15 Summer Internships for High School Students in New Jersey
If you’re a high school student, internships can give you early exposure to career paths that you may want to pursue later. They let you apply what you’ve learned in school, gain practical experience, and start building skills that will be useful in college and beyond. You also get the chance to meet mentors and professionals who can offer guidance and insight into different industries.
For students in New Jersey, local internships add another layer of value. The state’s location near major hubs like New York City and Philadelphia gives you access to a wide range of fields, from healthcare and law to business, engineering, and the arts. At the same time, many local organizations, nonprofits, and universities within New Jersey offer opportunities that allow you to stay closer to home while still gaining meaningful experience. Exploring these programs can help you connect with your community, learn about industries that are strong in the region, and take advantage of resources available right in your state.
To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 15 summer internships for high school students in New Jersey, with options that include both in-person and virtual programs.
1. Medical Internship Navigating Diversity and Science (MINDS)
Location: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Six weeks, July – August
Application Deadline: Opens in February; deadline tentatively in May
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from underserved or financially disadvantaged backgrounds with a minimum 3.0 GPA
The MINDS program is a six-week summer experience that combines public health research with medical training. You’ll work on a team project studying health disparities in New Jersey, investigating how factors like income, race, and housing impact health outcomes across communities. In addition to research, you’ll participate in medical simulations, site visits to healthcare facilities, and workshops that build foundational clinical skills. The program also includes earning CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) certifications, which are required for many medical volunteer or entry-level roles.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts run year-round
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9-12); must commit to 10–20 hours/week
Ladder Internships provides a structured, virtual internship where you’ll collaborate with early-stage startups on projects in fields like biotechnology and health tech. Depending on your placement, you might take on market analysis, data science, user research, or product development tasks, directly supporting company goals. You’ll receive dual mentorship: one from your startup manager and another from a Ladder Coach who guides weekly check-ins, skill workshops, and progress reviews. Throughout the program, you’ll build communication, research, and presentation skills while completing a final project.
3. Partners in Science – The Liberty Science Center
Location: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 25 – August 16
Application Deadline: Tentatively March
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, age 16 or older by July 1; must have a strong interest in STEM and be fully available for the full program duration
Partners in Science is an eight-week summer program where you’ll be matched with a scientist and work in a university lab on a research project. You’ll become part of a research team, learning how to design and run experiments while building skills in data collection, analysis, and scientific communication. During the program, you’ll also attend seminars that explore how careers in science work and how to effectively present your findings. The labs span fields such as biology, chemistry, and medicine.
4. High School Internships – Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Location: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; stipend not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by faculty availability
Dates: Individually arranged with a faculty mentor
Application Deadline: Varies based on faculty arrangements
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older
The Rutgers NJMS research internship gives high school students the chance to work with a faculty mentor on biomedical research projects. You’ll need to take the initiative to reach out and secure your placement. Once placed, you’ll assist in areas like molecular biology, pharmacology, or immunology, learning essential skills such as data analysis, lab techniques, and scientific writing. Working in a university medical setting offers early exposure to academic medicine and prepares you for future research experiences, whether in college labs or professional environments.
5. Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
Location: Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Custom dates based on research mentor; typically June–August for 5–6 week
Application Deadline: February 15 – March 15
Eligibility: High school students who are 16+ by June 15; U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents
The Princeton Laboratory Learning Program (LLP) offers high school students a research experience at Princeton University during the summer. You’ll explore research areas like physics, engineering, and biology, working on topics such as microfluidics, sustainable design, and cellular biology. Throughout the program, you’ll engage in problem-solving, troubleshooting experiments, and collaborating closely with graduate students, postdocs, and faculty mentors. You’ll also learn how to clearly communicate your findings, building presentation and scientific writing skills.
6. NJIT Provost High School Summer Research Internship
Location: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $150 program fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 23 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: High school students who have completed 10th or 11th grade by June with a minimum 3.75 GPA and are residents of or studying in New Jersey
The NJIT Provost High School Summer Research Internship is a six-week program where you’ll participate in research across science and engineering disciplines under the mentorship of NJIT faculty, undergraduates, and graduate students. The program kicks off with mandatory lab safety training. You’ll take on tasks like data collection, statistical analysis, and laboratory experimentation, depending on your assigned area. You may use programming tools such as Python or MATLAB, or conduct experiments with equipment. At the end of the internship, you’ll present your findings at a research symposium.
7. Army Research and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (REAP)
Location: Stockton University, Galloway, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Stipend amount varies by internship location and program duration
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents
The REAP Internship at Stockton University is a 6–8 week summer program designed for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in chemistry, environmental science, and engineering. You’ll work closely with university faculty, conducting research using lab equipment and professional research methodologies. Through this experience, you’ll have the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to challenges, engaging in projects that could include environmental assessments, chemical analyses, or sustainability studies.
8. NJCCIC High School Cybersecurity Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free (unpaid)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Basics Program: July 14 – July 18, Advanced Program: July 21 – October
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: New Jersey high school students (grades 9–12) interested in cybersecurity.
The NJCCIC Cybersecurity Internship gives high school students the opportunity to explore cybersecurity through two structured virtual programs. The Basics Internship Program is a one-week introduction to core concepts like network security, threat identification, encryption, and online safety. For those seeking more in-depth experience, the Advanced Internship Program spans several months, immersing you in cybersecurity research and tasks such as threat analysis, digital forensics, and system vulnerability assessments. The Advanced Program requires prior experience or a previous NJCCIC internship.
9. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) High School Summer Internship
Location: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 30 – August 1
Application Deadline: November 22 – March 1
Eligibility: Graduating high school senior (the summer after graduation, not after junior year) at least 16 years old, and authorized to work in the United States
The PPPL High School Summer Internship is a five-week, full-time program designed for graduating seniors interested in plasma physics and fusion energy. Based at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, you’ll work closely with research or engineering staff on projects related to plasma science and advanced energy systems. Tasks include data analysis, experiment setup, and lab maintenance, providing you with exposure to topics like fusion energy research, plasma diagnostics, and computational modeling.
10. Coriell Summer Experience for High School Students
Location: Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free (unpaid)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Mid-July – Mid-August (4 weeks)
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 17 years old by July 1 and U.S. residents with a strong interest in science (advanced coursework preferred)
The Coriell Summer Experience is a four-week unpaid internship where high school students work in Coriell’s biobanking and production laboratories, gaining experience in biotechnology and biomedical research. You’ll collaborate with Coriell’s scientific staff on projects, exploring techniques like DNA extraction, stem cell research, karyotyping, and sample preparation. Throughout the program, you’ll also attend weekly scientific seminars and participate in career development training. The internship culminates in a formal presentation where you’ll share the research work you’ve contributed to.
11. Department of the Navy Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Across the U.S.; New Jersey site at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Lakehurst
Cost/Stipend: No registration fee; stipend of $4,000 for new participants, $4,500 for returning participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Typically 8 weeks in summer, with possible extension up to 2 additional weeks
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years old by the internship start date, have completed Grade 9, and be enrolled in high school. Must commit to 40 hours per week.
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) offers high school students the opportunity to work in Department of the Navy (DoN) labs and explore careers in STEM fields like computer science and aeronautics. You’ll be paired with Navy scientists and engineers to take part in research-focused projects, shadow professionals, and build teamwork and leadership skills. The program also includes technical meetings, seminars, group mentoring sessions, and lab tours. At the New Jersey site, NAWCAD Lakehurst, you’ll help design, develop, and analyze air launch and recovery equipment and avionics support systems, gaining experience in electronics, mathematics, hydraulic systems, and materials science engineering.
12. Youth Conservation Corps Program
Location: Across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Federal minimum wage or state minimum wage, if higher
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by site; generally open enrollment until filled
Dates: 1–3 months during the summer
Application Deadline: Varies by site and program
Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident; must be at least 15 years old on enrollment and not reach 19 before program completion; must have a work permit if required and be willing to work outdoors up to 8 hours a day
The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a paid summer work experience for youth, including high school students, who want to help develop and maintain America’s natural and cultural resources. You’ll work at sites such as national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, or fish hatcheries, tackling projects like building or repairing trails, planting native flora, restoring historic structures, assisting with wildlife studies, and supporting agency staff. Through this experience, you’ll also explore green careers in natural and cultural resource management, urban forestry, and conservation. With placements available through the National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service, the YCC provides a broad look at careers dedicated to preserving public lands and ecosystems.
13. Bank of America Student Leaders
Location: NJ locations in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren
Cost/Stipend: Free with stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Vary by market, typically start soon after the end of the school year, 8 weeks, including a week at the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, DC
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: NJ high school juniors and seniors who can work in the U.S., commit to a full-time 8-week internship, and attend a July D.C. summit
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program is a paid internship for high school students in New Jersey interested in building civic and business leadership skills. You’ll be placed with a local nonprofit organization, where you’ll work on community service projects and gain experience in social impact initiatives. The program culminates in an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the Student Leaders Summit, where you’ll meet peers from across the country, attend sessions with Bank of America executives and government leaders, and explore civic landmarks.
14. Mercer County Student Internship Program
Location: Mercer County Departments, Trenton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Free / $17 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 7 – August 29
Application Deadline: April 12
Eligibility: High school students living in or attending school in Mercer County, at least 15 years old, committed to the full 8-week program
The Mercer County Internship Program gives high school students the chance to gain experience in public service, health, law, environmental work, and other civic fields. You’ll be placed in a specific Mercer County department, taking on tasks that could include helping with airport operations, supporting youth services in a library, assisting IT or records staff, working on a golf farm, or shadowing a park ranger. Throughout the program, you’ll also participate in workshops to develop communication and public speaking skills, professional etiquette, resume writing, interview prep, and financial literacy.
15. Cory Booker Internships
Location: Camden, NJ; Newark, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer cohort: August 12 – August 29; Fall cohort: mid-September to mid-December; Spring cohort: January – mid-May
Application Deadline: Typically the second week of April
Eligibility: High school students
The internship program with Senator Cory Booker provides high school students with a chance to develop skills in communication, active listening, policy analysis, research methods, and professional writing. You’ll assist office staff by answering phones, connecting with constituents, drafting policy memos, supporting legislation work, and conducting in-depth research on current issues. In addition, you’ll build event planning and networking abilities by attending community events and engaging with political leaders, gaining exposure to the legislative process and public service operations.
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