15 Business Internships for High School Students in Tennessee
If you are a high school student interested in business, an internship can be a worthwhile way to explore the field in detail. These programs offer a valuable opportunity to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world professional experience. By participating in a business internship, you gain hands-on exposure to industries that genuinely interest you, helping you make informed decisions about your future career path. Internships strengthen your college applications by demonstrating initiative and commitment to skill development beyond academics, while allowing you to build your professional network and resume with meaningful work experience. You will develop a broad set of transferable skills, including teamwork, communication, problem-solving and time management, that employers consistently identify as critical for long-term career success.
You can check out other business internships available for high-school students here!
Why should I do a Business Internship in Tennessee?
Tennessee offers a wide range of business internship opportunities, from fast-paced startup environments to well-established corporations. Each program offers unique learning experiences tailored to different career interests. Whether you're interested in entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, law, or general business operations, you can explore these fields while potentially earning competitive wages and gaining practical experience. The state also hosts programs that span multiple industries, including hospitality, construction, healthcare, and venture capital firms offering both paid and selective internship options.
To help you get started, we've put together 15 business internships for high school students in Tennessee.
Quick Look
15 business programs total spanning entrepreneurship, finance, supply chain, and leadership, hosted by institutions including the University of Tennessee's Haslam College of Business, Vanderbilt University, and Wharton
Haslam College of Business appears three times through distinct residential programs: the AIM Academy (accounting), the WEB Institute (technology and business for women and non-binary students), and the Supply Chain Management Summer Camp, all free and held the same week in July
Vanderbilt University hosts three separate business-focused summer programs on this list, covering leadership, innovation and design thinking, and general business management fundamentals
LaunchX stands out as the most execution-focused program, having students build an actual minimum viable product rather than studying business theory, at a premium cost of $6,495
Ladder Internships and Building-U are the only fully remote, flexible options with no fixed program dates, while NASA Pathways and Bank of America's Student Leaders program are the most competitive paid opportunities
1. Haslam College of Business – Accounting and Information Management (AIM) Academy
Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee (in-person, residential)
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 12 - 17
Application Deadline: Application opens on December 16 | March 31 deadline
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors
The AIM Academy offers a comprehensive introduction to careers in accounting and information management through a residential summer program. You'll participate in a blend of classroom instruction and professional experiences, allowing you to gain insight into real-world applications of diverse business disciplines. You will attend workshops led by university faculty and industry professionals specializing in accounting, finance, and information management learning foundational concepts and current industry practices. The program includes team-building activities and collaborative projects, allowing you to apply classroom learning to realistic business scenarios, allowing you to build both technical knowledge and soft skills. You'll participate in professional development sessions focused on college readiness and career exploration, where guest speakers from accounting firms and companies share their career journeys and insights. The residential experience provides familiarity with the college campus, helping you to evaluate the campus environment and residence hall living. Designed for rising high school juniors, the program offers financial aid to ensure cost does not prevent you from participating. Applications typically close on March 31.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote (you can work from anywhere in the world).
Cost/Stipend: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly SelectiveDates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort – spring (January), summer (May), fall (September), and winter (November).
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 8 - 12 weeks, committing 10 - 20 hours/week
Ladder Internships provides participants with the opportunity to work with high-growth startups on real-world projects across diverse industries such as tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, and consulting. Over the course of eight weeks, you will work closely with your startup managers while receiving ongoing support from a dedicated ladder coach. The program requires a flexible commitment of 5 - 10 hours of work per week and includes structured sessions with company leadership. You'll contribute to genuine business challenges that produce tangible outcomes which you can demonstrate to colleges and future employers. You'll have direct interaction with company founders and leadership, providing valuable networking opportunities and insights into startup operations. Upon completion of the program, you'll receive a letter of recommendation from your host company, helping you to showcase your portfolio demonstrating your business contributions. Financial aid is available, making the program accessible irrespective of economic background.
3. Stevens Institute of Technology – Organizational Leadership Virtual Summer Research Experience
Location: Virtual (weekly asynchronous modules plus live office hours)
Cost/Stipend: $1,500 tuition fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | targeted toward students historically underrepresented in computer science | limited spots
Dates: Last year was July 7 - August 11 (five weeks)
Application Deadline: Applications typically open from February to March for the summer cohort
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors entering the fall of the application year
In this five-week online research program, participants will study key management concepts with a special focus on organizational leadership, corporate culture, ethics and social responsibility, and strategic communication. Each week features self-paced learning modules, supported by live office hours where you can engage with professors and mentors for feedback and discussion. You’ll analyze how leadership theories operate in real-world organizations, building insight into research-driven analysis. By the conclusion of the program, you’ll have built a strong academic and practical foundation for future study in business-related fields.
4. LaunchX Summer Venture Accelerator Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $6,495
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 13 - August 14
Application Deadline: March 4
Eligibility: High school students
LaunchX is designed for high school students who want to launch an actual student startup rather than simply studying entrepreneurship. It provides mentorship, structured sprint milestones, and access to an active alumni founder community throughout your entrepreneurial journey. During this eight-week program, you’ll develop an actual business idea into a working minimum viable product or service through structured sprint cycles with clear milestones. This ensures you progress from idea to validated concept, receiving feedback from expert mentors. The program connects you with world-class mentors who have founded and scaled successful companies, providing real-world guidance aligned with your specific venture. In addition to individual project work, you'll build relationships with peer entrepreneurs in your cohort. Many participants continue developing their ventures after the program, with some securing external investment. This intensive, execution-focused program is well-suited to student entrepreneurs ready to move beyond exploration to actually building and validating business ideas.
5. EnergyMag Internship Program
Location: Virtual (fully online, accessible from anywhere; some project-based work may be location-specific)
Cost/Stipend: Varies | typically free or low-cost depending on commitment level | half-time and quarter-time options available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate | rolling admissions throughout the year
Dates: Flexible | duration varies from 2 weeks to 9 months, depending on commitment level | available year-round, including during the school year
Application Deadline: Rolling basis | apply anytime
Eligibility: High school students ages 16 - 18 years | an interest in renewable energy and sustainability | no prior experience with the energy sector required
You'll gain hands-on experience in the renewable energy sector with a focus on global initiatives in energy storage and renewable energy adoption expansion. You'll conduct research and analysis related to renewable energy and storage technologies, while developing skills in data interpretation and technical communication. Throughout the program, you'll gain insight into understanding the energy industry, storage solutions, and the business models that drive renewable energy growth, while exploring potential career pathways. The remote format allows you to build digital collaboration skills and requires technical experience working in a collaborative environment. With rolling admissions and adaptable scheduling, this internship is accessible throughout the year and is well-suited to students with varying availability and interests in renewable energy fields.
6. Business Leadership Summer Program at Vanderbilt University
Location: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: Commuter: $4,299 | residential: $6,999
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective | limited enrollment per year
Dates: July 12 - 24
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students, grades 9 - 12
This immersive two-week program at Vanderbilt University allows high school students to explore the foundational principles of leadership in a global business environment. The course covers essential topics, including leadership styles, team dynamics, ethical decision-making, entrepreneurship, and strategic thinking, through a combination of theoretical learning and practical implementation. You'll engage in interactive sessions such as self-assessments, team-based challenges, ethical debates, real-world case studies of influential business leaders, and communication workshops, helping you to build your speaking and active listening skills. Throughout the program, you'll work on group projects that demonstrate effective collaboration while analyzing leadership challenges in various business contexts. The program concludes with a capstone project where you apply your personal leadership approach to a simulated real-world scenario. The program also includes a reflective written component focused on leadership growth and future development.
7. Building-U High School Internship
Location: Online program
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 20 - 40 interns across cohorts.
Dates: 3-month internship | available year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students (grades 9 - 12)
Building-U offers a no-cost virtual internship opportunity where participants gain experience working with a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating free resources for high school students worldwide. You can join teams focused on resource research and development, student ambassadorship, multimedia, marketing, analytics, blogging, and web development. Interns will work alongside peers while developing their professional capabilities. Your work involves addressing real business challenges, helping you to build real-world project experience. You'll build essential teamwork and communication skills while learning how nonprofit organizations operate. The fully remote format makes this business internship highly accessible regardless of geographic location. The flexible scheduling allows you to balance school commitments.
8. Wharton Global High School Investment Competition
Location: Virtual through most stages; global finals at the Wharton School in Philadelphia
Cost/Stipend: Free to participate
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open competition
Dates: September - April
Application Deadline: Typically September 12
Eligibility: High school students from 9 - 12 and teachers
You'll collaborate with a team of four to six classmates under your teacher's guidance to manage a virtual $500,000 portfolio using the Wharton Investment Simulator (WInS) over a 10-week trading period. You'll begin by analyzing a case study of a real Wharton graduate client and designing a long-term investment strategy aligned with the client’s goals, focusing on industry and company analysis, risk management, and diversification. Throughout the competition, you'll submit a midterm report and a final report explaining your approach, with judges evaluating submissions based on the clarity and strength of your strategy rather than portfolio performance alone. Top teams advance to virtual semifinals, where they present to expert judges, and the final 10 teams are invited to compete at the Global Finale held at the Wharton School in Philadelphia each April. The program is completely free and open to high school students worldwide, helping you build skills in teamwork, communication, leadership, and finance that strengthen college applications. Directed by Wharton Professor Michael Roberts, this challenge helps you experience professional investing practices in a supportive and competitive environment
9. Haslam College of Business – Women Empowered through Business (WEB) Institute
Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee (in-person, residential)
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | targets rising high school juniors interested in technology and business
Dates: July 12 - 17
Application Deadline: December 15 application opens | March 31 deadline
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors
The WEB Institute is designed for rising high school girls and non-binary students interested in careers at the intersection of technology and business. The program combines intensive workshop-based learning with professional exposure to help you explore diverse career pathways in these fields. You participate in sessions covering coding and computer technology fundamentals, entrepreneurship, personal branding, supply chain management, and business analytics. Guest speakers, primarily women leaders from major technology and business companies, share insights into industry cultures and advancement pathways for women and non-binary professionals. The residential college experience provides campus exploration and building peer communities alongside academic learning. Professional development addresses particular challenges and opportunities, providing practical strategies and a supportive community. Rising high school juniors interested in technology and business careers should apply by the March 31 deadline, and financial aid is available to promote accessibility.
10. NASA Pathways Internship Program
Location: Various NASA centers across the United States | some opportunities are available virtually or at Tennessee-proximal locations
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship | stipend amount varies based on location, project type, and duration | the majority of positions include paid compensation
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective | competitive selection process
Dates: Typically 6 - 10 weeks during May through August | specific dates vary depending on the location and internship
Application Deadline: Rolling | applications typically open in February and September annually
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 years or above can apply | the program is primarily designed for college students
The NASA Pathways Internship Program offers paid internships that serve as a direct pathway to full-time employment with the space agency. You work on meaningful projects related to space exploration, aeronautics, and scientific research while working with NASA professionals, including research scientists, engineers, and specialists from diverse disciplines. This gives you exposure to how government agencies address complex technical and business challenges. Your internship assignment is matched to your academic background, career interests, and the specific needs of various NASA centers. You'll contribute to real NASA missions and research initiatives, meaning your work has a direct impact on the agency's objectives. You will develop an individual development plan with your supervisors to align learning opportunities with your long-term career goals. Successful interns may receive job offers for permanent employment with NASA after college graduation, providing sustained career development.
11. Innovation and Business Planning Summer Program at Vanderbilt University
Location: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: Commuter: $4,299 | residential: $6,999
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective; limited enrollment per year
Dates: July 12 - 24
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students, grades 9 - 12
This hands-on innovation course allows high school students to identify meaningful problems and develop creative solutions using a hands-on innovation course that emphasizes design thinking and real-world application. The program guides you through the entire innovation lifecycle, starting with empathy-based problem discovery and clear problem definition, followed by ideation sessions, brainstorming, prototyping, testing, and iteration. You'll work collaboratively with other students on projects that challenge your critical thinking, helping you evaluate the problems people actually face, rather than jumping to solutions without understanding the underlying issues. Throughout the program, you'll explore various professional innovation methodologies and frameworks while helping you to gain skills in creativity, collaboration, and practical application. You'll engage in activities that teach you how to transition groundbreaking concepts through the development process into workable solutions, helping you to learn prototyping and refine your ideas based on structured feedback.
12. Bank of America Student Leaders
Location: Various locations across the U.S., including Tennessee
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 300 students
Dates: 6 weeks during the summer, including a 3-day summit
Application Deadline: October 14 - January 15 (tentative)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors in good academic standing
Participants will collaborate with experienced professionals at local nonprofits and community organizations, gaining hands-on exposure to how these groups operate on a daily basis. Over the course of eight weeks, you'll build essential leadership skills while earning a paycheck and strengthening your resume with meaningful work experience. The internship allows you to explore different career possibilities in nonprofit management, business operations, and sectors focused on social impact. A key component of the program is the week-long student leaders summit in Washington, D.C., where you'll connect and network with fellow participants from around the country. You'll participate in leadership seminars that examine how businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies work together to address community challenges. Throughout the experience, you'll receive guidance from organizational leaders and engage in professional development workshops, making this one of the few programs that combine paid work experience, national networking opportunities, and focused leadership training.
13. Interns 4-Good Virtual Internship
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open
Dates: Flexible
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students
You'll collaborate with nonprofit organizations on projects that advance their social impact goals while building essential professional business skills. For students interested in business internships with a nonprofit or social impact focus, Interns 4-Good offers genuine hands-on experience in nonprofit operations. Your responsibilities may include developing marketing strategies, planning fundraising campaigns, and managing social media presence for these organizations. Throughout the internship, you'll build business skills in communication, organization, and project management. You'll gain insight into how nonprofits function as businesses, learning skills such as grant writing and donor communication that are specific to this sector. The service-learning approach ensures your contributions create real value for nonprofit missions, helping you develop professional capabilities.
14. Summer Springboard at Vanderbilt University - Business Management
Location: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Cost/Stipend: Residential tuition: $5,698 | commuter tuition: $2,998
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate | rolling admissions
Dates: June 14 - 26
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 - 12
This two-week residential or commuter program immerses high school students in the core fundamentals of business management at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. The course covers leadership, organizational behavior, strategic planning, marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship while developing your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. You'll work through real-world case studies, hands-on activities, and interactive projects that simulate authentic business scenarios, from strategic planning challenges to team-based problem-solving challenges. Throughout the program, you'll connect with business leaders and industry professionals who provide insights into careers in management, consulting, entrepreneurship, and corporate strategy. You will examine how social, cultural, and economic factors shape companies and global markets, encouraging you to develop ethical, innovative, and sustainable business solutions.
15. Haslam College of Business – Supply Chain Management (SCM) Summer Camp
Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee (in-person, residential)
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | targets rising high school juniors and seniors with business interest
Dates: July 12 - 17
Application Deadline: December 15 application opens | March 31 deadline
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors | minimum GPA of 3.0 | an interest in supply chain, operations, or logistics careers | strong academic record
The SCM Summer Camp introduces rising high school juniors and seniors to careers in supply chain management and operations. You'll engage in interactive simulations, attend lectures from college faculty, and participate in discussions with supply chain professionals. You will learn supply chain fundamentals through classroom sessions exploring how companies move products from manufacturing to end customers. Interactive simulations allow you to make supply chain decisions and observe their outcomes, helping you develop a practical understanding of complex logistics. Local site visits to major Tennessee companies provide real-world exposure to how leading companies manage supply chain operations. Faculty-led discussions and industry presentations highlight career pathways in supply chain, operations, procurement, and related fields.
Questions Students Often Ask About These Programs
Haslam College of Business has three different programs on this list. How do I choose between the AIM Academy, WEB Institute, and Supply Chain Management Summer Camp?
Each targets a different interest area. The AIM Academy focuses on accounting and information management broadly. The WEB Institute is specifically for young women and non-binary students interested in the intersection of technology and business. The Supply Chain Management Summer Camp is the most specialized, focused on logistics, operations, and procurement. Since all three run during the same week in July, you'll need to choose just one based on which career area interests you most.
I want to actually build something, not just study business concepts. Which program is the best fit?
LaunchX is the strongest match, since it's built around taking an actual business idea through structured sprints to a working minimum viable product, with mentorship from founders who've scaled real companies. It's also the most expensive option on this list at $6,495, so if cost is a barrier, Building-U offers a similar hands-on, project-based structure at no cost, though within a nonprofit context rather than a for-profit startup.
Several programs, like NASA Pathways and Bank of America's Student Leaders, aren't exclusively business-focused. Why are they included here?
Both offer genuine business and professional development value even though they're not purely business programs. NASA Pathways exposes you to how a large government agency manages complex projects and allocates resources, which is directly relevant to operations and management-focused business interests. Bank of America's Student Leaders program combines nonprofit management experience with a national leadership summit, making it valuable if you're interested in the business side of the nonprofit and social impact sector specifically.