12 Best Computer Science Internships for High School Students in NYC (New York City)
If you’re a high school student in New York City interested in computer science, you should consider participating in a computer science internship for high school students in NYC. Some of the best computer science internships for high school students in NYC will provide hands-on experience, access to real-world projects, and insights into the tech industry.
Computer science Internships are a cost-effective way to gain practical skills, industry exposure, and valuable connections, whether you're new to coding or experienced in programming. Here are 12 of the best computer science internships for high school students in NYC to help you get started!
1. BRAINYAC Internship at Columbia
Location: Columbia University, New York City, New York
Stipend: This is a paid internship
Program Dates: July 1 – August 16 (tentative; based on the 2024 program)
Application Deadline: Opens in October
Eligibility: New York City 10th and 11th graders from select New York City-based partner organizations, including S-PREP, Lang Youth Medical, Double Discovery Center, Columbia Secondary School, and BioBus. Eligibility requires nomination by a partner institution
Cohort size: 20 students
The BRAINYAC (Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia) program, hosted by Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute, offers an immersive research experience for New York City high school students in grades 10 – 11. As a participant, you’ll work alongside neuroscientists on active research projects exploring brain function and neural processes. Through lab apprenticeships, you’ll gain skills in data analysis, experimental design, and scientific communication.
While not a traditional computer science internship, the program’s emphasis on data analysis provides valuable experience for those interested in the field. The program concludes with a research symposium where you’ll present your findings, honing your public speaking skills.
Location: Remote
Cost: Starts from $2,490 (Financial aid available)
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. March 3 onwards for the upcoming spring cohort
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. The upcoming spring cohort deadline is February 9
Eligibility: High school students who are able to commit to 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Ladder Internships is a selective, prestigious internship program for high school students eager to explore the startup world. During this internship, you will work with high-growth startups across various industries, including tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, and more.
As an intern, you will collaborate closely with startup managers and receive mentorship from a Ladder Coach, tackling real-world projects and presenting your work to the company. The program also includes one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other essential skills, complemented by group training sessions with peers. The virtual internship typically lasts 8 weeks. For more details and to explore internship options, you can check out their application form.
Location: New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York
Stipend: At least $1,000
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 1 – February 17
Eligibility: NYC high school students in 10th or 11th grade
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective; only 80 students are shortlisted annually
The ARISE (Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering) program at NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering offers a free, seven-week summer research experience for high-achieving 10th and 11th graders from NYC. The program begins with two weeks of workshops on STEM topics and college preparation, followed by a five-week mentored research placement in an NYU faculty lab. In the Computer Science and Engineering track, you can explore topics like machine learning, data science ethics, and online privacy. For more details, read here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,490
Program Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year. The spring cohort starts on March 3
Application Deadline: Depends on the cohort. February 23 for the spring cohort
Eligibility: High school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program
Cohort Size: Small cohorts with personalized one-on-one mentoring
The Veritas AI Internship Program, led by Harvard graduate students, offers an 8-week experience for high school students to work on real-world AI/ML projects with VC-backed startups. You’ll get to collaborate with mentors from prestigious institutions like Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, and McKinsey & Company.
This program is ideal if you have prior experience in AI/ML and want hands-on exposure to the field. You’ll gain valuable networking opportunities, work closely with startup leaders, and receive a completion certificate at the end of the internship. You can apply here!
5. America on Tech: Tech Flex Leaders Program
Location: Hybrid: Virtual + in-person in Manhattan, New York
Cost/Stipend: Free. $1,000
Program Dates: This program runs through the school year
Application Deadline: August 15 (tentatively). Applications for 2025-2026 will open in Spring 2025; sign up here.
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors enrolled in a high school in New York City (or Los Angeles or Miami)
Acceptance Rate: Competitive; 10% to 20%
The Tech Flex Leaders Program by America On Tech is a year-long initiative designed to provide high school students with essential skills in software development and digital marketing. Through live instruction, project-based learning, and hands-on workshops, you’ll gain expertise in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other core programming tools.
In addition to technical training, the program focuses on professional growth through mentorship, career coaching, and networking with industry leaders. You’ll also have opportunities to participate in internships and present your projects at a Demo Day, gaining practical experience and preparing for future education and tech careers. For more information on the Tech Flex Leaders Program, check out this blog!
6. High School Research Internships at Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI), Cornell University, and the USDA
Location: Cornell University Campus, Ithaca, New York
Stipend: $4,200 total (paid monthly)
Program Dates: June 30 – August 7 (tentative)
Application Deadline: Opens in March
Eligibility: High school students currently residing in the Ithaca region; 16 or older by the end of June; graduating seniors are not eligible
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Cornell University, in collaboration with the USDA, offers a seven-week internship for high school students to explore plant science and computational biology research. During the program, you’ll work on a preset project with a faculty mentor and a research mentor, such as a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher.
Alongside conducting research, you will attend professional development lectures, engage in discussions with undergraduate researchers, and participate in training workshops and field trips. The program concludes with an August symposium, where you’ll present your findings through a research poster.
7. Stony Brook University – Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Current high school juniors; 16 or older by program start; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Acceptance Rate: 5% (highly selective)
The Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University is designed for high school students interested in STEM fields, particularly technology, engineering, and data sciences. As a Simons Fellow, you’ll collaborate with faculty mentors, contribute to research teams, and lead your own projects. The program provides hands-on research experience, skill-building opportunities, and access to faculty-led workshops, presentations, and events. It concludes with a poster symposium where you’ll showcase your work and receive a stipend in recognition of your contributions.
8. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging’s Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee; scholarship available
Program Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline:
- Fee Waiver and Scholarship Application Deadline: February 21
- Summer Research Internship Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: U.S.-based high school students (grades 9 – 12 in Fall 2025) aged 14+ with strong math, programming, or healthcare project experience. Participants must commit to the full schedule for the 2-week program. Valid visa or residency documentation is required.
Cohort Size: Around 25 students annually
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship offers high school students an opportunity to explore AI's role in healthcare. The program includes daily lectures on AI fundamentals, hands-on group research projects, and mentorship from Stanford researchers and student leaders.
Additional features include networking events, social activities, and Virtual Career Lunch & Learns with guest speakers from academia, industry, and nonprofits. You might also qualify for an extended independent research internship. Upon completion, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.
9. Sandia National Laboratories Internships
Location: Varies depending on the project. New York labs are available. Check here.
Stipend: Competitive pay provided
Program Dates:
- Summer internships: 10-12 weeks (from May to the last Thursday in August)
- Co-op internships: 3-8 months during the academic term, including an adjacent summer term
- Year-round internships: during academic terms (up to 25 hours a week)
Application Deadline: Varies, depending on the project
Eligibility: U.S. citizens at least 16 years old and enrolled as a full-time high school student; minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 (for high school students applying for Research and Development, Technical, or Business positions); more details here
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective but depends on the internship
Sandia National Laboratories Internships provide high school students with hands-on experience working on real-world projects in fields, such as cybersecurity, engineering design, software development, and energy. As an intern, you will collaborate with mentors and Sandia teams on projects aligned with your academic interests. For instance, the Comp Materials & Data Science Internship involves working on advanced technologies like servers, storage, networking, and virtual environments. You will also gain practical skills, solve complex problems, and contribute to critical national initiatives in a dynamic and collaborative research environment.
10. EDIT ML Summer Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: NA
Program Dates: June – August (tentative)
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: high school students with a background in computer science
Acceptance Rate: Medium selectivity
The EDIT ML Summer Internship Program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center offers high school students hands-on experience with machine learning projects in healthcare. As an intern, you will focus on developing and validating AI technologies to improve clinical efficiency and patient outcomes.
You’ll gain skills in R, Python, high-performance computing, and scientific writing while exploring applications like cancer detection, gigapixel image analysis, and text prediction. The program includes lectures, seminars, and IRB-supported research, culminating in guided projects that highlight AI's transformative potential in healthcare innovation.
11. NYU Summer Program for Automation, Robotics, and Coding
Location: New York University
Cost: $3,300
Program Dates: June 17 – June 28 for session 1; July 8 – July 19 for session 2; July 29 – August 9 for session 3
Application Deadline: January 1 – April 21
Eligibility: High school students at least 14 years old the day the program begins
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
The Summer Program for Automation Robotics and Coding (SPARC) is a two-week, full-day summer initiative for rising 9th to 12th graders passionate about robotics, computer science, mechatronics, and programming. While no prior robotics experience is required, you should have strong academic skills and a proactive learning approach.
Through hands-on projects with robotics kits, you’ll learn to apply microcontrollers, interface sensors, and actuators, blending concepts from computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering. The program covers topics like electrical components and circuits, microcontroller anatomy and programming, and coding fundamentals, including variables, conditionals, loops, and data representation.
12. NYU Tandon's Summer Program for Machine Learning
Location: New York University
Cost: $3,050
Program Dates:
- Session 1: June 16 – 27
- Session 2: July 7 – 18
- Session 3: July 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: April 21
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 9, 10, or 11 who have completed Algebra 2 (or equivalent) and have some computer programming experience (in any language)
Cohort Size: 24 students
NYU Tandon's Summer Program for Machine Learning offers high school students a two-week immersive experience in computer science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Working closely with top researchers, you’ll participate in individual sessions and workshops designed to help you produce a college-level academic paper or prepare work for publication in prestigious journals.
The program provides a thorough exploration of machine learning applications, balancing practical skills with theoretical understanding. You’ll engage in diverse topics within the field and have the opportunity to customize your research focus, allowing for a personalized and in-depth educational experience. This program is ideal for students eager to deepen their knowledge of AI and gain hands-on research expertise.
Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!