15 Tech Internships for High School Students in Illinois
If you are a high school student interested in tech, an internship offers you exposure to the field in professional and research settings. These programs let you explore areas like coding, engineering, robotics, or data science while learning directly from mentors at universities, start-ups, and research labs. Along the way, you’ll also build a network of peers and professionals who can guide you as you consider future college majors or career paths.
Why should you attend an internship in Illinois?
Illinois is home to various research institutions, tech hubs, and universities that offer internships in engineering. Through these internships, you might design an app, analyze scientific data, or support an engineering project, while gaining insight into opportunities in the field and building skills. Whether you live in Illinois or are joining from out of state, these programs give you a chance to grow your skills, explore new fields, and connect with the region’s tech community.
To help with your search, here are 15 tech internships for high school students in Illinois.
If you are looking for internships in Illinois, check out our blog here.
1. Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)
Location: Fermilab, Batavia, IL
Stipend: $500/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school seniors enrolled in Illinois high schools who are U.S. citizens
In this four-week summer program, you’ll explore physics, engineering, and technology alongside scientists at Fermilab. Each week introduces a new area like particle physics, quantum science, AI, and more, through lab work, expert talks, and guided projects. You’ll visit research facilities, analyse scientific data, and develop communication skills through presentations and posters. Mentorship plays a major role, with researchers helping you navigate real scientific processes and professional environments. This tech internship for high school students in Illinois combines research exposure with teamwork and presentation practice, giving you a firsthand look at how ideas turn into experiments.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Various cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students. The AI Fellowship requires completion of the AI Scholars program or prior knowledge of Python
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers work-learn 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.
3. University of Chicago DSI Summer Lab
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $5,600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Chicago-area high school students
This 8-week tech internship for high school students in Illinois immerses you in real data science projects guided by university researchers. You’ll work in teams addressing challenges in areas such as climate policy, public health, or computational materials science. The program emphasises collaboration, coding, and data analysis while introducing professional research workflows and tools. You’ll also develop skills in presenting findings, culminating in a symposium where you share your project with peers and faculty. Beyond technical practice, the experience highlights how data science connects to real-world impact.
4. Ladder Internships' Tech Science Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Various cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
With Ladder Internships, you’ll join a start-up environment where your work contributes directly to an ongoing project. Over eight weeks, you’ll collaborate with entrepreneurs and mentors from global tech companies, helping to design, analyse, or test technology solutions. The experience is structured like a real internship cycle, from proposal, development, and feedback, to final presentation, mirroring how product teams operate in the industry. You’ll practice problem-solving, adaptability, and communication while learning what it takes to thrive in a fast-moving tech setting. If you’re seeking a tech internship that emphasises both independence and mentorship, this one stands out for its start-up focus.
5. Fermilab VALOR JROTC
Location: Fermilab, Batavia, IL
Stipend: $18/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 22 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 6
Eligibility: High school juniors, seniors, or recent high school graduates who are/were enrolled in an Illinois high school JROTC program
In the VALOR JROTC Program, you’ll gain technical and hands-on experience supporting real experiments at Fermilab. Working under the supervision of scientists and engineers, you’ll assist with lab operations, data collection, and technical documentation. The program emphasises teamwork, attention to detail, and learning how large-scale research facilities function day-to-day. You’ll also strengthen your communication skills through an oral presentation that summarises your work. This Illinois tech internship for high school students is especially relevant if you’re interested in structured mentorship in a professional lab setting.
6. Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Programs
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
Stipend: Fellowship payment provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Typically June – August
Application Deadline: Applications open in February
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, and Wisconsin
This six-week tech internship for high school students in Illinois immerses you in university-level projects led by faculty and graduate mentors across fields such as neuroscience, quantum mechanics, bioengineering, and artificial intelligence. You’ll join one of two focused research programs: SpHERES, which explores connections between healthcare, engineering, and innovation, or GEnYuS, which centres on physics-based research in areas like lasers, materials science, and quantum systems. You’ll spend your summer contributing to active lab work while developing technical, analytical, and communication skills. Weekly seminars cover scientific writing, research poster design, and professional development, and you’ll present your findings at a final symposium.
7. UChicago Youth Internship Program
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Stipend: Interns receive minimum wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Takes place over 2 summers
Application Deadline: Typically in April
Eligibility: Chicago public or charter high school students who are 16 or older
Over two summers, you’ll explore STEM and professional careers through a mix of workshops, mentoring, and hands-on job experience at the University of Chicago. In the first year, you’ll participate in seminars, career exploration activities, and college-readiness sessions led by university staff and guest speakers from various STEM fields. The second year transitions into a six-week placement in areas such as computer science, health sciences, or IT services, where you’ll take on department-specific tasks and deliver a formal presentation summarising your work. This structure helps you gradually build research, organisational, and communication skills in real settings. Among Illinois tech internships for high school students, this one uniquely combines career training with long-term mentorship and professional exposure.
8. Rush Education and Career Hub’s MedSTEM Pathways
Location: Rush University Medical Centre, Chicago, IL
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer, fall, and spring sessions (only summer participants may apply for the fall and spring internships)
Application Deadline: February 27 (summer)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors in Chicago with a minimum 2.5 weighted GPA and an 80% attendance record
MedSTEM Pathways combines academic enrichment with hands-on internship placements in healthcare and technology departments across Rush University Medical Centre. During the summer, you’ll engage in project work while also taking courses on college readiness, communication, and workplace skills. The fall and spring sessions extend the experience with continued internships, allowing you to apply what you’ve learned in real clinical and technical settings. You’ll interact with healthcare professionals and STEM mentors, learning how technology supports patient care, diagnostics, and hospital operations.
9. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Several locations nationwide
Stipend: $4,000 (new intern), $4,500 (returning intern)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 300 placements
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Academically talented sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are 16 years or older. Individual labs may have specific requirements
SEAP places you directly in a Department of the Navy research lab for eight weeks of immersive experience alongside professional scientists and engineers. You’ll participate in live research projects that might involve materials testing, robotics, or systems engineering, depending on your placement. Experts guide you through lab techniques, research documentation, and real-world problem-solving, giving you a glimpse into how government research translates into technology used around the world. As one of the most competitive tech internships for high school students in Illinois, it offers serious lab experience and insight into STEM careers within federal research environments.
10. Argonne National Laboratory’s College Bound Research Program
Location: Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL
Stipend: $500/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Illinois high school graduating seniors who are at least 18 with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.75/4.0, are enrolled in college, and are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
At Argonne National Laboratory, you’ll spend the summer working alongside scientists and engineers in research labs that focus on physics, materials science, energy, or computing. Your work may involve collecting data, maintaining lab equipment, or assisting with active experiments within a professional research setting. You’ll also observe how large-scale scientific collaboration functions across disciplines. This Illinois tech internship for high school students offers a rare opportunity to contribute to federal research and understand what a full-time career in STEM can look like.
11. Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) High School Internship Program
Location: Chicago, IL
Stipend: $16.20/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 250 students
Dates: 7 weeks from June to August
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: Rising sophomores to graduating seniors who are 16–18 years old with a minimum 2.5 GPA
Through this internship for high school students in Illinois with the Chicago Transit Authority, you’ll gain early exposure to how large-scale public systems use technology to manage daily operations. You’ll work both in-person and remotely on structured projects while receiving mentorship from industry professionals in transportation and infrastructure. Workshops on financial literacy, career planning, and communication complement your hands-on work experience. You’ll also connect with other student interns across the city, building teamwork and networking skills that apply to any professional path.
12. SparkShop’s High School Summer Internship Program
Location: SparkShop, Chicago, IL
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 – 24
Application Deadline: January 27
Eligibility: Chicago-based high school students
This internship introduces you to the professional side of engineering, business, and community engagement through a mix of technical and creative projects. You’ll work independently and in small teams to brainstorm, design, and present solutions that combine real-world applications with outreach and communication. Guidance from mentors helps you understand how STEM skills translate into careers and public impact. There’s a strong emphasis on developing self-management, problem-solving, and collaboration skills that carry beyond the program. For those exploring tech internships in Illinois, SparkShop offers a broad, hands-on introduction to both technical and professional growth.
13. After School Matters
Location: Chicago, IL
Stipend: $15.80/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Spring, summer, and fall sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Chicago high school students who are 14–18 years old
After School Matters gives you a chance to explore STEM through structured apprenticeships and assistantships focused on applied science, engineering, and information technology. You’ll learn practical, hands-on skills while contributing to team-based projects under professional mentorship. The environment emphasizes responsibility, collaboration, and project-based learning, letting you experience the pace and expectations of a real workplace. It’s a flexible entry point into tech internships for high school students in Illinois, designed to build both confidence and technical ability.
14. Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) Digital Scholars
Location: IL Tech Law Centre, Chicago, IL
Stipend: May be provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 students/class
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th grade students
This intensive summer experience builds your computing and analytical skills through one of five specialised courses, ranging from Data Science Discovery and Electrical and Computer Engineering to iOS App Design and Programming in Swift. Each track balances technical instruction with hands-on projects, helping you apply classroom concepts to real-world problems. You’ll attend workshops on AI, entrepreneurship, and design thinking while connecting with Chicago’s tech leaders through talks and networking sessions. Professional development modules emphasise collaboration, communication, and digital literacy. Overall, it offers a structured way to explore computing disciplines while preparing for college-level and industry work.
15. Adler Planetarium Far Horizons Teens
Location: Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The previous cohort had 13 students
Dates: The spring cohort is typically from late February to mid-May
Application Deadline: Applications open in February
Eligibility: High school students
At the Adler Planetarium, you’ll explore how science and technology intersect with art and creativity through hands-on research and design projects. In the Far Horizons Teens program, you’ll use custom-built Ground Observation Network (GONet) cameras to gather 360° images of the night sky and analyse data on light pollution. Working with peers and staff scientists, you’ll contribute to ongoing environmental studies that connect astronomy with ecology and urban science. The experience also emphasises collaboration and public communication, helping you translate complex data into clear findings.
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