10 Computer Science Internships for High School Students in the Bay Area (San Francisco++)
If you are a high school student in the Bay Area looking to build computer science skills, an internship in the field is worth considering.
Computer science internships designed for high school students combine learning with hands-on experiences. Internships also offer opportunities to explore career interests and connect with professionals without the high cost of summer programs.
As an intern, you get to learn beyond the classroom, work on team or individual projects, contribute to ongoing research work, and possibly earn a stipend for your work! In the process, you may also get some real-world exposure to concepts like cybersecurity, coding, research, data science, machine learning/AI, and software engineering.
Colleges, universities, and tech organizations across the Bay Area offer computer science internship programs that are structured, competitive, educational, and open to high school students. To help you get started, we have come up with a list of 10 computer science high school internships in the Bay Area.
Location: Meta headquarters, Menlo Park, CA
Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores who live in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City and have a minimum GPA of 2.0
Stipend: Paid + breakfast, lunch, and transportation to central pickup sites covered
The Meta Summer Academy (MSA) is a six-week paid summer high school internship in the Bay Area offering hands-on exposure to the inner workings of one of the world’s leading tech companies. Here, you will spend 30 hours per week on developing coding, financial literacy, art and media, and professional skills. Additionally, you will work on guided projects, engage in group activities, and attend weekly sessions with guest speakers. You will also have a chance to meet with Meta employees across departments and get insights into various technical and non-technical career paths. You will also have access to structured mentorship and get to build networking skills through facilitated interactions and panels. The program also offers opportunities to build teamwork, leadership, self-reflection, and communication skills.
Location: Online
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions in a year | AI Scholars program runs for 10 weeks while AI Fellowship runs for 12 to 15 weeks
Application deadline: Varies depending on the chosen cohort | The upcoming cohort’s deadline is June 22
Eligibility: High school students | AI Fellowship applicants should have been participants of the AI Scholars program or have some experience/familiarity with AI concepts or Python
Cost: Starts at $2,290; financial aid available
Veritas AI offers multiple programs for high school students interested in exploring computer science and artificial intelligence. If you apply to the beginner-friendly AI Scholars, you will learn how to use Python and explore the basics of machine learning, AI, and data science. Here, you will also get hands-on experience working on a project. For a more advanced learning experience, you can choose the AI Fellowship program, which comes with a mentorship component and work on a unique project. In the past, Veritas AI program participants have worked on interdisciplinary projects that combine AI concepts with fields like environmental science, mental health, and more. Check out past student projects here.
3. Berkeley Lab Director's Apprenticeship Program
Location: Berkeley Lab Main Campus, Berkeley, CA
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 17 – July 25
Application deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11 from Alameda, San Francisco, and Contra Costa counties who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents and at least 16 years old
Cost/Stipend: No cost to participate; $500 weekly stipend
The Berkeley Lab Director’s Apprenticeship Program: Interdisciplinary Pathways to Machine Learning and Data Science is a six-week high school internship in the Bay Area. Hosted at the Berkeley Lab, the program offers a chance to work on real-world science and data projects and explore the field of computer science through a short course in Python and data science fundamentals. You will spend four days a week on campus, collaborating with lab researchers and operations staff. A key part of the program is weekly discussions with STEM professionals, which will give you insights into a range of careers and skill sets. At the end of the program, you will present your work. Following the summer session, you can access additional short courses and may be invited back for an internship the following year, depending on your performance and program availability.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: 10%; 700 applicants accepted for 70 spots
Dates: Multiple cohorts each year, including winter, summer, fall, and spring
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year based on the cohort you choose
Eligibility: High school students who can work for 5 to 15 hours/week for 8 to 16 weeks
Cost: Starting at $2,490; financial aid available
A virtual internship program founded by Harvard alumni, Ladder Internships, places high school students with startups and nonprofits across industries, including computer science, AI, software engineering, and health tech. While applying, you can choose a field of interest. If selected, you will be paired with an organization and contribute remotely to real-world projects and collaborate with teams on company-defined deliverables. You will also attend weekly check-ins with mentors and build technical and professional skills throughout the program. The program culminates in a final presentation, where you share your ideas with the organization’s representatives. In addition to project work, Ladder offers skill-building sessions focused on workplace communication, collaboration, and productivity.
5. Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program
Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: The internships start in June for rising sophomores and juniors and continue through their high school graduation
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school freshmen and sophomores enrolled full-time in an SFUSD school with a minimum GPA of 2.5 and a C grade or higher in science and math | Applicants must be able to obtain a valid work permit
Cost/Stipend: Stipend paid (above minimum wage)
The Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program is a paid, multi-year opportunity for 9th- and 10th-grade students in San Francisco public schools. Run by the California Academy of Sciences, the CiS program runs year-round, with sessions held after school and on weekends during the school year, and weekdays during the summer. You begin as a rising sophomore or junior and continue with the program through high school graduation. As an intern, you will engage in tasks like teaching visitors on the museum floor, conducting fieldwork outdoors, and participating in science research and environmental action projects. The program includes bi-monthly training sessions where you get to build science communication skills, explore STEM careers, and receive support with financial literacy and college applications.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; 25
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school students who are older than 14 and U.S. citizens/permanent residents or valid visa holders
Cost/Stipend: Application fee: $40 + Program fee: $850
Stanford AIMI offers a two-week virtual Summer Research Internship to high school students interested in AI and healthcare. The program focuses on the application of AI techniques to real-world medical challenges. Each day, you will attend lectures, group research sessions, and career talks with professionals across academia, industry, and public health. You will also have access to mentorship from Stanford researchers. You will get to work in a team on a research project guided by Stanford student mentors. The project will focus on analyzing healthcare data using AI tools, encouraging you to think critically and come up with practical solutions. While the core internship lasts two weeks, you can be part of the select group invited to continue with their independent research beyond the program.
Location: Different sites in the San Francisco Bay Area
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Six-week summer internships; specific start and end dates vary
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: SFUSD high school sophomores and juniors | Preference given to rising seniors
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
The San Francisco Unified School District's Summer Internships provide high school students with paid, hands-on experiences across various sectors, including computer science. With this program, you can get some work experience in tech, machine learning, or computer science. You will work with industry mentors and find opportunities to develop technical and professional skills. The program focuses on real-world learning and networking with professionals and peers. It also offers a weekly work-based learning seminar with an SFUSD Supervisor/Mentor.
8. Genomics Research Internship Program at Stanford
Location: Hybrid, with the in-person portion held at Stanford University campus, Stanford, CA
Cohort size: Selective; approximately 20 students for over 400 applicants
Dates: June 16 – August 7
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 or older, residing in Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, or Santa Cruz counties with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0
Cost/Stipend: No cost + need-based scholarships offered
The Genomics Research Internship Program at Stanford (GRIPS) offers Bay Area high school students an eight-week introduction to computational genetics and genomics. This hybrid program places you in research labs, where you work on real-world genomics projects under the guidance of experienced mentors. The curriculum includes lab work, data analysis, and exposure to tools commonly used in biomedical research, such as Python and R. You must commit to a 20-hour weekly schedule. Alongside research, you will join weekly cohort sessions, attend career panels in biomedical science, and engage in regular check-ins with mentors.
9. Stanford’s Science, Humanities, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (SHTEM) Summer Internship
Location: Remote
Cohort size: 60
Dates: June – August; exact dates TBA
Application deadline: March
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are at least 14 years old, as well as full-time community college students within their first three years, between the ages of 17 and 21
Cost/Stipend: $50 application fee; Need-based stipends available
Stanford’s SHTEM Summer Internship offers high school juniors, seniors, and early community college students an eight-week, fully remote research experience that blends science, humanities, technology, engineering, and math. Here, you will be placed in small groups of 2–5 and matched with projects based on your interests. You will work closely with mentors from Stanford’s Compression Forum, including faculty, staff, and students. Additionally, you will engage in regular virtual meetings, research assignment work, and collaborative discussions, typically committing 30–40 hours per week. This experience can offer insights into the interdisciplinary nature of research.
10. Google Computer Science Summer Institute
Location: Various locations in the U.S.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified.
Dates: Typically from June to August
Application deadline: February
Eligibility: High school seniors who plan to attend a four-year institution in the U.S. and are planning to major in computer engineering, computer science, software engineering, or a related field
Cost/Stipend: Free
Google’s Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI) is a three-week summer program for high school seniors who plan to major in computer science or related fields. Designed especially for students from underrepresented backgrounds, CSSI focuses on building core programming skills through project-based learning. Here, you will get to work on hands-on coding assignments and collaborate in teams to build real-world applications, guided by Google engineers and mentors. The curriculum includes daily development sessions designed to prepare you for technical careers. Additionally, you get a close look at how Google teams operate, explore different roles in tech, and gain insights into internship paths at the company. Sessions are structured to balance learning with applied problem-solving, encouraging both independent and collaborative work.