15 Technology Internships for High School Students in Illinois
For students interested in technology, internships are especially valuable because they expose them to fast-evolving fields such as coding, data science, AI, and product development. Whether you're curious about software engineering or digital design, early exposure can help you discover where your strengths lie. To make this process easier, we’ve curated a list of some of the best technology internships available to high school students in Illinois, focusing on programs that combine learning, mentorship, and real-world application.
Why should I do a technology internship in high school?
A technology internship in high school helps you build practical skills that go far beyond textbooks—like coding, problem-solving, and working with real tools used in the industry. It can significantly strengthen your college applications by demonstrating to admissions officers that you’ve taken the initiative to explore your interests in a meaningful way. These experiences also give you a competitive edge when applying for future internships or jobs, as you already have hands-on exposure. Additionally, tech internships often involve collaboration, helping you improve communication and teamwork skills that are essential in any career.
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.
1. Field Museum — High School Science & Digital Learning Internship
Location: Field Museum, Chicago, IL.
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed; cohort sizes vary by internship posting
Dates: Summer internship cycles
Application Deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: Typically high-school students / teens in the Chicagoland region
The Field Museum’s summer program for high school students in Illinois lets the students explore the world of science, research and museum education. You’ll be placed in areas such as research, digital learning, collections management, and public engagement, gaining first-hand experience in how a museum operates. Throughout the program, you’ll work closely with museum professionals, helping with museum collections, and producing digital educational content. Along the way, you’ll build skills in STEM communication, research and communication, culminating in a final presentation or portfolio.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies by program; full financial aid available
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is an 8-week-long, selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
3. Chicago Botanic Garden — Teen Programs & Internships
Location: Glencoe / Chicago Botanic Garden, IL
Cost/Stipend: paid, scholarship/fee-waiver support available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by program
Dates: Summer programs and internships
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: High-school teens
The Chicago Botanic Garden runs teen internships and stewardship programs that provide high school students with practical experience in horticulture, ecology, conservation, and public engagement. As an intern, you’ll work alongside horticulturists and scientists, gaining practical skills in research and science communication. Many programs include opportunities to design and showcase your own projects at the end of the season, highlighting what you have learned.
4. Chicago Zoological Society / Brookfield Zoo — Teen Leadership & Internships
Location: Brookfield Zoo (near Chicago), IL
Cost/Stipend: free to participants, some internships provide travel/expense assistance
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies
Dates: Summer sessions
Application Deadline: Varies by position
Eligibility: High-school students
The Brookfield Zoo offers a variety of teen volunteer programs, internships, and leadership pathways that introduce high school students to the world of animal science, conservation biology, and public education. As a volunteer, you’ll work closely with zoo professionals and animal care staff, learning about animal behavior, picking up real-world skills and getting an insider's view of how a modern zoo operates. Some programs include stipends for project work and scholarship support.
5. Loyola University Chicago — Summer Research & Paid Internships for Teens
Location: Loyola University Chicago, multiple campuses in Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Specific internships may be paid or include funding supports; offerings change year to year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies per program
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: High-school students
Loyola partners with community organizations and research labs to offer summer internships and research placements and internships for local high school students interested in science and public service. These opportunities provide real-world experience in fields such as biomedical research, environmental science, and public health. You’ll work alongside faculty mentors and professional researchers on projects that make an impact. Some positions are paid or offer stipends and travel support, making it easier for students to participate in the programs.
6. After School Matters STEM Lab Internship (PME / UChicago)
Location: Chicago, Illinois — Greater Chicago area (must attend a Chicago high school) Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Unpublished
Dates: 6 weeks in summer— 20 hours/week plus 1-week bootcamp at start
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Chicago high school students; must be at least 16 years old by program start or meet age/grade criteria; attend school in the Chicago area
The After School Matters STEM Lab Internship, hosted by the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) at the University of Chicago, gives high school students an opportunity to work part-time in research labs. The program begins with a bootcamp that covers research basics, lab safety, and experimental methods, preparing you to contribute meaningfully once you enter the lab. As an intern, you’ll do research, gain experience in science communication, and receive mentorship and professional development support—including guidance on college applications and STEM career pathways. Because it is a paid, local opportunity, this internship allows Chicago students to gain lab experience without leaving the city or paying high fees.
7. After School Matters Programs
Location: Chicago
Cost/Stipend: Paid (stipend varies by program)
Acceptance Rate: Moderate (varies by program; selective for advanced roles)
Dates: Spring (Feb–May), Summer (June–Aug), Fall (Sept–Dec)
Deadline: January (Spring), April (Summer), August (Fall)
Eligibility: Chicago residents, ages 14–18 (16+ for advanced assistantships)
The After School Matters programs offer paid, hands-on apprenticeship-style experiences across STEM and technology fields. You can work on coding, digital media, and applied tech projects, gaining practical exposure while building tangible outputs. For students seeking deeper field experience, Outreach Assistantships provide a more internship-like environment, with mentorship, workplace exposure, and collaborative team projects. Overall, the program helps you develop technical skills, confidence, and a strong early portfolio while earning a stipend.
8. UChicago Youth Internship Program (YIP)
Location: University of Chicago
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 22 – July 30 (6 weeks)
Deadline: Typically Spring (via Chicago Youth Works + YIP application)
Eligibility: Chicago public high school students, age 16+, interest in STEM fields
The University of Chicago Youth Internship Program is a paid, multi-year internship pathway designed to introduce you to careers in computer science, IT services, and health sciences. In Year 1, you participate in an “earn and learn” model with technical workshops, coding exposure, workplace tours, and career training. In Year 2, eligible students transition into a real 6-week internship within university departments, where they gain hands-on experience in computing or technical roles. This structure makes YIP one of the few programs that progress from training to actual fieldwork, helping you build both technical skills and professional readiness.
9. Stanford AI4ALL
Location: Stanford University (Online + Residential options)
Cost/Stipend: Free (selective; financial aid available for residential)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Online: June 15 – June 26 | Residential: July 19 – July 31
Deadline: Typically early year
Eligibility: Current 9th-grade students with an interest in AI
Stanford AI4ALL is a highly selective, AI-focused program in which you explore real-world applications of artificial intelligence through hands-on projects and mentorship. You work on team-based research projects in areas like computer vision, natural language processing, and robotics, guided by researchers and industry professionals. While not a traditional employment-based internship, it offers practical exposure to AI workflows, tools, and problem-solving, making it valuable for students interested in early-stage tech careers. The program emphasizes ethical AI, real-world impact, and collaboration, helping you build foundational skills and a strong technical direction.
10. Girls Who Code at UIC Club
Location: University of Illinois Chicago (Hybrid: Virtual + final in-person event)
Cost/Stipend: Free (no stipend)
Acceptance Rate: Moderate
Dates: January 17 – April 11, 2026
Deadline: September 26, 2025
Eligibility: High school students (9th–12th), Chicago-area preferred
The Girls Who Code at UIC Club is a year-round coding program where you build hands-on projects across different levels—from beginner Python and web development to hardware, circuits, and wearable technology. In the advanced tracks, you work on applied tech projects that connect coding with engineering and design, making it more practical than theory-based programs. While it is not a paid internship, it offers project-based experience, mentorship from engineering students, and exposure to real-world technology applications, helping you build an early technical portfolio.
11. Fermilab PRISM Internship
Location: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Cost/Stipend: $500/week (paid)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school seniors, Illinois students, U.S. citizens
The Fermilab PRISM Program is a paid, immersive STEM internship in which you explore fields such as artificial intelligence, particle physics, quantum science, and engineering. You participate in hands-on research activities, lab tours, and mentorship with scientists, working on structured projects that lead to a research abstract, poster, and final presentation. Each week focuses on a different technical theme, giving you broad exposure to cutting-edge research areas. This internship stands out for combining real lab exposure with research deliverables, making it one of the most rigorous and experience-driven opportunities for high school students in Illinois.
12. UChicago Data Science Institute Summer Lab
Location: University of Chicago
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 15 – August 7 (8 weeks)
Deadline: Typically early year
Eligibility: Chicago-area high school students (must reside locally)
The Data Science Institute Summer Lab is an 8-week paid research internship where you work alongside mentors on real-world data science projects. You are paired with researchers across domains like computer science, public policy, climate science, and biomedical research, and gain experience in coding, data analysis, and research methodologies. The program emphasizes collaboration, allowing you to contribute to interdisciplinary projects with tangible outcomes. With its strong focus on applied research and technical skill-building, this internship is ideal if you want exposure to how data science is used in real academic and industry contexts.
13. Argonne Bridge Into Internships Program
Location: Argonne National Laboratory
Cost/Stipend: Paid (stipend provided; taxable)
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 15 – July 31 (7 weeks)
Deadline: February 19
Eligibility: High school seniors, age 18+, Chicagoland students, U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The Argonne Bridge Into Internships is a paid pre-internship experience designed to prepare you for future roles in STEM fields. You work under the guidance of scientists and engineers on a structured research project, gaining exposure to real-world scientific challenges. Throughout this technology internship for high school students in Illinois, you develop technical skills such as data analysis, research methods, and reading scientific literature, alongside professional skills like communication, collaboration, and time management. With lab tours, seminars, and mentorship, the program focuses on preparing you for internships in competitive research roles, especially at national labs and STEM institutions.
14. SPARK Summer Mentorship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid (some projects may lead to paid continuation opportunities)
Acceptance Rate: Selective (mentor-based selection)
Dates: Summer (Project timelines vary)
Deadline: April (applications), selections May–June
Eligibility: High school students (varies by project requirements)
The SPARK Summer Mentorship Program connects you with professionals from tech, AI/ML, data science, and software development for project-based mentorships. You work on real-world projects defined by mentors, which may include building applications, analyzing datasets, or exploring machine learning concepts. The experience is highly personalized—mentors guide the project scope, expectations, and outcomes, making it more like an independent internship. While unpaid, the program emphasizes hands-on learning, technical skill development, and portfolio creation, and in some cases, high-performing students may transition into paid roles or extended collaborations.
Image source - Chicago Botanic Garden logo