14 Computer Science Internships for High School Students in California
If you are a high schooler in California looking to explore the field of computer science, you should consider an internship! California, home to Silicon Valley, offers a number of internship opportunities for high school students at tech companies, startups, and other organizations.
An internship will allow you to apply and practice theoretical concepts, broadening your avenues and exposing you to possible career options. Whether you’re interested in the various applications of computer science (such as space research, defense, health, and others) or research, pursuing an internship at this stage will enhance your skills, expose you to work environments, strengthen your network, and boost your college applications and resume.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 14 computer science internships for high school students in California. Let’s dive in.
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students who can work for 5-15 hours/week for 8-16 weeks
Application Deadline: Summer cohort (regular admission 1): April 14, 2024 | Summer cohort (regular admission 2): May 12, 2024
Dates: The summer 2024 cohort starts on June 3 and runs till August. Internship opportunities are also available for fall and spring.
Cost: Starting at $1,990 (financial aid available)
Founded by Harvard alumni, Ladder Internships offers high school students the opportunity to intern with startups and nonprofits across the world in a virtual setup. Students can choose to intern in a field they wish to work in, from a wide range of industries including technology, engineering, computer science, AI, ML, healthcare, health tech, medicine, sustainability, media, and more. Some host companies include IPMD (improving patient experiences through AI), Softenmind (providing mental health services using proprietary digital and AI tools), JuneBrain (enhancing remote monitoring in ophthalmology and neurology), and Fair Opportunity Project (providing free college application advice).
This is an excellent option for students interested in computer science as internship areas include tech and deep tech, software engineering, machine learning and AI, and health tech. Interns will attend weekly meetings with mentors from companies and work on deliverables that they will present at the end. The program also includes professional skill training sessions.
2. NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internships
Location: One of the NASA centers in the country (including Ames Research Center, Mountain View, CA) / Virtual
Eligibility: Students at least 16 years old with a 3.0 GPA and a U.S. citizenship
Application Deadline: Applications for summer internships typically close in February.
Dates: May-August (10 weeks). Spring and fall internships are also available.
Stipend: Paid, with amount differing based on academic level and session length
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement provides paid internship opportunities to high school students. With an acceptance rate of 4-5%, these internships are extremely sought after, allowing students to contribute to real-world NASA projects using cutting-edge technology and resources alongside engineers, researchers, and scientists. Multiple opportunities are available at NASA’s Ames Research Center, not to mention that the agency also occasionally sponsors interns at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California.
Various computer science internships are on offer, with some examples including AI and ML for air traffic management, deep learning, cosmic ray rejection using ML, 3D data visualization, and more.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Eligibility: High school students in their sophomore or junior year, with priority given to students in the 11th grade
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Dates: May-August (6 weeks)
Stipend: Paid for working for at least 20 hours/week (amount not specified)
The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) offers internships to high school students enrolled in its schools. Selected interns will get a chance to work with industry professionals, develop skills, build strong networks, and attend weekly work-based learning seminars with mentors. By experiencing multiple facets of their fields, interns can expand their range of interests and skills and apply theoretical concepts in a practical setting.
Computer science is one of the many options for high school students to choose from, with some avenues including data analysis, innovation, AI, and software development.
4. California Academy of Science Careers in Science (CiS) Internship
Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
Eligibility: Underrepresented 9th or 10th graders in an SFUSD school with a 2.5 GPA and a grade C or higher in math and science with the readiness to commit to 2-3 years of attendance
Application Deadline: Applications generally close in April.
Dates: After school and weekends, multi-year and year-round (2-3 years till graduation)
Stipend: Paid (amount unspecified)
The California Academy of Sciences offers a Careers in Science (CiS) internship in which high school students work with scientists, researchers, and engineers across various STEM subjects. This comprehensive and long-term internship is a great opportunity to establish and develop skills while also interacting with peers and professionals in your field. Interns will get to work with mentors and receive training and education in their field alongside practical work experience on the floor of the Academy.
This internship focuses on STEM, with computer science forming one of the subjects on which students can work. STEM conferences and festivals, college tours, group projects, presentations, and more are part of the programming.
5. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) by the Department of Navy (DoN)
Location: Varies based on lab locations
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old and are U.S. citizens
Application Deadline: Closed for 2024. Applications open on August 1, 2024, for 2025.
Dates: June-August (8 weeks)
Stipend: $4,000 (new participants) | $4,500 (returning participants)
SEAP is a prestigious, competitive summer program that places around 300 high school students every year in one of the 38+ Department of Navy laboratories in the country. California students can indicate one of the laboratories in the state to get placed accordingly.
Interns will be able to learn about and contribute to real-world naval research while receiving access to state-of-the-art technology at the labs and mentorship from accomplished scientists, engineers, and researchers. Relevant subject areas include cybersecurity, data optimization and analysis, software development, programming, and algorithm design, among others.
6. Stanford’s Science, Humanities, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (SHTEM) Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Dates: June 17, 2024 - August 9, 2024
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship, but stipends may be provided based on financial need.
Stanford University’s Stanford Compression Forum is a collaboration between industry professionals and academics in the field of data compression. The forum runs an annual SHTEM summer internship in which it places high school students in project groups based on their interests, with each group receiving mentorship from faculty, staff, and students of the forum. Students will also attend program-wide activities like orientations, workshops, and final presentations.
Computer science students can learn about the applications of the field in a variety of other themes and subject areas, such as technology, the arts, psychology, the science of information and communication, biology, linguistics, and more.
Location: Hybrid (online + AOT offices in LA, CA; NYC, NY; Miami, FL)
Eligibility: High school students in Los Angeles, New York City, and Miami
Application Deadline: August 20, 2024
Dates: 9 months starting in September and a possible paid summer internship after that
Stipend: $1,000 stipend paid at the end of the program. NYC participants can move on to a paid summer internship after training, with select roles also available to LA and Miami participants.
The Tech Flex Leaders (TFL) program gives high school students the chance to simultaneously work and learn beyond their classrooms. It provides weekly training, professional development sessions, and career mentorship for students interested in computer science and technology. The program offers coding education through web development, mastering HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap along with more focused tech training in areas like data science, UX design, web development, product management, and digital marketing.
Students will also work on individual and group web projects throughout this internship and present them to a panel of judges.
8. University of California San Diego (UCSD) Research Experience for High School
Location: San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at UCSD, San Diego, CA
Eligibility: High school students in San Diego
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Dates: June 17, 2024 - August 9, 2024
Cost: $1,500 (financial assistance available)
UCSD’s Supercomputer Center offers a summer research internship for high school students interested in computational science. Selected interns will work with UCSD mentors for 8 weeks on a research project while receiving software instruction, scholarly or practical readings, and mentor discussions. A chance to work in groups with peers is also in store, allowing for collaboration and networking.
As part of the research project, interns will learn how to formulate and test hypotheses, run computational experiments, and draw conclusions. Lab meetings, group discussions, and poster presentations are also included.
9. Summer Research Internship at the Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI)
Location: Remote
Eligibility: U.S. high school students over 14 years old with strong math and/or computer programming skills and/or experience with a healthcare project
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Dates: June 17, 2024 - June 28, 2024
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship. Students will receive a certificate upon completion and a chance to extend their internship.
Students interested in using computer science and tech to improve healthcare and promote health equity can consider the Stanford Center for AIMI’s summer research internship. This virtual internship comprises introductory and technical lectures on AI in healthcare, mentoring activities with researchers and students, group project sessions, social activities, and virtual Career Lunch and Learns with guest speakers in the field.
Students may also extend their research internship beyond the 2 weeks of this program. An AI in Medicine bootcamp is also available for interested students.Note that this internship program only accepts around 20 students each year.
Location: Companies located in Los Angeles County, CA
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors in LA County
Application Deadline: Applications generally close in March for summer intakes.
Dates: June-August (8 weeks). Fall and spring internships are also available.
Stipend: Paid (amount unspecified)
The Intern Project (TIP) offers high school students the chance to work with host companies across LA County. The companies involved may change annually, but partners for 2024 included America on Tech, 826LA, Tena Health, Aerospace, and The Happold Foundation, among others. These companies offer internships in various fields, with engineering and technology and medical technology being some relevant options for students interested in computer science.
As part of the internship, students will receive hands-on work experience, access to state-of-the-art software and tech, mentorship, networking opportunities, and professional development training.
11. University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) Science Internship Program
Location: University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC), Santa Cruz, CA (students can choose between commuter and residential options)
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 14 years old
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Dates: June 10, 2024 - June 21, 2024 (virtual research preparation) | June 23, 2024 - August 10, 2024 (in-person internship)
Cost: $60 (application fee) | $4,750 (program fee) | $625-$900 per week (optional dorm housing costs) | $65-$200 per week (optional daily shuttle fees). Need-based scholarships are available.
UCSC’s Science Internship Program (SIP) offers high school students a chance to work with UCSC mentors on research projects, with most research projects involving computational elements and programming skills. Students will be matched with mentors based on their research interests and existing knowledge and experience.
Multiple research projects are available for students to choose from, such as applied artificial intelligence, collaborations between art, culture, and STEM, computer science/computer engineering, computational media, mathematics, physics, and lots more.
Note that the number of interns accepted for each project and sub-project is limited, with some only taking around 4 interns.
12. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Internships
Location: There are AEOP opportunities in almost every state.
Eligibility: Current high school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents (additional criteria may be present depending on location).
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Dates: A few weeks in the summer (exact dates depend on location)
Stipend: Paid; varies based on location
The AEOP’s high school internships are a chance for students to contribute to projects driven at the intersection of defense and STEM. Students in California can indicate their preference for projects in the state to be placed accordingly. As part of this internship, students will work under the mentorship of professional scientists and engineers while learning how to use the advanced technology on offer at the laboratories.
Research projects available in California include materials science (characterizing AIM films through the use of Python and MATLAB), human information interaction, integrated analysis and assessment, cybersecurity, hybrid human interfaces, embedded processing, and intelligent systems.
13. Internships at Sandia National Laboratories
Location: Livermore, CA / Albuquerque, NM / other Sandia sites.
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old, are enrolled full-time in an accredited college, university or high school, are U.S. citizens can apply. Those applying must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for R&D, technical or business roles.
Application deadline: Rolling deadline, as internship openings are continuously updated.
Program dates: Year-round, if you choose that program option. For the Co-op internships, you can select your internship period, in coordination with Sandia and your school.
Summer Interns - 40 hours per week | Year-round Interns - 25 hours per week
Stipend: Students will receive a stipend commensurate to the work they put in, and it will vary with the internship role.
Sandia National Laboratories is a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s ‘National Nuclear Security Administration’ (NNSA) and they offer prestigious internships for students during the summer and year-round. Students can apply for technical, business, and R&D roles, which will allow them to work on impactful national projects. Your role will vary based on your job description; however, the internship position digital engineering solutions expects interns to: implement scripting and computer programming, assist in the development of new software solutions, and maintain and debug multi-language software projects.
These internships offer a chance to work alongside experienced researchers and engineers, make use of top-notch equipment and research facilities and benefit from their career advancement and enrichment opportunities. There are two kinds of internships offered:
Year-round internships: These allow students who attend local schools to work part-time at a Sandia site, working up to 25 hours a week for high school students, and up to 40 hours per week during school breaks.
Co-op internships: These are conducted in partnership with individual schools, and allow students to take time off during the academic year to gain work experience at Sandia, working up to 40 hours a week. They run for 3–8 months in the academic term and may include an adjacent summer term.
Sandia internships are extremely selective due to the high volume of applications and the limited number of internships.
14. Veritas AI Internship
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program.
Application Deadline: October 20, 2024
Program Dates: The start date for the upcoming cohort is November 11, 2024.
Cost: $2,490 (some financial aid is available)
The AI Internship Program by Veritas AI is founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the 8-week internship, students have the opportunity to work with VC-backed startups on real-world AI/ML projects. Students work directly with mentors from Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, and more.
This program is a great opportunity for students who have prior experience with AI/ML and are looking to gain real-world exposure to a career in the field. Students get a chance to network with industry professionals, work closely with company leadership, and receive a letter of completion from the company at the end of the internship. You can learn more about the program here and apply here.
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, including computer science, tech, and engineering. 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!
Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.