11 Software Internships for High School Students in Oklahoma
Doing Internships as a high school student gives you tangible advantages that go beyond the classroom. It enhances your resume and college applications by showing real-world initiative and skills to colleges and future employers. Internships also improve your employability odds by letting you test-drive a career path and gain practical experience in a field of your choice, which helps you decide whether it fits your interests and strengths. You’ll develop soft skills like project management, collaboration, and communication while working alongside professionals.
If you want to see what other technology internships are available in other states, find a list of technology internships in North Carolina here & Washington here.
Why should you do a software internship in high school?
Participating in a software internship while in high school lets you apply programming concepts to real projects, building technical skills such as coding, debugging, and software design that classroom work alone cannot fully replicate. It boosts your college applications by demonstrating sustained commitment to software engineering, often with letters of recommendation from mentors and a completed project you can discuss in essays or interviews. Many programs offer mentorship and the chance to present your work.
In this blog, we’ve listed 11 software internships for high school students in Oklahoma. Each internship provides objective details so you can find options that match your location, schedule, and experience level.
Quick Look
11 programs total spanning biomedical research with a software component, federal IT internships, AI and data science, and full software engineering placements with major partner companies
Most virtual programs charge a fee, ranging from $750 (MetroTech) to $3,000 (UpCode), with financial aid available at several; OMRF, OKStars, NASA GeneLab, Francis Tuttle, and Code2College's training phase are completely free
The strongest paid stipends are OMRF's Sir Alexander Fleming Scholars Program ($5,000+) and Tinker Air Force Base's Pathways Internship, both based in Oklahoma City
Code2College stands out for placing students directly with major companies like Atlassian, Indeed, and American Express after a nine-month training period
Most programs are fully virtual and open to students nationwide; OMRF, OKStars, Tinker Air Force Base, and Francis Tuttle are the only four requiring Oklahoma residency or in-person attendance
1. OMRF’s Sir Alexander Fleming Scholars Program
Location: Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), Oklahoma City, OK
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $5,000+ stipend
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 1 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Oklahoma high school seniors (16+) who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Sir Alexander Fleming Scholars Program places you in a professional biomedical laboratory at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, where you will work on an individual research project under the mentorship of senior scientists. You will gain hands-on experience performing bench research while learning core laboratory techniques, experimental design, and data analysis. The program includes weekly seminars and professional development workshops that introduce you to careers in biomedical research and scientific communication. You will develop research communication skills by writing an abstract summarizing your project and delivering a formal scientific presentation on your findings.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies (full financial aid available); Unpaid
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students able to work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks
The Ladder Internship Program matches you with high-growth startups for a fully virtual software engineering experience. You’ll work on real-world projects such as coding SMS and email processing systems, developing AI-driven models, or building user interfaces for tech platforms. You’ll collaborate weekly with a startup manager and a dedicated Ladder coach who provides structured guidance. The 8-week program follows a clear timeline: define the project, create initial deliverables, present to the company, refine the second deliverable, and deliver a final presentation. You’ll gain practical skills in software development, time management, and professional communication while contributing to a startup’s actual needs.
3. OKStars Summer Research Program
Location: OSU Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK
Cost/Stipend: None
Cohort size: Limited spots available
Dates: June 1 – July 10
Application Deadline: January 6 – April 30
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
During the OKStars Summer Research Program, you’ll work directly with a faculty-led research team at the OSU Center for Health Sciences, using specialized software for data mining, statistics, and biomedical analysis. Hands-on lab time includes modern instrumentation and analytical methods while you contribute to ongoing projects. Weekly lunch-and-learn sessions cover resume writing, research presentation, and college preparation. The experience culminates in a formal presentation at the OSU in Tulsa Research Day. You’ll leave with both technical software skills and a clearer understanding of how data tools support scientific discovery.
4. Tinker Air Force Base Pathways Internship
Location: Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, OK
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; Cohort size varies annually based on funding and departmental vacancies
Dates: Year-round or summer (flexible based on student's academic schedule)
Application Deadline: Varies as per the internship
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (16+) with a minimum 2.0 GPA
The Tinker Air Force Base Pathways Internship is a paid federal internship that gives you hands-on experience supporting technology and digital operations within the U.S. Air Force. Depending on your placement, you may assist with IT support, technical troubleshooting, data management, and other software-related tasks while working alongside experienced civilian professionals in secure computing environments. You'll gain exposure to how large-scale government organizations manage digital systems and mission-critical technology while developing practical skills in problem-solving, collaboration, and professional communication. Beyond the technical experience, the program provides an early introduction to federal STEM careers and can create a pathway to future civilian employment with the Air Force after graduation.
5. Francis Tuttle Computer Science Academy Internship
Location: Francis Tuttle, Oklahoma City or Edmond, OK
Cost/Stipend: None (paid options often available through partners)
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: School year (August – May) with summer options
Application Deadline: Rolling for the academy; Partner-specific for internships
Eligibility: Oklahoma high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled in Francis Tuttle programs
This program gives you direct access to professional software environments through partnerships with companies such as OG&E and OMES. You’ll participate in a capstone course that involves real-world systems work, including software development, bug testing, and cybersecurity protocols. The experience integrates advanced programming with industry tools, so you can apply object-oriented concepts and web-based applications in live projects. You’ll collaborate with mentors to solve technical problems and often present prototypes or completed work. The pipeline structure prepares you for roles typically reserved for more advanced students while you are still earning your high school credits.
6. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $45 application fee + $2,400 program fee (fincancial aid offered); Unpaid
Cohort size: 50 students
Dates: Session A: June 15 – 26; Session B: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: December 15 – February 20
Eligibility: U.S. high school students with a strong math or programming background; must be U.S.-based
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program where you’ll explore how AI algorithms are applied to real medical problems. You’ll attend lectures on AI in healthcare, equity, and clinical applications while working in small groups on AI projects that involve coding, model development, and data analysis. The program culminates in a group presentation of your project. You’ll gain hands-on experience with AI tools and workflows used in professional research settings. Mentorship from Stanford faculty and researchers helps you understand the intersection of software engineering and medicine.
7. NASA GeneLab for High Schools (GL4HS)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June 1 – August 28
Application Deadline: March 15 (or until 1,000 applications received)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors (or incoming college freshmen) with a minimum 3.0 GPA; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; Must have completed at least one high school biology course
This program immerses you in data analysis for space biology research with a strong computational focus. As a participant, you’ll analyze genomics and transcriptomics datasets using programming skills to process and visualize results from real NASA research. You’ll also participate in structured labs and projects that teach data science techniques applied to spaceflight effects on living organisms. You’ll work independently or in small groups under a scientist's guidance and end the program with a presentation of your findings. The curriculum builds practical coding and analysis skills used in professional research.
8. Code2College High School Technical Internships
Location: Virtual (training) + partner company locations (summer internship)
Cost/Stipend: No cost for training; Summer internships are paid (stipend varies by partner)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; limited spots nationwide
Dates: August – May (training) + June – August (internship)
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: High school students nationwide (focus placed on underrepresented groups in STEM)
Code2College is a nine-month program that combines weekly virtual coding classes with a paid summer software engineering internship. From August to May, you’ll learn Python, web development, and other technical skills while building a professional portfolio and practicing resume writing and interview skills. After completing the training, you will be placed in a paid summer internship with partner companies such as Atlassian, Indeed, or American Express, where you’ll work on real software projects. The program emphasizes both technical proficiency and professional skills needed in the tech industry. You’ll collaborate with mentors and gain direct experience in software development workflows.
9. MetroTech Institute Summer Internship Program (IT & Computational Science Tracks)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $750 (scholarships available); Stipend may be offered
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June 18 – July 30
Application Deadline: April 1 (for full consideration); April 11 (late applications)
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in IT/computational science
This virtual research-group-style program lets you join live sessions focused on IT and computational science. You’ll contribute to technical projects involving Python, Java, or C++ applications in areas like cryptography, cybersecurity, or data trend analysis, with regular progress uploads and potential co-authorship on publications. Led by professors or industry professionals, the experience includes multiple weekly meetings and structured research tasks. You’ll also develop advanced coding and analytical skills in a collaborative academic-industry setting. The program functions like a professional research team rather than a traditional class.
10. UpCode High School Coding Internships
Location: Virtual (with possible in-person teams)
Cost/Stipend: $3,000 (financial aid available); Unpaid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June 15 – July 24
Application Deadline: Opens on January 22
Eligibility: High school students (ages 15-18) with coding interest
The UpCode Internship delivers a true software engineering experience through coding, teamwork, and project management. You’ll participate in a simulated software development lifecycle on team projects. You’ll also learn industry practices while building a portfolio piece and receive mentorship from experienced coaches who will support your growth. It is open to high school students interested in computer science or related fields.
11. CodeDay Labs Open-Source Internships for High Schools
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,200 – $1,600/student; Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer or year-round sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling or session-based
Eligibility: High school students
This virtual open-source program functions as an internship-style experience in software development. You’ll contribute to real open-source projects, learn professional coding practices, and collaborate on code contributions using tools like Git and GitHub. The program includes mentorship and focuses on building full-stack applications or features with real-world implications. You’ll work in a supportive online community with structured guidance. It emphasizes portfolio-building through actual code commits.
Questions Students Often Ask About These Programs
Do I need to already know how to code before applying to these programs?
Not for most of them. Programs like UpCode, CodeDay Labs, and Code2College are designed to teach you software development skills as part of the program itself, so beginners are welcome. A few programs do expect stronger prior preparation, such as Stanford AIMI and NASA GeneLab, which ask for some math, programming, or biology background going in. If you're newer to coding, starting with a program built around teaching the fundamentals, like Code2College or UpCode, is a good way to build skills before applying to the more advanced research-focused options.
Several of these programs charge a fee. Is it worth paying for a virtual internship instead of choosing one of the free options?
It depends on what you're looking for. The paid virtual programs, like UpCode, MetroTech, and CodeDay Labs, tend to offer more structured mentorship and a polished final portfolio project, which can be valuable if you want a guided, hands-on coding experience. The free options, like OMRF, OKStars, and NASA GeneLab, are research-based and often come with a stipend instead of a cost, but they require Oklahoma residency or a stronger academic background in science. If budget is a concern, it's worth applying to the free programs first and treating the paid options as a backup.
Which of these internships are best if I want real workplace experience with an actual company, not just a training course?
Code2College and the Ladder Internship Program are your strongest options here. Code2College places you directly with established companies like Atlassian and American Express after completing its training phase, giving you genuine corporate software engineering experience. Ladder Internships pairs you with a real startup for an eight-week project, so you're contributing to an actual company's needs rather than working through a simulated curriculum. Both differ from research-based programs like OMRF or NASA GeneLab, which focus more on scientific research using software tools rather than product-focused software engineering.