15 Data Science Internships for High School Students

If you're considering a future in tech, finance, or any field driven by data, gaining early exposure to data science in high school can put you well ahead of where most students start!

What do data science internships for high school students involve?

The work can vary from one internship to another. You might organize messy datasets, write code, spot trends, build simple predictive models, or turn your findings into charts and reports.

Why pursue a data science internship in high school?

You'll leave with more than just new technical skills. These internships show colleges that you're willing to challenge yourself, and they help you decide if spending the next few years studying data science is something you'd actually enjoy.

With that, here's a list of 15 data science internships for high school students! For related opportunities, check out our guides on startups offering internships for high school students and business internships for high school students in California.

Quick Look

• 6 free programs: Statistics & Data Science Camp at CMU (plus stipend), SHIP Research at NIST, Simons Summer Research Program, ASPIRE Internship Program, and Anson L. Clark Scholar Program.

• 1 fully virtual, entrepreneurship-focused option: Young Founders Lab, a good fit if you're interested in the business side of data, like pricing and unit economics, rather than technical research alone.

• 4 paid internships with stipends: NLM DSI Scholars Program, AFRL Scholars Program (~$506/week), SPARK Summer Internship Program, and Anson L. Clark Scholar Program ($750 upon completion).

• 1 finance-specific data science program: NextGen FinTech Scholars, combining Python, R, and financial datasets over twelve weeks.

• Highest-cost program: Wharton Data Science Academy, at $10,599 for the three-week on-campus experience.

15 Data Science Internships for High School Students

1. Wharton Data Science Academy

Location: Philadelphia, PA (On campus)

Cost: $10,599

Dates: June 21 - July 11 or July 12 - August 1

Application Deadline: Priority: January 28; Final: March 18

Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 10-11 with a strong background in math and coding; open to domestic and international applicants.

The Wharton Data Science Academy takes you from the basics of data analysis to some of the biggest ideas shaping artificial intelligence today. During the three-week programme, you'll learn how to clean and visualize data before moving into regression, classification, machine learning, neural networks, and large language models. You'll analyse real datasets and discuss how data is used to solve problems in business and society. You'll also spend time thinking about issues like bias, fairness, and responsible AI while building your own technical skills. The programme ends with a capstone project that you'll present during the Data Science Live showcase.

2. Young Founders Lab

Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.

Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops 

Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring

Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!

Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students

The Young Founder’s Lab is a start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a complex problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.

Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideation, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.

3. Statistics & Data Science Camp for High School Students

Location: Pittsburgh, PA (Carnegie Mellon University)

Cost: Free (participants receive a stipend and a free bus pass)

Dates: June 22-26

Application Deadline: February 18

Eligibility: High school students interested in statistics and data science.

This one-week programme at Carnegie Mellon introduces you to data science by showing you how data is collected, analysed, and used to answer real questions. You'll learn the basics of statistics while writing code in R, one of the most widely used programming languages for data analysis and research. Computer labs and practical activities give you plenty of opportunities to apply what you've learned instead of only listening to presentations. During the week, you'll also visit a company in Pittsburgh to see how data scientists use these tools in their everyday work.

4. Ladder Internship Program

Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.

Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.

Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). 

Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!

Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long. Apply now!

5. Saturday Data Science Academy for High School Students

Location: UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, NC

Cost: $125

Dates: In-person: September 12, 19; October 10, 17; November 7, 21 | Virtual: September 24 and December 3

Application Deadline: Registration opens April 13 and closes June 30 (or when capacity is reached)

Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12; limited to 25 participants.

The Saturday Data Science Academy spreads learning across several weekends, giving you time to build your skills gradually. You'll explore data analysis, visualization, statistics, and introductory machine learning through practical sessions using real datasets. Each meeting includes hands-on activities where you'll solve problems with other students and learn how data is used to answer questions in different fields. Guest speakers from industry also join the programme to talk about their work and the different careers available in data science. The academy finishes with a project showcase where you'll present your work after completing 30 hours of learning.

6. NLM Data Science and Informatics (DSI) Scholars Program

Location: Bethesda, MD (National Institutes of Health campus)

Cost: Paid (NIH Intramural Research Training Award stipend provided)

Dates: 8-12 weeks beginning in June (flexible start dates)

Application Deadline: Not specified (applications open December 8)

Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are at least 18 years old by the internship start date (or 17 by June 1 if living within 40 miles of an NIH campus); high school seniors, college students, or incoming college students with relevant coursework in computer science, data science, informatics, mathematics, or related fields. A 3.0+ GPA is preferred.

If you're interested in using data science to solve healthcare and biology problems, this internship gives you the chance to work inside one of the world's largest biomedical research organizations. You'll spend 8 to 12 weeks at the National Library of Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, working with a research mentor on an ongoing computational research project. Depending on your placement, you could work on topics related to computational biology, biomedical informatics, or health data science while learning how researchers use data to answer medical questions. Along the way, you'll attend seminars, join professional development sessions, and improve your scientific communication skills. The internship ends with presentations at both the NLM Summer Poster Day and the NIH-wide Summer Poster Day, where you'll share the research you've completed.

7. Stanford AI4ALL

Location: Online or Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Cost: Online: $4,120; Residential: $9,800

Dates: Online: June 15-26; Residential: July 19-31

Application Deadline: February 6

Eligibility: Open to current 9th grade students who are interested in artificial intelligence and will be between 14 and 16 years old during the program dates

Stanford AI4ALL introduces you to artificial intelligence by combining technical learning with real-world applications. You'll explore areas like computer vision, natural language processing, robotics, and medical AI through lectures, coding activities, demonstrations, and research projects. Throughout the programme, you'll work with other students while receiving guidance from Stanford researchers and mentors who work in artificial intelligence. Career workshops and discussions also help you understand how AI is being used across different industries and what studying the field at university looks like.

8. SHIP Research (National Institute of Standards and Technology)

Location: Gaithersburg, MD or Boulder, CO

Cost: Free

Dates: June-August (7 weeks)

Application Deadline: January 26

Eligibility: U.S. citizens only. Open to high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates who have not yet started college. Students interested in computer science, data science, engineering, physics, or related STEM fields are encouraged to apply.

The Summer High School Intern Program at NIST allows you to work alongside researchers tackling scientific and engineering problems that depend on data. During the seven-week internship, you'll join a research laboratory and contribute to projects in areas like computer science, engineering, physics, information technology, or materials science. Depending on your project, you might analyse data, develop software, build computational models, or support scientific experiments. Working closely with researchers also gives you a chance to see how national research laboratories approach problems that affect science, technology, and industry.

9. NextGen FinTech Scholars: Data Science, AI & Digital Finance

Location: Hybrid (primarily virtual, with optional in-person sessions at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA)

Cost: Not specified. Winning teams at the research conference receive a $500 scholarship applicable toward future Young Scholars programs

Dates: June 26-September 11

Application Deadline: Applications open in the first week of February and are rolling (first-come, first-served)

Eligibility: Open to high school students interested in data science, AI, economics, finance, or quantitative research. No prior experience with programming or financial analysis is specified.

This programme explores how artificial intelligence and data science are changing the world of finance. Over twelve weeks, you'll learn to work with Python, R, AI tools, and financial datasets while studying topics like machine learning, digital finance, economics, and cryptocurrency. Much of the programme revolves around a team research project where you'll investigate a problem, write a research paper, and receive feedback from university faculty and researchers. If you attend the optional in-person events, you'll also visit Capital One, take part in a hackathon, and present your research at the programme's conference. Outstanding research papers may also be considered for publication through George Mason University's Young Scholars programme.

10. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship

Location: Virtual (U.S. participants only)

Cost: $2,400 program fee (+ $45 application fee). Need-based financial aid is available

Dates: Two weeks (9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. daily)

Application Deadline: February 21

Eligibility: You must be residing in the U.S. throughout the program and be entering grades 9-12. You must also be at least 14 years old by the start of the program. Strong math, programming, or healthcare project experience is preferred but not required.

The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship introduces you to the growing field of artificial intelligence in healthcare. During two weeks of live virtual sessions, you'll work in small teams on a research project while learning how machine learning is used in medicine and medical imaging. Stanford researchers, clinicians, and invited experts lead the sessions, giving you a chance to understand both the technical side of AI and the medical problems it is helping solve. You'll also meet professionals from healthcare, academia, industry, and government who share how AI is being used in their work. The programme finishes with project presentations and a certificate of completion.

11. Simons Summer Research Program

Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY

Cost: Free. Participants receive a stipend upon completing the program

Dates: June 29-August 7

Application Deadline: Not specified 

Eligibility: You must apply during your junior (11th-grade) year, be at least 16 years old by the start of the program, and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

The Simons Summer Research Program allows you to spend six weeks working inside an active research lab at Stony Brook University. You'll be matched with a faculty mentor and become part of a research group, contributing to a project. Depending on your placement, your work could involve mathematics, engineering, computer science, biology, or other STEM fields where data plays an important role. Throughout the summer, you'll also attend faculty seminars, research workshops, and campus events that introduce you to university research culture. At the end of the programme, you'll write a research abstract, present a scientific poster, and receive a stipend after completing the closing symposium.

12. ASPIRE Internship Program

Location: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD

Cost: Free

Dates: Begins the last week of June (30-40 hours per week throughout the summer)

Application Deadline: Applications open once each year. Check the program website for current deadlines

Eligibility: You must be a rising junior or senior, at least 15 years old by June 1, have a minimum 2.8 GPA, be a U.S. citizen, reside in an eligible Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. jurisdiction, and have reliable transportation to APL.

The ASPIRE Internship Program places you alongside scientists and engineers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, where you'll spend the summer working on real technical projects. You'll work closely with a mentor, solve engineering and computing challenges, and learn how research teams approach complex problems from start to finish. Depending on your placement, your work may involve programming, analytics, engineering, or other technical areas where data is used every day. Along with technical experience, you'll build workplace skills by collaborating with professionals and managing projects over several weeks. The programme looks for curiosity and a willingness to learn just as much as strong grades.

13. Anson L. Clark Scholar Program

Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX

Cost: Free. On-campus housing, meals, and program activities are covered. Participants receive a $750 stipend upon successful completion. A $25 application fee applies, and you are responsible for travel and personal expenses

Dates: June 21-August 6

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February

Eligibility: You must be at least 17 years old by the program start date 

The Anson L. Clark Scholar Program gives you seven weeks to experience university research at Texas Tech while working closely with a faculty mentor. You'll choose from a wide range of research areas and spend the summer investigating a problem, collecting evidence, and developing your own project. Throughout the programme, you'll attend seminars, join social activities, and meet other students who share a research interest. Many projects involve computing, mathematics, engineering, or scientific analysis, making the programme a strong fit if you're interested in data-driven research. Before the summer ends, you'll complete a research report and receive a stipend for successfully finishing the programme.

14. AFRL Scholars Program

Location: Multiple Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) sites across the U.S.

Cost: Paid internship. High school interns receive a stipend starting at approximately $506 per week

Dates: Vary by internship location and session

Application Deadline: Varies by location

Eligibility: You must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years old (18 for California locations), enrolled at least half-time in an educational institution, and in good academic standing

The AFRL Scholars Program allows you to work alongside scientists and engineers at Air Force Research Laboratory sites across the United States. Depending on your placement, you could contribute to projects involving artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, computer science, mathematics, engineering, or other advanced research areas. You'll spend the internship working on ongoing research while learning how professional research teams analyse data, solve technical problems, and develop new technologies. Since each laboratory focuses on different areas, the work varies from one location to another, giving students a wide range of research opportunities.

15. SPARK Summer Internship Program (SIP)

Location: Greater Seattle area, WA

Cost: $25 application fee; interns may receive a stipend of up to $500

Dates: 8-10 weeks during the summer (June-August)

Application Deadline: Applications typically open in March

Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents in grades 9-12 who can commit to full participation at the sponsor's specified location.  

The SPARK Summer Internship Program (SIP) connects motivated high school students with industry experts, university professors, and professional mentors to work on cutting-edge STEM projects. You will gain hands-on experience by contributing to real-world data science and engineering initiatives, such as extreme weather event modeling or classifying DNA sequences based on electronic signatures. During your 8 to 10 weeks, you'll delve deep into a specific project while building core technical skills and learning how professional research environments operate.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are there free data science internships for high school students?

Yes. The Statistics & Data Science Camp at Carnegie Mellon, SHIP Research at NIST, and the Simons Summer Research Program are all free, with several offering a stipend on top.

2. Is there an option focused on the business side of data rather than pure research?

Young Founders Lab lets you apply data-driven thinking to pricing, market research, and unit economics as you build a real startup, complementing more research-focused programs on this list with mentorship from professionals at Google, Microsoft, and X.

3. Which programs combine data science specifically with finance?

NextGen FinTech Scholars focuses specifically on Python, R, and financial datasets over a twelve-week research project, while the Stevens Institute Quantitative Finance program covers similar ground in a shorter four-week virtual format.