15 Math Internships for High School Students
As a high school student, participating in programs that help you explore your interests beyond the school curriculum is a great way to spend your free time. If you are interested in math, internships in the field can offer opportunities to explore careers in math, build problem-solving skills, gain practical exposure to professional-level math, and see how math connects to real-world applications. By joining a structured math program or internship, you can practice communicating your ideas, collaborate with peers, and gain work experience. These opportunities may also help you learn about the role of math in everyday life and fields like data science, engineering, economics, and technology.
Math internships typically offer mentorship, let you work on projects, or provide opportunities to present your work, allowing you to build collaboration and communication skills. Across the U.S., universities, labs, and institutes host math internships for high school students that offer varied work-and-learn experiences. Whether you are interested in exploring pure mathematics or tackling questions with direct social or scientific impact, you will find an experience that matches both your curiosity and interests.
To help you sort through the options, here are 15 math internships for high school students.
1. NIST Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Location: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, CO/Gaithersburg, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive admissions
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer
Application deadline: Late January
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who hold a minimum 3.0 GPA; applicants must be U.S. citizens.
The NIST SHIP program places you in one of several national research labs, where you can work on projects connected to applied mathematics, computer science, or data analysis. If you are placed in the Information Technology Laboratory, you may work on problems involving cryptography, biometrics, or machine learning. Other labs, like the Physical Measurement Laboratory or the Center for Neutron Research, involve work where mathematical modeling and statistical analysis are key tools. Your project will be guided by a NIST scientist or engineer, but you are expected to take ownership of your work and contribute ideas. Over the course of the summer, you will gain exposure to how mathematics supports research in physics, computing, and engineering.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, and fall
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students; certain programs, like the AI Fellowship, require a basic understanding of Python or prior completion of the AI Scholars program
Although not a traditional internship, Veritas AI is structured as a work-learn program. The program introduces you to artificial intelligence by combining foundational math instruction with hands-on programming work. You will begin with lessons in Python and core AI concepts, then apply them in projects that may involve data analysis, machine learning, or predictive modeling. In the AI Scholars program, you work in small groups, while the AI Fellowship track pairs you with a mentor for one-on-one guidance on designing and building a novel AI model. Throughout each program, the emphasis is on producing a tangible project that demonstrates your understanding of both math and computer science principles. By the end, you will gain experience in coding and mathematical reasoning behind algorithms.
3. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual or in-person at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee with need-based fee waivers available; no stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old
ASSIP offers on-campus and virtual research internships in various fields, including mathematics and statistics. You can choose a mentor whose research focuses on math. Over eight weeks, you will engage in research within your chosen track while refining your scientific writing and communication skills over remote sessions. During the program, you will learn about STEM career paths while engaging in discussions with professors, researchers, or professionals. The program ends with a research symposium, where you will learn about the research conducted at ASSIP over the summer.
4. Ladder Internships: Math Track
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts annually in spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
As a Ladder intern, you will join an early-stage startup or nonprofit and contribute to real-world projects. Depending on your placement, you might analyze datasets, develop models, or use statistics to support decision-making. You will work remotely over eight weeks, devoting a few hours each week to tasks and meetings with your host company. A professional mentor and Ladder Coach will oversee your progress, helping you complete projects, refine your professional skills, and present results in a way that aligns with industry standards. The program culminates in a final project presentation, giving you experience in professional communication as well as technical execution.
5. NASA Internships
Location: NASA centers nationwide
Stipend: Paid and unpaid opportunities available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Internships available in summer, spring, and fall; dates vary by opportunity
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old at the time of application, have at least a 3.0 GPA out of 4.0, and are U.S. citizens
NASA’s internships allow you to work alongside scientists and engineers tackling assignments in space science, math, and tech. While tasks can vary by role, you may contribute to research that may involve analyzing datasets and statistics based on information from satellites, developing or testing software tools, or modeling systems. You will also gain experience in professional collaboration and receive mentorship during the program. Additionally, a NASA internship can help you explore careers at the space agency.
6. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Multiple labs across the country
Stipend: New participants: $4,000 | Returning participants: $4,500
Cohort size: ~300
Application deadline: November 1; applications open on August 1
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grade 9 and are 16 or older by the internship start date
SEAP places high school students in Navy labs to gain experience in lab work and STEM research. During the eight-week program, you will learn about naval science and engineering while applying science and math concepts under expert mentorship. You will contribute to research projects and gain insights into careers in naval research and technology. The program also offers professional development opportunities, allowing you to network with researchers, shadow professionals, and attend leadership sessions. You will assist the lab staff with cybersecurity assessments, naval projects, experiments, tests, and tool development.
7. SPARK Summer Mentorship Program
Location: Virtual and in-person at various sites in the U.S.; most opportunities in Seattle, WA
Stipend: Paid and unpaid opportunities available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; exact details not specified
Dates: 8–10 weeks; June – August
Application deadline: March/April
Eligibility: High school students in the U.S.; location and academic requirements vary by opportunity
SPARK SMP connects students with organizations to work on STEM projects. During the internship, you will work on tasks within science, math, tech, or engineering, involving research, data collection, analysis, problem-solving, and/or assisting with the development of models or technology. You will work alongside professors, industry experts, and mentors. The program offers in-person, hybrid, and remote internships in various areas, including engineering, math, data science, AI, and physics. While the exact tasks vary by sponsor and project, the program can help you gain exposure to work environments and real applications of your academic interests.
8. Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) ASPIRE Program
Location: Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD/Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~10%
Dates: Six to nine weeks starting in the last week of June
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 15 years old by June 1, have a minimum 2.8 GPA, and are U.S. citizens; students must reside in specific Maryland/Virginia counties or the District of Columbia
During the ASPIRE program, you will work one-on-one with a mentor at the Applied Physics Laboratory on a project tailored to your interests. These projects range widely, from coding algorithms and working with data to studying machine learning or theoretical mathematics. Instead of following a preset assignment, you will collaborate with your mentor to define the scope of your work, so no two internships are alike. The focus is on building both technical and communication skills while you learn to work independently and solve problems in a professional setting. At the end of the program, you will create a digital poster that summarizes your project and findings.
9. MIT’s Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost: $75 nonrefundable application fee (can be waived). No program fees.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: <2.5%
Dates: Six weeks in June – August
Application deadline: Typically early- to mid-December
Eligibility: High school juniors with a strong interest in STEM. You can find detailed eligibility requirements here.
At RSI, you spend six weeks immersed in hands-on research across fields like mathematics, physics, chemistry, and engineering. The program begins with seminars that expose you to current research topics, then transitions into lab work where you collaborate with mentors on original projects. You will get to use MIT’s computing resources to model systems, read advanced texts, and analyze recent publications. You will also prepare both a research paper and a conference-style presentation, gaining experience in professional scientific communication. Field trips to STEM facilities are also part of the RSI experience.
10. Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: No tuition fee; optional residential fee: $2360.25; a stipend will be awarded
Acceptance rate: ~5%
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents and at least 16 years old by the start of the program
The Simons Summer Research Program is a summer research program for high school students. It offers research opportunities spanning fields like data science, mathematics, engineering, and other scientific disciplines. You will join a Stony Brook University research group and contribute to a project while gaining experience in working with professional laboratory techniques and tools. You will attend weekly faculty talks to gain insights into STEM fields outside your own, while workshops will help you sharpen your research skills. At the end of the program, you will submit and present a research abstract and poster to share your research findings with peers and Stony Brook faculty.
11. MIT PRIMES
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Year-long, with distinct phases that align with the academic year
Application deadline: November 18
Eligibility: High school students who live within driving distance of Boston
MIT PRIMES is a year-long research program that begins with advanced readings, then transitions into guided research under the mentorship of graduate students or postdocs. You can join the research track, where you will tackle original problems in fields like number theory or combinatorics, or the reading group track, which pairs you with another student to work through a graduate-level text. The work is paced across the calendar year, with specific milestones such as submission of reports, interim papers, and a final presentation at a fall conference. By the end of the program, you will have a complete research paper that may be submitted to competitions or journals.
12. Carnegie Mellon’s Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not officially disclosed; estimated to be ~7–10%
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors from historically underrepresented communities who are at least 16 years old and U.S. citizens/permanent residents
SAMS combines virtual and in-person components to prepare you for a six-week pre-college academic experience at Carnegie Mellon. You will begin with a short online “Jumpstart” focused on building quantitative and computational skills, followed by on-campus courses in math, science, and research methods. Alongside the academic work, you will take part in writing workshops, mentoring groups, a credit-bearing course called “Student to Scholar”, and a final symposium where you present your STEM research. Projects and coursework are guided by faculty, graduate students, and staff mentors, giving you exposure to different teaching and research styles.
13. √mathroots @ MIT
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 1 – 15
Application deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Students who are 14–18 years old, U.S. citizens, or attending high school in the U.S. (before the last year of high school)
While not an internship, √mathroots is a free, two-week hands-on program at MIT for high school students who want to boost their problem-solving abilities. With a focus on proof-based reasoning and creative approaches to math, the program offers exposure to advanced concepts in the field through lectures, workshops, and peer collaboration. You will explore topics outside of the high school curriculum, combining theoretical math with competition-based problem-solving strategies. Guest lectures led by professional mathematicians and mentors will provide insights into mathematical thinking and careers in the field.
14. University of Chicago's Summer Young Scholars Program
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: Starting at $250 (fee structure based on family income); scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive admissions
Dates: June 30 – July 25
Application deadline: Typically in early April
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 – 12 from the Chicago area and surrounding suburbs
During the Young Scholars Program, you will engage in faculty-led lectures, small breakout sessions with undergraduates, and time in the computer lab for research-related activities. As a participant, you will work on problems that challenge you to analyze, prove, and explain ideas in new ways. The program alternates between the themes of number theory and geometry, depending on the year, and adjusts the difficulty for different grade levels. The curriculum is designed to focus on deepening your mathematical reasoning.
15. IMD Summer High School Research Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The previous cohort had 17 students
Dates: Six weeks; late June – early August
Application deadline: Typically early March
Eligibility: High school students
This online math internship for high school students allows you to work in groups on research projects that connect mathematics to questions of democracy and civic structures. The projects often involve real datasets from elections or census records, requiring you to apply mathematical models to practical problems. Weekly meetings with instructors will provide you with guidance, while peer collaboration will help you refine approaches and test ideas. Past projects have explored gerrymandering measures, proportional representation, and the Median Voter Theorem, offering students direct experience with applied math in political science. Guest lectures led by mathematicians and reform advocates will help you gain insights into the role of their work within democratic systems.
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