12 Summer Computer Science Internships for High School Students
Internships are valuable experiences for students in the summer. Not only do they acquaint you with the advanced skillsets needed in Computer Science, but they also indicate passionate interest in that subject, which college admission officers will love.
Securing a computer science internship as a high school student puts a lot of opportunities at your fingertips. Beyond the realm of textbooks and online tutorials, interns engage in real-world challenges, refining technical skills while contributing to tangible projects. These internships offer valuablae networking opportunities, allowing participants to forge connections with industry professionals and peers alike. Additionally, benefits such as flexible scheduling and workplace amenities underscore the rewarding nature of these experiences. However, attaining such an internship demands a robust background and diligent effort. Despite the challenges, the acquisition of essential skills and the potential career prospects render the endeavor immensely worthwhile.
Cost/Stipend: Fee starting from $1,990+ with a potential stipend available. Financial assistance is also available.
Location: This internship is remote, meaning you can work from anywhere!
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Eligibility: High school students who can work 10-15 hours per week
Ladder Internships offer a unique chance for high school students to collaborate with startups across various sectors. Through the application form, students can explore available options and pinpoint startups that align with their aspirations.
Tailored exclusively for high schoolers, Ladder Internships provides virtual internship positions with startups and nonprofits globally, covering a wide array of industries, including mathematics. Participants have the freedom to choose the industry that best suits their interests, acquiring practical experience in their preferred field. Engaging in hands-on projects relevant to the host organization, students apply their classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend provided
Location: Various locations based on the internship
Application Deadline: Various deadlines dependent on each internship
Program Dates: There are different dates for each internship, but the summer one falls along these dates
Summer - late May/early June to August (~ 10 weeks)
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school students who are U.S. citizens and have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagements offers internship positions at all its facilities across the United States. If you reside near a NASA center, you have the option to intern at a nearby research facility. Alternatively, if you live farther away, NASA now offers virtual internship opportunities as well. You can access their internship database here (please note that you will need to filter the database to find opportunities specifically open to high school students).
This internship provides a chance to gain firsthand experience in real-world applications of computer science. High school students considering pursuing computer science in college may find this program beneficial, as it can significantly enhance their college applications due to the esteemed reputation and prestige associated with NASA.
3. Meta Summer Academy Externship
Cost/Stipend: Students will receive a stipend upon completion of the program.
Location: California
Application Deadline: Applicants for this summer are closed, but the next cycle will be opening December 2024
Program Dates: mid-June to late July (6 weeks)
Eligibility: Applicants must be sophomores in high school during the year of application and full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City. They must also have a 2.0+ GPA.
At Meta Summer Academy (formerly known as Facebook Summer Academy), students have the opportunity to gain insights into the daily operations of one of the world’s leading social media networks as part of a dynamic workforce.
During the program, students will delve into coding, explore various career paths, and cultivate soft skills essential for future success. The overarching aim is to inspire and encourage young individuals to pursue economic success, stability, and advancement through skill development and early career exploration in the tech industry. In this program, participants have the chance to familiarize themselves with various processes and protocols within Meta while actively contributing to its daily operations. Meta expects a commitment of 30 hours per week from its participants.
Throughout the program duration, participants will receive mentorship from current Meta employees, providing valuable guidance and insight. Additionally, this position offers exposure to potential career paths within the tech industry. The program is open to all applicants residing in California, with Meta offering transportation assistance for all externs.
Securing an internship at Meta as a high school student is highly regarded, given the competitive nature of the selection process. Only 150 students are chosen for the final cohort, making it a prestigious opportunity.
4. SPARKSIP Summer Mentorship Program
Location: Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: No Cost, Stipends are dependent on the project, as some projects offer stipends and others do not. 1 project offers a stipend, and the other provides airfare.
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in May.
(Note: The applications will open in April)
Program Dates: 6-8 weeks, June to August (Dates TBA).
Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. high school students for the current school year
The mission of SparkSIP is to facilitate connections for high school students in the Greater Seattle area with industry experts, professors from esteemed institutions, and community leaders, offering them exposure to professional environments.
SparkSIP allows applicants to choose 1-5 projects they are interested in, with sponsors assigned to selected students (with only 5-6 students receiving mentorship). The program also provides resources and opportunities for use during and after college applications.
This program offers high school students the opportunity to apply concepts in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data visualization to real-world scenarios. Additionally, it provides chances to interact with and learn from industry leaders, university professors, and mentors. Topics covered in the 2023 cohort included preparing Python scripts for crossbar architecture and exploring its non-idealities, understanding the impact of spike-timing and spike rate on Spiking Neural Networks (SNN), and interfacing and visualizing data.
5. National Institute of Standards and Technology Internships
Location: Varies from lab to lab.
Cost/Stipend: No participation cost (but students must cover housing and transportation costs); Unpaid.
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in February.
Program Dates: June 17 - August 9, 2024
Eligibility: Applicants must:
Be U.S. citizens.
Be juniors or seniors in high school during the application period.
Have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
NIST's Summer High School Intern Program targets students who have completed their junior or senior year of high school and exhibit an interest in scientific research. Throughout the program, participants engage in cutting-edge research at NIST, collaborating closely with staff scientists and engineers on specific research topics.
Students have the opportunity to intern at one of six NIST laboratories:
Communications Technology Lab
Engineering Lab
Information Technology Lab
Material Measurement Lab
NIST Center for Neutron Research
Physical Measurement Lab
For those interested in computer science, the Information Technology Laboratory is recommended. Areas of focus within this lab include networking and communications, computer security, software engineering, and human-computer interaction. Research examples span computer network modeling, biometrics for computer access and security, cryptography, and digital data retrieval, among others. A comprehensive list of areas can be found here.
6. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships
Location: There are AEOP locations in almost every state. Students may select their preferred location. The program is intended for commuters and transportation, meals, and housing are not provided.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Varies from location to location.
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Check AEOP’s Summer 2024 opportunities here for the application dates.
Program Dates: This is a summer internship program, specific dates vary from location to location.
Eligibility: Those applying must be current high school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents. Additional eligibility requirements vary by location. Check details here.
This program offers the opportunity to collaborate closely with a university researcher or Department of Defense (DoD) scientist mentor on research projects. As an intern, you will gain exposure to advanced equipment and state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, with access to experienced scientists and engineers. Additionally, you will benefit from interactions with other STEM practitioners throughout the internship. The research sponsored by the Army addresses significant challenges facing the USA, providing interns with valuable experience in critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork essential for a STEM career.
For those interested in computer science, there are research opportunities available that utilize applications of coding, AI, and ML. Examples include projects offered by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command-Aberdeen Proving Grounds - GNC Research with the Julia Programming Language or U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory - ARL Northeast (Boston). Further details on AEOP's Summer 2024 opportunities can be found here.
7. NASA Office of STEM Engagements (OSTEM) Internships
Location: These internships are offered across NASA facilities. Depending on the project, interns will work either remotely or on-site at any of NASA’s 10 field centers across the country.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; A stipend will be awarded based on academic level and session duration.
Application Deadline: July (Fall session) | November (Spring session) | April/May (Summer session).
Program Dates: These internships are offered in 3 sessions –
Fall (16-week program, from late August or early September to mid-December)
Spring (16-week program, from mid-January to early May)
Summer (10-week program, from late May or early June to August).
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12 with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and U.S. citizenship.
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) extends paid internships to high school and college-level students at its various sites nationwide.
These internships offer training, mentorship, and career development to over 2000 students annually, providing exposure to esteemed experts in science, engineering, finance, IT, and business. Opportunities span a wide array of subjects and disciplines, encompassing space science, engineering, aeronautics, technology, machine learning, computer science, and outreach and communications. Participants engage in designing experiments, analyzing mission data, and innovating technologies.
To explore internships with CS opportunities, you can utilize the 'Filter' option to view options available to high school students.
8. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Location: AFRL Scholar internship opportunities are offered at several locations across the United States depending on the program.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; weekly stipends are provided based on the education level of the students and the GS pay scale.
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in January.
Program Dates: The dates vary for different programs.
Eligibility: Applicants must:
Be US Citizens.
Be enrolled or accepted at an educational institution taking at least a half-time academic course load leading to a degree or certificate for the semester immediately preceding the internship session.
Have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Be at least 16 years of age (by session application deadline) and have a valid Government ID.
The AFRL Scholars Program presents a paid internship opportunity tailored for upper-level high school students with a keen interest in aerospace engineering. Upon selection, participants receive guidance from full-time AFRL scientists and engineers, including tours of AFRL laboratories and engagement in cutting-edge research and technology projects. Each mentor involved in the program possesses extensive expertise, and a list of mentors can be found here.
While AFRL research predominantly focuses on aerospace engineering, certain research projects, such as 'Advanced Robot Controller Design and Implementation' or 'AI Opponents for Contested Space,' incorporate applications of computer science. These projects entail data processing and control to design, develop, and implement solutions using either Python or C++.
Cost/Stipend: No cost, with a salary of $17.20 per hour
Location: Fermilab site, Illinois
Application Deadline: The application period has finished, but will reopen November
Program Dates: mid-June to late July
Eligibility:
Must be a high school sophomore or junior at the time of application
Enrolled in a Illinois high school
3.0+ GPA average
Eligbile to work in the U.S.
The TARGET program offers a highly competitive six-week summer internship for high school sophomores and juniors from Illinois. It targets individuals with a strong interest and demonstrated aptitude in physics, mathematics, computer science, and engineering. The program aims to inspire high school students to pursue college studies and careers in STEM fields.
Each year, the TARGET program accepts approximately 15-25 interns. The program incorporates both work and experiential learning components. Interns have the opportunity to collaborate with scientists and engineers at Fermilab.
10. The Intern Project Summer Program
Cost/Stipend: No cost; Students get paid and receive college credit for completing the program.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Application Deadline: Applications will open March
Program Dates: June to August (8 weeks)
Eligibility:
High school students completing their Sophomore, Junior, or Senior year enrolled in an LA County high school
The Intern Project provides high school students in LA with an excellent opportunity to acquire hands-on work experience, explore various career paths, and cultivate essential skills for success in the workforce. Through the program, students are placed in valuable internship positions, allowing them to explore potential career trajectories and gain practical skills beyond the classroom setting. Throughout the internship, participants have the chance to learn from industry professionals and immerse themselves in professional environments, enhancing their understanding of workplace dynamics. Moreover, interns develop important soft skills such as professionalism, time management, effective communication, and teamwork.
Interns delve into specific themes or problem statements that reflect current industry trends and challenges. Tasks may include developing mobile applications to address social issues, creating websites for local non-profit organizations, or undertaking small-scale machine learning projects. Activities involve coding in languages like Python or JavaScript, utilizing web development frameworks, and employing tools for data analysis and visualization. The collaborative nature of the work provides valuable insights into real-world tech team dynamics. Upon project completion, interns have the opportunity to showcase demos of their work.
11. Internships at Sandia National Laboratories
Cost/Stipend: Stipends vary by internship roles.
Location: Sandia sites across the country
Application Deadline: Internships are consistently updated, so there are various deadlines
Program Dates: Summer Interns: 40 hours per week; Year-round interns: 25 hours per week
Eligibility:
Students must be 16 years old
Enrolled full-time in high school
U.S. citizens
Minimum 3.0 GPA
Sandia National Laboratories, a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), offers internships to students throughout the year, both in the summer and year-round. These internships encompass technical, business, and Research & Development opportunities, providing students with the chance to contribute to national projects. Throughout their internship, students collaborate with seasoned scientists and engineers on projects driving technological advancements. Work areas may span cybersecurity, energy, engineering, and software development, with guidance provided by experienced managers who structure assignments, schedules, and duration.
Mentors at Sandia National Laboratories are among the nation's leading scientists and experts, offering students invaluable guidance and support. These internships provide a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in a premier research environment.
Year-round internships are available for local students, allowing them to work part-time at a Sandia site, with high school students working up to 25 hours a week and up to 40 hours per week during school breaks.
Co-op internships, conducted in partnership with individual schools, enable students to take time off during the academic year to gain work experience at Sandia. These internships may span 3-8 months during the academic term and may include an adjacent summer term, allowing students to work up to 40 hours a week.
12. Department of Navy’s Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Cost/Stipend: No registration costs, but housing, meals, transportation, and medical expenses are not covered; Stipends for new participants are $4,000, and for returning, they are $4,500
Location: Across the United States
Application Deadline: November 1
Program Dates: 8 weeks during the summer which will vary in date depending on the lab you choose
Eligibility:
High school students who have completed freshman year
16 years old when internships begin
Students are advised to check if their lab choice has specific requirements
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP), administered by the Department of the Navy, presents an excellent opportunity for hands-on experience in the realms of science and engineering. Participants engage in projects spanning cybersecurity, software development, algorithm design, and data analysis, enabling them to apply classroom knowledge to practical settings while gaining exposure to cutting-edge technologies and methodologies.
The program typically spans eight weeks during the summer, immersing students in a professional research environment. Paired with mentors, participants receive guidance throughout their projects, providing valuable insights into scientific research and development. SEAP caters to high school students with a keen interest in science, offering a platform to explore applications beyond conventional classroom settings. It particularly appeals to those contemplating careers in science and technology, especially within fields associated with national defense.