15 Paid Artificial Intelligence Internships for High School Students
Artificial Intelligence internships can help high school students develop problem-solving skills, learn how technical teams operate, and apply concepts like modeling, data analysis, and algorithmic thinking beyond the classroom. You will build experience with tools and workflows that engineers use while strengthening communication, collaboration, and technical writing skills that carry over into any STEM field. Since these opportunities are often offered by top organizations and colleges (like NASA, IBM, and various university labs), they allow you to connect with leaders in the field.
Paid AI internships offer a cost-effective entry point into the field of Artificial Intelligence. Across the US, there’s a growing ecosystem of AI-focused organizations, university labs, and research centers that welcome high school interns. These settings give you access to academic mentors, emerging technologies, and industry-relevant projects that aren’t typically available in school. Below, we have listed 15 paid artificial intelligence internships for high school students.
1. AEOP High School Internships
Location: Various U.S. Army Research Labs and university research centers nationwide
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, varies by site
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; more than 300 interns across locations
Dates: 5 – 10 weeks; typically June–August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Current high school students or graduating seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents; site-specific requirements apply.
AEOP places interns with university researchers or Department of Defense scientists to work on research projects in laboratory settings. You work one-on-one with a mentor and use lab equipment on tasks that may involve programming, data analysis, or machine learning. The program offers direct exposure to university and DoD research environments under the guidance of mentors. Housing and travel are normally the student’s responsibility unless otherwise stated by a site. The program also has AEOP’s virtual workshops and professional development sessions hosted by the Rochester Institute of Technology.
2. NASA OSTEM Internships
Location: Virtual or on-site at NASA centers nationwide
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid based on their academic level and session duration
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely competitive; over 3,000 high school interns selected annually
Dates: Year–round; Fall: early September to mid-December; Summer: early June – August; Spring: mid-January – May
Application Deadline: Fall: May 22; Summer: February 28; Spring: September 12
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens, at least 16 years old at the time of application, and have a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
NASA's OSTEM internships offer assignments across space exploration and technology, featuring essential computer science tasks like developing mission-critical software. You'll work alongside NASA scientists and engineers, tackling authentic challenges in areas such as aerospace engineering, planetary science, data science, and systems design. You make tangible contributions to STEM projects, often requiring coding for advanced data handling or constructing complex simulation models, with technical mentors guiding your efforts in aeronautics computing. Through placements at diverse nationwide facilities, the program provides valuable exposure to collaborative procedures in high-stakes scientific environments, complemented by webinars focused on career advancement.
3. Microsoft Discovery Program
Location: Redmond, WA, and Atlanta, GA, depending on cohort
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Competitive wage paid, exact amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size details not publicly available
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: Typically, in late February
Eligibility: High school seniors who live within 50 miles of the program site, are at least 16 years old, have a legal right to work in the U.S., and have completed precalculus or an equivalent course by the program’s start
The Microsoft Discovery Program places you in small teams to complete a project for a Microsoft product group while exposing you to software engineering, product management, and UX design. You receive mentorship from Microsoft engineers and participate in design and development activities that incorporate AI concepts. You work full-time for four weeks and present project outcomes to your product group. The schedule includes technical workshops and project milestones. Mentors from Microsoft will guide you, and you will also visit Microsoft’s campus, work with peers on problem-solving challenges, and connect with professionals.
4. Meta Summer Academy
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend provided, amount details not public
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 150 students selected each year
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores who are full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, or Redwood City and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
The Meta Summer Academy offers six weeks of coding projects in machine learning and deep learning with mentorship from Meta staff. You work part-time at about 30 hours per week on group assignments and technical tasks. The program pairs you with a Meta employee who provides feedback, guidance, and career coaching. You engage in technical project work and discussions on AI ethics that involve code development, debugging, and collaborative engineering practices. You also participate in workshops on resume building, professional communication, and presentation skills.
5. Amazon Future Engineer
Location: Mostly in Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Scholarship of up to $40,000 ($10,000/year) towards an undergraduate degree in computer science or engineering
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically 400 students per year
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Typically, in January
Eligibility: High school seniors who demonstrate financial need and plan to major in computer science or related fields, have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.3 on a 4.0 scale, are U.S. citizens and permanent residents, or authorized to work in the U.S.
The Amazon Future Engineer program offers financial aid for your university studies, coupled with a guaranteed, paid tech internship at Amazon following your freshman year. This summer experience involves hands-on work on impactful projects in cutting-edge areas like Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, and Cloud Computing. You'll contribute real code or essential tools, directly affecting major Amazon platforms, from optimizing AWS systems and refining large-scale retail infrastructure to advancing Alexa technology. Importantly, the program ensures you're supported by dedicated mentors and teammates, helping you rapidly develop technical skills and establish invaluable professional connections in the industry.
6. Tech Flex Leaders
Location: Hybrid; virtual and in-person in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, exact amount not given
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typical cohorts are of more than 500 students
Dates: September 8 – May 14
Application Deadline: August 17
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who attend a public or charter school in New York City, Los Angeles County, or Miami-Dade/Broward County
The Tech Flex Leaders (TFL) Program is a yearlong journey for students eager to explore technology and artificial intelligence. The program begins with practical learning in web development through HTML, CSS, and Bootstrap while introducing you to the fundamentals and ethical applications of AI. At the end of the first semester, you showcase your skills in a Demo Day Competition. In the following term, each student selects a specialized path such as Product Management, Data Science, Advanced Web Development, UX Design, or Digital Marketing, and participates in mentorship sessions, career workshops, and professional development experiences guided by industry experts.
7. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Various Department of the Navy laboratories across the country
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend of $4,000 for new participants and $4,500 for returning participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; around 300 students
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer with an option to extend by 2 weeks
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: U.S. high school students in grades 10-12 who are 16 years old by the start of the program | Some labs may have additional criteria
The SEAP program offers high school students an eight-week summer research experience in U.S. Navy laboratories, where they collaborate with scientists and engineers on projects. Each year, about 300 students are selected to contribute to fields such as robotics, materials science, cybersecurity, marine engineering, and computer modeling. Based on individual interests, the program matches you with specific labs and may work on simulations using ANSYS, assist in testing new materials, or analyze environmental and naval systems. Daily tasks vary by placement but are designed to provide meaningful, hands-on exposure to real-world research and advanced technological development.
8. NYU Tandon - Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering Program (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend of $1,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; around 65 students
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school students who live and attend school in NYC and are in the 10th and 11th grades
This program offers students the chance to become genuine researchers by joining one of over 80 university labs at NYU. You work with NYU faculty and graduate mentors on projects spanning biomedical, civil, mechanical, or data engineering, accumulating approximately 120 hours of practical lab experience. Initially, a four-week phase provides essential preparation, including safety training, research skill development, and writing workshops, leading into six weeks of intensive, immersive lab work. Beyond technical growth, the internship emphasizes professional development; students refine presentation and public-speaking skills via Irondale Ensemble Project sessions and showcase their findings at both the NYU summer colloquium and the American Museum of Natural History.
9. Anson L. Clark Scholar Program
Location: Texas Tech University, TX
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee / $750 stipend
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 years old by the program start date, who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and who are graduating in the application year or the next
Texas Tech University's Clark Scholar Program is a seven-week summer research opportunity for high school students. You engage in advanced, faculty-mentored projects across diverse fields like cancer bioimaging and mechanical engineering. Beyond research, the program provides seminars, discussions, and career development sessions designed to foster significant academic and personal growth. A major benefit is the fully funded on-campus experience, including free housing, meals, and weekend activities, allowing you to immerse yourself in college life alongside highly motivated peers. Open to exceptional students from all disciplines, admission is fiercely competitive, based on outstanding academics, strong recommendations, and clear career aspirations.
10. NLM Data Science and Informatics (DSI) Scholars Program
Location: NIH Campus, Bethesda, MD
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend of $2,530 before graduation and $2,840 after graduation
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; 30 – 35 students
Dates: 8 – 12 weeks starting in June
Application Deadline: Rolling basis till February 19
Eligibility: High school students enrolled at least half-time as a senior in high school and have completed coursework relevant to computer science, data science, informatics, mathematics, or related subjects | At least 18 years old by the program start date | U.S. citizen or permanent resident | Have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or more on a 4.0 scale
The DSI Scholars Program is a highly competitive, paid summer internship at the National Library of Medicine (NLM), part of the NIH, focused on using computational methods to tackle complex biomedical and health challenges. It covers topics like bioinformatics, data analytics, machine learning, and medical informatics to improve patient care and public health. You primarily conduct practical research on real-world projects under the guidance of an NLM Principal Investigator; you also attend professional development workshops on topics like scientific writing and data visualization, and network with peers and professionals. You present your findings at the NIH-wide Summer Poster Day.
11. AFRL Scholars Program – Air Force Research Laboratory
Location: Multiple AFRL sites across the United States, depending on placement
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Weekly stipends between $501.60 - $805.60
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 60 students
Dates: Fall session is 16 weeks between late August/early September and mid-December; Spring session is 16 weeks between mid-January and early May; Summer session is 10 weeks between late May/early June and August
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens and enrolled or accepted to an educational institution, and are at least 16 years old by the application deadline
As an AFRL Scholar, you will work full-time in laboratory settings on aerospace and engineering research projects that include machine learning and data analysis components. The program matches you with a scientist or engineer mentor who defines project tasks and evaluates progress. You receive direct mentorship and access to AFRL laboratory facilities while completing assigned research work. Many placements require in-person participation and a full-time summer commitment. The program’s focus is on aerospace research with computational and AI elements when applicable. You also receive guidance on professional research practices.
12. The Data Science Institute Summer Lab program
Location: University of Chicago, Hyde Park campus
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $5,600 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; between 9 – 30 students
Dates: June 16 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: Chicago-area high school students who must be able to commute to campus
In this program, participants collaborate with a data science mentor on a research project in areas such as social science, computer science, biomedical studies, or climate policy over eight weeks. Conducted entirely in person at the Ryerson Laboratory, the program immerses you in UChicago’s research environment while fostering teamwork, analytical thinking, and practical skill development. You learn by doing, applying data analysis methods to address real-world problems. Past projects have explored topics like using robots to support children’s emotional growth, employing deep learning to monitor cattle health, and improving the scalability of federated learning systems.
13. Research Experiences for High School Students - University of New Orleans
Location: Greater New Orleans, Louisiana
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $2,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; between 7 – 10 students
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer; approximately early June to late July
Application Deadline: March 21
Eligibility: High school students who reside and attend high school within 40 miles of the University of New Orleans
In this eight-week full-time program, you collaborate with leading scientists in advanced research facilities, contributing to projects that may range from computational modeling and AI-guided materials discovery to sensor data interpretation. Depending on their interests, those focusing on artificial intelligence might apply machine learning techniques to solve challenges in materials science. You lead a project independently or within a small team, developing skills in experimental design, data gathering, and analysis. Weekly seminars on research ethics, lab safety, and emerging technologies complement the lab experience, helping you strengthen both your technical competence and professional acumen.
14. University of New Hampshire HighTech Bound
Location: Durham, NH, on the University of New Hampshire campus
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid at an hourly rate, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically, 8 – 10 students
Dates: Typically, 5 – 6 weeks between early July – early/mid August
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are U.S. residents
HighTech Bound places a small cohort in the IOL, where interns work on software and hardware projects under the guidance of experienced mentors. It assigns you a team-based engineering project where you work to develop a solution for a technology problem, often involving the latest software and hardware from companies like Apple, Cisco, and Dell. You use industry tools that involve networking, embedded systems, and AI integration, and receive hands-on lab experience and one-on-one mentorship in an advanced computing lab. The program also includes field trips to local tech companies, allowing you to network with experienced engineers.
15. Changemakers in Computing – University of Washington
Location: University of Washington – Seattle, Washington
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $1,200 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 20 – 25 students
Dates: July 6 – July 30
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors at Washington State high schools who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The CiC program focuses on integrating computer science skills with critical discussions about society, equity, and justice. You join small groups, mentored by current UW undergraduates, to strengthen programming abilities through culturally relevant, project-based learning. The curriculum explores diverse computing fields and addresses how technology can be leveraged for social change. Along the way, you meet professionals bridging tech and community impact. To increase accessibility, the program provides both a stipend and daily meals, alongside dedicated guidance on college pathways and financial planning. Ultimately, you leave with both valuable technical skills and an expanded understanding of computing's role in serving diverse communities.
Looking for an immersive AI internship?
Ladder Internships partners with rapidly expanding startups across diverse sectors, including technology, health tech, AI, consulting, and marketing. You tackle real-world projects, operating under the direct mentorship of a company manager while receiving supplementary career coaching from a Ladder expert. The core focus is on enhancing professional skills, practical problem-solving, and collaboration. By contributing meaningfully to companies, many of which have secured over $1 million in funding, you explore cutting-edge fields. The experience culminates with a presentation to company executives, offering feedback and reinforcing professional communication skills.
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