15 Software Internships for High School Students in Indiana
Internships in high school are one of the most effective ways to move beyond classroom learning and gain real-world exposure early. These experiences also help you stand out in college applications by demonstrating initiative, curiosity, and a willingness to explore beyond academics.
Why should I do a software internship in high school? What does Indiana have to offer?
For students interested in software and technology, internships are particularly valuable because they introduce you to fast-growing fields like software development, web development, data science, and artificial intelligence. Whether you're interested in building apps, writing code, or solving real-world problems through technology, early exposure can help you identify your strengths and interests. Indiana is an emerging Midwest tech hub, particularly in cities like Indianapolis, offering high school students a highly supportive environment with less intense competition for early-career opportunities than coastal tech centers. Additionally, the state's growing investment in STEM initiatives and local startups provides accessible, hands-on software experience right at the ground level.
To make your search easier, we’ve curated a list of some of the best software internships for high school students in Indiana, focusing on opportunities that offer hands-on experience, mentorship, and real-world application.
P.S. If you're open to remote or nationally available programs, 13 Free Online Computer Science Internships for High School Students is a great companion to this list, and 14 Summer Internships for Rising High School Juniors has some broader options worth considering depending on where you're at in high school.
15 Software Internships for High School Students in Indiana
1. SEAP High School Internships
Location: Crane, IN
Stipend: $4,000 (New Participants) / $4,500 (Returning Participants)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; ~300 interns annually
Dates: 8–10 weeks between June – August
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Current high school students/U.S. citizens or permanent residents; must be 16+ years old
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP), supported by the U.S. Department of Defense, places high school students in research labs where they work alongside scientists and engineers. Projects may involve programming, AI modeling, or data analysis conducted in professional laboratory environments with advanced equipment. During the internship, students learn research methodologies, experiment design, and computational problem-solving across STEM disciplines. Immersive AI exposure may be lab-dependent, and participants must thoroughly research the offered course pathways before enrolling. The program also includes professional development sessions focused on resume-building skills.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies according to the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25% acceptance; 70–100 students per cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
In the fully virtual Ladder Internship Program, you spend eight weeks working remotely with fast-growing startups to gain hands-on software engineering experience. You will explore modern tech topics, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and frontend web development. During the internship, you will write code for real prototypes, analyze data to solve business problems, meet weekly with dedicated company managers, and deliver a final presentation to your host company. The program's unique feature is its remote model that pairs you directly with Y-Combinator-backed founders and CEOs without requiring travel. Ultimately, you learn practical coding applications, professional communication, and project management while building a tangible portfolio. Apply now!
3. Nextech Catapult Internships
Location: Indianapolis, IN (Butler University); Evansville, IN (Innovation Pointe); and Anderson/Muncie, IN (via TeenWorks partnership)
Stipend: $1,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: Early June – Early July
Application Deadline: Mid-February
Eligibility: Current high school students (entering grades 10–12) with an interest in computer science and AI, who attend a high school in Marion County, Evansville, or surrounding areas (Anderson and Muncie students can participate via the TeenWorks partnership)
In this internship, you dive directly into software development while earning a generous paid stipend. You will cover essential tech topics like front-end web development using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, alongside modern AI applications using Python. To apply these concepts, you participate in hands-on design thinking workshops, build a complete digital portfolio website from scratch, and collaborate on a career-based group project. Furthermore, you will network with local Indiana tech professionals through guided industry tours and career workshops. By the end, you gain concrete coding skills, a polished personal brand, and collaborative workplace readiness.
4. Indiana CTSI SEED/STEM Program
Location: IU IN, IU School of Medicine, and IBRI
Stipend: $4,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies annually based on faculty mentor lab availability
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students interested in STEM; open to all backgrounds, but the stipend component specifically requires financial eligibility documentation
In the Indiana CTSI SEED/STEM program, you engage in an eight-week immersive research experience in which your computer science skills are applied across diverse fields, including medicine, dentistry, life sciences, chemistry, and biomedical engineering. You are paired directly with leading faculty at institutions such as the IU School of Medicine to contribute to computational or data-intensive lab projects. Throughout the summer, you will collaborate with professional researchers to analyze data, participate in weekly professional development seminars, and master new technical skills. At the program's conclusion, you will present a formal research poster at a large symposium.
5. CareerWise Elkhart County Internships
Location: Elkhart County, IN (partners with businesses and all seven public school districts across the county)
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 60–80 students
Dates: 2-to-3-year duration; the program generally starts in the fall of the student's junior year
Application Deadline: Varies annually (typically Winter/Spring)
Eligibility: High school students applying during their sophomore or junior years to participate during their 11th and 12th-grade years; enrolled in one of Elkhart County's seven public school districts; certain schools/employers also require students to meet minimum attendance standards and maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA
In the CareerWise Elkhart County IT apprenticeship, you work directly for local employers while finishing your high school degree. You cover essential tech topics like network administration, database management, and enterprise software support. During your shifts, you will diagnose software bugs, manage data entry systems, and run quality assurance tests on applications. A truly unique feature of this program is that it operates as a federally registered apprenticeship, meaning you earn a paycheck, high school credits, and college credits simultaneously. By completing this experience, you learn advanced technical troubleshooting, practical problem-solving, and professional workplace communication.
6. TechPoint Youth Xplore Program
Location: Indianapolis & Fort Wayne, Indiana (Hybrid: in-person + virtual)
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; typically 25–40 students per regional session Dates: Indianapolis: Early June (2 weeks); Fort Wayne: Mid-July (2 weeks)
Application Deadline: Early April
Eligibility: High school students (16+), rising juniors/seniors and recent graduates who are Indiana residents
The TechPoint Youth Xplore Program is a paid, hybrid micro-internship experience designed specifically for high school students exploring careers in technology. Through a mix of virtual work simulations and in-person micro-internships, you gain exposure to fields like software engineering, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, and product development. You’ll work on short-term, project-based tasks with real companies, giving you a taste of multiple tech roles in a short period. In addition to technical exposure, the program emphasizes career exploration, mentorship, and professional skill-building, including networking with industry experts.
7. Ivy Tech Modern Youth Apprenticeship Program
Location: Evansville, IN (Students split their week between the Ivy Tech Evansville campus, their home high school, and the local employer's site)
Stipend: Paid hourly, rates vary by employer
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies based on available tracks and employer capacity
Dates: Typically spans 3 continuous semesters (e.g., Fall, Spring, and one 8-week Summer session) overlapping with the high school academic year
Application Deadline: Varies by program track and employer (generally aligns with EVSC course scheduling in the Spring for a Fall start)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (facilitated in partnership with Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation / EVSC OptIN)
In the Ivy Tech Modern Youth Apprenticeship IT track, you balance your high school education with paid, hands-on software training. You will cover essential technical topics like software development fundamentals, IT infrastructure, and enterprise system administration. Throughout the program, you will actively configure software deployments, troubleshoot system errors, and assist professional teams with database management. The internship features a hybrid schedule, allowing you to split your week between high school classes, college-level Ivy Tech coursework, and a real job at a local employer. Ultimately, you will learn practical scripting, critical system diagnostics, and workplace communication while earning an industry-recognized credential.
8. Madison Consolidated Schools – Technology Internships
Location: Madison, IN
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 4–5 students
Dates: Summer (Late May / Early June through August)
Application Deadline: Mid-April
Eligibility: Students capable of working independently or with a group; ability to lift up to 30 pounds, a valid driver's license or reliable transportation, strong organizational skills, familiarity with spreadsheets and inventory systems, willingness to maintain strict student privacy/confidentiality, and comfort working on ladders up to 6 feet
As a technology intern at Madison Consolidated Schools, you work directly with IT staff to manage the hardware and software systems powering local classrooms. Your role covers core IT operations, focusing heavily on device lifecycle management, data privacy compliance, and operating enterprise inventory software. Throughout the summer, you will actively troubleshoot student Chromebooks, navigate specialized software to update district-wide equipment spreadsheets, and securely stage devices for upcoming classroom deployments. By completing this internship, you learn practical hardware diagnostics, professional software-based data tracking, and collaborative IT problem-solving.
9. Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation – Student Tech Cadets
Location: Greenfield, IN
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 20–25 students per term
Dates: Academic Year (August – May); includes Summer eLearning conferences Application Deadline: Semester-based (Typically early August and early January) Eligibility: Currently enrolled GCHS Students (grades 9–12)
As a Student Tech Cadet at Greenfield-Central, you serve as the first line of IT defense for your peers and teachers within the district's 1:1 MacBook Air environment. You will cover essential software topics like Apple macOS troubleshooting, educational software deployment, and Google Workspace administration. Your daily activities include diagnosing software conflicts on student devices, building digital tutorial libraries for teachers, and guiding users through application training. The program features a peer-to-peer structure, allowing you to manage real IT tickets and support requests seamlessly during your regular school day. Ultimately, you will build concrete skills in technical problem-solving, customer service communication, and enterprise software support.
10. First Indiana Robotics Techhounds – Software Internships
Location: Carmel, IN
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~100–120 students
Dates: January – May (Full Season); Year-round training
Application Deadline: Late August / Early September
Eligibility: Carmel High School students
As a member of the programming division for Carmel High School's TechHounds robotics team, you will dive deep into object-oriented programming using Java, advanced version control with GitHub, and autonomous computer vision systems. Throughout the intense build season, you will write production-level code to control a 120-pound industrial robot, calibrate Limelight vision sensors for target tracking, and debug complex hardware-software integrations alongside the electrical team. The experience's unique feature is its strict project timeline, forcing you to write, test, and deploy functional code under competitive deadlines. Ultimately, you learn collaborative coding, rapid problem-solving, and precise system diagnostics that directly translate to professional software engineering roles.
11. First Indiana Robotics Red Alert – Software Training
Location: Greenwood, IN
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~10–15 students
Dates: January – May (Build & Competition Season); Year-Round (Off-season training/camps)
Application Deadline: Typically August / September for the upcoming season
Eligibility: Grades 9–12 students in the Center Grove School Corporation
When you join Red Alert, you operate exactly like a junior software engineer within a student-led technical startup. You will cover core computer science topics including object-oriented programming, control systems, and algorithmic logic. Throughout the season, your primary activities will include writing production-level Java code, managing version repositories via GitHub, tuning PID controllers for autonomous movement, and debugging complex hardware-software integrations. The team's unique feature is its high-stakes, competitive environment where the code you write directly operates a 120-pound industrial robot in fast-paced arena competitions. Ultimately, you will learn advanced programming, collaborative version control, and real-time problem-solving under extreme pressure.
12. Community Hospital East & North (Project SEARCH) – IT Internships
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 8–12 Interns
Dates: August – May
Application Deadline: Typically March 1
Eligibility: Students ages 18–22; on IEP; Last year of HS; VR Eligible
In the Project SEARCH IT internship at Community Hospital East or North, you replace your traditional school day with a unique transition-to-work immersion program designed specifically for students with disabilities. You will cover practical tech topics like healthcare data management, enterprise software navigation, and basic IT support protocols. Your hands-on activities will involve logging technical helpdesk tickets, updating digital hardware inventories using tracking software, and navigating hospital databases to perform precise data entry. Through these tasks, you develop essential, real-world skills in software troubleshooting, database management, and professional workplace communication.
13. NASA OSTEM Internship
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Paid based on academic level & duration
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely competitive; ~2,000+ interns annually across the entire agency for all academic levels combined
Dates: Spring: Mid-January to Early May (Typically 16 weeks); Summer: Early June to August (Typically 10 weeks); Fall: Late August to Mid-December (Typically 16 weeks)
Application Deadline: Spring: September 12; Summer: February 27; Fall: May 22
Eligibility: Currently enrolled full-time high school students who are 16 years old or above; U.S. citizens; GPA of 3.0+
The NASA Office of STEM Engagement Internship, offered by NASA, immerses students in space technology and computational research projects across subjects such as aerospace, biology, earth science, administration, AI/Data science, and more. In AI-related tracks, you often contribute to data science, simulation coding, and AI projects. You also attend career webinars and technical talks to broaden your industry insights, and contribute to real missions and build software tools and analytical models used by engineers and scientists. The program includes mentorship from experts and exposure to cutting-edge scientific workflows.
14. GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS) — NASA Ames / GeneLab
Location: Virtual (Hosted by NASA Ames GeneLab team)
Stipend: None
Dates: June 1 – August 28
Application Deadline: March 15, or until 1,000 applications are received
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or rising seniors attending U.S.‑based high schools; U.S. citizens or permanent residents (including citizens of Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Marianas); minimum unweighted GPA 3.0; at least one high school biology course completed
In this program, you explore the intersection of space life sciences and software by analyzing real biological data. You will cover technical topics including omics-based research methodologies, bioinformatics, and computational biology techniques. During the program, you will process complex genomic datasets using Jupyter Notebooks, run standardized RNA-sequencing pipelines, and collaborate to pull data from NASA’s Open Science Data Repository. The program uniquely uses actual biological data from past spaceflight missions for your team's capstone research proposal. Through this experience, you build skills in computational data analysis, problem-solving, and formal scientific presentation.
15. MITRE Nationwide High School Student Program
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: 8-week summer session (typically June through August)
Application Deadline: Typically mid-to-late February / Early Spring for the upcoming summer
Eligibility: Grades 9–12 (current freshmen through seniors); minimum 14 years old by June start date; U.S. citizens or legally eligible to work in the U.S.
In the remote MITRE Nationwide High School Student Program, you work directly alongside professional engineers on actual national security and public interest technical challenges. You will dive into critical tech topics like software engineering, cybersecurity, and data analytics. During your internship, you will write and test functional code, analyze complex datasets to spot system vulnerabilities, and collaborate in daily agile team meetings. The program places you inside a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), letting you contribute directly to real government projects rather than simulated student exercises. Ultimately, you will gain practical skills in secure programming, technical problem-solving, and professional workplace communication.
Image source - Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) logo