15 Best Computer Science Summer Programs+Internships for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in computer science, summer programs and internships can help you explore the field beyond your regular coursework. These experiences can help you develop advanced technical skills while building a professional network that most students don’t start cultivating until halfway through college. They also foster essential soft skills, such as collaborative problem-solving and technical communication, which are just as vital as clean code in the modern workforce.
Why should you attend computer science programs and internships?
Attending a dedicated computer science program allows you to move beyond simple exercises and engage with more advanced technical concepts. You may study topics such as artificial intelligence, robotics, data analysis, algorithms, or software development while learning how these areas connect to computing research and industry applications. Many programs also include collaborative projects, mentorship, and presentations that help you develop both technical knowledge and problem-solving skills.
To help you find a fit for your skills and interests, we’ve narrowed down this list of the 15 best computer science summer programs and internships for high school students.
If you’re looking for free online programs, check out our blog here.
1. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: <2.5%; 100 students
Dates: June 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: December 10
Eligibility: High school juniors (16+). You can find additional requirements here
RSI is one of the most prestigious summer programs in the world. You spend one week in intensive STEM classes before starting a five-week individual research internship under the mentorship of leading scientists and engineers. Students interested in computer science can focus on advanced algorithms, cryptography, artificial intelligence, and more. You’ll have access to all of MIT’s computing resources, as well as leaders in science and technology. The program culminates in a written research paper and a formal oral presentation.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Various cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students. The AI Fellowship requires completion of the AI Scholars program or experience with Python
Veritas AI offers a tiered approach to artificial intelligence through two primary tracks. The AI Scholars track is a foundational 10-session bootcamp where students with no prior coding experience learn Python and machine learning fundamentals while building a collaborative group project. The more advanced AI Fellowship is a 12-to-15-week research residency where you work one-on-one with PhD mentors to develop a novel, independent AI model or research paper in a specialized field like medicine, finance, or linguistics. Both programs culminate in a final symposium where you present your work to a community of peers and experts.
3. Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Stipend: $750
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and recent graduates
The Clark Scholars Program is a highly intensive research program that offers one of the smallest cohort sizes in the nation. You’ll be paired with a specific faculty member to work on an original research project, including research areas like computer science and robotics. Scholars are integrated into active university labs, contributing to data collection, software development, and experimental analysis. In addition to daily lab work, you participate in weekly seminars, field trips, and professional development workshops.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Various cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. You can find more details about the application here
Eligibility: High school students
Founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers, Lumiere connects students with PhD mentors for high-level, one-on-one academic research. You can choose from a vast range of subjects, from astrophysics to sociology, working toward a 15-to-20-page college-level research paper. It follows a structured process that includes literature reviews, data analysis, and formal academic writing, culminating in a virtual symposium. The program offers several tiers, including a Publication Program that provides additional support for submitting work to academic journals.
5. Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: None (residential housing fees apply)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: <5%
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school juniors (16+) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The Simons Summer Research Program is a prestigious six-week experience that embeds you in active university research laboratories. While it covers various STEM fields, the program is renowned for its strong computer science offerings. You work under the guidance of faculty and graduate students, learning to use professional software and high-level laboratory equipment. The program culminates in a public poster symposium where you defend your findings to the Stony Brook scientific community.
6. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program: Bioinformatics Track
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: None; limited need-based stipends may be provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~50 students across all tracks
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors (16+) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
While housed in the School of Medicine, the SIMR Bioinformatics track is a heavy-duty computational biology internship. You’ll be placed in Stanford labs to perform original research using programming to analyze massive genomic or clinical datasets. The program includes safety training, institute-specific lectures, and career seminars. You work one-on-one with mentors to develop a research poster, which you’ll present at the poster session. This computer science internship is a strong choice if you’re looking to apply CS to the life sciences and medicine.
7. Carnegie Mellon AI Scholars
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: <5%
Dates: June 20 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: 11th graders (16+) with demonstrated financial need who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
This program focuses exclusively on the intersection of computer science and artificial intelligence. You work with CMU faculty and graduate students to explore the mathematical foundations of machine learning and neural networks. The curriculum includes hands-on labs where you build AI models to solve classification and prediction tasks. You’ll also discuss the ethical implications of AI and its impact on society. The program culminates in a research symposium where you present your findings to the CMU community.
8. Jackson Laboratory Summer Student Program
Location: Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
Stipend: $7,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24-28 positions
Dates: May 30 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors and undergraduates (18+) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
This 10-week internship focuses on the intersection of genetics and computer science, specifically in computational biology. You join ongoing research programs under the mentorship of a JAX scientist and execute an independent research project where you apply machine learning and data analysis tools to solve genomic research questions. The program includes a Journal Club, where you critique scientific literature, and weekly professional development seminars. The experience concludes with a formal symposium in which you present your technical results to the laboratory's scientific staff.
9. MITES Summer
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 70-80 students
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: High school juniors who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
MITES Summer is a rigorous six-week residential summer program that simulates the MIT undergraduate experience. You take five courses, including Calculus, Physics, and specialized electives like Machine Learning or Engineering Design. The curriculum is fast-paced, designed to challenge students who have exhausted their high school’s STEM offerings. Beyond academics, you’ll participate in lab tours, social events, and admissions workshops. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a written evaluation that can be used for your college applications.
10. Carnegie Mellon CS Scholars
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 students
Dates: June 20 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: 10th graders (16+) with demonstrated financial need who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The Computer Science Scholars program provides a deep dive into the CMU computer science curriculum. You engage in college-level coding, algorithmic thinking, and discrete mathematics, and get introduced to ongoing research projects. The program includes a collaborative capstone project where you apply your skills to real-world problems. In addition to technical training, CSS focuses on college readiness and professional development through guest lectures, workshops, and field trips. On the last day, you’ll present your group project at a capstone symposium.
11. Meta Summer Academy
Location: Meta headquarters, Menlo Park, CA
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores with a minimum 2.0 GPA who live in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City
This computer science program offers a day-in-the-life look at one of the world’s largest tech giants. You engage in coding workshops, career exploration panels, and soft-skills development while being mentored by Meta employees. The curriculum is designed to introduce students to the tech industry and corporate operations through hands-on projects and site tours. By the end of the program, you’ll have built a professional network and have a better understanding of your technical skills and future pathways.
12. Princeton Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~40 students
Dates: 5+ weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: New Jersey high school students (16+) who are U.S. citizens
The Princeton Laboratory Learning Program is a non-residential internship that places you directly into university labs to assist with ongoing faculty research. The program is entirely project-based, with students often working on computational modeling, machine learning, or software engineering within specific labs. This is an immersive computer science internship where you work full-time, during business hours, alongside graduate students and faculty. Rather than applying for the entire program, you apply to specific research projects based on your technical skills and interests.
13. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 1 – 25 (remote workshops), July 6 – August 14 (in-person)
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who live and attend school in NYC
ARISE is a seven-week computer science program that offers a deep dive into high-level research within computer science, cybersecurity, and robotics. The first two weeks consist of workshops on research ethics and lab safety, followed by five weeks of hands-on work in an NYU faculty lab. You’ll be paired with mentors to work on projects that range from machine learning applications to urban informatics and data modeling. The program provides a rare opportunity for high school students to contribute to actual university-level research that often reaches publication. You’ll also engage with career exploration workshops and public speaking training to prepare for your final poster presentation.
14. Princeton AI4ALL
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 3 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: April 9 (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising 11th graders who are low-income and live in the U.S. or Puerto Rico
Princeton AI4ALL is a computer science program that focuses on the technical and ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence. You attend lectures by Princeton faculty and engage in small-group research projects led by graduate student mentors. The curriculum includes Python programming, data analysis, and the study of AI's societal impacts, such as algorithmic bias. A unique feature of this program is a field trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with policymakers about AI regulation. At the end of the program, you’ll present your work with your team.
15. Stanford SHTEM Summer Internship
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~60 students
Dates: June 22 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors (14+) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
Stanford’s SHTEM internship is a program that explores the intersection of information theory, technology, and the humanities. Working in small collaborative teams, you conduct research on projects that frequently involve high-level coding, data analysis, and mathematical modeling. You spend eight weeks investigating multi-disciplinary systems, from linguistic patterns to communication networks to psychology. The program culminates in a symposium where you present your findings to the global Stanford research community.
Image source - CMU Logo