15 Prestigious Computer Science Internships for High School Students
Computer science is a rapidly growing field with endless career opportunities. From software development to AI and cybersecurity, there are many exciting paths to explore if you enjoy problem-solving and technology. However, gaining real-world experience early on can make a huge difference in building your skills and exploring potential careers.
Many prestigious computer science internships for high school students will give you a hands-on way to dive into computer science. You'll get practical coding experience, industry exposure, and mentorship—all without the high costs of many summer programs. Many are free or even offer stipends, making them an accessible way to explore tech.
By working on real projects and connecting with professionals during prestigious computer science internships for high school students, you’ll gain valuable insights into the tech world. Programs from top universities and companies like MIT, Microsoft, and Meta will help you go beyond textbooks and set yourself up for future success in computer science. In this blog, we’ve put together a list of 15 of the most prestigious computer science internships for high school students to help you get started!
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Exact program start dates vary; the program starts in mid-June and runs for 6 weeks
Application Deadline: February (tentatively)
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors; applicants from underrepresented and low-income backgrounds are encouraged
As one of the most prestigious computer science internships for high school students, MITES is a six-week summer program at MIT for high school juniors passionate about STEM. It offers advanced courses, including computer science, that go beyond standard high school classes. You’ll work on hands-on projects, visit labs, and attend workshops led by industry experts.
The MITES Summer Program packs a semester of college-level learning into one exciting summer. You’ll take advanced math, science, and electives in areas like Machine Learning, Architecture, and Genomics—topics most high schools don’t cover. You’ll also explore how STEM impacts society and how to use your skills to create change.
Location: Remote
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. The summer cohort starts on June 2
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. April 13 for the regular admission into the summer cohort
Eligibility: High school students able to work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! During this program, you will get to work with high-growth start-ups that on average raise over a million dollars. These internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. As an intern, you will get to work closely with your start-up managers as well as a Ladder Coach on real-world projects. At the end of the internship, you’ll present your work to the company. Here is the application form.
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York
Stipend: $1,000
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 2 – August 18
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: NYC-residing high school students completing 10th or 11th grade in June
The NYU Tandon ARISE program is a 10-week research experience for high school students interested in STEM, including computer and data sciences. During the program, you’ll spend six weeks conducting research in NYU faculty labs, working under the mentorship of graduate or postdoctoral students.
The program also includes four weeks of workshops on topics like data collection, analysis, research practices, and lab safety, which will help you develop essential skills for computer science research. During the final five weeks, you’ll contribute directly to your assigned lab, working on research in fields such as computer science, data science, and technology, and gaining hands-on experience that prepares you for future studies and careers in tech.
Location: Hybrid (New York)
Stipend: $1,000
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: 9 months from September to August
Application Deadline: Priority Application: July 6 | Final Application: August 3
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors enrolled in a New York City, Los Angeles County, or Miami-Dade/Broward County public or charter school
The Tech Flex Leaders (TFL) program is an immersive, out-of-school initiative designed for high school juniors and seniors in New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami who are interested in exploring careers in technology. Over nine months, you will gain hands-on experience in coding, develop essential professional skills, and connect with industry leaders.
The program is split into two semesters and an internship period. In the first semester, you will focus on web development, mastering HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap to build your own projects. During the second semester, you will narrow down and choose a specialized track—advanced web development, UX design, digital marketing, product management, or data science.
If you complete both semesters in New York City, you will have the opportunity to secure a paid summer tech internship through the Access Tech team. If you are in Los Angeles or Miami, you will be eligible to apply for select internship opportunities as they become available.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,490
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year; the summer cohort starts in May
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort. March 23 is the deadline for early admission into the summer cohort.
Eligibility: High school students experienced with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program
The AI Internship Program by Veritas AI is founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the 8-week internship, you will have the opportunity to work with VC-backed startups on real-world AI/ML projects and with mentors from Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, and more.
If you’ve had experience with AI/ML and are looking to gain real-world exposure to a career in the field, then this internship is a good opportunity. As an intern, you’ll work closely with company leadership and network with industry professionals. You’ll also receive a letter of completion from the company at the end of the internship. You can learn more about the program here and apply here.
Location: Virtual and in-person in New York
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Varies based on availability
Application Deadline: Rolling; applications open in February for fall internships
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and have a cumulative GPA of 2.9 or higher on a 4.0 scale
The NASA Pathways Internship Program is another one of those prestigious computer science internships for high school students. During this program, you will gain hands-on experience tailored to align with NASA’s long-term workforce needs. This multi-semester program prepares you for a career at NASA and offers a direct path to full-time employment upon graduation.
You will be able to work in various disciplines, including engineering, science, and technology. Your role will depend on your area of study and interest, with internships available in engineering (GS-899), physical sciences (GS-1399), and information technology (GS-2299) for technical fields. This program also provides real-world experience in NASA’s operations and projects, equipping you with the skills needed for a future career in the agency. Specific disciplines and skill sets will be posted before applications open.
7. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships
Location: Various labs across the U.S.; virtual options are available too
Stipend: Varies depending on location and project
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: 6-10 weeks in May–August. Specific dates vary depending on the location.
Application Deadline: Rolling. Applications open on December 4 and remain open throughout the year
Eligibility: Current high school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents. Additional eligibility requirements vary by location; check details here.
The AEOP High School Internship Program, sponsored by the U.S. Army, lets you work in top labs alongside university scientists and Department of Defense experts. You’ll gain hands-on experience in fields like engineering, cybersecurity, environmental science, and biotechnology, using state-of-the-art lab equipment. Your work will contribute to real-world research in national security and scientific innovation—a great opportunity if you're passionate about STEM!
Location: Remote
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: U.S. high school students over the age of 14 at the start of the program. Applicants should have a mathematical/computer science background or experience in the healthcare sector.
Stanford’s AIMI Summer Health AI Bootcamp is a 2-week virtual program where high school students explore machine learning in healthcare. You’ll learn ML principles, evaluation metrics, and AI challenges in medicine, including generative AI and predictive algorithms for diagnostics. The program features live lectures, coding workshops, group discussions, and career sessions with experts. You’ll also work with real healthcare data to see how AI is transforming patient care and medical research.
9. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) by the Department of the Navy
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Stipend: $4,000 stipend (new participants); $4,500 stipend (returning participants)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June – August (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old, have completed Grade 9, and are U.S. citizens
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is an 8-week summer internship where you’ll work with top scientists and engineers in Department of Navy (DoN) labs. During the internship, you’ll gain hands-on experience, explore real Naval research, and receive mentorship from experts.
SEAP is highly competitive, with about 300 spots in 38+ labs nationwide. Many past interns have gone on to careers in the DoN. Selection is based on grades, personal statements, recommendations, and research interests—making it a great opportunity for students passionate about science and technology!
Location: Various NASA centers in the country. Remote participation depends on the project
Stipend: Paid (amount varies)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates:
- Summer Session: 10 weeks from late May or early June to August
- Fall Session: 16 weeks from late August or early September to mid-December
Application Deadline: Summer: February 28 | Fall: May 16
Eligibility: U.S. full-time high school students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
As a NASA intern at the Marshall Space Flight Center, you will work full-time (40 hours per week) on-site, supporting the Student Launch Initiative (SLI) and Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC). These engineering design challenges are part of NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) and focus on hands-on learning.
In this role, you will apply your computer science and engineering skills to support teams through technical reviews, software development, and data analysis. You will assist in organizing information, managing databases, and improving digital tools used in these projects. Additionally, you will collaborate with project leads to enhance program operations and technical resources.
This internship provides practical experience in software development, computational analysis, and STEM program management within NASA.
11. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute – CogWorks
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadlines: Online Course: December – January | Summer Institute: March 3 – March 31
Program Dates: Online Course: February 3 – June 20 | Four-week Virtual Summer Institute: July 7 – August 3
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their sophomore or junior year. Must finish the online course to participate in the Summer Institute
The CogWorks program at MIT’s Beaver Works Summer Institute gives high school students hands-on experience in AI and machine learning. It begins with an online course covering Python, Git, natural language processing, and machine learning basics. In the four-week summer session, you’ll work in teams to build and test AI assistants using tools like Amazon Alexa and open-source software. You’ll also participate in daily lectures and interactive projects. The internship ends with a final competition where each team showcases their AI creations.
12. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: 5%
Dates: June 22 – August 2
Application Deadline: December 11
Eligibility: High school juniors only (U.S. and International) with these scores:
- PSAT Math Scores: at least 740
- Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Score: 700 or higher
- ACT Math Scores: at least 33
- Verbal Scores: at least 34
The Research Science Institute (RSI) is one of those prestigious computer science internships for high school students that will give you hands-on experience in scientific research for over 6 weeks. The program will start with a week of STEM coursework that’s taught by MIT faculty. The following five weeks will involve original research in fields like computer science, physics, and biology. With an acceptance rate of just 5% in 2019, RSI is highly competitive, and strong research experience is recommended.
13. Young Scholars Program (YSP) at Northeastern University
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Moderately Selective
Dates: June 23 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Massachusetts rising high school seniors; should be within commuting distance of Northeastern University. More info here
The Young Scholars Program (YSP) at Northeastern University is another one of those prestigious computer science internships for high school students that offers a hands-on summer experience for rising high school seniors interested in computer science and engineering. As a participant, you'll be able to carry out cutting-edge research alongside Northeastern faculty, exploring fields like robotics, laser technology, and agent-based modeling.
The program includes seminars and workshops on topics like radar systems and robotics, helping you develop technical skills. You'll also visit top tech companies and labs, gaining real-world exposure to careers in computer science and technology. You’ll also benefit from career counseling that will help you plan your future in STEM.
14. Microsoft Discovery Program
Location: Various locations
Stipend: $20/hour
Acceptance Rate: 1 %
Dates: July 10 – August 4
Application Deadline: February – March
Eligibility:
- Graduating high school seniors within 50 miles of Redmond, WA, OR Atlanta, GA (Atlanta Public Schools, Dekalb, Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett County districts).
- Must have completed pre-calculus (or equivalent) before the program starts. Redmond, WA applicants must be part of a Microsoft-sponsored organization (see FAQs for details)
Microsoft’s High School Discovery Program is a four-week internship where you’ll get hands-on project experience, build professional skills, and connect with Microsoft employees for mentorship. It’s a great way to see how your passions can turn into a career in tech—at Microsoft and beyond! This program is open to graduating high school seniors who live near Redmond, Washington, or Atlanta, Georgia, and are excited about technology. You'll learn core computer science concepts, get hands-on experience, and receive mentorship from Microsoft employees. This program is perfect for students passionate about STEM and exploring a future career in tech.
Location: California
Stipend: Paid (amount varies)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: 6 weeks (June – July)
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores who are full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, or Redwood City; minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 required
Meta’s Summer Academy is another one of the most prestigious computer science internships for high school students. As a participant, you will get the chance to be part of the workforce of one of the world’s leading social media networks and learn about their day-to-day operations. It is a six-week program in California, running from June to July. You’ll learn coding, gain hands-on experience, and receive mentorship from employees. The program also gives you insight into careers in tech. Selection is competitive, with only 150 students chosen.