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Computer Science Internships for High School Students in New York

Co-authored by:
Indigo Research Team
Published:
January 30, 2025
Last Updated:
November 11, 2026
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Key Takeaways

  • NYU Tandon’s CS4CS program is a free four-week summer program for current 10th and 11th graders who live in New York City or in nearby areas listed on the program page, and applications for 2027 open in January 2027.
  • NYU ARISE is a 10-week research program that pays interns a $2,000 stipend and is open only to current 10th and 11th graders who live and attend school in New York City.
  • The Columbia University NYC Residential Summer 2027 sessions run from June 28 to July 16 and from July 20 to August 6, 2027, and each session costs $12,838 plus a $95 application fee.
  • The Stony Brook Simons Summer Research Program requires a school nomination, U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, and 11th grade status, and its 2027 student application deadline is February 5, 2027.
  • Stony Brook’s CSIRE is a full-time research program for students at least 14 years old with programming skills, and its 2026 participation fee was $3,900.
  • The New York Academy of Sciences Junior Academy is a free online program for ages 13 to 17, and its invited-student application for spring 2027 runs from November 11, 2026 to January 6, 2027.

Top 4 Computer Science Internships for High School Students

Here are some of the best computer science internships for high school students in New York:

1. Cyber Security for Computer Science (CS4CS) 

  • Location: New York University (NYU Tandon School of Engineering)
  • Pay/Cost: Free. The program is offered at no cost with a full scholarship.
  • Application Deadline: Applications for 2027 open in January 2027. The 2026 deadline was May 15, 2026, and decisions were sent on May 29, 2026.
  • Timeline: July 13 - August 7, 2026 (four weeks). The 2027 dates have not been published.
  • Eligibility: Current 10th or 11th graders who live in New York City or in the nearby areas listed on the program page.

CS4CS is a four-week cybersecurity program at NYU Tandon. The program teaches high school students the basics of cybersecurity and computer science, so it's an excellent choice for beginners. Students learn through capture-the-flag competitions, scripting, cryptography, and digital forensics.

Students also take part in theater-based communication workshops that build communication and public speaking skills.

2. NYC Residential Summer 

  • Location: Columbia University, New York (residential)
  • Pay/Cost: $95 application fee + $12,838 per session (Summer 2027)
  • Application Deadline: Applications open in mid-November 2026. The early registration deadline is February 1, 2027, and the general deadline is March 1, 2027.
  • Timeline: Session A: June 28-July 16, 2027 | Session B: July 20-August 6, 2027
  • Eligibility: Students from rising 9th grade through current 12th grade. Residential participants must be at least 15 years old at the start of the program, and 15-year-olds must turn 16 by December 31 of the program year.

NYC Residential Summer is a three-week residential pre-college program at Columbia University. The program engages high school students with an academically rigorous, but fully immersive college experience. Participants can choose from more than 100 courses in a dozen subject areas, including computer science and data science.

NYC Residential Summer is a non-credit program, and Columbia University does not set a minimum GPA. When students finish, they receive a Columbia University Certification of Participation and an instructor evaluation, which they can use when preparing college applications.

3. Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering (ARISE)

  • Location: New York University
  • Pay/Cost: Free, and interns receive a $2,000 stipend.
  • Application Deadline: The 2026 deadline was February 27, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. The 2027 application has not been posted.
  • Timeline: June 1 - August 14, 2026 (10 weeks)
  • Eligibility: Current 10th or 11th graders who live in New York City and attend a school in New York City.

ARISE is a 10-week research, mentorship, and college preparation program for high school students who are interested in STEM fields. Students are placed in NYU research labs and receive a stipend for completing the program.

ARISE is open only to students who live in New York City and attend a school in New York City.

4. New York Historical Society Tech Scholars

  • Location: The New York Historical, New York
  • Pay/Cost: Free program
  • Application Deadline: Application dates are posted on the official program page for each session
  • Timeline: Week-long programs during school breaks
  • Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12 who live in and attend school in the New York City metro area.

The Tech Scholars program of The New York Historical blends creativity and technical knowledge, helping students explore history and technology. Students create digital projects such as podcasts and websites while studying the historical figures, events, and themes that motivate today’s young people.

The Tech Scholars programs include web design and podcasting, and they run as week-long programs during school breaks.

Alternative Computer Science Programs for High School Students in New York 

While internships offer hands-on industry experience, research programs present another excellent pathway to advance your computer science knowledge. These programs enable high school students to explore cutting-edge topics like artificial intelligence and machine learning while developing critical problem-solving skills under expert guidance.

1. The Junior Academy

  • Location: Virtual
  • Pay/Cost: No cost
  • Application Deadline: The invited-student application for spring 2027 runs from November 11, 2026 to January 6, 2027. The general application for the 2027-28 academic year opens in April 2027.
  • Timeline: Online challenges in fall and spring semesters
  • Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 13-17. They should be passionate about STEM and be proficient in English.

The Junior Academy is a project-based online program where students work in international teams to solve real-world problems. Under the mentorship of STEM professionals, students build innovative solutions to address the challenges of large businesses.

Challenges run in fall and spring semesters. Students build teams either by starting their own project or joining other groups, and all this work takes place on Launchpad, the Academy’s online learning environment.

2. Simons Summer Research Program

  • Location: Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York.
  • Pay/Cost: No program fees or tuition. Participants pay for their own housing, dining, and personal expenses. The application fee is $75, and fee waivers are available.
  • Application Deadline: Friday, February 5, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. EST (teacher recommendations are due by February 12, 2027).
  • Timeline: Summer 2027 (program dates are not stated on the pages that were checked)
  • Eligibility: Students in 11th grade at the time of application who are US citizens or permanent residents and at least 16 years old by the start of the program. A nomination from a designated high school official is required, and each school may nominate up to three students.

The Simons Summer Research Program (SSRP) matches high school students with Stony Brook faculty mentors for a summer research experience. Students become members of research teams and work on projects of their own. Applicants can choose up to three faculty mentor preferences from the published mentor list.

Some of the prominent computer science mentors in this program are: 

  • Dr. Muhammad Javad Amiri: Develops and tests distributed application systems such as blockchains and supply chains. 
  • Dr. Michael Freeman: Manages system-level software and hardware projects — IoT, smart home, computer networks. 
  • Dr. Klaus Mueller: Performs algorithmic fairness research, socio-economic risk analysis, and AI-based medical image diagnostics.

3. Stony Brook University’s Computer Science and Informatics Summer Research Experience Program (CSIRE)

  • Location: Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York (commuter option or virtual option; there was no residential option in 2026).
  • Pay/Cost: $3,900 nonrefundable participation fee for the 2026 program. The 2027 fee has not been announced.
  • Application Deadline: The 2026 deadline was March 1, 2026 (extended from February 15), and initial decisions were sent on March 22, 2026. The 2027 application has not been posted.
  • Timeline: June 29 - August 8, 2026 (full-time research)
  • Eligibility: Students who are at least 14 years old by the start of the program, who currently study and reside in the United States, who have good programming skills (Python, Java, C/C++, or similar), and who understand computer science fundamentals.

CSIRE is a hands-on, research-centered program rather than a teaching-based program. Each admitted student works on an authentic research project with an assigned mentor and presents the findings at the Final Research Symposium on the last day.

The application requires an essay of up to two pages, a transcript, and the name of a teacher who submits a recommendation letter. Throughout the summer, students attend research seminars and career seminars, and commuting students also join lab visits and social activities.

4. Indigo Research Intensive Seasonal Program 

  • Location: Virtual 
  • Pay/Cost:  $3800 tuition
  • Application Deadline:  To be announced 
  • Timeline:  Jul 10 - Aug 18 
  • Eligibility: High school Students between the ages of 14-19.  

Although not an internship, the Indigo Research Intensive Seasonal (IRIS) Program is one of the most prestigious computer science programs for high school students in NYC and beyond. For six weeks students engage in online group research with professors and researchers from the largest universities. Some of our mentors are professors at Stanford, UCLA, Cornell, and Oxford. 

The computer science course offered at IRIS will introduce students to machine learning, AI, and data science. Even students with no previous programming knowledge work with sample code blocks in projects on deep learning and NLP. The Artificial Intelligence course covers generative AI, AI ethics, computer vision, and more. 

Who Can Apply to These New York Programs

Several programs above are open only to students who live or attend school in New York. The table shows where applicants must live or attend school and what else each program requires, according to the official pages.

Program Where applicants must live or attend school Other requirements
CS4CS (NYU Tandon) New York City and nearby areas listed on the program page Current 10th or 11th grade
NYC Residential Summer (Columbia) No residence limit listed Rising 9th through current 12th grade; at least 15 years old for the residential program
ARISE (NYU) Live in and attend school in New York City Current 10th or 11th grade
Tech Scholars (The New York Historical) Live in and attend school in the New York City metro area Grades 9-12
The Junior Academy Virtual; no residence limit listed Ages 13-17 and proficient in English
Simons Summer Research Program No residence limit listed; school nomination required 11th grade; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; at least 16 years old
CSIRE (Stony Brook) Studying and residing in the United States At least 14 years old with programming skills

Students can start with the programs open to their location and then check the application dates for those programs.

New York Computer Science Program Application Calendar

The dates below come from the official pages. Programs without a published 2027 application are listed with the last confirmed 2026 deadline.

Program Application dates
The Junior Academy The invited-student application for spring 2027 runs from November 11, 2026 to January 6, 2027, and the general application for 2027-28 opens in April 2027
NYC Residential Summer (Columbia) Applications open in mid-November 2026; early registration deadline February 1, 2027; general deadline March 1, 2027
CS4CS (NYU Tandon) Applications open in January 2027 (the 2026 deadline was May 15, 2026)
Simons Summer Research Program Student application due February 5, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. EST; teacher recommendations due February 12, 2027
ARISE (NYU) 2027 application not yet posted (the 2026 deadline was February 27, 2026)
CSIRE (Stony Brook) 2027 application not yet posted (the 2026 deadline was March 1, 2026)
Tech Scholars (The New York Historical) Dates are posted on the official program page for each session

If You Do Not Live in New York

Many of the programs above are open only to students who live or attend school in New York or who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Students elsewhere can compare other options in the Indigo Research guide to research opportunities for high school students and find project ideas in the guide to computer science project ideas for high school students.

Kickstart Your Computer Science Career 

Participating in computer science internships as a high schooler gives you the opportunity to gain some practical experience and valuable mentorship. These internships not only increase your knowledge and skills but also help you excel as you further your studies and career in the computer field. 

If you want to enrich your computer science experience, consider doing cutting-edge research in AI and machine learning. The IRIS Intensive Program can be a great starting point. You get close mentorship from world-class researchers and finally publish a research paper. The best part is that you don’t need to be a seasoned programmer or tech wiz to apply and you can join the program from any part of the world. 

FAQs 

1. Can I get an internship with no experience?

Yes, here's how to get an internship with no experience in computer science: check the eligibility of each program and select internships that don't require prior experience. Also, consider programs that offer close one-on-one mentorships or peer mentorship instead of group mentorship alone.

2. Where can I find software internships in NYC?

You can find a software internship in NYC on LinkedIn, Handshake, and Indeed. These platforms have location filters that help you narrow your search to the closest opportunities. You may also approach software companies directly through their support lines to find out if they have an opening. 

3. Are there any part-time computer science internships in NYC?

Yes, some companies in NYC offer part-time computer science internships especially if it's a virtual program. These internships though may be harder to find. Use the “Job Type” filter on job boards to make your search easier.

4. Are there cybersecurity internships in New York? 

Yes, a good example is the Cyber Security for Computer Science (CS4CS) internship. You can also find more opportunities with job boards.

Computer science internships are a great way to gain practical experience, but conducting original research can help you develop deeper technical expertise. Whether you're interested in AI, cybersecurity, software engineering, or data science, research showcases your ability to solve complex problems independently.

At Indigo Research, students work one-on-one with expert mentors from leading universities to conduct original, publication-ready research in computer science and related STEM fields. Discover how Indigo Research can help you build a stronger academic profile through meaningful research.

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