15 Software Internships for High School Students in Michigan
High school internships are one of the most effective ways for you to explore career interests while building a strong academic and professional profile. By participating in internships, students gain hands-on experience, develop technical and soft skills, and strengthen their resumes for future college and job applications.
Why should I do a software internship in high school?
Participating in software internships for high school students offers several tangible benefits. First, internships allow you to apply classroom knowledge to real-world problems, helping you better understand programming concepts and software development workflows. They also provide exposure to tools like GitHub, Python, and web frameworks, which are widely used in the tech industry. Importantly, internships demonstrate initiative and commitment, qualities that significantly strengthen college applications, especially for competitive STEM programs.
This list focuses specifically on software internships for high school students in Michigan that offer meaningful learning experiences, mentorship, and skill development. To make this process easier, we’ve curated a list of the most credible and accessible programs available.
P.S. If you want to widen your search beyond Michigan,15 Free Computer Science Internships for High School Students covers accessible options from anywhere, and13 Business Internships for High School Students in Wisconsin is a solid look at what's available in a neighboring Midwest state if you're open to in-person options nearby.
15 Software Internships for High School Students in Michigan
1. Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI) Internships
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Stipend: Competitive hourly wage paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; very small research cohort
Dates: Generally aligned with the summer research cycle
Application Deadline: Rolling basis during the spring
Eligibility: Current high school student standing; demonstrated interest in STEM disciplines; ability to commute to the Ann Arbor research facility
During this internship, you gain direct exposure to applied environmental science and geospatial analysis. You support active grant-funded projects by collecting field data and processing remote sensing imagery alongside university researchers. Your daily responsibilities involve utilizing geographic information systems to map environmental changes and assisting with the statistical analysis of ecological datasets. This opportunity places you within a professional research facility, offering a rare pre-college look into university-level scientific investigation. By collaborating with senior scientists, you build foundational technical skills in spatial data software while strengthening your critical thinking and professional communication abilities.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 70–100 students per session
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. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
3. Oakland County NEXT Intern Program
Location: Oakland County, Michigan
Stipend: Competitive hourly wages funded through regional workforce development initiatives
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Broad intake; cohort of 164 interns across 60 employer partners
Dates: Offered year-round based on participant availability
Application Deadline: Rolling basis throughout the year
Eligibility: High school student or young adult between the ages of 16 and 24; completion of the Oakland NEXT application; interest in skill development and career exploration
In this program, you can pursue placements focusing on information technology and digital workflows. Within an IT placement, you navigate workplace technologies by actively supporting fundamental help desk operations and troubleshooting software systems. Your daily routine involves utilizing enterprise digital platforms to log technical service requests and maintain accurate electronic records for county employer partners. By assisting local technical teams with data entry and operational software processes, you gain a practical understanding of how digital systems sustain municipal and private sector workflows. This program equips you with practical computer skills and technical troubleshooting experience that support long-term workforce success in a professional digital environment.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here. While this isn’t an internship, it follows the work-learn structure of one.
5. General Motors Student Corps
Location: Metro Detroit, Flint, and Pontiac, Michigan
Stipend: $15/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective; mid-sized multi-team cohort
Dates: Typically, 8 weeks during the summer term
Application Deadline: Rolling basis prior to the summer cycle
Eligibility: Current high school student enrolled at a participating Michigan school
During the General Motors Student Corps internship, you engage directly with community development initiatives by operating within a semi-autonomous, student-led business unit. Although the primary focus is neighborhood service, you actively interact with modern workplace technologies to research, plan, and execute local improvement projects. Your practical responsibilities involve using digital communication platforms to collaborate with your team and employing basic project management workflows to organize task timelines. By working closely with corporate mentors and General Motors retirees, you gain exposure to the technology-enabled processes that sustain professional business operations.
6. Dow Chemical High School STEM Internships
Location: Midland, Michigan
Stipend: Competitive hourly wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small cohort of local students
Dates: Academic year and summer cycle
Application Deadline: Applications usually reviewed prior to the start of the senior academic year
Eligibility: Current high school senior standing; enrollment in a local Midland-area high school; ability to commute to the Midland Dow site
During a high school STEM co-op at Dow Chemical, you gain practical exposure to the operational technologies that drive a global materials science company. You support daily departmental workflows by assisting technical teams with digital data entry, maintaining electronic records, and navigating enterprise software systems. By managing operational spreadsheets and tracking departmental metrics, you learn how digital tools sustain large-scale corporate processes. This opportunity places you directly within a professional office environment where you utilize standard digital communication platforms to coordinate with staff. Through these practical technology interactions, you build foundational workplace software skills and professional communication abilities.
7. UM-Michigan Medicine BioMed Focus Program
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Stipend: Competitive research stipend paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small research cohort
Dates: Generally aligned with the summer research cycle
Application Deadline: Rolling basis during the spring
Eligibility: Current high school students; ability to commute to the Ann Arbor campus
During the BioMed Focus Program at Michigan Medicine, you immerse yourself in university-level biomedical research with a practical emphasis on digital data analysis. You support active clinical or laboratory projects by utilizing specialized computational tools to process biological data and track experimental outcomes. Your daily responsibilities frequently involve interacting with statistical software, electronic record systems, or digital imaging platforms to help organize and interpret complex research datasets. This direct interaction with scientific digital infrastructure bridges the gap between traditional biology and modern computational research methods. Ultimately, you develop essential technical skills in data handling and technical reporting that are critical for modern STEM careers.
8. University of Michigan Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Stipend: Competitive research stipend with campus housing provided for the duration of the program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small cohort
Dates: Generally aligned with the summer research cycle
Application Deadline: Rolling basis during the early spring
Eligibility: High school student standing from a rural or under-resourced community; demonstrated interest in pursuing STEM disciplines; strong academic record
During the University of Michigan Aspirnaut program at the Life Sciences Institute, you gain hands-on exposure to biomedical research heavily supported by computational data analysis. You work alongside university scientists to investigate molecular biology questions, utilizing specialized laboratory software to record and process complex experimental data. Your daily responsibilities include navigating digital imaging platforms, applying statistical tools to biochemical datasets, and maintaining precise digital research logs. This residential experience immerses you in a rigorous academic environment where you actively bridge biological techniques with modern digital workflows.
9. Knodemy Inc. Technology Internships
Location: Remote-accessible for Michigan-based students; hybrid model based in Livermore, California
Stipend: Performance-based monthly stipend typically up to $1,200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small-to-mid sized cohort
Dates: Typically June–August
Application Deadline: Generally aligned with the April recruitment cycle
Eligibility: High school students; background in computer science or artificial intelligence
In this internship, you will dive into the technical core of educational technology by developing and testing software-driven AI tools and coding platforms designed for K–12 learners. Your primary responsibilities involve building student-facing projects and contributing to internal AI development efforts using modern programming frameworks. In this role, you bridge the gap between software engineering and instruction, mentoring students in hands-on coding while refining your own skills in UI/UX design and technical debugging. Practical workflows include iterating on curriculum software and troubleshooting digital systems to ensure seamless delivery of complex technical concepts. This program offers unique exposure to the software development lifecycle, allowing you to participate in building tools that directly impact student learning outcomes.
10. American Chemical Society (ACS) Project SEED
Location: Michigan (sites including Midland, Detroit, and Ann Arbor)
Stipend: $4,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small research-focused cohort
Dates: Typically late June–August (8–10 weeks)
Application Deadline: April 6
Eligibility: Completed at least one course of high school chemistry; family income not exceeding 300% of the current Federal Poverty Guidelines; high school sophomore, junior, or senior status
In this program, you will immerse yourself in the Michigan chemical research ecosystem by collaborating with professional mentors at institutions like MSU St. Andrews or Wayne State University. While conducting hands-on chemistry experiments, you frequently utilize computational software to model molecular interactions and analyze complex experimental datasets. Your daily workflow involves operating digital instrumentation and leveraging specialized software platforms to document findings and visualize chemical structures. You gain practical technical experience by performing digital data entry, utilizing statistical analysis tools, and creating professional digital presentations of your research. This program builds your proficiency in scientific software applications.
11. Biomedical Career Advancement Program (BCAP) at Wayne State
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Stipend: Educational stipend awarded upon successful completion of program milestones and final research presentation
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 45 students
Dates: 6 weeks; typically late June through early August
Application Deadline: Generally, early April
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12; enrollment in the Detroit Public Schools Community District or residence in Wayne County; minimum 2.75 CGPA
In this program, you engage in data-driven biomedical research where you interface with modern laboratory software and digital diagnostic systems. Your daily activities include conducting experiments and recording observations within specialized research databases and digital laboratory notebooks. You utilize computational tools to analyze experimental data, often employing statistical software to validate findings before academic presentation. This role provides direct exposure to the digital workflows of a university research environment, including the use of electronic scientific platforms and presentation software for research posters. Through these technical interactions, you build foundational proficiency in scientific data handling and digital hygiene.
12. MSU Quantum Motor City Program
Location: East Lansing, Michigan
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive application-based selection; small specialized cohort
Dates: July 29–31
Application Deadline: Typically June–July
Eligibility: High school students; interest in engineering or STEM; primary focus on participants from the Detroit area
In this program, you will explore the cutting-edge intersection of physics and computer science through a hands-on introduction to quantum technology. You utilize software tools to program real IBM quantum hardware, bridging the gap between theory and practical application. Your primary technical activity involves writing and executing code for quantum circuits alongside specialists from the IBM Quantum Education Team. Beyond coding, you observe the physical infrastructure of the field through guided tours of research facilities and interaction with quantum chips. This fully funded initiative ensures you gain the technical exposure necessary for pursuing degrees in engineering and technology.
13. Wayne State University Summer High School Research Program (Discovery To Cure)
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Stipend: NIH-funded research stipend consistent with federal grant-supported high school fellowships
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small research-focused cohort
Dates: Typically 8 weeks from June through August
Application Deadline: Generally, late winter or early spring semester
Eligibility: High school students entering their senior year; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
In this intensive research fellowship at the C.S. Mott Center, you collaborate with faculty mentors to execute biomedical projects using advanced laboratory software and digital systems. You manage experimental data within research databases and perform rigorous data analysis using specialized statistical software to validate your findings. The program emphasizes technical proficiency, requiring you to operate digital imaging platforms and computational tools to track molecular developments in reproductive biology. You are responsible for transforming raw research outputs into digital presentations, leveraging data visualization software to communicate scientific conclusions. Beyond wet-lab work, you gain exposure to genomic analysis platforms and technology-enabled workflows foundational to modern precision medicine.
14. Magna International Mentorship & Internships (NextGen)
Location: Troy, Michigan; Auburn Hills, Michigan; Grand Rapids, Michigan
Stipend: Competitive hourly compensation
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small cohort of STEM-focused high school students
Dates: Typically June–August
Application Deadline: Generally reviewed during the winter or early spring semester
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in STEM; current enrollment in a secondary education program; background in robotics or coding preferred; legal authorization to work in the U.S.
In this program, you collaborate with engineering mentors to support the development of next-generation automotive systems. Your daily workflow involves utilizing software tools to manage research data and performing technical updates on laboratory hardware and digital systems. You gain hands-on experience with industry-standard platforms, including Python or MATLAB, to assist in the scripting and automation of complex engineering tasks. Through the NextGen mentorship framework, you interact with enterprise databases to ensure data integrity while supporting the testing of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). You are responsible for documenting technical workflows and participating in Agile project meetings that mirror professional software development environments.
15. Ford NGL (Next Generation Learning)
Location: Southeast Michigan, including Dearborn and regional NGL hubs
Stipend: Paid hourly compensation
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small-to-mid-sized cohort across Michigan NGL communities
Dates: Typically six to eight weeks during the summer months from June to August
Application Deadline: Generally reviewed on a rolling basis with applications typically opening in late winter
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school student; interest in STEM or technical pathways; cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; resident of a Ford NGL partner community in Michigan; authorization to work in the U.S.
In this role, you engage with enterprise software tools and digital platforms to support real-world projects within engineering or IT departments. Your daily activities include utilizing data analytics software to organize technical information and assisting with the maintenance of digital documentation systems. You will gain exposure to professional software development cycles by observing how technical teams collaborate on automotive and mobility solutions. Throughout the program, you utilize collaborative workplace technologies to communicate with mentors and present your project findings to business leadership. This internship bridges the gap between your high school STEM curriculum and the practical application of software tools in a global manufacturing environment.
16. Bosch Group Student Internships / Shadowing
Location: Farmington Hills and Plymouth, Michigan
Stipend: Hourly compensation
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small local cohort centered around Bosch’s Michigan technology hubs
Dates: Typically aligned with the local academic school year for co-op cycles or the summer recess
Application Deadline: Rolling basis during the seasonal recruitment cycle
Eligibility: Current enrollment in a Michigan high school as a junior or senior; minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
In this program, you explore the intersection of automotive hardware and digital systems by assisting engineering teams within Bosch’s Michigan innovation hubs. Your role involves navigating professional software environments to support the testing and validation of vehicle control modules. You gain hands-on experience using diagnostic tools and data handling platforms to document system performance and software iterations. During shadowing sessions, you observe the implementation of embedded code within mobility solutions like automated driving or electrification technologies. This program provides you with direct exposure to the agile development workflows and technical standards used in global industrial software projects.
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