With online systems playing such a central role in daily life, cybersecurity has quickly become one of the most critical areas in technology. If you’re a high school student curious about how to protect data, investigate digital threats, or understand the mindset of a hacker, an internship can give you a meaningful head start.
These opportunities let you move beyond theory by practicing real techniques—like penetration testing, cryptography, or malware analysis, while learning how professionals think about risk and defense. Many of the programs below also introduce you to industry-standard tools such as Wireshark, Kali Linux, or Splunk, giving you practical experience in a competitive field.
Below, we’ve highlighted 15 internships where you can explore the field, strengthen your skills, and start connecting with experts.
14 Cybersecurity Internships for High School Students
1. Cybersecurity Internship Program – U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Location: Springfield, VA
Stipend: Paid
Program Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Eligibility: U.S. citizens (16+), enrolled in high school or college; Minimum 2.0 GPA
This summer internship places you at the heart of national cybersecurity operations. Working with DHS cyber professionals, you’ll engage in real-time projects like intrusion detection, forensics, and malware analysis. You may explore areas such as cloud security, data management, and secure software assurance using tools like Wireshark or Splunk. The experience is grounded in real federal IT systems, giving you exposure to mission-critical cybersecurity infrastructure. Strong communication and project leadership skills are key.
2. Cyber and IT Internships – Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
Location: Various CISA locations (nationwide)
Stipend: Paid
Program Dates: Varies (typically summer)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: U.S. citizens (16+) enrolled in high school or higher education
CISA offers paid cybersecurity internships focused on real-time threat mitigation, vulnerability management, and digital infrastructure protection. You might contribute to tasks like building automated forensic tools, analyzing network logs with Python scripts, or assisting in phishing email classification using threat emulation frameworks. You’ll work alongside federal cybersecurity professionals, engage in inter-agency projects, and attend technical briefings and site visits. Depending on your placement, you could also work with platforms like PowerShell, Cobalt Strike, Azure DevOps, or Linux-based systems.
3. AEOP High School Internships
Location: U.S. Army research labs and university partners
Stipend: Paid
Program Dates: Typically June – August
Application Deadline: November – February/March
Eligibility: U.S. rising high school juniors or seniors
AEOP internships place high school students in Department of Defense research environments, including labs working in cybersecurity, network defense, and secure data systems. Under the guidance of a professional mentor, you’ll contribute to technical research in fields like cryptography, malware analysis, or secure communications. You may gain exposure to tools like Python for log parsing, Linux forensics, or security risk modeling. The program emphasizes independent research skills, lab protocol, and scientific communication, with additional training through AEOP’s STEM career webinars and alumni network.
4. CS4CS: Cyber Security for Computer Science
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Program Dates: July 14 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Current 10th or 11th graders residing in NYC or Nassau County
CS4CS is a 4-week program introducing foundational cybersecurity topics like ethical hacking, cryptography, and digital forensics. You’ll gain hands-on experience with real-world security analysis, steganography challenges, and data privacy labs—no prior programming experience required. The program also includes a unique communication component using theater-based workshops to improve public speaking and teamwork. Hosted at NYU Tandon and led by faculty affiliated with the OSIRIS Lab and CSAW, CS4CS is fully funded through DTCC’s support.
5. Pathways Program – Girls Who Code
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Program Dates: Self-paced over 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Current 9th-12th grade students, including graduating seniors and GWC alumni
Girls Who Code’s Pathways Program offers a self-directed track in cybersecurity alongside AI, data science, and web development. You’ll complete project-based video modules that cover fundamentals like secure coding, encryption, and threat modeling using Python and JavaScript. Alongside technical content, the program includes career prep workshops, live talks with tech professionals, and peer collaboration. The curriculum emphasizes both real-world application and inclusive community-building within the tech space.
6. Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Location: Gaithersburg, MD, and Boulder, CO
Cost/Stipend: None
Program Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders or recent high school graduates (U.S. citizens only)
NIST’s SHIP places students in one of six federal research labs, with cybersecurity-focused projects available through the Information Technology Laboratory (ITL). Past interns have explored topics in cryptography, computer forensics, trustworthy software systems, and machine learning for digital security. You’ll work directly with federal researchers and contribute to scientific posters, data analysis, or code-based projects using Python, MATLAB, or C. The 8-week program includes a mentor-guided research experience and concludes with a formal poster presentation to NIST scientists and staff.
7. Sandia High School Internship Program
Location: Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (some remote options)
Stipend: Paid
Program Dates: May – August (summer Internship) with year-round internships available
Application Deadline: Varies by position; Typically opens in the fall and closes by early spring
Eligibility: U.S. citizens (16+) who are full-time high school students with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Sandia’s High School Internship Program offers hands-on exposure to cybersecurity, software engineering, and secure systems research within national security contexts. Through the Intern Institute, you may work on real-world projects in areas like encryption, cyber-physical systems, or network security, supported by mentorship from Sandia researchers. You will receive technical training, competitive pay, and professional development opportunities, with access to tools like secure coding environments and testing platforms. Projects vary by lab and site, and some interns may continue year-round with supervisor approval.
8. SPARK Summer Mentorship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Program Dates: July – August (exact dates vary annually)
Application Deadline: Typically April
Eligibility: U.S. high school students from underrepresented or low-income backgrounds
SPARK connects high school students with Stanford graduate student mentors in fields like computer science, biomedical research, and cybersecurity. If placed in a CS/cybersecurity track, you’ll gain exposure to cryptography, algorithmic thinking, and secure system design using tools like Python or introductory C. The virtual mentorship focuses on academic exploration and research skill-building, with weekly check-ins, independent reading, and a final research project or presentation.
9. Microsoft High School Discovery Program
Location: Microsoft, Redmond, WA, or Atlanta, GA
Stipend: Paid
Program Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling; Opens in early February
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors living within 50 miles of Redmond, WA, or in specific GA school districts; Must have completed pre-calculus
Microsoft’s Discovery Program introduces high school graduates to the tech world through a 4-week immersive internship. You’ll participate in hands-on technical projects, explore pathways in cybersecurity, software engineering, and AI, and receive mentorship from Microsoft employees. While not limited to cybersecurity, past sessions have included modules on responsible tech use, digital privacy, and the ethics of secure system design. The experience also builds foundational professional skills like agile teamwork and project documentation in a corporate tech environment.
10. MITRE High School Internship Program
Location: MITRE (primarily Bedford, MA, and McLean, VA) + other U.S. sites
Stipend: Paid
Program Dates: Late May – August for 10-12 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: U.S. high school students with strong academic records; Must be eligible to work in the U.S.
MITRE offers selective summer internships that place high school students on real-world research teams working in cybersecurity, systems engineering, data science, and software security. As an intern, you may explore areas like threat modeling, applied cryptography, or infrastructure defense, working with tools such as Python, Linux, or simulation frameworks. The experience includes mentorship, technical talks, and exposure to federally sponsored research. Students also participate in MITRE’s Learning Track Program to build skills in secure coding, AI, and human-centered tech design.
11. DSI Summer Lab
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $5,600
Program Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: High school students residing and attending school in the Chicago area
The DSI Summer Lab is an 8-week applied research program where you’ll work with University of Chicago mentors on data-driven projects across computer science, public policy, biomedicine, and cybersecurity. Research topics may include adversarial machine learning, secure systems design, or data privacy, depending on mentor matching. You’ll use tools like Python, Jupyter Notebooks, and version control systems while contributing to a real lab project. The program emphasizes research communication, technical growth, and peer collaboration, culminating in a final presentation at a symposium modeled after academic conferences.
12. ARISE: Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $1,000
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: Typically February
Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors who are full-time NYC residents attending NYC high schools
ARISE offers a rigorous 10-week STEM research experience, with placements in over 80 NYU labs, including those focused on cybersecurity, computer vision, and AI ethics. You’ll begin with foundational training in lab safety, research methods, and college-level communication, then move into mentored lab work for ~120 hours. Cybersecurity placements may explore areas like intrusion detection, adversarial attacks, or privacy-preserving systems. You’ll also present your research at the AMNH Poster Symposium and receive college prep and mentorship support throughout the summer.
13. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: 38+ Navy labs across the U.S.
Stipend: $4,000 (new)/$4,500 (returning)
Program Dates: 8 weeks, typically June – August
Application Deadline: August 1 – November 1
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (grades 9-12); Must be 16+ by start date
SEAP places high school students in Navy research labs for immersive summer internships in areas including cybersecurity, electronic warfare, autonomous systems, and secure communications. You will work alongside Department of the Navy scientists and engineers, contributing to real defense-oriented projects such as network intrusion simulation, cryptography testing, or cyber-physical system modeling. The experience includes direct mentorship, access to military research infrastructure, and potential for continued research through college.
14. Wright Scholar Research Assistant Program
Location: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH
Stipend: Paid
Program Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors or seniors (GPA ≥ 3.5), age 16+ by June 1
The Wright Scholar Program places students into real-world Department of Defense research labs, including teams focused on cybersecurity, electronic warfare, and autonomous systems. For 8 weeks, you’ll work full-time under an AFRL mentor, contributing to a dedicated research project involving simulation, data analysis, or secure software prototyping. While projects vary, many scholars are matched with groups specializing in threat modeling, system resilience, or digital signal processing. This is a paid research position, and students are expected to treat the experience as a full-time commitment with strict attendance policies.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, 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 – Write Scholar – Wright-Patterson Air Force Base