Top 12 High School Computer Science Internships in 2025–2026

If you’re ready to grow your coding skills and gain real-world experience, high school computer science internships can open the door to top-tier tech opportunities. These programs let you work with engineers, researchers, and industry professionals while exploring fields like software engineering, AI, and cybersecurity. They also strengthen your college applications by showcasing hands-on experience, improving your chances of being accepted into the best computer science schools like MIT and Carnegie Mellon.

In this blog, we’ll be sharing the top 12 high school computer science internships for 2025–2026, including locations, costs, dates, and standout features.

• What Are the Best High School Computer Science Internships?
• NASA OSTEM Internships
• Amazon Future Engineer Internship
• Netflix High School Internship
• IBM Quantum Computing Internship
• Microsoft AI for Accessibility and Discovery Programs
• Meta Summer Academy
• MITRE Nationwide High School Student Program
• Boston University RISE Internship
• Carnegie Mellon Computer Science Scholars
• Data Science Institute Summer Lab
• Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program
• NIST Summer High School Internship Program
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Are the Best High School Computer Science Internships?

The best high school computer science internships offer hands-on projects, real mentorship, and exposure to cutting-edge technology. The top opportunities stand out because they give you practical experience that builds confidence, skills, and a strong foundation for future STEM studies.

Here’s a quick overview of the best high school computer science internships, including each program’s location and dates:

Let’s discuss each computer science internship one by one.

1. NASA OSTEM Internships

• Location: Various NASA centers nationwide (e.g. Langley, Kennedy, Ames).
• Benefits: Free (paid internship with stipend).
• Program Dates: Summer 2026 (8 weeks; applications open late 2025, deadline Feb 27, 2026).

NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid summer internships where high school students work on NASA projects. Interns spend about eight weeks at a NASA facility, contributing to aerospace or computer science teams under NASA mentors. This hands-on program gives students exposure to cutting-edge NASA technology (satellites, coding space missions, etc.).

It’s one of the premier high school computer science internships, letting students experience what it’s like to work at NASA.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens at least 16 years old with a minimum GPA (typically around 3.0) and be enrolled as high school or college students to participate in mentored STEM projects at NASA centers. Competitive applicants also demonstrate strong academic records in STEM subjects.

If you’re excited about working on real aerospace, coding, and engineering challenges, check out our blog on NASA Internships and discover how high school students contribute to mission-driven STEM research.

2. Amazon Future Engineer Internship

• Location: Amazon offices (e.g. Seattle, WA, or other U.S. tech hubs).
• Benefits: Free (paid internship plus scholarship).
• Program Dates: Summer 2026 (12-week program; applicants notified by spring 2026; deadline Jan 15, 2026).

Part of Amazon’s scholarship program, this 12-week summer internship immerses winners in Amazon’s tech teams. Interns are awarded a $40K scholarship and get to work on projects, such as building features for Alexa, AWS, or Amazon’s retail platform. They work as part of a software or hardware engineering team and deliver production-ready code.

The program includes mentorship and networking with Amazon engineers. This paid internship is widely regarded as a top high school computer science internships opportunity, combining financial support with hands-on experience at a leading tech company.

This opportunity is tied to the Amazon Future Engineer scholarship, requiring U.S. high school seniors authorized to work in the U.S., planning to pursue a CS-related degree, with a minimum GPA ofabout 2.3, and demonstrated financial need.

3. Netflix High School Internship

• Location: Netflix headquarters (Los Gatos, CA) and other U.S. locations.
• Benefits: Free (paid 12-week internship).
• Program Dates: Summer 2026 (approx. June–Aug; Netflix posts openings in fall 2025; 12 weeks).

Netflix’s internship is a 12-week summer program (although formally for college students, many high school–aged programs emulate it). Interns are treated as full team members working on engineering and data projects—for example, improving recommendation algorithms or streaming infrastructure. They gain exposure to Netflix’s unique company culture and collaborate on projects that directly advance the business. This internship offers a behind-the-scenes look at entertainment technology.

It’s among the most prestigious high school computer science internships, allowing students to build portfolio-worthy projects and learn from world-class tech teams.

4. IBM Quantum Computing Internship

• Location: IBM Research labs (Yorktown Heights, NY, and other global sites).
• Benefits: Free (paid internship).
• Program Dates: Summer 2026 (8–12 weeks; application timeline usually early 2026).

IBM’s internship takes students into the field of quantum computing, working alongside IBM researchers to explore quantum algorithms and assist in building IBM’s quantum development platform, even without prior quantum knowledge.

Mentorship from IBM’s quantum team helps interns launch their careers in the field of quantum computing. This is a unique high school computer science internship that immerses young learners in an emerging technology, preparing them for future breakthroughs in tech and beyond.

Specific eligibility details for a high school quantum internship at IBM aren’t widely posted publicly, but these experiences typically look for students with strong programming interest/background and enthusiasm for quantum computing; official IBM internships generally require good academic standing and relevant skills.

5. Microsoft AI for Accessibility and Discovery Programs

• Location: Microsoft campuses (Redmond, WA and Atlanta, GA).
• Benefits: Free (paid internship).
• Program Dates: Summer 2026 (4-week program; e.g. July 7–Aug 1, 2026).

Microsoft offers paid high school computer science internships focused on AI and inclusivity. Its Discovery Program is a 4-week summer internship for rising college freshmen (high school seniors) in Redmond or Atlanta. Interns work on tech and AI projects with Microsoft mentors, learning software development and AI applications.

A key feature is Microsoft’s AI for Accessibility initiative, where interns can contribute to projects that use AI to solve challenges for people with disabilities. Together, these programs let students apply computer science to real-world, inclusive tech projects. The program is highly selective and fully funded.

Applicants need to be enrolled high school students (often sophomores) and meet minimum GPA or residency criteria.

6. Meta Summer Academy

• Location: Meta offices (Redwood City/Menlo Park, CA).
• Benefits: Free (paid stipend)
• Program Dates: Summer 2026 (6 weeks; roughly mid-June to late July, e.g. June 16–July 25, 2025).

Meta Summer Academy (formerly Facebook Summer Academy) is a 6-week paid internship for Bay Area sophomores. It brings students from underrepresented communities likeEast Palo Alto to Meta’s Silicon Valley office. Interns learn coding and engineering basics, work on team projects, and develop professional skills.

In past years, students spent six weeks on campus during the summer. It’s unique among high school computer science internships for its focus on diversity, hands-on coding projects, and community building in a corporate setting.

If you want a behind-the-scenes look at careers in software engineering, product design, and tech operations, explore our complete guide to Meta Summer Academy and see how high school students learn directly from industry professionals.

7. MITRE Nationwide High School Student Program

• Location: MITRE research centers (McLean, VA; Bedford, MA; or virtual).
• Benefits: Free (paid internship).
• Program Dates: Summer 2026 (8 weeks; July–August).

MITRE’s program empowers 300 high school students nationwide yearly to discover, create, and lead in STEM fields. Interns work on engineering and cybersecurity projects in MITRE’s labs, where they are placed based on skills and interests. They receive intensive mentorship as they collaborate with top scientists and engineers.

Applicants must be current high school freshmen through seniors to participate in paid summer research positions with MITRE, working alongside mentors in technical areas.

This hands-on experience in a national R&D organization is rare among high school internships. It’s a premier high school computer science internship for students interested in defense or systems engineering, offering project work in a top research lab.

8. Boston University RISE Internship

• Location: Boston University, Boston, MA.
• Benefits: $6,185 (commuter)–$9,785 (residential) in 2025
• Program Dates: Summer 2026 (6 weeks; mid-June to late July, e.g. June 16–July 25, 2025).

BU’s RISE (Research in Science & Engineering) Internship Track is a 6-week research immersion for rising high school seniors. Participants spend 40 hours/week in university labs, working one-on-one with faculty or grad student mentors. Each student tackles a research project, culminating in a poster or paper. The program also includes workshops on research skills and college prep.

RISE is intensive and structured as a mini-university experience, even offering college credit. It’s one of the most rigorous high school computer science internships available, giving students a taste of authentic lab research.

If you’re interested in computer science research at the university level, dive into our comprehensive guide to BU’s RISE Internship and see how students work side-by-side with faculty on advanced computing and engineering projects.

9. Carnegie Mellon Computer Science Scholars

• Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.
• Benefits: Free (fully funded – tuition, room, and board covered).
• Program Dates: Summer 2026 (4 weeks, residential on campus).

CMU’s CS Scholars is a fully-funded four-week residential program for high school sophomores. Students take college-level CS courses and work on team projects, guided by CMU faculty and industry mentors. The curriculum includes programming, math, and research exposure.

A key aspect is community and inclusion since CMU actively recruits students from diverse backgrounds. By immersing students in a tech learning environment, this program stands out as a top high school computer science internship, especially since it removes financial barriers.

To be eligible, students generally must be rising high school juniors and meet age requirements (typically around 16 by program start) to participate in this selective on-campus CS experience.

10. Data Science Institute Summer Lab

• Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
• Benefits: Paid (intern stipend).
• Program Dates: June 15 – August 7, 2026 (8 weeks).

UChicago’s Data Science Institute (DSI) Summer Lab is an 8-week paid research internship. It pairs interns with mentors on data-driven projects. Areas span computer science, public policy, climate, health, and more. Interns build practical skills in data analysis and research methodology while contributing to ongoing studies. The program explicitly focuses on rigorous, applied, interdisciplinary data science research.

For Chicago students, this offers a taste of applied CS and data science in a university setting. It’s an excellent high school computer science internship for those interested in using data to solve real problems.

11. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program

• Location: Department of Navy laboratories nationwide.
• Benefits: Free (paid internship, stipend $4,000).
• Program Dates: Summer 2026 (8 weeks, typically June–July).

SEAP is a prestigious 8-week internship that places high schoolers in U.S. Navy and Marine Corps research labs. Interns participate in naval engineering and science projects, from cybersecurity to robotics. The program is very competitive, with only~300 slots open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Selected students receive a $4,000 stipend, but returning participants have higher stipends.

SEAP opens to high school students in grades 9–12, providing research experience in university or Army labs with mentorship, emphasizing a strong interest in STEM.

SEAP interns are treated like junior researchers, which makes it a standout high school computer science internship with a focus on national defense technology.

12. NIST Summer High School Internship Program

• Location: NIST Gaithersburg, MD or Boulder, CO campuses.
• Benefits: Free (unpaid volunteer program).
• Program Dates: Summer 2026 (8 weeks, mid-June to mid-August).

NIST’s SHIP offers juniors and seniors the chance to spend 8 weeks doing research at NIST laboratories. It is an unpaid program, so students must live locally (meaning they should arrange housing/transportation on their own) and commit full-time. Interns work on metrology and technology projects under NIST scientists, learning lab skills and contributing to standards-related research.

NIST’s SHIP is for U.S. citizens who are high school juniors or seniors with a solid academic record (often a minimum GPA of around 3.0), and requires commitment to the full research program during summer.

Despite being unpaid, SHIP is coveted for its intensive science experience since students are selected for cutting-edge research projects. It’s a great example of a high school computer science internship where students can engage deeply in government research and build a strong STEM foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is considered the most prestigious computer science internship?

NASA’s OSTEM Internships and programs at major tech companies like Microsoft and IBM are widely viewed as the most prestigious due to their rigorous selection and high-level research experience.

2. Do these programs require previous computer science knowledge?

Some do, especially research-focused programs, but many accept motivated beginners. Basic coding skills are often recommended.

3. Are there virtual options available in 2025?

Yes. The MITRE Nationwide High School Student Program continue to offer remote options.

4. How competitive are high school computer science internships?

Very competitive—top programs receive far more applicants than available spots and often require strong academics, essays, and recommendations.

5. Can computer science internships improve my college application?

Yes. They demonstrate initiative, technical ability, and real-world experience, all of which strengthen your STEM-focused college application.

Takeaways

• The top high school computer science internships give you access to mentorship, advanced tools, and hands-on projects that help you clarify your interests and stand out in competitive admissions.
• Whether you choose a research lab, a tech company, or a government internship, each opportunity offers a meaningful step toward a future in STEM.
• If you want personalized guidance on which high school computer science internship matches your goals, check out our Academic & Extracurricular Profile Evaluation to make your experience stand out on college applications.