rate Unspecified)
Dates: June 8 – July 17 (five‑week internship within a six‑week period; no work during the week of July 4) (tentatively)
Application Deadline: January 18 (tentatively)
Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, or seniors; at least 16 years old by March 29; must show U.S. citizenship or U.S. person status, attend school in Georgia, and have reliable transportation
This program provides an opportunity for high school students to work on research projects at Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) labs, some of which involve robotics, drones, radar systems, phototype development, and other engineering and computing applications. Unlike a summer camp, you are treated as part of an applied research team and paid for your contribution, gaining firsthand exposure to how applied research operates in a professional setting. You receive mentorship from GTRI researchers and attend orientations, lab tours, and training on technical skills such as soldering or assembly tools. The experience includes an all-day orientation at the start and an all‑day final presentation session, where you showcase your project outcomes.
11. AFRL Scholars Program — High School (IT and Cyber Options)
Location: Air Force Research Laboratory sites (e.g., Kirtland AFB, NM; Eglin AFB, FL; others in the U.S.) (city, state varies)
Cost/Stipend: No program fee; paid internship with a stipend of $501.60/ week
Dates: Summer sessions (often 8–12 weeks, depending on site) (tentatively)
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: High school students meeting site‑specific age, citizenship (often U.S. citizen), and academic requirements
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program places high school students on active research teams that study aerospace technology, robotics, cybersecurity, materials science, and other advanced STEM topics. Many projects include substantial computing work such as programming, simulation, or handling technical data. You work directly with AFRL scientists and engineers, following a schedule that resembles a summer job rather than a short camp. You receive a stipend for your participation, and specific amounts depend on location and academic level. The program emphasizes applying classroom knowledge to new technological developments, so you are expected to engage deeply with challenging material. You also attend educational sessions on STEM careers and may present the results of your work at the end of the program. The exact eligibility and application details vary by AFRL location, so you need to check the project listings to find IT‑ or cyber‑focused opportunities that are open to high school students.
12. NLM Data Science and Informatics (DSI) Scholars Program
Location: NIH campus, Bethesda, MD
Cost/Stipend: None; interns are paid a stipend
Dates: Flexible start and end dates, but typically 8–12 weeks starting in June
Application Deadline: February 18
Eligibility: U.S. citizen or resident, 18+, senior in high school or college, 3.2 GPA, with coursework in CS or related fields
The NLM Data Science and Informatics Scholars Program is a paid, full-time summer internship open to high school seniors and college students. In this program, you will work on research projects that apply computer science and data analysis to biomedical research. You are matched with a mentor from the National Library of Medicine’s Division of Intramural Research, who guides your work throughout the internship. Research areas may include data science, computational biology, informatics, machine learning, health data analysis, or algorithm design. In addition to project work, the program includes seminars and workshops focused on research and professional skills. The program culminates in two formal poster sessions at the National Institutes of Health.
13. Microsoft High School Discovery Program
Location: Microsoft, Redmond, WA or Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: No cost to participate; paid internship (exact pay amount Unspecified)
Dates: July 7 – August 1 (tentatively)
Application Deadline: Applications open in early February; closing date unspecified (tentatively)
Eligibility: You must be a graduating high school senior (rising first‑year bachelor’s student) who lives around Redmond, Washington, or Atlanta, Georgia
The High School Discovery Program places high school students on a Microsoft campus for four weeks, where they work full‑time on structured projects that introduce them to technology careers. Rather than just observing, you complete hands-on tasks that contribute to real work. Along the way, you will develop professional skills such as communication, collaboration, and time management while receiving mentorship from Microsoft employees. The program also helps you explore how your interests can translate into a career in technology at Microsoft or elsewhere, with guidance on different career paths, and access to resources that support your interview preparation and broader career development. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and Microsoft begins reaching out in March to schedule interviews, so it is important to have your resume and required responses ready when applications open.
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