11 Software Internships for High School Students in Tennessee
Participating in an internship while still in high school can help you move beyond classroom learning and understand how your interests translate into real-world work. You’ll gain hands-on experience, form valuable connections, and develop practical skills like communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. Internships also help you explore different career paths, making it easier to decide what you might want to study or pursue later. If you’re interested in technology, software internships offer a way to apply coding, problem-solving, and logical thinking in structured environments. This can be especially useful if you're considering software engineering or other related fields.
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?
High school software internships allow you to gain early experience in a field that is largely skill-based and project-driven. You’ll get the chance to work on coding tasks, projects, or collaborative assignments that reflect how software development works outside school. These experiences can help you build a portfolio, which is often as important as academic performance in technology fields. Software internships also expose you to tools, workflows, and concepts that are not always covered in school curricula. From a college admissions perspective, they demonstrate initiative, consistency, and a clear interest in your chosen field.
With that, here are 11 software internships for high school students in Tennessee that are worth checking out!
Key takeaways
This list rounds up 11 software internships for Tennessee high schoolers spanning city government, national lab research, university programs, and open-source platforms, with standout hosts including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Vanderbilt University, Google, and Ladder Internships.
Most programs are free to join, and several come with real stipends, including weekly pay through Oak Ridge National Laboratory's programs, while a couple of options carry a program fee instead of a stipend, so it is worth checking cost details closely before applying.
Ladder Internships stands out as the only fully virtual, startup-based option on the list, giving you real product and business exposure from home, while Girls Who Code: Pathways is a strong self-paced pick built specifically for girls and non-binary students.
Geographic rules vary a lot here: some programs are open to any Tennessee student, a few are limited to specific counties near Oak Ridge, and others like Ladder, Google Summer of Code, and CodeDay Labs are fully virtual and open nationally.
The earliest deadlines land in late February, so if you are eyeing anything on this list, start pulling together applications, recommendations, and essays by January to stay ahead of the crunch.
1. Oak Ridge Internship Program
Location: Various city departments in Oak Ridge, TN
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid (hourly pay varies by department)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer: Late May – August; Fall: August – November/December; Spring: January – April/May
Application Deadline: Summer: March 31; Fall: July 10; Spring: October
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduate students, graduate students, and vocational/technical school students (eligibility varies by internship level and department)
The Oak Ridge Internship Program is a paid seasonal internship that allows you to gain hands-on professional experience while working alongside city departments. Depending on your interests, you can intern in areas such as communications, information technology, engineering, human resources, planning and development, legal services, public works, recreation, or city administration. Throughout the program, you'll be paired with a departmental mentor who provides training, weekly feedback, and guidance on real-world projects. The internship begins with a two-day orientation and also includes group networking opportunities with fellow interns.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies (financial aid available); Unpaid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts across spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students who can commit 10-20 hours per week for 8-12 weeks
In the Ladder Internship Program, you’ll be paired with a fast-growing start-up and will get to work on real-world projects in areas like AI/ML, data science, or product development. Your role may involve conducting research, assisting with product or business initiatives, or handling technical tasks, depending on the start-up's needs. You’ll collaborate closely with a start-up manager and receive guidance from a Ladder Coach, who provides structured mentorship and feedback throughout the experience. The program features regular check-ins and ends with a final presentation where you showcase your contributions and results to the company. Overall, it gives you a hands-on look at how startups function while helping you build practical skills in a remote, team-based setting.
3. Research Experience for High School Students (REHSS)
Location: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Dates: May 26 – July 2
Application Deadline: Not available (students apply through the Interdisciplinary Science and Research Program)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (16+) enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Science and Research (ISR) Program at Stratford STEM, John Overton, or Hillsboro High School
The Research Experience for High School Students (REHSS) at Vanderbilt University is a six-week summer research internship that immerses you in a university or medical center research laboratory. Working under the guidance of Vanderbilt faculty mentors and research teams, you'll complete an independent STEM research project while gaining hands-on experience with laboratory techniques and scientific inquiry. In addition to full-time lab work, you'll participate in weekly professional development workshops designed to strengthen your research and communication skills. The program concludes with a research symposium where you'll present your findings to the Vanderbilt community.
4. Next Generation STEM Internship Program (NGSI)
Location: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
Cost/Stipend: Free; Weekly stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer: June 8 – July 24; Spring/Fall: part-time, virtual
Application Deadline: February 26
Eligibility: U.S. rising high school juniors or seniors (16+) or recent high school graduates (within two years) with a minimum GPA of 3.0; Must be enrolled in or graduated from eligible counties’ schools or homeschool programs
In the Next Generation STEM Internship Program, you’ll work on STEM or STEM-related projects under the guidance of researchers and professional staff in a national laboratory setting. You’ll engage in project-based work where you will contribute to ongoing research or technical initiatives, gaining exposure to scientific methods and problem-solving approaches. Alongside project work, you’ll have opportunities to participate in professional development activities such as workshops, lab tours, lectures, seminars, and networking sessions. You will also interact with scientists and engineers, which allows you to understand how interdisciplinary teams collaborate on research and innovation. The program may also include an optional final presentation, where you’ll share your work and learning outcomes.
5. Appalachian STEM Academy – High School
Location: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 11 – July 25
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (16+) attending school in a designated Appalachian county; Must plan to continue enrollment in a designated Appalachian county and be able to participate fully and follow program and safety instructions
In this program, you’ll participate in a two-week, hands-on STEM learning experience where you work on guided group projects in science, math, computer science, and technology. You’ll collaborate with award-winning scientists at a U.S. Department of Energy research facility, gaining exposure to applied STEM education. The program involves structured project work carried out in teams, allowing you to engage with practical applications of STEM concepts. Throughout the experience, you interact with professionals and peers while working on assigned projects. The program concludes with a graduation ceremony where you showcase your work.
6. ORNL Next Generation Pathways to Computing Program
Location: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
Cost/Stipend: Free; $500 per week stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23 – July 25
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: U.S. rising high school juniors or seniors or recent graduates (16+) enrolled in or graduated from eligible counties’ schools or homeschool programs; Must provide proof of health insurance and one recommendation from a STEM teacher or principal
In this program, you’ll learn foundational computer and computational science skills through structured exposure to research and technical environments. You will be mentored by research and technical staff while engaging with computing-focused content and resources. The program provides access to facilities at the laboratory, including high-performance computing systems such as Frontier. You’ll also have opportunities to participate in optional professional development activities such as workshops, lab tours, lectures, seminars, poster sessions, and networking events. The experience focuses on computing and computational sciences within the context of broader scientific and technical challenges addressed by the laboratory. Through this, you gain exposure to computing applications and the role of interdisciplinary teams in research and development.
7. Girls Who Code: Pathways
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – August 14
Application Deadline: Early: February 27; General: April 10
Eligibility: High school girls and non-binary students
In this program, you’ll complete a flexible, self-paced online curriculum focused on coding and emerging technology fields. You’ll choose from tracks such as Data Science and AI, Game Design, Web Development, Cybersecurity, and AI and Society, working through course projects over several weeks. Alongside coursework, you will attend virtual partner events, career panels, and workshops led by advisors, which introduce industry perspectives and applications of technology. You’ll also have access to a private online community where you interact with peers and participate in optional student support sessions. The program allows you to explore different areas of technology while managing your own schedule and pace. Through this structure, you’ll gain exposure to coding concepts, project-based learning, and virtual collaboration.
8. CS@Mines Computing For Good (C4G) Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $200; Unpaid
Cohort size: approx. 30-50 internships available
Dates: June 22 – July 28
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in learning computer science; Prior computer science experience not required
In this program, you’ll participate in a virtual, team-based computer programming experience where you work on a project over five weeks. You’ll collaborate with other students to design and develop a computing project, committing a few hours each week to structured work and group coordination. The program includes weekly guest speaker sessions from industry and academia, where you’ll learn about different applications and pathways in computer science. You’ll focus on building problem-solving and basic programming skills through project work.
9. Google Summer of Code (GSoC)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; Stipend provided (based on project evaluations)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: January 19 – November 11 (coding period typically 12+ weeks between May – September)
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Individuals over 18; Beginner contributors to open source (approx. up to 2 years of experience) or students; Must be eligible to work in their country of residence; Limited to a maximum of two prior acceptances; Must reside in a non-embargoed country
In this program, you’ll work on a 12+ week coding project with an open source organization under the guidance of a mentor. You’ll begin by proposing a project and, if selected, spend time engaging with the organization’s codebase and community before starting development. During the coding period, you’ll contribute to real-world software projects, meet defined milestones, and receive evaluations from mentors. You interact with developers and contributors, gaining exposure to collaborative software development practices and open source workflows. The program also involves communication with mentors and participation in a broader open source ecosystem. Upon completion, your code contributions remain publicly available, forming part of your work portfolio.
10. CodeDay Labs
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,200 – $1,600; Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 3-12 week program; Year-round availability
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school and college students; Multiple experience-level tracks available
In this program, you’ll work on an open-source software project in a small team under the guidance of an industry mentor. You’ll collaborate with peers to build a project that addresses a real-world need, connecting your academic learning to practical software development practices. The program includes an onboarding course followed by ongoing coding support from teaching assistants throughout the experience. You’ll also participate in tech talks, expert sessions, and activities focused on interview preparation and resume feedback. Through team-based work and mentor guidance, you’ll engage with development workflows and build experience in collaborative coding environments. The structure provides exposure to open-source contributions, professional networking, and project-based learning in a virtual setting.
11. Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) Saturday Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Spring and fall Saturday sessions; ~8 weeks
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students able to attend all sessions; Interest required but no prior experience necessary; Enrollment is course-specific
In this program, you’ll participate in project-based STEM courses conducted on Saturdays, focusing on areas such as programming, robotics, artificial intelligence, and engineering. You’ll engage in interactive sessions led by faculty, laboratory staff, and STEM professionals, where you’ll work on projects that apply technical concepts to practical problems. The program includes collaborative activities, allowing you to work with peers while developing skills through guided instruction and hands-on tasks. You may choose from different course options such as autonomous systems, Python programming, machine learning, or engineering design, depending on availability. Some offerings are conducted virtually, while select spring courses may take place in person. Through these sessions, you will be introduced to STEM concepts and project workflows in a structured learning environment.
Questions students often ask about these internships
1. Do I need coding experience already to apply to these internships?
Not for most of them. Several programs on this list are built for beginners and assume no prior background, walking you through foundational skills as you go. A few of the more research-heavy options do favor students with some relevant coursework, but that is the exception rather than the rule here.
2. Some of these programs are unpaid or charge a fee. Are they still worth applying to?
Yes, especially if the experience, mentorship, or portfolio project matters more to you than pay right now. Fee-based or unpaid programs often include structured mentorship, guest speakers, or a shippable project you can point to later. If cost is a real constraint, look closely at financial aid options before ruling anything out.
3. Do I need to live in a specific part of Tennessee to qualify?
It depends on the program. A few are limited to students in certain counties, so it's worth checking eligibility carefully before you invest time in an application. Others are open to any Tennessee resident, and several are fully virtual, so location will not matter at all for those.