Topics We Cover:
- Why Do Internships in High School?
- How to Find Internships for High School Students
- 25 Best Internships for High School Students
- Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Internships
- Email Template for Finding a High School Internship
High school internships are extremely advantageous to students, helping them explore potential career paths, develop skills, and establish a network of peers and professionals. The best high school internships also help students gain a competitive edge when seeking college admissions or future jobs.
Why Do Internships in High School?
Before diving into the best internships for high school students, it’s important to understand why these opportunities matter. According to PRISM, 70% of students at US News Top 50 universities completed at least one internship in high school. Internships help you stand out in the college admission process by showing initiative and clarity about your goals.
High school internships also give you a head start in understanding the types of work environments you enjoy, making it easier to pursue a career you love after graduation. Another benefit of participating in high school internships is that students often find it easier to secure college internships and join competitive pre-professional organizations like finance or pre-law clubs.
How to Find Internships for High School Students
Online search tools are a great starting point for high schoolers looking for internship opportunities. The StandOut Search database is a fantastic resource that lists almost every internship program open to high schoolers and is easily searchable using a number of filters, like field of interest, location, and age. MIT Admissions has also collected a useful list of high school internship opportunities, as well as the CollegeVine blog.
The downside of official programs is that they’re often very competitive. Students serious about obtaining a summer high school internship will want to formulate a cold outreach strategy—a way to connect with potential internship providers with whom they have no prior relationship. At the end of the article, we detail how to construct a successful cold outreach strategy, along with providing email templates to give you a jumpstart on landing a high school internship.
25 Best Internships for High School Students
The following internship opportunities have been selected based on their reputation among university admission officers, selectivity, and student reviews.
All of these high school internship programs have an acceptance rate of 15% or lower. We recommend choosing at least 10 opportunities to apply to. If you see an opportunity that excites you, take a moment to write the deadline on your calendar!
1. StandOut Connect
Ages: 15-19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: November 23, 2026 (Winter cohort)
StandOut Connect is a program that helps match gifted high school students with online internships in their industry of interest. Students match with companies across 25 interest areas such as finance, STEM, medicine, law, arts, and more. StandOut Connect is funded by StandOutSearch, the largest free database for high school internships. The program has been featured in Forbes and was created with the help of investment from The University of Chicago's Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
2. NASA High School Internship
Ages: 18 (graduating seniors)
Location: Locations across the U.S.
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 1, 2027
NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) paid internships allow high school and college-level students to contribute to agency projects under the guidance of a NASA mentor. Applicants for this internship must be U.S. citizens and meet a minimum 3.0 GPA requirement. There is also a program for international students.
Interested in learning more about this out-of-this-world internship opportunity? Check out our article for an in-depth look at NASA internship opportunities for high schoolers.
3. U.S. Senate Page Program
Ages: 16-17
Location: Washington, DC
Timeline: School year or summer
Deadline: Rolling
The United States Senate Page Program introduces students from diverse backgrounds to many interesting and challenging experiences in the nation’s capital. Living away from home with students from across the country allows pages to experience a myriad of new ideas, perspectives, and issues. Pages learn the value of public service while meeting some of our nation’s most prominent leaders and witnessing firsthand the political debates of the United States Senate.
4. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Ages: 16-18
Location: Locations across the U.S.
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: January 11, 2027
Upper-level high school students selected as AFRL Scholars spend the summer on research teams at the Air Force Research Laboratory, working beside full-time scientists and engineers on research-based projects and cutting-edge technology. Scholars work full-time, 40 hours a week, for at least eight weeks at Air Force sites in states including Ohio, New Mexico, Florida, Texas and California; at most sites the high school stipend was most recently $506.80 per week. Applicants must be U.S. citizens (permanent residents are not eligible) and at least 16 (18 for California sites), and they must be willing to relocate for the summer.
5. Meta (Facebook) Summer Academy
Ages: 15-16
Location: Menlo Park, California
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: February 14, 2027
Externs of Meta Summer Academy (formerly known as Facebook Summer Academy) will have the opportunity to learn about the day-to-day operations of one of the world’s leading social media networks by being part of a dynamic workforce. Applicants must be sophomores in high school and full-year residents of:
- East Palo Alto
- Belle Haven
- North Fair Oaks
- Redwood City
Like the sound of this internship opportunity for high schoolers? We share all the details in our definitive guide to the Facebook high school internship. The Microsoft Discovery Program is another great option for students interested in a tech or computer science internship.
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology MITES Summer Program
Ages: 16-17
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (February 1 in 2026)
The MITES Summer Program is a six-week, on-campus program that immerses U.S. high school juniors in rigorous and rewarding mathematics, science, and humanities courses. Scholars will also have access to lab tours, social events, and college admissions counseling while developing the academic and personal skills essential for success. Students will engage with STEM professionals in seminars and tours of MIT labs and local companies employing MITES alumni.
7. Summer Science Program (SSP)
Ages: 15-18
Location: Locations Across the US
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced
The Summer Science Program is a five-week residential research program for high school juniors, held the summer before senior year. Run by SSP International, a nonprofit founded in 1959, it puts students in teams of three on a real research project in one of four tracks: astrophysics, bacterial genomics, biochemistry, or cell biology. Astrophysics students, for example, calculate the orbits of near-Earth asteroids.
SSP runs at several host campuses each summer; in 2026, there were 13, including Purdue University, Indiana University, Lehigh University, and Colby College, and about 700 students were admitted. Applications for 2027 open in December 2026. Admission is need-blind, and financial aid is available.
8. Naval STEM Interns | Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Ages: 16-18
Location: Locations across the U.S.
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: November 30, 2026
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) places high school students in Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories where they take part in real Naval research for eight weeks during the summer. SEAP allows academically talented sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in STEM to learn about Naval research and technology while receiving first-class mentoring by top scientists and engineers.
9. Columbia University BRAINYAC
Ages: 15-17
Location: New York City, New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (October 28 in 2026)
Running every year since 2013, BRAINYAC (Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia) gives New York City sophomores and juniors a paid summer job in neuroscience research at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute, with the goal of preparing the next generation of scientists. A spring training phase introduces neuroscience concepts plus lab techniques like pipetting, microscopy, coding and reading research papers. In summer, each apprentice works nine to five in a Columbia lab alongside a neuroscientist mentor who guides an individual project, then presents a poster at an August symposium. Along the way, students become part of the Columbia community. Applicants must be enrolled in a partner program such as S-PREP, BioBus or Lang Youth Medical.
10. Columbia Engineering Hk Maker Lab
Ages: 15-18
Location: New York City, New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced
Over five intensive summer weeks, the Hk Maker Lab teaches the foundations of design, first through a Columbia Engineering SHAPE course and then through a Hackathon for Health Equity, where students build an app or website addressing a health disparity. The program is free, and graduates can join NY Bioforce the next year, which includes a paid summer internship. The nonprofit HYPOTHEkids runs the program, most recently from July 6 to August 7, 2026. Eligibility covers 10th and 11th graders at NYC public or charter high schools who show economic or educational disadvantage, such as qualifying for aid like SNAP or Medicaid.
11. Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program
Ages: 16-18
Location: Princeton, New Jersey
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (March 15 in 2026)
Competition is steep for Princeton's Laboratory Learning Program, which has received upward of 3,000 applications a year in recent active cycles. Selected high school students join research already under way in Princeton labs in science or engineering and spend the summer working full-time under the close supervision of faculty and research staff, at no cost. Participation dates are set around the researchers' schedules and the details of each project, with most internships lasting five to six weeks. The program draws from local New Jersey high schools, and students commute from home each day, arranging their own transportation. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and at least 16 years old.
12. Kaiser Permanente High School Program
Ages: 16-19
Location: California
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: January 8, 2027
Through KP LAUNCH, Kaiser Permanente offers young adults a variety of paid internship opportunities in the Oakland headquarters and medical offices across Northern California. Interns have the opportunity to work for an industry leader on projects that matter. Interns are provided with work experience that exposes them to administrative and supporting careers in healthcare environments.
13. Sandia National Laboratories Student Intern Program
Ages: 16-19
Location: California and New Mexico
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced
Sandia applies science to help detect, repel, defeat, or mitigate national threats, and it takes student interns from the final years of high school through PhD study. Openings include both technical and business roles. Interns work on real-world, challenging projects that contribute to Sandia’s mission at sites in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Livermore, California. Paid summer internships usually last 10 to 12 weeks, from May to late August, at up to 40 hours a week. High school applicants must be at least 16, enrolled full-time, and hold at least a 3.0 GPA for technical roles; U.S. citizenship is required for positions needing a security clearance.
14. Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Internship Program
Ages: Rising Juniors
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Timeline: Summer and school year
Deadline: Not yet announced
Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) is the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s paid work and learning internship program for eligible high school students who have completed their sophomore year in the Boston Public Schools. This finance internship opportunity starts with a developmentally rich summer work experience that includes job coaching and skill-building workshops. Then, based on available openings and individual interest, effort, and performance, some students are selected for an extended year-round internship program that can last up to three years.
15. Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program
Ages: 16-18
Location: New York City, New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced
The Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program is an intensive six- to eight-week summer program that places diverse NYC public high school students with legal employers for the summer and provides them with additional programming before, during, and after the summer designed to help them prepare for a legal career.
16. Manhattan District Attorney’s Office High School Internship Program
Ages: Juniors and Seniors
Location: New York City, New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced
Another excellent New York City internship opportunity for high school students is offered by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. This rigorous five-week internship offers students an insider’s view of the criminal justice system. During the internship, participants engage in workshops and discussions about criminal justice, police brutality, civic engagement, leadership, and more. Program participants will also engage in a series of presentations and conversations with staff to develop a foundational understanding of how policies are developed and implemented, and how justice can advance through academic and career paths. The program is open to high school juniors and seniors who live in Manhattan.
17. Sonia and Celina Sotomayor Judicial Internship Program
Ages: 16-17
Location: New York City, New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced
The Sotomayor Program has helped over 400 high school, college, and law school students gain experience with the legal system and develop their professional skills! The leadership program helps cultivate and develop the next generation of trailblazers from underserved communities and diverse backgrounds, as well as increase diversity in the legal profession.
18. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Ages: 16-17
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Stanford, California
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: December 11, 2026
The Research Science Institute is one of the most selective summer programs for high school students. The Center for Excellence in Education, which runs it, reports more than 2,500 U.S. and 600 international applications each year and an admission rate below 2.5 percent. RSI is free, with instruction, housing, and meals covered.
The six-week program opens with a week of intensive STEM classes taught by professors. Then each student spends five weeks on an individual research project under a working scientist or researcher, finishing with a written paper and a conference-style presentation. RSI is held at MIT, and for 2027 it adds a site at Stanford University. High school juniors are eligible; seniors are not.
19. National Institutes of Health Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Ages: 17-18 (graduating seniors)
Location: Bethesda, Maryland, and other NIH campuses
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: January 26, 2027
The NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP) gives seniors finishing high school, plus college and graduate students, a full-time summer in a lab run by an NIH Principal Investigator. Interns contribute to research in biomedical, behavioral or social science at NIH campuses, the main one being in Bethesda, Maryland. For 2027, each intern arranges dates with their lab within the May 10 to August 31 window, and stipends are set by education level. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible; seniors who will still be 17 on June 1, 2027 need to live no more than 40 miles from an NIH campus. Since every lab selects its own interns, applicants should also contact NIH researchers by email.
20. LA County District Attorney’s Office Youth Volunteer Internship
Ages: 16-18
Location: Los Angeles, California
Timeline: Summer and school year
Deadline: November 15, 2026
Volunteers in this program have the opportunity to learn about the criminal justice system firsthand and work closely with all levels of staff, including deputy district attorneys, investigators, and support staff, as well as contact with other court and law enforcement staff. A high school volunteer can be expected to assist with any of the following duties: scanning, photocopying, and/or shredding of documents; answering telephones; typing, filing, and delivering documents; assembling reports, documents, or manuals; and other duties depending on education and skills.
21. City of Boston Mayor’s Youth Council
Ages: 14-18
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Timeline: School year and summer
Deadline: Not yet announced
The Mayor’s Youth Council (MYC) is a leadership program that engages Boston’s high school students in government and civic participation. The MYC has 86 council members, each of whom works in one of eight committees and a neighborhood working group. Each committee is led by two co-directors, and each neighborhood working group is led by two co-liaisons. The Council represents every neighborhood in Boston, with members who are confirmed by Mayor Wu through an application and interview process. Council members are selected for a one-year term and work with the Mayor’s Office, community leaders, and city officials.
22. NYC Mayor’s Office Internship Program
Ages: 16-18
Location: New York City, New York
Timeline: Summer, school year
Deadline: Not yet announced (March 29 in 2026)
Interns apply to the department that interests them most, and, if selected, will work within that department for the duration of their internship. In their positions, interns will have the chance to collaborate with staff and work on a range of projects. These projects may include conducting research, attending meetings, managing incoming inquiries, analyzing data, drafting briefings, staffing events, assisting with outreach, and supporting special projects.
23. The Smithsonian Office of Internships
Ages: 15-18
Location: Washington, D.C., virtual, or hybrid
Timeline: Summer and school year
Deadline: Not yet announced
The Smithsonian Office of Internships offers high school students valuable experience at the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex. Students can choose from a range of virtual, hybrid, and in-person internships across institutions like the National Museum of Natural History, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Museum of the American Indian, and more.
24. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) Internships
Ages: 14-19
Location: Locations across the U.S.
Timeline: Summer or school year
Deadline: Rolling
Through AEOP Internships, the Army Educational Outreach Program pays high school and college students to do STEM research in leading university labs and in the Army's own research labs and centers across the country. A working scientist or engineer mentors each intern on projects in areas like cybersecurity, energetics, biology and materials science. Most openings are short, full-time summer roles on site, with some part-time spots during the school year. Taking part is free, and every intern receives an educational stipend set by the lab and the internship's length. High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and live near a participating lab can apply through one common application.
25. The Metropolitan Museum of Art High School Internship
Ages: 15-17
Location: New York City, New York
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced
This internship for high schoolers isn’t limited to young people who have a passion for art! The High School Internship Program allows you to connect one-on-one and in small cohorts with museum professionals in a number of related fields, including editorial, marketing, social media, education, and more. During your time at The Met, you have the chance to find the intersection of your interests as you gain insights from peers and professionals.
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Internships
Do the opportunities above look interesting, but you find yourself wondering, are there any internships near me? One of the best methods for finding local internships is to establish a cold outreach strategy. This can be intimidating, but the steps below should make the process considerably easier. Keep in mind to exercise caution when reaching out to professionals you don’t know—it’s always safest to meet virtually.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School Internship
LinkedIn is a great platform for discovering small businesses that might provide an internship opportunity. Smaller companies are great targets for high schoolers looking for internships, as they often find themselves short handed and more willing to take on high-school-aged students. When connecting with professionals on LinkedIn, look for common ground with them, like sharing a hometown or a favorite sports team.
Before you approach internship hosts, ensure your LinkedIn profile looks polished and professional. Our ultimate LinkedIn guide for high school students shows you how to craft a profile that highlights your skills, passions, and career-readiness.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research Position
University staff directories are useful for finding professors to contact about research opportunities. Remote internships are rare, since professors often have high school students assist with in-person lab duties like washing beakers or running equipment. Computational research is the exception, although it typically requires at least an introductory knowledge of Python or R. Fortunately, you should be able to learn Python or R on your own using resources like Coursera’s R Programming Course or Python for Everybody.
How to Structure and Send Outreach Emails
When it comes to cold outreach, it’s all about numbers—the more you put yourself out there, the more likely you are to hear back. Plan on sending emails to at least 50 potential internship providers. Your emails should include a link to your resume. StandOut Connect suggests including your resume as a Google Drive link, as opposed to sending a Doc or PDF, which can negatively affect the deliverability of your email. Just remember to set the share settings so that anyone with the link can view its contents.
We recommend high schoolers limit the length of their resume to one page and encourage them to include work samples on their resume, such as a link to a website they’ve designed, a social media account they manage, or a GitHub profile. The University of Chicago provides a helpful resume template and guide to get you started.
Email Template for Finding a High School Internship
If you are unsure how to structure your outreach emails to potential internship providers, here are some basic templates you can customize to your needs.
Template for Finding an Internship
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Mr./Ms.____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I read about your company on LinkedIn and found the concept quite interesting. For context, [briefly state how the company relates to your interests or experience].
I was wondering if you might be looking for interns. I know I would have a great deal to learn from working with you, and I would love to contribute in any way I can. I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Template for Finding a Research Position
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Professor/Dr. ____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I recently read your paper on [restate the abstract] in [name of publication] and was quite intrigued by [part you found interesting]. I was wondering if I might be able to intern for you over this summer. [Elaborate on your relevant skills and experience and why you are passionate about the field].
I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Conclusion
Earning a high school internship requires tenacity, whether you’re applying to an established program or pursuing a cold outreach strategy. Although these opportunities are difficult to secure, those who lock in one of these coveted positions typically find the reward is worth the work, providing them with a boost to building their career.
If you found this article helpful, remember to bookmark it for reference and don’t hesitate to pass it along to a friend who might also find it useful. Good luck on your internship search journey!
