12 Software Engineering Internships for College Students
Gaining work experience through internships is one of the best ways for college students to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the professional world. Internships enhance your resume, improve your chances of landing full-time employment, and help you apply theoretical concepts in practical settings. They also provide mentorship, networking opportunities, and a deeper understanding of how companies operate. For students interested in technology, especially those pursuing software engineering, internships offer the opportunity to work on live codebases, participate in agile workflows, and collaborate with experienced developers.
If you're aiming for a career in software development, web engineering, machine learning, or DevOps, exploring internships in these areas is a smart move. These programs not only help you build technical and soft skills, but also expose you to the tools and environments used in product development.
We've narrowed down 12 top software engineering internships for college students that combine mentorship, meaningful projects, and professional growth. Whether you're looking to strengthen your coding portfolio or explore career paths in tech, this list is a great place to start.
1. Microsoft University Internship Program
Location: United States, Canada, and Latin America (various offices)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; varies by region and role
Dates: Varies by role and region (typically 10–12 weeks in summer)
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines; apply early through the Microsoft Careers portal
Eligibility: Must be enrolled full-time in a bachelor's, master's, MBA, or PhD program relevant to the role, and returning to school for at least one academic term after the internship
Stipend: Paid; competitive compensation with relocation and housing support
Microsoft offers several internship opportunities for college students interested in software engineering and related technical fields. As a University Intern, you’ll join a product team and work on code, contribute to large-scale systems, and participate in design and planning sessions. You will receive mentorship, professional development, and networking opportunities, along with access to Microsoft’s campus amenities and exclusive events. Microsoft does not allow concurrent coursework during the internship, and you must be returning to school afterward to be eligible. Other programs like Explore (for first- and second-year students) and Discovery (for high school seniors in WA or GA) offer additional pathways for early experience in tech careers.
2. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: Starts June 2 (Summer cohort); multiple cohorts available
Application Deadline: April 13 (Summer cohort)
Eligibility: College students interested in tech, nonprofit, or related fields
Cost: $2,490. Financial aid available
The Ladder University Internship Program provides a remote, project-based internship tailored to college students seeking experience in software engineering, tech, or nonprofit innovation. You’ll collaborate on real-world projects, gaining exposure to professional workflows and technologies while receiving personalized 1:1 mentorship from industry professionals. The program helps you develop both technical and soft skills like communication and leadership. With flexible scheduling and a strong focus on professional development, this program is ideal for students looking to grow their technical abilities in a supportive, accessible environment.
3. Boeing Real-Time Software and Software Internships
Location: Multiple U.S. sites including AL, AZ, CA, CO, MO, OK, PA, SC, TX, VA, and WA
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive
Dates: Varies by site and position
Application Deadline: Rolling; early application recommended
Eligibility: College students majoring in software, computer, or electrical engineering
Stipend: Paid
Boeing’s Real-Time Software and Software Internship Programs give college students the chance to work on high-impact systems in aviation, defense, and space. You’ll be responsible for developing, testing, and maintaining advanced software systems, including real-time and processing-intensive applications. You will contribute to large-scale engineering projects and gain experience in areas like analytics, algorithm development, and integration of complex software components. The program spans multiple locations across the U.S. and offers exposure to systems engineering, defense tech, and cross-functional collaboration. You will be expected to write and document code, run tests, and deliver work that meets clearly defined technical requirements.
4. Apple Software Engineering Internship
Location: United States (multiple locations)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Extremely competitive
Dates: Typically 12 weeks during summer; dates vary by role
Application Deadline: Rolling (early applications strongly encouraged)
Eligibility: BS/MS/PhD students in computer science, engineering, or related fields; must return to school after internship or graduate at its conclusion
Stipend: Paid
In this internship, you’ll be part of teams that build technologies powering products like Siri, Apple Maps, iCloud, and Core OS. You will work on projects with mentorship from experienced engineers, contributing to both front-end and low-level systems across Apple’s ecosystem. You should be proficient in languages like Java, Python, Swift, or C++, and demonstrate strong analytical and debugging skills. Roles may also involve data science, distributed systems, and web development using tools like Spark, NodeJS, or Angular. Apple emphasizes innovation and collaboration, making this program ideal for those seeking technical rigor and impact at scale.
5. Intuit Software Engineering Internship
Location: Mountain View, CA; San Diego, CA; New York, NY; Atlanta, GA
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive
Dates: Typically June–August (Summer term)
Application Deadline: Rolling; early application encouraged
Eligibility: Students pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science or a related field; must graduate in Winter or later and return to school after internship
Stipend: Paid; $35.50–$55.50/hour depending on location and education level
Intuit’s Software Engineering Internship places students on the Core Services and Experiences Team, where you’ll design and build web applications that improve authentication and identity verification across flagship products like TurboTax and QuickBooks. You’ll work with modern JavaScript frameworks (ES6+), UI/UX tools, and testing frameworks, and collaborate across product and engineering teams. You will apply Agile and test-driven development practices, contribute to core platform features, and tackle security and access challenges. Candidates with skills in React, Docker, AWS, or Kubernetes are preferred.
Location: Pasadena, CA (with remote options available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: Minimum of 10 weeks; opportunities offered year-round
Application Deadline: March for summer programs
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Stipend: Paid
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory offers research-focused software engineering and STEM internships for college students, providing exposure to innovation in robotics, AI, Earth science, and planetary exploration. As an intern, you may contribute to software systems for autonomous spacecraft, simulation platforms, or mission-critical tools. JPL emphasizes diverse technical exposure and project ownership, making it ideal for students looking to apply their academic training to real-world missions. Remote roles are available for select projects, offering added flexibility. You will typically work in multidisciplinary teams alongside scientists and engineers, solving problems in space technology.
7. Blizzard Entertainment Software Engineering Internship
Location: Irvine, CA (and other U.S. locations depending on role)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: 12-week program starting in May/June
Application Deadline: September - January
Eligibility: College students pursuing degrees in computer science or related fields; must be available full-time during the summer
Stipend: Paid
Blizzard Entertainment offers competitive summer internships for college students interested in software engineering and gaming technology. Interns join teams working on high-profile franchises like Overwatch, Diablo, and World of Warcraft, contributing to live game development, engine optimization, or backend systems. You’ll gain experience through projects, mentorship, and studio-wide networking events. You will work full-time and are expected to contribute meaningfully from day one.
8. Amazon Software Engineering Internship
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S. (including AWS and operations roles)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive
Dates: Typically a 12-week summer internship (June–August)
Application Deadline: Rolling; early application recommended
Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students in computer science, engineering, or related fields; must be returning to school after the internship
Stipend: Paid
Amazon offers software engineering interns the opportunity to solve problems across its retail, cloud, and logistics ecosystems. You’ll join teams like Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Prime Video, and contribute to projects involving backend systems, distributed computing, machine learning, and cloud security. You will receive mentorship, attend networking events, and often take ownership of technical features or tools that go into production.
9. Bank of America Global Technology Internship
Location: Various U.S. locations
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: Varies based on position
Application Deadline: Varies based on position
Eligibility: Undergraduate students pursuing degrees in computer science, IT, data science, or related fields
Stipend: Paid
Bank of America’s Global Technology Internship places students in roles that support the design, infrastructure, and cybersecurity systems that underpin global financial operations. You’ll work in one of the bank’s technology hubs, collaborating on projects in application development, cloud services, cybersecurity, or systems architecture. You will receive access to mentorship, structured training, and financial tech platforms. With placements across retail banking, markets, and enterprise support functions, this program offers broad insight into how large-scale software systems and platforms are developed and secured in a financial services context. You will also benefit from career workshops, peer networking, and potential full-time return offers.
Location: New York, NY; Chicago, IL; Miami, FL
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Extremely selective
Dates: 11 weeks (including 1 week offsite + 10 weeks of project work)
Application Deadline: Rolling; applications open in early fall
Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students in computer science, engineering, or related fields
Stipend: Paid; includes housing and relocation support
Citadel’s Software Engineering Internship is great for college students interested in solving technical challenges in finance. You will begin with an off-site training week before joining small, high-impact teams to work on systems that support Citadel’s trading and investment strategies. You’ll be matched with a mentor, participate in coding reviews, and attend mock trading sessions, seminars, and city-based networking events. You will be expected to contribute production-level code, collaborate cross-functionally, and demonstrate strong software design and problem-solving abilities.
11. Duolingo Thrive Internship Program
Location: Pittsburgh, PA (In-person)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~25 interns per cohort
Dates: 10 weeks (typically late May–early August)
Application Deadline: End of September for Software Engineering track
Eligibility: Rising juniors from communities underrepresented in tech; must have completed at least 2 college-level CS courses
Stipend: Paid; includes mentorship, cohort events, and project showcase
Duolingo’s Thrive Program is a 10-week summer internship aimed at rising college juniors from underrepresented backgrounds in technology. As a software engineering intern, you’ll participate in “Hootcamp,” a two-week technical and professional skills bootcamp, followed by project work designed and led by Duolingo engineers. You will collaborate in small teams to develop creative tools and product features like DuoRetro or DuoChat that go beyond the scope of existing product teams. You’ll be paired with a Thrive Buddy and receive continuous mentorship and support beyond the 10-week program. The Thrive Program combines project-based learning, community engagement, and identity-affirming mentorship for early-career tech students.
12. Meta University Internship Program
Location: Various U.S., Canada, and Mexico offices
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: May–August (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in fall; early submission recommended
Eligibility: First- or second-year students at a four-year college or equivalent program in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico
Stipend: Paid
Meta University is a 10-week paid internship that introduces early college students to technology through engineering, data science, and product design experiences. You will participate in technical training followed by project work on AI, machine learning, and system architecture while being mentored by Meta engineers. Designed to increase access for students from underrepresented backgrounds in tech, the program helps you build skills in a real-world setting with support from Meta’s internal community. Tracks include engineering, analytics, and product design, and you will be expected to complete a coding challenge and behavioral assessment during the application process.