A software internship can offer high school students like you who wish to pursue computer science or engineering the opportunity to gain a clearer sense of how coding works outside the classroom. In high school, these internships often combine structured learning with real project-based work. Some programs focus on core concepts like Python and data structures, while others explore applied areas such as AI, cybersecurity, robotics, or app development.
Why should you choose a software internship?
A software internship helps you apply technical skills in a practical setting and develop structured problem-solving habits. Rather than only completing textbook exercises, you might write and debug programs, analyze datasets, or collaborate on small development tasks using industry-relevant tools. You also gain familiarity with development workflows and collaborative tools that can strengthen college applications and clarify your academic interests.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of software internships that provide hands-on technical experience for high school students. If you’re exploring related options, you can also read our blogs on software engineering summer programs or STEM internships.
15 Software Internships for High School Students
1. Microsoft Discovery Program
Stipend: $26/hour
Dates: Atlanta: July 6 – 31; Redmond: July 13 – August 7
Application Deadline: Applications open in early February
Cost: None
Location: Microsoft offices in Redmond, WA, or Atlanta, GA
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who have completed precalculus or an equivalent course. More detailed requirements can be found here
The Microsoft Discovery Program is a software internship for high school students that introduces participants to the Software Development Life Cycle within the Microsoft ecosystem. You collaborate in teams to design and implement a functional software project using tools such as Visual Studio Code and Git. The program also provides structured exposure to product planning, user experience considerations, and collaborative engineering workflows. You attend workshops and mentoring sessions that outline career pathways in software engineering and related technical roles. By the end, you’ll have practical familiarity with enterprise-scale development processes and team-based software production.
2. Sandia National Laboratories Internships
Stipend: Provided
Dates: Varies by internship
Application Deadline: Varies by internship
Cost: None
Location: Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM, or Livermore, CA
Eligibility: High school students (16+) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents, typically with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Sandia National Laboratories offers research-focused software internships for students interested in national security and advanced computing. You may contribute to projects involving cybersecurity, network architecture, embedded systems, or scientific computing. Daily responsibilities can include scripting in Python, working within Linux environments, or supporting firmware and systems-level testing. You operate under the guidance of laboratory researchers and are introduced to secure development protocols used in government research settings.
3. Lockheed Martin Space High School Internships
Stipend: Provided
Dates: 9+ weeks from June to August
Application Deadline: December 19
Cost: None
Location: Lockheed Martin Space in Denver, CO, Sunnyvale, CA, Cape Canaveral, FL, King of Prussia/Valley Forge, PA, Huntsville, AL, Herndon, VA
Eligibility: High school students (excluding graduating seniors) who are 16+, live within commuting distance to a participating Lockheed Martin Space facility, and have an interest in STEM
Lockheed Martin Space provides software internships for high school students interested in aerospace systems and defense technologies. You might assist in developing and testing software components that support satellite operations and mission-critical platforms. Programming tasks often involve languages such as C++ or Java, as well as the use of integrated development environments and version control systems. You’ll be introduced to documentation standards and code review practices common in regulated engineering environments. The experience offers insight into how software reliability and safety requirements shape development in aerospace contexts.
4. SEAP (Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program)
Stipend: New participant: $4,000; Returning participant: $4,500
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: November 1
Cost: None
Location: Various Department of Navy labs
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors (16+) who are U.S. citizens
SEAP places high school students in Department of the Navy laboratories for hands-on STEM research. You engage in software-related projects connected to naval technology, data analysis, or autonomous systems development. The apprenticeship model allows you to contribute to ongoing research initiatives under the supervision of professional scientists and engineers. You’ll also be required to prepare technical summaries or presentations describing their findings.
5. MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)
Stipend: None
Dates: June 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: December 10
Cost: None
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: Academically strong high school juniors. You can find more requirements here
The MIT Research Science Institute (RSI) is a competitive summer research program that immerses high school students in the full scientific research process. You conduct literature reviews, develop research questions, and produce original work in fields that often include computational science or software-based modeling. You’ll have access to institutional research infrastructure and receive mentorship from academic researchers. The program concludes with written and oral presentations delivered in a conference-style format. RSI aligns with expectations for university-level research, including data synthesis, technical writing, and formal evaluation.
6. Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)
Stipend: $500/week
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 1
Cost: None
Location: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, IL
Eligibility: Rising or graduating Illinois high school seniors who are U.S. citizens
The Fermilab PRISM program functions as a research-oriented software internship experience for high school students interested in computational science. You explore the digital frameworks that support particle physics, quantum science, and large-scale data processing. You might work with engineering design tools, artificial intelligence methods, or data analysis platforms within a national laboratory setting. The program emphasizes structured mentorship and collaborative research practices. It concludes with the submission of a research abstract and a poster presentation summarizing your technical findings.
7. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute
Stipend: None
Dates: July 6 – August 1 or 2
Application Deadline: March 30
Cost: Free for families earning <$200,000; $2,400 otherwise
Location: Virtual, or MIT, Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: U.S. high school students in the 9th to 11th grade
The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute offers intensive technical programs focused on software and engineering systems. Coursework may center on autonomous systems, robotics, cybersecurity, or quantum-related applications. You complete project-based assignments using programming languages such as Python and tools including ROS or embedded development platforms. The curriculum integrates theoretical instruction with applied problem-solving exercises. You finish the program with documented project outputs that reflect structured engineering workflows.
8. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Stipend: $506.80/week
Dates: June 1 – July 27
Application Deadline: January 10
Cost: None
Location: Several locations across the U.S.
Eligibility: U.S. students who are 16+ (18+ for California locations) with a minimum 3.0 GPA
The AFRL Scholars Program places high school students in research environments focused on defense-related science and engineering. If your placement is software-focused, you’ll assist with prototyping, simulation modeling, or algorithm development using languages such as Python or C++. Projects can involve areas like autonomous flight systems, cybersecurity analysis, or signal processing. You work under mentorship and are expected to follow laboratory research standards and reporting protocols.
9. Meta Summer Academy
Stipend: Provided
Dates: June 15 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 14
Cost: None
Location: Meta headquarters, Menlo Park, CA
Eligibility: High school sophomores residing in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City with a minimum 2.0 GPA
Meta Summer Academy is a technical training and career exploration program that introduces high school students to large-scale software infrastructure. You complete structured modules related to coding, systems architecture, and digital platform operations. The program explains how software development supports product deployment and system reliability across global networks. You also receive guidance on technical interview preparation and early-career pathways in technology fields. The experience is designed to clarify how entry-level software roles function within major technology companies.
10. New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) Junior Academy
Stipend: None
Dates: Challenges start in September and February
Application Deadline: July (fall semester); January (spring semester)
Cost: None
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Students aged 13–17
The NYAS Junior Academy engages high school students in global, challenge-based problem solving that often incorporates computational tools and software development. You collaborate remotely to design prototypes addressing issues aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Projects may involve machine learning models, blockchain frameworks, or data-driven environmental monitoring systems. Teams progress through ideation, technical design, and final presentation phases.
11. Code2College High School Technical Internships
Stipend: Provided
Dates: 9-month program
Application Deadline: April 30
Cost: None
Location: Nationwide
Eligibility: Rising high school students in the U.S.
Code2College prepares high school students for competitive software internships through structured technical training. You begin with foundational Python programming concepts before progressing to application-based projects such as mobile development or embedded systems. The program integrates portfolio development and exposure to professional coding standards. You also practice technical interviews and problem-solving strategies aligned with internship recruitment processes. The goal is to transition students from classroom learning to placement in paid software internships.
12. NIST Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Stipend: None
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 26
Cost: None
Location: NIST, Boulder, CO, or Gaithersburg, MD
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA, who are U.S. citizens and have a permanent residence within a 50-mile radius of their host campus
The NIST Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP) places high school students in research laboratories where software supports scientific measurement and experimentation. You use programming languages such as Python, Java, or SQL to analyze datasets or automate laboratory workflows. Some placements involve modeling physical systems or supporting engineering design through specialized software tools. You’ll be expected to maintain detailed documentation and adhere to research protocols.
13. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) CS Scholars
Stipend: None
Dates: June 20 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 1
Cost: None
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores (16+) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
Carnegie Mellon University’s CS Scholars program introduces high school students to foundational computer science concepts at a pre-college level. The curriculum emphasizes discrete mathematics, algorithmic reasoning, and functional programming principles. You apply theoretical knowledge to structured problem sets and collaborative technical projects. The instruction is designed to reflect the rigor of undergraduate coursework in computing disciplines. By the conclusion of the program, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how core theory underpins modern software systems.
14. CS4CS (Cyber Security for Computer Science)
Stipend: None
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application Deadline: May 15
Cost: None
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders from NYC, as well as specific residents from New Jersey and Nassau County
This is one of the more security-focused software programs for high school students. You learn cryptographic fundamentals, digital forensics techniques, and defensive programming strategies. The curriculum incorporates Capture The Flag exercises that simulate real-world threat scenarios. You can expect to think about vulnerabilities, threat models, and automation, not just syntax. By the end, you’ll have hands-on exposure to how cybersecurity research and applied defense actually intersect.
15. Columbia Engineering’s Summer High School Academic Program for Engineers (SHAPE)
Stipend: None
Dates: July 6 – 24; July 27 – Aug 14
Application Deadline: March 2
Cost: ~$6,250 (commuter), ~$11,500 (residential); scholarships available; More info here
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates
SHAPE provides project-based technical coursework for high school students. Depending on course selection, you may develop algorithms in Python, study data structures, or prototype artificial intelligence applications. Some tracks include robotics programming or computational modeling tied to engineering design problems. Classes often intersect with tools and concepts like autonomous systems, data analysis workflows, and computational modeling. Instruction combines lectures with structured lab assignments and collaborative builds.
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 – Microsoft