One of the best ways to gain experience, achieve your career goals, and build real-world skills is to complete an internship. Many companies and universities offer in-person and virtual internships across a range of subjects, making it easy to find one that suits your interests and schedule. 

Here are the 10 best high school internship opportunities available to students today.

1. Summer Internship Program by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

If you just graduated from high school and have an interest in biomedical research, the National Institutes of Health’s summer internship is a great option for you. You’ll be placed in a full-time research position under the mentorship of principal investigators across a wide range of disciplines, including medicine, engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, and psychology. 

In addition to conducting research, you’ll have access to professional development workshops, career exploration programming, and wellness resources. You can also present your work during NIH’s Summer Poster Day and attend events such as the Graduate and Professional School Fair. This is a full-time internship, so you won’t be able to take summer classes or other work from May to August. 

Cost: Free, stipend available

Location: Multiple NIH campuses in Maryland, North Carolina, Montana, and Arizona

Application Deadline: February (tentatively, based on previous years)

Program Dates: May to August (tentatively, based on previous years)

Eligibility: U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have graduated from high school and will be 18 by September

2. Delve Work-Experience Program by Delta Institute

The Delve Work-Experience Program by Delta Institute gives high school students the chance to gain practical experience working with renowned companies like Ferrari, Adobe, Stripe, Financial Times, and more. You’ll be matched with professional mentors to complete a real-world project and build a portfolio to showcase your work and develop industry-specific skills. You’ll work as a group to complete the project, then at the end of the program, you’ll pitch it to company representatives.

After receiving valuable feedback, you’ll get a completion certificate and an exclusive letter of recommendation from the company that you can use to enhance your resume or college applications. The program is particularly valuable for students who want international work experience without having to relocate, as it’s fully virtual and open to students worldwide. 

Cost: $4,900

Location: Virtual 

Application Deadline: July 31 (final summer deadline)

Program Dates: Varies depending on the company (you can check all upcoming deadlines here)

Eligibility: Open to high school students globally

3. Headquarters Student Internship Program by the U.S. Department of the Treasury

The United States Department of the Treasury Headquarters Student Internship Program provides high school, undergraduate, and graduate students with an opportunity to gain firsthand experience in public service and federal policymaking. Based in Washington, D.C., this unpaid internship allows students to work within the Treasury Department’s headquarters, contributing to projects that support economic growth, financial stability, and national security. 

You may conduct research, analyze data, draft reports and briefing materials, attend congressional hearings and official meetings, and assist with strategic initiatives. Internships are available for students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including economics, political science, law, business, communications, engineering, and computer science. You can apply to up to three offices based on your interests, such as the Office of Domestic Finance, the Office of Tax Policy, or the Office of International Affairs.

Cost: Free, no stipend

Location: Washington, D.C.

Application Deadline: June

Program Dates: September to December

Eligibility: Current high school or college students who are U.S. citizens

4. Deepen Mentorship Program by Delta Institute 

Delta Institute’s Deepen Mentorship Program is designed for ambitious students who want to pursue intensive one-on-one mentorship in a specific field of interest, such as entrepreneurship, healthcare, or technology. Over 8 weeks, you’ll work closely with an experienced mentor who studied at an Ivy League School or works for major corporations like Microsoft, Google, or Amazon. 

Your mentor will provide personalized instruction, help you develop specialized skills, and guide you through an independent project that aligns with your academic and career goals, as the program is fully tailored to you. Your project will also address a real-world challenge in your chosen field, so you can showcase it on college applications and resumes. At the end of the program, you’ll present your project and receive valuable feedback and a strong letter of recommendation.

Cost: $6,500

Location: Virtual

Application Deadline: July 31 (final summer deadline)

Program Dates: Varies

Eligibility: Open to high school students globally

5. Academic Year Research Internship by Stanford University

Stanford University’s Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imaging offers a year-long internship for students interested in AI applications in medicine, computer science, and related fields. You’ll work with Stanford student mentors and small groups of peers to complete real-world projects and original research in health artificial intelligence. You’ll spend 3 to 5 hours per week attending mentorship sessions and conducting independent research.

Depending on your interests and skills, you may contribute to projects involving data analysis, machine learning, scientific literature reviews, or the ethical, legal, and social implications of AI in healthcare. You can also attend expert speaker sessions to explore different career opportunities in the industry. At the end of the program, you’ll present your findings during Stanford Health AI Week either virtually or in-person at your own cost. 

Cost: $4,8000

Location: Virtual

Application Deadline: September (tentatively, based on previous years)

Program Dates: September to June

Eligibility: Current high school students

6. AIMI Summer Research Internship by Stanford University

If you can’t commit to Stanford’s Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine & Imaging year-long internship, you can consider its 2-week virtual Summer Research Internship instead. During the program, you’ll explore how AI is used to address real-world medical challenges through a combination of lectures, mentorship, and collaborative research projects. 

You’ll work in small teams under the guidance of Stanford student leaders and research mentors, gaining experience in areas like machine learning, medical imaging, clinical applications of AI, and responsible AI practices. In addition to research experience, you can also attend speaker sessions featuring experts from non-profit, industry, healthcare, academia, and government sectors.

Cost: $2,400 and $45 application fee

Location: Virtual

Application Deadline: February (tentatively, based on previous years)

Program Dates: June to July

Eligibility: U.S. students entering 9th through 12th grade

7. HS Insider by the Los Angeles Times

California-based students interested in journalism can learn about the industry through hands-on work experience with the Los Angeles Times. During this 6-week hybrid program, you’ll develop reporting, writing, and multimedia storytelling skills while producing content for a widely read student journalism platform. 

You’ll work 24 hours per week, covering breaking news, developing feature stories, and engaging with multimedia formats like video and digital reporting. You’ll also attend workshops to strengthen your interview, research, and editorial skills, as you’ll be responsible for pitching ideas, contacting sources, conducting interviews, and revising stories based on editorial feedback.

Cost: Free, students will earn an hourly wage 

Location: Virtual and in El Segundo, Los Angeles County, California

Application Deadline: April (tentatively, based on previous years)

Program Dates: June to August 

Eligibility: High school students graduating in 2026, 2027, or 2028 who are residing in Los Angeles County or Orange County, California

8. Remote Internships by the American Psychological Association (APA)

The American Psychological Association (APA) Internship Program gives high school and college students the opportunity to gain practical psychology experience. You’ll work on projects that apply psychological theory to real-world settings while developing technical skills like research, writing, analysis, and collaboration. Depending on your placement, you may assist with policy initiatives, contribute to educational programming, support communications efforts, or engage in psychological research activities.

You’ll also attend workshops, discussions, and participate in group projects. You can choose between a paid internship or unpaid if you want to receive academic credit and pursue psychology in college. 

Cost: Free, stipend provided 

Location: Virtual

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions

Program Dates: Year-round

Eligibility: U.S. citizens residing in one of the states where APA is registered as an employer

9. Pathways Internship Programs by The U.S. Department of State

Another federal internship to consider is the United States Department of State Pathways Internship Program. It’s divided into two tracks: the Internship Experienced Program (IEP) and the Internship Temporary Program (ITEP). The IEP is a longer-term internship in a non-temporary position that allows students to transition into permanent federal positions after completion. The ITEP is a more flexible, short-term option perfect for high school students, as it requires seasonal or part-time work. 

Both programs offer valuable exposure to government proceedings and careers, focusing on areas like diplomacy, international affairs, and public policy.

Cost: Free, stipend available

Location: Virtual and in-person options across the U.S.

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions

Program Dates: Year-round

Eligibility: U.S. citizens above the age of 16

10. Laboratory Learning Program by Princeton University

The Laboratory Learning Program at Princeton University is a competitive program for high school students interested in hands-on research in science and engineering. During standard office hours, you’ll participate in laboratory work and ongoing research while following strict academic and safety guidelines. Projects vary each year depending on faculty involvement and cover a wide range of disciplines in the natural sciences and engineering.

There is no cost to participate, but students must provide their own transportation and housing. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a final summary report outlining the question, methods, data, and conclusion of your research.

Cost: Free

Location: Princeton, New Jersey

Application Deadline: March (tentatively, based on previous years)

Program Dates: 5 to 6 weeks during summer

Eligibility: Students over 16 who are enrolled in a local New Jersey high school