15 Free Summer Internships for High School Students
If you are a high school student curious about future career paths, summer internships can be a great way to start exploring opportunities and your interests. Internships offer industry experience, skill development, and a chance to connect with mentors in your field of interest. As an intern, you might find yourself assisting with research in a lab, supporting community projects, or learning how businesses and policymakers work. These experiences can strengthen your college applications with recommendations, certifications, or even published work.
Across the U.S., many universities and organizations offer free or fully funded internships for high schoolers, making professional learning more accessible. If you want to discover what interests you before college, an internship can be one of the most rewarding ways to spend your summer! Here are 15 free summer internships for high school students that you can explore.
1. George Mason Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, or virtual
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee with waivers available; no stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: High school students, ages 15 or older (16 or older for wet-lab settings)
ASSIP offers both virtual and in-person STEM research opportunities to high schoolers every year. Over eight weeks, you will work full-time with GMU faculty and partner institutions, using advanced lab equipment and technologies to explore a STEM field and a research topic. Options include a wide range of research areas, from molecular medicine and neuroscience to renewable energy, robotics, and data science. You will collaborate one-on-one with mentors and practice scientific writing, presentation skills, and creative thinking through hands-on experimentation. The program also includes discussions with STEM professionals, career exploration sessions, and a final poster presentation to showcase your findings. Many past participants have had their work published in journals like the Mason Journal of Student Scientists Research.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost: 100% financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective (varies by cohort)
Dates: Multiple eight-week cohorts available every year, including in the summer
Application deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students, undergrads, and gap year students who can commit to ~10 – 20 hours of work each week
Ladder Internships give high schoolers the opportunity to work directly with startups, nonprofits, or research teams on real projects that make an impact. You can find opportunities across industries, including healthcare, environmental science, finance, engineering, and tech. You will take on tasks like product research, data analysis, communications, or technical development while receiving guidance from both an industry mentor and a dedicated Ladder coach through weekly check-ins. Over the course of the program, you will join skill-building workshops that can help you strengthen your professional communication and portfolio. The program concludes with a capstone presentation where you will showcase what you have learned.
3. Fred Hutch Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP)
Location: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 23 – August 15 (dates can vary annually)
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are at least 16 and live in Greater Seattle or the surrounding areas
SHIP is an eight-week, full-time research opportunity that allows you to experience life as a real scientist while working at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center. You will start with two weeks of guided lab and safety training, learning essential scientific techniques and getting to know the research environment. After that, you will join a research group for six weeks, working alongside professional scientists on real biomedical projects in areas like cancer biology, public health, or computational science. During the program, you will attend career and college workshops, research seminars, and social events that can help you grow personally and professionally. The experience concludes with a presentation where you share your research with the Fred Hutch community.
4. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Local nonprofit organizations + a national summit held in Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: No fees; stipend available
Cohort size: 300+ students/year
Dates: Eight weeks, including the week in D.C. (July 21 – 26); internship start dates vary by location.
Application deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program offers high schoolers exposure to community leadership. Over eight weeks, you will work with local nonprofit organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America or Habitat for Humanity, gaining hands-on experience in community service and nonprofit operations. You will take part in meaningful projects that make a visible difference in your community while developing leadership and teamwork skills. The program also includes a week-long summit in Washington, D.C., where you will join Student Leaders from across the country for workshops, discussions, and meetings with national leaders. The summit offers insights into how nonprofits, government, and businesses work together to create social change, and how you can play a part in it.
5. Broad Summer Scholars Program (BSSP)
Location: Eli and Edythe L. Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free with a $3,600 stipend and partial reimbursement for transportation.
Acceptance rate/ cohort size: Selective; ~15–20 high school students
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application deadline: Typically, late January; the application is available from mid-November.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors attending a Massachusetts high school within commuting distance to the Broad Institute with strong academic records (B grade or better) in math and science; applicants must hold U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or U.S. work authorization.
BSSP is an opportunity to spend six weeks at the Broad Institute working alongside scientists on original research in fields like cancer biology, infectious disease, computational biology, and more. Here, you will be matched with a research mentor and take part in real lab experiments, data analysis, and problem-solving. Beyond the lab, you can explore careers in science through guest talks, a college fair, and networking events with Broad researchers. You will also connect with other students who share your passion for discovery and present your findings in a final poster session.
6. Research Science Institute (RSI) @ MIT
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/ cohort size: Approximately 5%; 80 – 100 students/year
Dates: Six weeks; June – August (dates may vary by year)
Application deadline: December 10
Eligibility: High school juniors with a strong STEM background
RSI offers high schoolers immersive six-week summer research experiences at MIT, introducing them to the process of real scientific discovery. In the first week, you will attend lectures and labs that build your foundation in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific writing. For the rest of the program, you will work closely with a mentor such as a professor, postdoctoral fellow, or graduate researcher to conduct original research in fields like biology, physics, computer science, or engineering. You will collect data, analyze findings, and write a formal research paper that summarizes your results. The experience ends with a symposium where you present your work to peers and experts. Field trips to local STEM sites are also part of the experience.
7. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipends (of a minimum $500) provided
Acceptance rate/ cohort size: ~50 students
Dates: June 8 – July 30
Application deadline: February 21
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors, ages 16 and older, with U.S. citizenship or residency status
SIMR is an opportunity to spend six weeks at Stanford University exploring the world of biomedical science through hands-on research. You will begin with lab orientation and training in safety procedures, research techniques, and data analysis before joining a faculty research group in one of Stanford’s medical schools or research centers. Working alongside mentors, you will contribute to real projects within molecular biology, genetics, neuroscience, or bioengineering. The program also offers workshops on scientific writing, ethics, and careers in medicine and science to help you build technical and professional skills and develop an understanding of how medical research contributes to improving human health. At the end of SIMR, you will present your research findings in a symposium.
8. City of Hope Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Location: City of Hope, Duarte, CA
Stipend: $4,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~9.5%; ~70 students selected
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application deadline: March 12
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students, ages 16 and up, who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy is a 10-week program offering high schoolers and undergrads exposure to biomedical research at City of Hope. You will choose a project that aligns with your scientific interests and work full-time alongside leading scientists and physicians who will mentor you through every step of the research process. Each week, you will join seminars, workshops, and lab meetings to deepen your understanding of science, improve your writing and presentation skills, and explore topics like biomedical ethics and DNA repair. You will also present your findings in a final poster session to faculty, researchers, and peers, showcasing your work during the summer. Beyond research, the program focuses on fostering connections through social events and field trips.
9. UCSF Summer Student Research Program (SSRP)
Location: UCSF and affiliated hospitals, San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free, with a $3,000 stipend for high schoolers
Acceptance rate/ cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Early June – early August (nine weeks)
Application deadline: February (date varies annually)
Eligibility: High school students, ages 16 and older, who have completed at least one year of math and biology coursework; applicants must belong to underresourced backgrounds, hold U.S. citizenship, non-citizen U.S. nationality, or U.S. permanent residency, and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher
SSRP is a nine-week free internship that allows high school students to conduct real biomedical research alongside UCSF scientists and healthcare professionals. You will be matched one-on-one with a mentor in either a clinical or basic science lab, where you will design experiments, collect data, and explore how research impacts patient care. Each week, you will join seminars led by MDs and PhDs, participate in journal clubs, and attend workshops to strengthen your critical thinking and communication skills. The experience also includes social activities and networking opportunities that connect you with peers and professionals in the health sciences. Your summer concludes with a formal Research Symposium, where you’ll present your findings to the UCSF scientific community.
10. Scripps Research Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Scripps Research, La Jolla (San Diego), CA
Cost/Stipend: Free + $4,830 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application deadline: April 4
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, ages 16 and up, who are enrolled in partner/local schools and hold a minimum 3.0 GPA
The Scripps Research High School Internship Program offers local San Diego high schoolers exposure to biomedical science and lab research. As a participant, you will start with a three-day boot camp to learn about the lab environment and then connect with principal investigators to find your ideal research placement. Once matched with a lab, you will spend seven weeks running experiments, learning how to design studies, practice lab techniques, and interpret data like real scientists. Throughout the journey, you will be paired with a graduate student mentor who will support you with your research work as well as help you prepare for college and explore future career paths in science.
11. Magee-Womens Research Institute’s High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,800 stipend for qualifying students.
Acceptance rate/ cohort size: Competitive; less than 8% students selected
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Local high school sophomores and juniors, 16 and older, who permanently reside in southwestern Pennsylvania
The Magee-Womens Research Institute High School Summer Internship Program offers high schoolers opportunities to contribute to biomedical research and explore biomedicine as a career path. Over six weeks, you will design and conduct your own project under the guidance of experienced investigators working in women’s and infant health. You’ll gain firsthand exposure to research labs, attend interactive Lunch and Learn sessions where scientists share their personal career journeys, and explore what it means to work in the medical research field. At the end of the program, you will showcase your findings in a formal presentation to faculty, staff, and fellow interns at the annual High School Internship Presentation Day.
12. Princeton Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
Location: Princeton University labs, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Five to six weeks in the summer; dates vary by lab
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or international students studying in the U.S; high school graduates who are under 18 by June 15 can also apply
The Princeton LLP allows you to contribute to university-level scientific research within Princeton’s world-class labs. As a participant, you will spend five or six weeks working with faculty, postdoctoral scholars, or grad students to perform experiments, gather data, and troubleshoot real research challenges. You will also attend seminars and skill workshops on research methods, data analysis, and lab protocols to support your learning. You may also participate in journal clubs or group meetings to discuss papers and scientific topics. At the end of LLP, you will submit a two-page research summary report discussing your work.
13. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Various field sites across the U.S. (local placements)
Cost/Stipend: Free with a $3,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/ cohort size: Competitive, ~40 students selected
Dates: Eight weeks from June through August
Application deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and rising college freshmen, ages 16 and up, who live and have residency in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico
Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is a free summer opportunity to dive into STEM fieldwork and explore fisheries science. You will join a small team and work under agency or university mentors, engaging in fieldwork such as collecting fish samples, monitoring habitats, and restoring ecosystems. Additionally, you will learn how to process and analyze ecological data, contribute to reports on species populations, and see how your efforts feed into real resource management decisions. You will also join workshops and a final summit where you present your project and results to scientists, managers, and peers. The program also offers opportunities to connect with marine biology experts and fellow students who share your passion for conservation and biology.
14. Science & Engineering Apprentice Program (SEAP)
Location: Participating DoN research labs across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: No fees; stipend available—$4,00 for first-year interns and $4,500 for returning interns
Acceptance rate/ cohort size: Competitive; ~300 placements across 38 labs
Dates: 8–10 weeks from June through August; dates vary by lab
Application deadline: November 1
Eligibility: U.S. high school students, ages 16 and up
SEAP allows you to spend eight or more weeks in a Department of the Navy research lab and shadow professional researchers. For eight weeks, you will work alongside scientists and engineers who guide you through hands-on projects and offer you a closer look at how STEM is applied beyond the classroom. In the lab environment, you will assist with experimentation, testing, and tech development. You will also have access to professional development opportunities like workshops, seminars, and lab meetings. The precise responsibilities vary by lab, but you will work on real projects and contribute to lab research during the program.
15. Summer Healthcare Experience (SHE) in Oncology
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No fees; a $500 taxable stipend offered
Cohort size: 20
Dates: Two weeks in the summer; dates TBA in the spring
Application deadline: Typically, May; exact dates TBA
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are Minnesota residents
The SHE in Oncology is a multi-institutional program offered by cancer centers throughout the U.S. The Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center offers its version of this program to 20 high schoolers interested in exploring careers in biomedicine and oncology. As a participant, you will attend online lectures and discussions on cancer care and cancer science. You will work on a genetics-based research project and a patient case study in collaboration with peers from the University of Minnesota, the Medical College of Wisconsin, the University of Iowa, and the University of Wisconsin. You will get your own laboratory kit to engage in experiments from home. Additionally, SHE in Oncology offers professional development and skill-building opportunities along with panel discussions led by cancer research and care professionals.
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