Top 11 Web Development Internships for High School Students
Participating in internships for high school students is one of the best ways to gain hands-on experience, build practical skills, and explore future career paths, without the high cost of summer camps or pre-college programs. Internships offer a unique chance to work with real professionals, get a behind-the-scenes look at industries like tech and design, and begin building a portfolio before even starting college. In a fast-moving field like web development, they can help you gain exposure to programming languages, design principles, and collaborative workflows that are key to tech careers.
Many universities, tech companies, and nonprofits host internships that provide you with direct mentorship and networking opportunities. Some internships for high school students even offer stipends or hourly pay, making them a financially accessible option for many. If you’re curious about coding, user experience, front-end design, or full-stack development, these internships are a smart way to test your interests while also learning useful skills. In this blog, we’ve curated a list of the top 11 web development internships for high school students to help get you started!
1. Meta Summer Academy
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 150 students
Dates: June 16 – 25
Application Deadline: December 1 – February 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores residing in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City
Stipend: Paid
The Meta Summer Academy offers internships for high school students where they can engage directly with the daily functions of one of the world’s most prominent social media companies. Designed to provide immersive, hands-on learning, the program places a strong focus on coding and technical skill development, allowing you to explore future career possibilities within the technology and web development sector.
You will commit to 30 hours per week and will be mentored by experienced Meta professionals, gaining valuable insight into how coding integrates with social media platforms. In addition to professional exposure, the program ensures accessibility by providing transportation support for all participants based in California.
2. Veritas AI: AI Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort; the summer cohort deadline is April 27
Eligibility: High school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program
Cost: $2,490; Need-based financial aid is available
During the AI Internship Program, you will collaborate with venture-backed startups on practical projects involving artificial intelligence and machine learning. You will be guided by mentors with experience at institutions and companies such as Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, and McKinsey & Company.
This program is particularly well-suited for students who already possess foundational knowledge in AI/ML and are seeking to deepen their experience through real-world applications. In addition to technical exposure, you will benefit from professional networking opportunities, direct engagement with startup leadership, and receive an official letter of completion upon finishing the program. You can learn more about the program here and apply here.
3. Department of the Navy - Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Various lab locations across the United States
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 300 placements in around 38 laboratories
Dates: 8 weeks during the summer (with the possibility of extending up to 2 additional weeks)
Application Deadline: August 1 – November 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least grade 9 and are 16 years of age or older by the internship start date
Stipend: New participant: $4,000 | Returning participant: $4,500
SEAP offers high school students a comprehensive, hands-on experience within the Department of the Navy (DoN) laboratories, allowing them to participate in Naval research over an eight-week summer period. You will engage in a range of advanced projects in web development, including cybersecurity, software engineering, algorithm development, and data analysis.
Laboratory placements are based on students’ interests. Those focused on web development can apply to labs, such as NAWCAD in Lakehurst, NJ, which offer hands-on experience in AI/ML, avionics, unmanned systems, cybersecurity, and more. Each intern is matched with a dedicated mentor who provides personalized guidance, helping them navigate the research process.
4. Ladder Internships: Web Development Track
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: 8-12 weeks with multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter; the summer cohort starts on June 2
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year; the summer cohort deadline is May 11
Eligibility: All high school students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
Cost: Starting at $2,490; Need-based financial aid is available
Ladder Internships is a selective virtual internship program founded by Harvard alumni that connects high school students with startups and nonprofits worldwide. You can choose from a diverse range of fields in web development, such as technology, artificial intelligence, computer science, and more. You will contribute to impactful projects aligned with your host organization’s mission and present your work at the conclusion of the program.
The program includes personalized mentorship, with each student paired with both a startup manager and a Ladder coach, along with one-on-one training in skills like communication and time management, and group sessions with peers. Internship placements span globally, with a strong presence in the U.S., Asia, Europe, and the UK. You can explore available opportunities through the program's application form.
5. Google Summer of Code (GSoC)
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate: 20-25%
Dates: 12+ weeks; see timeline here
Application Deadline: March 24 – April 8
Eligibility: High school students who are 18 years or older on the date they register for the program; Applicants must not be a resident of a United States embargoed country; Must be a student or beginner contributor to open source software development
Stipend: Paid
The Google Summer of Code (GSoC) is a global program designed to provide students and early-stage contributors with hands-on experience in open source software development. Over a period of 12 or more weeks, you will collaborate with one of approximately 200 open source organizations, working on a coding project under the guidance of experienced mentors and using the latest technologies. The program aims to inspire emerging developers to engage with open source communities, support projects in attracting new talent, increase the volume of open source code available, and give you exposure to real-world software development practices.
6. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): Summer High School Intern Program Research
Location: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO, and Gaithersburg, MD
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Less than 3%; 12 students selected each year
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in the U.S.
Stipend: Unpaid
NIST conducts research through six specialized laboratories, each focused on various domains within the physical and engineering sciences. You can apply to either of these laboratories and participate in the Summer High School Intern Program, including the Information Technology Laboratory (ITL). ITL conducts research in information technology, web development, applied mathematics, and statistics, contributing to the evolution of measurement science, standards infrastructure, and computing technologies. Key research areas include computer networking, cybersecurity, software engineering, and human-computer interaction. Specific research topics have included computer network modeling, biometric security, cryptography, computer forensics, digital data preservation, machine learning, data mining, and bioinformatics.
7. Berkeley Lab: Experiences in Research (EinR)
Location: Hybrid or virtual, depending on the office and scope of work
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Current 10th, 11th, and 12th grade high school students enrolled in Northern California; Should have experience in independent work; 16+ by the start of the program
Stipend: I$500/week
Experiences in Research (EinR) is a summer internship program designed for high school students seeking practical exposure to careers in STEM and related fields. Hosted by Berkeley Lab, the program offers internships for high school students interested in working alongside professionals for six weeks. You’ll get to contribute to cutting-edge projects across various domains, including experimental research and data collection, data science (both coding and non-coding), administration and communication, and coding-dependent tasks. The program aims to foster meaningful connections with mentors, enhance professional competencies relevant to higher education and STEM careers, and provide hands-on experience in collaboration and science communication through diverse project assignments.
8. ESC of Central Ohio: High School Tech Internship Program
Location: Various locations in Ohio
Dates: January 2 – September 30
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: Ohio high school students; 19 or younger by the start date
Stipend: At least $12/hour
The High School Tech Internship program, initiated by the Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation, partners with Ohio-based employers to place high school students in technology-oriented roles. The program aims to address the growing demand for tech talent while equipping students with early professional experience in the field. You will be assigned responsibilities comparable to those of entry-level employees in areas such as software development, data management, cloud and IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, broadband and 5G technologies, artificial intelligence, and other high-demand technology sectors. The available internships for high school students are posted directly on the ESC website.
9. University of Nebraska Omaha: Summer High School Internship Program
Location: University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 2 - 4%; 10 to 12 students
Dates: June 2 – July 11
Application Deadline: April 6
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old at the time of application and entering 10th, 11th, or 12th grade in the fall; Applicants must be from participating school districts
Stipend: Paid
The Summer High School Internship Program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s College of Information Science & Technology offers internships for high school students looking for a hands-on introduction to research and development. You will collaborate with faculty and current students on projects in areas such as robotics, bioinformatics, software engineering, cybersecurity, database-driven web development, IT innovation, mobile app development, gaming, and open community research. The internship allows you to engage in real-world research, acquire new technical skills and tools, and explore potential career paths in information technology through meaningful, project-based learning experiences.
10. Johns Hopkins University: ASPIRE Internship Program
Location: Virtual or in-person at the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Acceptance Rate: 10%
Dates:
Summer Session: June 24 – August 21
Academic Year Session: September 15 – May
Application Deadline: January 1 – February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; At least 15 years of age by June 1; Minimum 2.8 GPA
Stipend: Unpaid
The ASPIRE program at Johns Hopkins offers high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to explore careers in STEM through an immersive internship experience. You will be paired with staff from the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) and engage in collaborative workshops, team-based problem-solving, mentorship with experienced professionals, and hands-on project work.
You will be required to indicate your preferred field of interest during the application process. Students with an interest in web development are encouraged to select placement areas such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Information Technology and Cybersecurity, Programming and Computer Science, or Mathematics and Data Analysis.
11. Microsoft Discovery Program
Location: Microsoft, Redmond, WA or Atlanta, GA
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling; Applications open in early February
Eligibility: High school graduating seniors who live and attend high school within 50 miles of Redmond, Washington, or live and attend high school around Atlanta, Georgia; Applicants must have completed pre-calculus or an equivalent course by the start of the program
Stipend: Paid
The Microsoft Discovery Program is a four-week internship designed to introduce high school students to the world of technology and computer science. You will gain hands-on project experience while developing both technical and professional skills under the mentorship of Microsoft professionals.
Throughout the internship, you will be introduced to foundational concepts in computer science and gain insight into the software development lifecycle, including the design phase. You will also work on a project that emphasizes identifying customer needs and crafting effective solutions, while also learning the principles of UX and product design.
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