Topics We Cover:
- Why Do Internships in High School?
- How to Find Computer Science Internships for High School Students
- 25 Coding Internships for High School Students
- Cold Outreach Strategy for Computer Science High School Internships
- Email Template for Finding a High School Internship
Looking for programs near you? See our lists of computer science internships in Boston, computer science internships in Chicago, computer science internships in Los Angeles, computer science internships in New York, and computer science internships in San Francisco.
Why Do Internships in High School?
Before diving into top computer science internships for high schoolers, it’s worth understanding their impact. According to PRISM, 70% of students at U.S. News top 50 universities completed at least one high school internship. High school internships help you stand out in admissions, clarify your career interests, and make it easier to land a job you love after graduation.
How to Find Computer Science Internships for High School Students
The easiest way to find official internship programs is through online databases and curated lists. The StandOutSearch Database offers one of the largest free collections of high school internships. It’s searchable by a number of filters, such as interest area, format, and location. Other helpful resources include a list of summer programs and internships from MIT Admissions and the CollegeVine blog.
That said, official programs can be highly competitive—there are more high schoolers interested in internships than available positions. If you’re serious about landing a coding internship, you’ll want to develop a cold outreach strategy—reaching out to people you don’t know about internship opportunities. At the end of this article, you'll find tips and email templates to help you get started.
25 Coding Internships for High School Students
Due to high demand, most of the internships below have acceptance rates under 20%. We recommend applying to at least five opportunities to increase your odds of securing an internship. If you find a position exciting, mark the deadline on your calendar!
1. StandOut Connect
Ages: 15-19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: November 23, 2026 (Winter cohort)
StandOut Connect is a program that helps match gifted high school students with online internships in their industry of interest. Potential sectors include finance, STEM, medicine, law, arts, and more. StandOut Connect is funded by StandOutSearch, the largest free database for high school internships. The program has been featured in Forbes and was created with the help of investment from The University of Chicago's Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
2. NASA High School Internship
Ages: 18 (graduating seniors)
Location: Locations Across the U.S.
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 1, 2027
Graduating seniors with an interest in technical work can spend the summer after high school on real NASA projects through a paid internship from the agency's Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM). Placements are at NASA centers around the country, where interns build technical and professional skills while a NASA mentor guides them; the same program also serves college students. Summer sessions last 10 weeks, typically on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Applicants need U.S. citizenship, a GPA of 3.0 or above, and must be 18 by the session's start, and a separate program exists for international students.
For full details and similar opportunities, see our ultimate guide to the NASA High School internship.
3. Meta (Facebook) Summer Academy
Ages: 15-16
Location: California
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: February 14, 2027
Meta Summer Academy (formerly known as Facebook Summer Academy) students have the chance to get a firsthand look at the day-to-day operations of one of the world’s leading social media networks while exploring career paths, developing soft skills, and building a network of like-minded peers. Applicants must be sophomores in high school and full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City.
Want to learn more about this exciting opportunity? Our definitive guide to the Facebook high school internship covers everything you need to know about Meta Summer Academy.
4. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) Internships
Ages: 14-19
Location: Locations Across the U.S.
Timeline: Summer and School Year
Deadline: Rolling
The Army Educational Outreach Program offers paid STEM research internships for high schoolers and undergraduates at university labs and research facilities run by the U.S. Army across the country. Each intern works under the guidance of a professional scientist or engineer, on projects in fields such as materials science, biology, energetics and cybersecurity. Most positions run full time for a short stretch in person, and a small number of part-time roles take place during the school year. Every intern receives an educational stipend that varies by lab and length, and participation is free. U.S. citizens and permanent residents in high school who live within commuting distance of a lab can apply with one common application.
5. U.S. Department of State Pathways Internship Program
Ages: 16-18
Location: Locations across the U.S. and remote
Timeline: School Year or Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced
The State Department’s Pathways Internship Program offers paid federal internships at locations across the U.S. through its Internship Experience Program (IEP) and Internship Temporary Program (ITEP). Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 16 years old, and have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. Additional eligibility requirements vary by location.
6. Emma Bowen Foundation (EBF) Internship
Ages: 17-18
Location: Locations Across the U.S.
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Rolling
Students interested in careers as producers, journalists, web developers, engineers, business executives, PR agents, sales representatives, along with other roles in media or tech, will want to look into the EBF Internship. Interns immerse themselves in their field of interest—learning, growing, building real-world experience, and accelerating their path to career success.
7. National Security Agency High School Work Study Program
Ages: 17-18
Location: Locations Across the U.S.
Timeline: School Year
Deadline: Not yet announced
This program gives high school students the chance to learn more about the NSA, explore careers in the field, and earn a paycheck or scholarship. It’s designed for students participating in a school-sponsored work experience program during their senior year. Students work in areas such as business, computers, engineering, manufacturing, construction, intelligence analysis support, and Chinese or Farsi language, with positions varying by site.
8. America on Tech TECH360 Summer Bootcamp Program
Ages: 15-18
Location: New York City, Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta (hybrid)
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (May 24 in 2026)
The TECH360 Summer Bootcamp is a free program that teaches high school juniors and seniors about artificial intelligence (AI). Participants in the program explore how AI is disrupting the workforce and develop the skills, knowledge, and mindset necessary to understand AI while discovering how to use this innovative tool confidently and effectively.
9. Naval STEM Interns | Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Ages: 16-18
Location: Locations Across the U.S.
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: November 30, 2026
Each summer, roughly 300 high school students join research teams at 38 Department of the Navy laboratories across the country through SEAP (Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program). For eight weeks, with some labs adding as many as two extra, apprentices work on genuine Naval research projects while learning about the technology behind them, guided by experienced lab scientists and engineers who serve as their mentors. The program targets academically strong sophomores, juniors and seniors with STEM interests, and it pays a $4,000 stipend to new interns and $4,500 to returners. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and at least 16 when the program begins, though some labs allow exceptions.
10. Genspace BioRocket Internship
Ages: 16-18
Location: New York
Timeline: School Year
Deadline: Not yet announced (January 5 in 2026)
The Biorocket Research Internship Program is a 6-month science research internship for New York City public and charter high school students aged 16 and up. Participants work with like-minded peers and scientist mentors to gain lab experience using biology and genetic engineering techniques, bolster science communication skills, and engage in a research project. Students will also receive career guidance and tour research labs and biotech companies. A summer session of the program is also held.
11. Columbia Engineering Hk Maker Lab
Ages: 15-18
Location: New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced
The Hk Maker Lab is an intensive five-week summer program that teaches 10th- and 11th-graders the foundations of design. Students first take a Columbia Engineering course through SHAPE, then join a Hackathon for Health Equity, working in groups to build an app or website that addresses a health disparity.
This program is open to NYC students from public and charter high schools from low-resource backgrounds.
12. Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program
Ages: 16-18
Location: New Jersey
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (March 15 in 2026)
Princeton University's Laboratory Learning Program puts New Jersey high schoolers to work on live research projects in engineering and the natural sciences, with Princeton faculty and research staff supervising them closely. The set of projects shifts every year according to which faculty members take part, and each one keeps its own timetable, so a student's start and end dates follow the lab's calendar and the needs of the work. Most placements run five to six weeks, full-time on weekdays, entirely in person. The program is free. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 16, and enrolled at a nearby New Jersey high school, and families arrange nearby housing and daily transportation.
13. Sandia National Laboratories Student Intern Program
Ages: 16-19
Location: California and New Mexico
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced
Sandia National Laboratories—a research and development laboratory that applies science to help detect, repel, defeat, or mitigate national threats—welcomes student interns. Positions are available for students ranging from those in their final years of high school to undergraduates to researchers obtaining PhDs. Interns work on real-world, challenging projects that contribute to Sandia’s mission.
14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology MITES Summer Program
Ages: 16-17
Location: Massachusetts
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (February 1 in 2026)
Over six weeks living in MIT dorms, U.S. high school juniors take a five-course load at MITES Summer: physics, life sciences, math, a humanities class and a hands-on elective built around a project. For students drawn to computer science and engineering, the program offers a look at technical work at MIT through seminars with STEM professionals and visits to campus labs and to nearby companies where MITES alumni work. Scholars also receive college admissions counseling and join social events while strengthening academic and personal skills in a demanding setting. MIT and outside funders pay for the program, room and board included, leaving families responsible only for travel. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
15. Girls Who Code Pathways
Ages: 14-18
Location: Remote
Timeline: Year-round
Deadline: Not yet announced (April 10 in 2026)
Girls Who Code Pathways is a free, self-paced online coding program for high school girls and non-binary students that runs year-round. Students choose a track in game design, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, or web development, and each course gives them six to seven weeks to finish their projects on their own schedule. The program is aimed at beginner and intermediate coders. Participants join a virtual community on Discord, and optional extras include career panels, events with corporate partners, and workshops on emerging technologies. Students in 9th through 12th grade can apply online, including rising 9th graders and graduating seniors.
16. New York University Applied Research Innovation in Science & Engineering (ARISE)
Ages: 15-17
Location: New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (February 27 in 2026)
This 10-week program includes a 4-week training focused on lab safety, research skills, and college writing, followed by a 6-week research experience in participating NYU faculty labs. Participants are mentored by graduate or postdoctoral students and receive a stipend of $2,000 for completing the program. Participants also gain experience showing off their work—they’ll present their research to the NYU community as well as at a poster symposium at the American Museum of Natural History.
17. Massachusetts Institute of Technology LLRISE Workshop
Ages: 16-18
Location: Massachusetts
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (March 11 in 2026)
The Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers program (LLRISE) is a two-week summer workshop for rising high school seniors. LLRISE offers students an in-depth experience in building small radar systems by using creative problem-solving strategies.
Participants work with highly talented scientists and engineers to develop the skills needed to build a Doppler and range radar. The program is held on both the MIT campus in Cambridge, MA, and Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, MA.
18. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Women’s Technology Program (WTP)
Ages: 16-17
Location: Massachusetts
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: December 21, 2026
The MIT Women’s Technology Program (WTP) is a rigorous four-week summer academic experience that introduces high school students to engineering. Participants engage in classes, labs, and team-based projects in the summer after 11th grade.
WTP is aimed at students who are passionate about learning, have excelled in math and science classes, and have no prior background (or very little) in engineering. WTP is a women-focused, collaborative community focused on empowering students from groups historically underrepresented and underserved in engineering.
19. University of Chicago Data Science Institute Summer Lab
Ages: Freshmen-Seniors
Location: Illinois
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (January 12 in 2026)
The Data Science Institute Summer Lab program (launched in 2018 as the Data & Computing Summer Lab) is an immersive 8-week paid summer research program at the University of Chicago. In the program, high school and undergraduate students are paired with a data science mentor in various domains, including computer science, data science, social science, climate and energy policy, public policy, materials science, and biomedical research.
20. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
Ages: Rising Seniors
Location: Massachusetts and Virtual
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 31, 2027
The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a four-week summer STEM program for students entering their senior year, hosted by MIT Lincoln Laboratory and MIT's School of Engineering. Students work in teams on project-based courses in areas such as autonomy, artificial intelligence, radar, satellites, and cybersecurity, with some courses held in person on MIT's campus in Cambridge and others online, such as Cyber Operations and Quantum Software.
The program is free for families with income and assets under $200,000. Applicants first complete free online prerequisite courses, and progress in that coursework weighs heavily in admission.
21. New York University Computer Science for Cyber Security (CS4CS)
Ages: 14-17
Location: New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (May 15 in 2026)
This program at NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering instills the fundamentals of computer science and cybersecurity in participants. Students are empowered to tackle current and future cybersecurity challenges while exploring topics like:
- White-hat hacking
- Digital forensics
- Steganography
- Cryptography
The goal of the program is to break down the barriers that have historically excluded women and minorities from STEM fields like cybersecurity—a fast-growing, high-demand professional field that requires specialized computer science skills.
22. RIT Center for Imaging Science Summer High School Internship
Ages: 16-17
Location: New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced
The Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science at Rochester Institute of Technology offers a paid, six-week summer research internship for rising high school seniors. Interns join an imaging science research team and work in a real laboratory on projects in areas such as machine learning, computer vision, remote sensing, and cultural heritage imaging.
Interns work full time on RIT's Rochester campus and receive a stipend and a certificate of completion. The program is open to students who live in the Greater Rochester area.
23. The Governor’s School of New Jersey Program in Engineering & Technology
Ages: 16-18
Location: New Jersey
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (January 8 in 2026)
The Governor’s School of New Jersey was established in 1983. It is a tuition-free, residential summer program for high-achieving high school juniors with an interest in STEM subjects. Participants take four academic courses, engage in a research and design project, and tour local corporations to learn about potential career paths.
The program is extremely competitive—admission is offered to fewer than 100 students annually.
24. New York Historical Tech Scholars Program
Ages: 14-18
Location: New York
Timeline: School Year, Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (May 17 in 2026)
Learn to code alongside other teens in New York Historical’s free, week-long Tech Scholars programs held during school breaks. Explore how women across the spectrum of race, class, and sexuality have exercised power and effected change. Be a digital changemaker and create your own websites to share powerful stories about women in history.
25. Microsoft Discovery Program
Ages: Graduating Seniors
Location: Georgia and Washington
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced
This program for graduating high school seniors introduces students to career opportunities in technology. Participants gain real-world experience, develop professional skills, and receive mentoring from Microsoft employees while learning how technology can change people’s lives.
Learn more about this exciting opportunity and other programs like it in our ultimate guide to the Microsoft High School Internship.
For programs in other fields, see our STEM internships for high school students.
Cold Outreach Strategy for Computer Science High School Internships
If the opportunities above aren’t the right fit, the next step to finding a coding internship for high school students is to launch a cold outreach strategy—that is, a plan for contacting potential internship opportunities with whom you have no prior relationship. This can be intimidating at first, but the guide below should make it much simpler. It’s important to exercise caution when reaching out to professionals you don’t know. It‘s always safest to interview or meet virtually.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School Internship
LinkedIn is a great tool for finding small technology companies that interest you. Smaller companies are great targets for internships—they’re often shorthanded, making them more likely to hire high-school-aged students to code for them. Try to find personal connections with the professionals you reach out to, such as being from the same state, attending the same high school, or sharing an interest, such as liking the same sports team.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research Position
University directories are a tried-and-true resource for discovering professors to reach out to for research positions. These professors will likely have you help with computational research for a coding internship, which generally requires introductory knowledge of Python or R to parse large datasets. You should be able to learn Python or R on your own for free within a few months using resources such as Coursera’s R Programming Course or Python for Everybody.
How to Structure and Send Outreach Emails
The more people you contact about possible internships, the better your odds of success. Aim to send at least 50 emails to potential internship providers. Include a Google Drive link to your resume when reaching out—limit your resume’s length to a single page, and make sure the share settings allow anyone to view it. If possible, include samples of your coding skills by including a GitHub profile or a link to a website you designed.
If you need to craft a resume, our high school resume template and tips are a great jumping-off point. The University of Chicago’s free resume template and guide is another useful resource.
Email Template for Finding a High School Internship
If you are unsure how to structure your outreach emails to potential internship providers, here are some basic templates you can customize to your needs.
Template for Finding a Coding Internship
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Mr./Ms.____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I read about your company on LinkedIn and found the concept quite interesting. For context, [briefly state how the company relates to your interests or experience].
I was wondering if you might be looking for technical interns. I know I would have a great deal to learn from working with you, and I would love to contribute in any way I can. I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Template for Finding a Computational Research Position
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Professor/Dr. ____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I recently read your paper on [restate the abstract] in [name of publication] and was quite intrigued by [part you found interesting]. I was wondering if I might be able to intern for you over this summer in a technical role. [Elaborate on your relevant skills and experience and why you are passionate about the field].
I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Conclusion
Whether pursuing formal programs or cold outreach, securing high school internships requires persistence. While challenging to obtain, these opportunities provide invaluable career development that most students find worthwhile. Save this guide as a reference or share it with peers also interested in landing a high school internship. Good luck on your internship journey!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can high school students get coding or computer science internships?
Yes, though big tech companies rarely hire high schoolers directly. Most students get experience through dedicated high school programs like Meta's Summer Academy or NASA's internships, through startups and open-source projects, or by building their own coding projects to show their skills. Cold outreach to small software companies and nonprofits also works well.
Do you need coding experience to get an internship in high school?
Not always. Some programs are built for beginners and teach you from the ground up, while others expect basic knowledge of a language like Python or Java. If you are starting out, building small personal projects or finishing free online courses is the fastest way to qualify for more competitive roles.
Are there free or paid coding internships for high school students?
Both. Many of the most competitive coding programs are free or pay a stipend, including government and university options, while some structured programs charge tuition for added mentorship and guaranteed placement. There are also unpaid remote roles at startups and nonprofits that offer flexible, real-world experience.
What are the best coding internships for high school students?
Some of the most competitive include Meta's (Facebook) Summer Academy, NASA's High School Internship, the Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP), and MIT's MITES program. They are highly selective, so apply early and to several, and use online or local options as backups.
