15 Data Science Internships for High School Students
If you're a high school student who loves working with data, coding, and problem-solving, a data science internship can be one of the most valuable ways to spend your summer. These opportunities take you beyond the classroom, letting you clean and analyze real datasets, build models, and contribute to genuine research using tools like Python, R, and SQL. Along the way, you develop the technical and collaborative skills that colleges and future employers look for, and you build something concrete to point to on your applications.
Why should you do a data science internship in high school?
A data science internship gives you more than technical practice. Working alongside researchers, engineers, and mentors, you see how data science is actually applied to real problems, in hospitals, federal labs, start-ups, and universities. You also gain early exposure to career paths, build relationships that can lead to strong letters of recommendation, and get a genuine sense of whether a data-driven field is right for you. Whether a program is remote or in person, the best internships turn abstract skills into real-world experience.
To help you get started, we've put together 15 data science internships for high school students. While some of these programs are technically research or scholars programs rather than internships, we've included them because they offer the same chance to gain real-world experience in data science and data science research.
If you're looking for more data science programs and opportunities, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
Many of these internships are free or even paid, including MIT Beaver Works (free for families earning under $200,000), the University of Chicago DSI Summer Lab (a $5,600 stipend), and the Simons, Clark Scholars, AFRL, NIST SHIP, and NLM programs, making serious data science experience accessible regardless of cost.
The list spans a wide range of settings, from federal research labs (NIST, NASA, NLM, AFRL) to university research programs (UChicago DSI Summer Lab, Simons, Clark Scholars, Carnegie Mellon AI Scholars, MIT Beaver Works) and flexible virtual programs like Stanford AIMI, Veritas AI, Ladder Internships, and SparkSIP.
Several internships are fully or partly virtual, including Stanford AIMI,Veritas AI, Ladder Internships, and George Mason's Young Scholars Program, making them accessible to students who can't relocate for the summer.
Some programs are limited by location or citizenship, such as NIST SHIP (within about 50 miles of a campus) and the Simons, NLM, NASA, and AFRL programs (U.S. citizens or permanent residents), so it's worth checking eligibility early.
A few options, Simons, Clark Scholars, Carnegie Mellon AI Scholars, and MIT Beaver Works, are research or scholars programs rather than paid internships, but they deliver the same hands-on, real-world data science experience.
Most competitive programs have deadlines between December and February, including the University of Chicago (January 12), NIST (January 26), Carnegie Mellon (February 1), Simons (February 5), Clark Scholars (February 16), and Stanford AIMI (February 20) so start researching in the fall.
1.Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Cost: $2,400 program fee + $45 application fee; need-based financial aid available
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: February 20 (standard); February 13 for financial aid
Program dates: Two-week virtual sessions — Session 1: June 15 – June 26 | Session 2: July 6 – July 17
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (entering grades 9–12), at least 14 by the program start; U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or valid visa holders residing in the U.S.; strong math/programming skills or healthcare-project experience preferred
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) runs a two-week virtual internship for high school students interested in the technical and clinical sides of AI in healthcare. The program combines lectures on AI-in-healthcare fundamentals, hands-on data science projects, and mentorship from Stanford researchers and student leads. Participants work on real machine learning problems applied to medical data, often in areas like medical imaging and diagnostics, and present their findings at the end. Strong applicants can pursue an extended independent research opportunity or apply for a Student Lead role. For students drawn to the intersection of data science and medicine, this internship offers focused, mentored exposure.
2. Veritas AI
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3.NIST Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Cost: Free (unpaid; no stipend); students arrange their own housing and transportation
Location: NIST campuses in Gaithersburg, MD, or Boulder, CO (varies by lab)
Application deadline: January 26
Program dates: Approximately six weeks, June 22 – August 7
Eligibility: High school juniors, seniors, or recent graduates with a minimum 3.0 GPA; U.S. citizens; must live within commuting distance (about 50 miles) of the host campus
The Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology places students alongside NIST scientists and engineers on real research projects. For data science, the Information Technology Laboratory is the strongest fit, with internship projects spanning data mining, machine learning, bioinformatics, information visualization, and image analysis. Because you contribute directly to ongoing federal research, SHIP offers an unusually authentic look at how data science supports measurement science and standards. The program is unpaid and runs for roughly six weeks over the summer. It's a strong option for students near a NIST campus who want a serious research internship.
4.Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long. Apply now!
5.The University of Chicago's DSI Summer Lab
Cost: Free, with a $5,600 stipend
Location: University of Chicago, Hyde Park, Chicago, IL
Application deadline: January 12
Program dates: June 15 – August 7 (8 weeks)
Eligibility: High school students and undergraduates; high school applicants must reside in the Chicago area
The Data Science Institute (DSI) Summer Lab at the University of Chicago is an eight-week paid research internship focused on applied, interdisciplinary data science. You are paired with a data science mentor—usually a faculty member—and contribute to research across domains like computer science, public policy, climate and energy policy, and biomedical research. Throughout the internship, you build real skills in data science methodologies, practices, and teamwork, culminating in a final video presentation of your findings. Past projects have ranged from "Using Social Robots to Reduce Reading Anxiety" to "Self-Driving Telescopes." With a $5,600 stipend and a strong research focus, it's one of the most substantive data science internships for high school students.
For more information on DSI Summer Lab, check out our detailed blog here!
6. NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internships
Cost: Free; stipend provided
Location: Varies — NASA centers nationwide, plus virtual options
Application deadline: Varies by session; the summer session deadline is typically in late February
Program dates: Vary by session; the summer session runs roughly 10 weeks from late May/June to August
Eligibility: Students 16+ with a minimum 3.0 GPA; most positions require U.S. citizenship; high school eligibility varies by project
NASA's Office of STEM Engagement offers internships across its centers and through virtual placements, and you can filter the database for projects open to high school students. For data science, NASA lists projects such as analyzing satellite observations with big-data and machine learning techniques—for example, studying Antarctic clouds and blowing snow using long-term NASA satellite data. Working an internship on an active NASA mission gives you rare exposure to real data science at the scale of national research. Stipends are provided, and sessions run in fall, spring, and summer cohorts. Availability of high-school-eligible roles varies, so check current openings early.
7. NLM Data Science and Informatics (DSI) Scholars Program
Cost: Free; paid (stipend based on NIH Intramural Research Training Award rates)
Location: NIH Campus, Bethesda, MD
Application deadline: February 18 (reference letters due February 25)
Program dates: 8–12 weeks, beginning in June (flexible start dates and durations)
Eligibility: Students 18+ (or 17 under specific conditions) with a 3.2+ GPA, enrolled at least half-time as a high school senior or accepted into a college program; U.S. citizens or permanent residents; background in computer science, data science, math, or a related field
The National Library of Medicine's DSI Scholars Program is a paid internship for students interested in applying data science to medicine and biology. Over 8–12 weeks, you train one-on-one with an NIH research mentor and build a computational research project in the biological sciences. Alongside the research, the internship includes seminars and professional development workshops that strengthen your scientific communication skills. It concludes with a presentation at NLM's Summer Poster Day, with a chance to present at the NIH-wide Summer Poster Day as well. For students combining data science with health and biology, it's a rigorous, mentored opportunity.
8.Simons Summer Research Program
Cost: Free; stipend awarded at completion; students cover housing, meals, and transportation
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY (on campus; no remote option)
Application deadline: February 5 (school nomination required by late January)
Program dates: June 29 – August 7 (about six to seven weeks)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (11th grade at application), at least 16 by the program start; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Stony Brook University's Simons Summer Research Program matches high school juniors with faculty mentors for hands-on STEM research. You join a research group, take ownership of a project, and produce a written abstract and research poster by the end. For data science, you can work in areas like high-performance computing, machine learning, and multiscale modeling for simulations of biological and medical processes. Though structured as a research fellowship rather than a traditional internship, it offers authentic, immersive research experience and a completion stipend. Admission is highly competitive, with an acceptance rate under 5%.
For more information on the Simons Summer Research Program, check out our detailed blog here!
9.Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Cost: Free; paid (weekly stipend)
Location: Varies by AFRL site
Application deadline: January (early-year deadline)
Program dates: Vary by cohort; the summer cohort runs roughly 10 weeks from late May/June to August
Eligibility: Upper-level high school students 16+ with a minimum 3.0 GPA; U.S. citizens; must be available full-time (40 hours/week) on site
The AFRL Scholars Program is a paid internship for upper-level high school students, offering mentorship from full-time Air Force Research Laboratory scientists and engineers on cutting-edge research. While AFRL projects center on aerospace and engineering, several roles include a strong data science component—for example, electrical-engineering projects that require processing and controlling data to design and operate systems. As a Scholar, you work directly alongside professional researchers and earn a weekly stipend for full-time summer work. It's a good fit for students who want a federal-lab internship that blends engineering with applied data analysis.
For more information on AFRL, check out our detailed blog here!
10.George Mason University Young Scholars Research Program
Cost: Fee-based (contact execed@gmu.edu for the current fee structure); need-based scholarships available
Location: Virtual, with a one-week in-person lab component at George Mason University (Fairfax, VA) and partner sites
Application deadline: Rolling admissions (open to the first 35 students)
Program dates: About six weeks, June–August
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
George Mason University's Young Scholars Research Program is built for students interested in data analytics applied to biology and medical science. Working alongside GMU faculty and other students, you complete a team research project and produce a final paper—published on the Center for Biomedical Science and Policy website—plus a team presentation at a symposium. In this internship-style program, you'll use research tools like R or Stata for analysis, QGIS or ArcGIS for data visualization, and Gephi for network visualization. The program blends virtual work with a one-week in-person lab experience. It's a solid option for students who want to apply data science methods to biomedical questions.
11.SPARK Summer Mentorship Program (SparkSIP)
Cost: Free; stipend provided
Location: Greater Seattle area, with virtual components
Application deadline: Typically April (applications open in March–April)
Program dates: 6–8 weeks, June to August
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents able to commit roughly 40 hours/week
SparkSIP lets applicants rank several projects and then matches selected students with sponsors for hands-on work in machine learning, AI, and data visualization. Beyond the technical work, the internship connects you with industry leaders, university professors, and mentors, plus resources you can use during and after college applications. Past data science projects have included work on spiking neural networks and on interfacing and visualizing data. The program is highly selective, with an acceptance rate around 3–5%, and provides a stipend. For Seattle-area students, it's a strong applied data science internship.
For more information on SparkSIP, check out our detailed blog here!
12.Anson L. Clark Scholars Program (Texas Tech University)
Cost: Free (tuition, room, and board covered); $25 application fee; $750 tax-free stipend on completion; students cover travel
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX (residential)
Application deadline: February 16
Program dates: June 21 – August 6 (seven weeks)
Eligibility: At least 17 by the program start and graduating in 2026 or 2027 (rising seniors or recent graduates); U.S. and international students welcome
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is an intensive seven-week research program that admits only twelve students each year for hands-on work with Texas Tech faculty mentors. While not a traditional internship, it offers deep, independent research across fields including computer science, engineering, and the sciences, and you can build a data science focus into many of these areas. The program is fully funded—covering room, board, and activities—and awards a $750 stipend on completion of a successful research report. With an acceptance rate around 2–3%, it's one of the most competitive research opportunities on this list. It suits students ready for serious, mentored academic research.
For more information on the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program, check out our detailed blog here!
13.ASPIRE by Johns Hopkins (Applied Physics Laboratory)
Cost: Free
Location: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD (in person, hybrid, or virtual)
Application deadline: February 15
Program dates: Summer session runs roughly late June to August; an academic-year session is also offered
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, 15+ by the program start, with a minimum 2.8 GPA; U.S. citizens; priority to students in the Washington–Baltimore metro area
The ASPIRE program at Johns Hopkins APL gives high school students a supportive, holistic introduction to STEM careers, pairing each intern with APL staff for workshops, mentorship, and hands-on projects. Data science enthusiasts should choose the Mathematics & Data Analysis placement area, which connects directly to applied data science work. You select one area of interest and can complete the internship in person, hybrid, or fully virtual. The program builds technical and professional skills while exposing you to real laboratory research. For students near the DC–Baltimore area, it's an accessible and well-structured data science internship.
For more information on the ASPIRE program, check out our detailed blog here!
14.MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
Cost: Free for families with income under $200,000 (families above that pay a program fee); housing not provided
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (in person), with online course options
Application deadline: Online prerequisite registration opens in December; the summer program application is sent to eligible students in mid-March
Program dates: Four weeks, July 6 – August 2
Eligibility: High school students entering their senior year (no higher than 11th grade currently) who live and attend school in the United States; international students can access the online courses
The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute is a rigorous, project-based program run by MIT and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, with tracks in data-heavy fields like machine learning and remote sensing for disaster response. The process itself is a filter: you complete a free online prerequisite course before being invited to apply for the four-week summer program. In the data science–oriented tracks, you work with real datasets—applying feature extraction, machine learning, and image processing to build decision-making tools—and present a capstone project. Although structured as an institute rather than a paid internship, the hands-on, lab-style work closely mirrors a research internship. It's a standout for students with serious technical interests.
For more information on MIT Beaver Works, check out our detailed blog here!
15.Carnegie Mellon University AI Scholars
Cost: Fully funded (tuition, housing, meals, and activities covered; no application fee)
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA (residential)
Application deadline: February 1
Program dates: June 20 – July 18 (four weeks)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (juniors at the time of application), at least 16 by June 20; U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA-eligible; demonstration of financial need required
Carnegie Mellon's AI Scholars is a fully funded, four-week residential program that introduces rising seniors to artificial intelligence through college-level coursework, faculty lectures, and team research projects. You explore core concepts in machine learning, data science, and AI ethics while building a hands-on group project that culminates in a final symposium. Although it's a residential scholars program rather than a traditional internship, the project-based research and faculty mentorship give it an internship-like depth. Designed especially for students with limited access to AI and computer science opportunities, it covers all program costs. It's an excellent launchpad for students serious about data science and AI.
Frequently asked questions
What types of data science internships are available for high school students?
Options include federal research lab internships (NIST SHIP, NASA OSTEM, NLM DSI Scholars, and AFRL Scholars), university research programs (the University of Chicago DSI Summer Lab, Simons, Clark Scholars, Carnegie Mellon AI Scholars, and MIT Beaver Works), virtual mentored programs like Veritas AI, Ladder Internships, and Stanford AIMI, and applied research programs like SparkSIP and George Mason's Young Scholars Program.
Are there free data science internships for high school students?
Yes—many. NIST SHIP, Simons, and the AFRL and NLM programs are free (several are paid or provide stipends), the University of Chicago DSI Summer Lab offers a $5,600 stipend, and MIT Beaver Works is free for families earning under $200,000. Paid programs like Veritas AI and Ladder Internships offer financial aid for eligible students.
Do I need prior experience to get a data science internship?
It depends on the program. Some, like the University of Chicago DSI Summer Lab, don't require prior research experience but expect familiarity with a programming language. Others, like Stanford AIMI and MIT Beaver Works, prefer or require a background in math, statistics, or coding. Beginner-friendly options like Veritas AI's AI Scholars program are designed to start from the fundamentals.
Are there virtual data science internships?
Yes. Stanford AIMI, Veritas AI, Ladder Internships, and George Mason's Young Scholars Program all offer fully or partly virtual formats, which are good choices for students who can't travel for the summer.
Which internships are best for students interested in Data Science with an intersection of AI and machine learning?
Stanford AIMI (AI in medicine), Carnegie Mellon AI Scholars, MIT Beaver Works (machine learning tracks), and SparkSIP all focus heavily on AI and ML. Veritas AI offers dedicated AI and machine learning programs, ranging from introductory boot camps to advanced individual research projects with publication support.
When should I apply to data science internships?
Most competitive programs have deadlines between December and February. The University of Chicago DSI Summer Lab closes January 12, NIST January 26, Carnegie Mellon February 1, Simons February 5, Clark Scholars February 16, and Stanford AIMI February 20. Programs like Veritas AI and Ladder Internships accept rolling applications, so start researching in the fall and prioritize the earliest deadlines first.