If you are a high school student interested in computers, you may already know how to use them well. What is often missing is a clear idea of how they are built and why they behave the way they do. A computer engineering internship gives you a chance to step closer to that side of computers. You might spend time with hardware, basic circuits, or software that controls physical components. Seeing these pieces side by side helps concepts make sense.
Why choose a computer engineering internship?
These internships let you see both the physical and logical sides of computers. You may work with components, connect systems, or learn how software guides hardware actions. Being close to this process helps ideas stay clear instead of being abstract. Over time, you begin to see whether you enjoy careful problem-solving and long focus, which is important to know before planning your next academic steps.
With that, here are 15 computer engineering internships for high school students!
If you’re looking for free engineering programs for high school students, you can find them here. You can also check out computer engineering summer programs for high school students here.
15 Computer Engineering Internships for High School Students
1. University of Washington’s Changemakers in Computing
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Free | Students earn a $1,200 stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: July 6 – 30; orientation is held on May 16
Application Deadline: March 4 – April 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors from Washington State who are U.S citizens, permanent residents, DACA recipients, or have an Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
UW’s Changemakers in Computing Program, offered by the University of Washington’s Allen School, helps high school students learn how technology connects to society and justice. You’ll explore different areas of computing, develop coding and problem-solving skills, and learn how technology can create real change. You’ll join a small group led by a current UW student mentor and work on hands-on, culturally relevant projects. The program offers mentorship, career exploration, opportunities to interact with professionals from diverse backgrounds, and support with financial aid, college prep, and future career options. It also aims to make computer science and engineering more accessible to students who are underrepresented, low-income, or first-generation college students.
2. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Remote, hybrid, or in-person at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA
Cost/Stipend: $1,299 for 3 college course credits + $25 application fee (both waivable based on financial need) | Unpaid
Acceptance Rate: Around 10%
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: December 8 – February 15
Eligibility: For computer lab internships (remote, in-person, or hybrid), students must be at least 15 years old by the start date. For wet-lab (in-person or hybrid) internships, students must be at least 16 years old.
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program is an eight-week STEM research program for high school students. You’ll work with George Mason University faculty in a range of STEM fields and develop skills in scientific writing, research tools, and communication. Projects span engineering, physics, astronomy, math, data science, computer science, and cybersecurity, including options in electrical and computer engineering. Depending on the project, the internship may be in person, remote, or hybrid, and some work may lead to publications or conference presentations. The program also works well if you want to explore computer engineering. You can be placed in real research labs working on topics like machine learning, computer vision, data science, and robotics. You’ll get hands-on experience with advanced technology, practice programming and other technical skills, and build core engineering problem-solving skills that will help you understand CE career paths.
3. NYU’s Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE) Program
Location: Remote workshops and in-person lab research at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free | Students earn a $1,000 stipend
Cohort Size: Around 70 students participated in the program last year
Dates: June 1 – August 14; orientation will be held on May 29
Application Deadline: January 15 – February 20
Eligibility: NYC residents who are rising high school juniors or seniors
NYU’s ARISE is a 10-week summer program that offers hands-on STEM research experience. You’ll start with four weeks of virtual workshops on research skills, college-level writing, and lab safety. Then you’ll spend six weeks working about 120 hours in one of more than 80 NYU research labs. You’ll work directly with professors and graduate students in departments like Computer Science and Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering, and learn through modules on AI, machine learning, digital media, and cybersecurity. You’ll develop communication and public speaking skills and present your work at the American Museum of Natural History Poster Symposium and the NYU Colloquium. You’ll also receive mentoring, college application support, and access to a broader network of internship, research, and job opportunities.
4. Texas Tech University’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Honors College, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free, with a $25 application fee | Students earn a $750 stipend after completing their research project report
Cohort Size: 12 students
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application Deadline: January 2 – February 16
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, will graduate this year or next, and are at least 17 or older by the program start date
Texas Tech’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a seven-week summer research program for high school juniors and seniors. You will work on hands-on projects, explore college-level research, and collaborate with a faculty mentor. You’ll join discussions, weekly seminars, field trips, and social events. Research areas include Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Biology, Cancer Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering, with a focus on Cancer Bioimaging and more. Previous projects from the Electrical and Computer Engineering department include radar applications, MATLAB simulations for interference mitigation, and golf swing classification using FMCW radar. You can view more past projects here.
5. University of Chicago’s DSI Summer Lab
Location: John Crerar Library at the University of Chicago, Hyde Park campus, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free | Students earn a $5,600 stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; 20–25 students, including both undergraduate and high school students
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: High school seniors from the Chicago area who will start college in the fall
UChicago’s Data Science Institute Summer Lab is a paid research program for local students. You’ll work with mentors in areas like computer science, materials science, public policy, climate and energy policy, social science, and biomedical research. As a research assistant, you’ll build skills in research methods, with training based on your lab’s focus. You’ll present your work through talks and final videos at a summer symposium. The program also includes professional development for careers in data science and computing. While the program focuses on data science, many projects use core computer engineering concepts like algorithm design, system building, AI and machine learning, and computational methods. Past computer science projects include robot coaches for kids’ social-emotional learning, deep learning for cattle health, and studying how federated learning scales.
6. Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free, but on-campus housing and meals cost $2,450 | Stipend is provided (amount is unspecified)
Acceptance Rate: 5%
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school juniors aged 16 or older who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program gives high school students the chance to do hands-on STEM research. You can rank up to three research areas or mentors, with options like civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, math, biochemistry, physics, astronomy, and more. If you choose the Electrical and Computer Engineering department, you may work on projects focused on algorithm design, analysis, or simulation for distributed control, optimization, or machine learning in large-scale networks. You’ll work with a faculty mentor and research group and learn experimental design, research methods, and lab techniques. You’ll write an abstract and present a poster at the final symposium, as well as participate in lab tours, workshops, and faculty talks.
7. Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) Digital Scholars Program
Location: IL Tech Law Center at the Conviser Building, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free; CTA transit passes are available for students with financial need | Unpaid
Cohort Size: Each Digital Scholars class has about 30 students, with roughly 150 students accepted into the program overall
Dates: June 23 – August 1 (tentative)
Application Deadline: February 28 – May 2 (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-grade students, as well as first-year students at City Colleges of Chicago and Illinois institutions
The Digital Scholars Program introduces students to technology fields and helps them develop computing skills. You’ll work on real-world projects with university researchers and industry experts. Courses include Foundations of Computer Science & Coding, Data Science Discovery, Exploring Electrical and Computer Engineering, Programming in Swift, and iOS App Design. In Exploring Electrical and Computer Engineering, you’ll learn how hardware and software connect through hands-on work with circuits and signal processing. You’ll also join weekly workshops on machine learning, AI, entrepreneurship, and data science, hear from Chicago tech incubators, and connect with the local tech community through speakers.
8. ASPIRE by Johns Hopkins University
Location: Virtual or in person at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, Laurel, MD
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Acceptance Rate: Approximately 10%
Dates: Summer session: June 23 – August 21; Academic-year session: September 15 – May; juniors must finish 30 hours by December 31, and seniors must complete 60 hours
Application Deadline: January 1 – February 15; you can continue during the school year with mentor approval. It doesn’t require a separate application.
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who will be 15 or older by June 1, live in designated Maryland counties, and have at least a 2.8 GPA
Johns Hopkins University’s ASPIRE program gives local students a chance to explore STEM careers through hands-on projects with mentors from the Applied Physics Laboratory. When you apply, you can list two areas of interest and rank up to three project types, such as social impact, research and development, lab work, or public relations, though the program assigns mentors and projects. You can explore fields such as engineering, math, AI, machine learning, physical and environmental science, programming, and data analysis. You will also develop your technical and communication skills working on real research. If you’re interested in computer engineering, you can work in areas tied to the field, including computing systems, intelligent systems and AI, robotics and autonomy, cybersecurity, and data science. You may also choose projects focused on programming and computer science, such as web-based software development, robotics, and app development.
9. UT Computer Science Academy for ALL
Location: University of Texas, Austin, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free; need-based travel scholarships of up to $500 are available | Unpaid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 10:1 student-to-mentor ratio
Dates: June 7 – 13 (Standard Edition) | June 14 – 19 (Machine Learning Edition)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: U.S. rising high school juniors or seniors
UT Austin’s Academy for All allows students to explore computer science through hands-on projects. You’ll practice coding, teamwork, and project management while learning about careers in tech. You will choose between two tracks, Standard Edition or Machine Learning Edition. In the Standard Edition, you’ll use C++ and Arduino microcontrollers to build an LED light show and learn about new technologies from UT faculty and industry professionals. In the Machine Learning Edition, you’ll train your own model, work with Python, and learn how machine learning connects to operating systems through faculty-led workshops. Both tracks include guidance from UT admissions, plus insight into internships and tech careers.
10. NIST’s Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Location: NIST laboratory at Gaithersburg, MD, or Boulder, CO
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 26; you can find the application guide here
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are U.S. citizens, live within 50 miles of their host campus, and have at least a 3.0 GPA
NIST’s Summer High School Intern Program allows high school students to explore science and engineering through hands-on research. You’ll work on a research project with scientists and engineers and learn how NIST’s six labs operate. You can review the labs ahead of time and list your preferred choice in your application. Several labs connect closely to computer engineering. The Information Technology Laboratory focuses on computer networks, software engineering, cybersecurity, and machine learning. The Communications Technology Laboratory will allow you to work with broadband networks, wireless devices, and radio-frequency systems. The Physical Measurement Laboratory offers projects in microelectronics, electronic devices, and nanotechnology, and is a good fit for students interested in electrical engineering.
11. WIE Rise Summer Research Program at the University of Maryland
Location: Virtual (synchronous)
Cost: $25 per student; full scholarships are available based on financial need
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: July 27 – 31
Application Deadline: April 25; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students
The WIE Rise Summer Research Program is a week-long virtual program that introduces high school students to engineering research. The program mainly supports female students, but all gender identities are welcome, and sessions run daily from 1 PM to 3 PM. It’s run through Maryland Engineering’s RISE Program and Women in Engineering Program. You’ll explore areas like electrical and computer engineering, aerospace engineering, fire protection, civil and environmental engineering, materials science, bioengineering, chemical engineering, and mechanical engineering. You’ll practice reading and writing scientific papers, try simple at-home experiments, learn about research labs at the University of Maryland, and connect with current engineering students. Hands-on activities require basic household items, so a supply list will be shared ahead of time.
12. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Several lab locations across the country
Cost/Stipend: Free | New participants get a $4,000 stipend, and returning participants receive $4,500
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: < 10% | 265 high school students participated in last year’s program
Dates: 8-week summer internship, with optional 2-week extension
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 or older, are U.S. citizens, and have completed at least ninth grade, including graduating seniors, can apply; some labs may have extra requirements
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program lets students work on real research with Navy scientists and engineers at Department of the Navy labs. Projects cover computer science, engineering, math, chemistry, meteorology, physics, biology, astronomy, and more. You can list up to three lab choices. Your placement is determined by your interests, grades, recommendations, and personal statement. The Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane is a strong option for students interested in computer engineering, computer science, or electrical engineering. As an intern, you’ll be matched with a mentor in Expeditionary Warfare, Strategic Missions, or Electronic Warfare. You’ll support electronics, sensors, electronic warfare, and special warfare weapons through in-service engineering, acquisition engineering, and technical work.
13. University of New Hampshire’s HighTech Bound
Location: University of New Hampshire Campus, Durham, NH
Cost/Stipend: Free | Interns earn a competitive hourly wage
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive
Dates: July 6 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 5 – February 28
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are U.S. residents
The University of New Hampshire’s HighTech Bound is a summer internship that offers hands-on experience with network technology. You’ll contribute to real tech projects, develop research solutions, and build technical and problem-solving skills using tools similar to those in smart cars and internet-connected devices. You’ll also explore college-level tech programs and possible career paths. The program introduces both computer and electrical engineering and helps you learn how software and hardware work together. You’ll work in a computer lab with mentors and teammates on projects that use both hardware and software from companies like Dell, Apple, and Cisco, including AI integration. Past projects include working with FPGAs using PYNQ, creating tracking software with GUIs, rebuilding IOL test software with Java, and validating CnC tools.
14. NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internships
Location: Remote or in person at any of NASA’s ten field centers across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Free | Students may qualify for a stipend based on their academic level and internship duration
Acceptance Rate: Around 5%
Dates: 10 weeks from late May/early June to August (Summer Session) | 16 weeks from late August/early September to mid-December (Fall Session)
Application Deadline: February 27 (Summer Session) | May 22 (Fall Session)
Eligibility: U.S. high school students who are 16 or older, enrolled full-time as a student, and have a minimum GPA of 3.0
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement offers internships that provide hands-on experience in engineering, science, business, finance, and IT. You’ll work with engineers and research scientists, explore areas like robotics, astronomy, aeronautics, ecology, and science communication, and participate in virtual talks with astronauts. These internships at NASA centers can be full-time or part-time and help you build skills and strengthen your resume. Depending on your role, you may help develop technology, analyze and collect data, design experiments, operate telescopes, or support mission planning. The program can also help you explore computer engineering by providing real-world experience in IT, software development with C, C++, and Python, data science, and cybersecurity. You’ll work on real NASA projects and learn how hardware and software interact in aerospace systems.
15. NASA and UT Austin’s STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Summer High School Intern Program
Location: Virtual or in person at the University of Texas, Austin, TX
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: Last year, 100 students took part virtually, and 80 students participated in person
Dates: May 15 – July 1 (distance learning modules) | June – July 21 (remote project work with mentor guidance) | July 5 – 18 (on-site internship) | July 20 and 21 (SEES Virtual Science Symposium)
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors who are U.S. citizens, 16 or older, and applying to SEES for the first time
UT’s Center for NASA and UT Austin’s SEES High School Summer Intern Program provide students with hands-on experience in real NASA research. You’ll work with NASA experts on data analysis and visualization, with project topics changing each year. Research areas include engineering, remote sensing, astronomy, Earth systems, and planetary science through UT’s Center for Space Research. Even though the focus is on Earth science, you can still build computer engineering skills through software-based work, data analysis, and remote sensing. You’ll use tools like ArcGIS and Google Earth, as well as programming languages such as Python. You’ll also work with real NASA data, which will help you develop a strong technical foundation in engineering.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like computer systems, machine learning, data science, hardware–software integration, and emerging technologies, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image Source – University of Texas, Austin