11 Online ML Internships for High School Students
Machine learning is rapidly shaping the future of technology and beyond. If you're a high school student with a curious mind and a passion for exploring the dynamic fields of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), a machine learning internship is an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience. At the core of AI, machine learning develops algorithms that enable computers to learn and make predictions from data without being explicitly programmed. This technology is integral to industries such as healthcare, finance, marketing, and autonomous vehicles
Online internships have become a practical and accessible way for high school students to gain real-world experience. These internships offer exposure to key industry skills, practical knowledge, and networking opportunities, all from the comfort of home. They provide an affordable and flexible alternative to traditional internships, making them ideal for students looking to explore fields like machine learning (ML) without a hefty price tag.
If you are a high school student, interested in ML, these online internships provide hands-on projects, mentorship, and a way to connect with professionals in the field. To help, we've made a list of the top 11 online ML internships.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 16 - 27
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 and older by the start of the program. Student leads must be California residents, while student interns must reside in the U.S. Undergraduate students with a background in computer science may also apply for student lead positions.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, accepts 20 interns per session
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week program for high school students passionate about artificial intelligence and its applications in medicine. You will gain knowledge in AI and explore its role in healthcare. As an intern, you will attend lectures on AI in healthcare, collaborate on research projects, and receive mentorship from Stanford AI research engineers.
The program also features Virtual Career Lunch and Learns with speakers from academia, nonprofit, and government sectors, providing valuable career insights and networking opportunities. The program doesn’t offer any academic credit, instead, a certificate of completion is awarded at the end.
Location: Remote – work from anywhere in the world
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort – Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November). Apply here
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students. Must be able to commit 10-20 hours per week for 8-12 weeks
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Ladder Internships offers a fully virtual program designed for high school students eager to gain real-world experience. You will collaborate with high-growth start-ups across sectors such as tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting.
These start-ups are well-funded with over a million dollars raised, and provide an innovative and dynamic environment. You will work closely with managers and a dedicated Ladder Coach on impactful projects, that conclude in a final presentation to the company. The 8-week program offers flexibility, allowing students to gain valuable industry experience from anywhere in the world.
Location: Virtual and on-site options at NASA centers
Cost/Stipend: Varies
Application Deadlines: February 28 (Summer) and May 16 (Fall)
Program Dates: Varies by position
Eligibility: U.S. citizen, high school student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers internships to high school students with hands-on experience in STEM fields, emphasizing space exploration and scientific research. You can collaborate with experienced NASA professionals on various projects, which may include full-time or part-time roles, either remotely or at a NASA center.
Tasks range from conducting research and data analysis to contributing to advanced projects such as AI & ML for Air Traffic Management, AR/VR applications, and the NASA Ames Astrobee Facility. For a full list of available positions, visit the NASA OSTEM internship page.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,490
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort—Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Program Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Eligibility: Open to high school students with prior experience in AI/ML or those who have completed a Veritas AI program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohorts with one-on-one mentoring
The Veritas AI Internship, founded by Harvard graduate students, offers high school students an opportunity to conduct real-world AI/ML projects with VC-backed startups. Over the course of 8 weeks, you will collaborate with mentors from esteemed institutions and companies, including Harvard, Google, Microsoft, and McKinsey & Company.
This program provides practical AI/ML experience, direct exposure to industry careers, and the chance to work closely with startup leadership. At the conclusion of the internship, you will receive a letter of completion, showcasing your achievements and skills gained.
5. Spark Summer Mentorship Program (SPARK SMP)
Location: Virtual, with additional opportunities in the Greater Seattle area, Washington
Cost/Stipend: No cost; some projects offer stipends
Application Deadline: April 22 (tentative). Applications for summer 2025 will open in March or April
Program Dates: Typically May to August, lasting 8 to 12 weeks, depending on the project
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents residing in the United States
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 3-5%
The Spark Summer Mentorship Program (SPARK SMP) offers internships focused on real-world applications of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data visualization. You can choose from 1 to 5 projects aligned with your interests, working on remote initiatives that tackle industry challenges.
Past projects featured the "Data Engineering and AI for Real World Problems" track, where students engaged in AI/ML applications, predictive analytics, and data pipeline projects. As an intern, you will collaborate with industry leaders, university professors, and mentors, gaining invaluable insights and practical experience. Other projects have spanned diverse topics like extreme weather analysis, software engineering, disease detection, ML workflows, quantum technologies, and more.
6. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Fully remote, hybrid, and in-person options available at George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee (waivers available for financial need). Transport and housing not covered; internship is unpaid
Application Deadline: February 2
Program Dates: June 18 – August 8
Eligibility:
- Remote internships: Must be at least 15 years old by the program start date
- In-person or hybrid computer lab internships: Must be at least 15 years old by the program start date
- In-person or hybrid wet-lab internships: Must be at least 16 years old by the program start date
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program at George Mason University is a program that places students with faculty researchers on innovative projects. This 8-week program provides hands-on experience with advanced technologies, enhances scientific writing and communication skills, and introduces you to diverse STEM career paths through professional discussions and networking.
If you are interested in AI, the program features research areas such as electrical and computer engineering, information science, cybersecurity, and digital innovation. Projects include Modeling and Simulation, Data Science, Agent-Based Simulation, and cognitive modeling. Remote internships led by Ron S. Mahabir focus on data science, earth observation, natural language processing, machine learning, and deep learning, providing a rich research environment for budding scientists.
7. Summer Research Program - Columbia University
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Program Dates: 5 weeks in the summer; specific dates TBA
Eligibility: Hgh school students with an interest in data science
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
The Summer Research Program - Columbia University offers high school students an opportunity to develop in-demand technical skills in data science. This program focuses on transforming students from beginners to proficient researchers in data science, with applications across industries such as medicine and sports.
You will act as research assistants to professors and PhD candidates, contributing to ongoing research projects. Through this program, you will create your own research project and presentation, which can be highlighted in your college applications. Your responsibilities include working on data analysis, data visualization, web scraping, data cleaning and wrangling, research protocols, programming skills in R, developing research projects, and techniques for oral presentations.
8. ASPIRE by Johns Hopkins University
Location: Virtual or in-person at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland
Cost: Free for all accepted participants
Application Deadline: February 15
Program Dates: June 24 - August 21
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors aged 15 or older, with a minimum GPA of 2.8. Applicants must be permanent residents of the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan region
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15%-20%
The ASPIRE program at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory offers high school juniors and seniors a valuable opportunity to explore STEM careers before committing to a college major. You will collaborate with lab staff on real-world projects, developing both technical and interpersonal skills. The program offers both virtual and in-person internship options, with virtual participants completing most tasks online except for essential in-person activities like onboarding and equipment management.
You can choose your primary area of interest, with potential project assignments in fields such as computer science, engineering, information technology, cybersecurity, mathematics, data analysis, etc. While primary interests guide project assignments, secondary interests may also be considered for projects that require specific skill sets.
9. NASA’s GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS) Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; participants receive a small stipend
Application Deadline: Applications typically open for 3-4 weeks in January or February
Program Dates: Specific dates will be announced in January
Eligibility: Must be at least 16 years old by December 31, 2025, entering junior or senior year in Fall 2025, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and have completed at least one high school biology course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, approximately 30 students per cohort
While not exclusively a machine learning (ML) program, NASA’s GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS) offers students hands-on experience in bioinformatics, big data analysis, and computational biology, which are essential components of ML-driven research. Sponsored by NASA’s Ames Research Center, the program offers omics-based bioinformatics research, focusing on the analysis of complex biological data. You can join interactive classes, such as "Molecular Biology and the Omics Revolution," and receive hands-on training with NASA’s GeneLab Data System to apply bioinformatics skills.
You will study organismal physiology in microgravity and NASA’s life sciences programs, while engaging with scientists and industry experts through guest lectures, virtual field trips, and networking opportunities. The program ends in a research competition, with the top team presenting at the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research conference. This four-week virtual program runs from 8 AM to 3 PM (Pacific Time), Monday through Friday, and is known for its selectivity, with only 27 students in the most recent cohort.
10. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Online
Cost: $4,000
Application Deadline: January 24
Program Dates: June 18 - July 2
Eligibility: Rising 10th graders (must be over 14 by program start), with a preference for students with math or computer skills
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate intake
Stanford AI4ALL is a two-week online program aimed at fostering diversity in artificial intelligence. It covers topics such as Robotics, Computer Vision, Medical AI, and Natural Language Processing, with a focus on hands-on research projects and mentorship.
You will be mentored by professionals from the Stanford AI Lab, gain insights into AI’s societal impact, and develop practical AI skills. The program concludes with career development support, equipping students with a solid foundation for future AI endeavors.
11. AI Internship with Amazon (AWS)
Location: Online
Cost: $399
Application Deadline: TBA
Program Dates: TBA
Eligibility: High school students in grades 8 to 12; no prior coding or computing background required
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate intake
The AI Internship with Amazon (AWS) is a four-week program designed for high school students to explore the fundamentals of AI. This hands-on experience combines live instruction with an internship component, focusing on the logic and math behind AI models like chatbots, self-driving cars, and image recognition.
Guided by Amazon (AWS) industry mentors, you will work on real-world AI applications and tackle a social challenge, applying AI to create impactful solutions. You will also receive a certificate from Amazon (AWS) upon successful completion of the program.