15 College Internships for High School Students

Getting accepted into college is more competitive than ever, and strong grades alone are rarely enough to help you stand out. Colleges increasingly look for students who can demonstrate initiative, curiosity, and real-world experience beyond the classroom. One of the best ways to build those qualities is through an internship. Whether you are interested in engineering, medicine, business, journalism, or technology, internships give you the chance to explore potential career paths while developing practical skills that can strengthen both your college applications and your confidence.

Why should you do a college internship?

As a high school student, a college internship can also give you early exposure to professional environments, research settings, and mentorship opportunities that are difficult to find elsewhere. You might work alongside university faculty, contribute to ongoing projects, or learn how to collaborate with peers who share your academic interests. Beyond helping you build your resume, these experiences can help you better understand what you want to study in college and what kind of career you may want to pursue in the future.

To help you find the right opportunity, here are 15 college internships for high school students worth exploring.

If you want to check out summer-specific programs for high schoolers, here’s a list of free leadership programs & here’s a list of some STEM-specific internships!

1. Ladder Internships 

Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students and young professionals

This virtual internship places you into structured eight-week remote roles with high-growth startup companies and mission-driven organizations. You’ll get to do work in several fields, including technology, machine learning and artificial intelligence, finance, environmental science, healthcare, and media. You’ll complete real-world, predefined projects such as developing predictive data models, compiling market competitor analyses, or drafting technical whitepapers. Throughout the internship, you will attend weekly meetings with startup managers and founders to receive operational guidance and project feedback. In addition to company supervisors, you will also get to collaborate with an assigned coach who will provide remote supervision and help you navigate startup workflows. The internship concludes with a final portfolio presentation where you’ll present your technical deliverables and receive a formal letter of completion.

2. MIT Research Science Institute (RSI)

Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: $75 non-refundable application fee (fee waivers offered); Unpaid
Cohort Size: 100 students
Dates: June 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: December 10
Eligibility: High school juniors (additional requirements can be found here)

This program combines scientific theory coursework with graduate-level research internships. You’ll read current literature and conduct primary research across various science, engineering, and mathematics topics while using university laboratory equipment and computational tools under the direct mentorship of MIT researchers and faculty. The core curriculum focuses on scientific inquiry, laboratory methodologies, data analysis, and technical communication. Throughout the program, you’ll develop a formal research paper detailing your methodologies and empirical findings. The internship concludes with an internal symposium where you deliver oral presentations and showcase your research posters to the academic community.

3. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)

Location: Stanford University – School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee (can be waived); $500 stipend (up to $1,500+ in need-based awards)
Acceptance Rate: <3%
Dates: June 9 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (16+) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents

This internship provides hands-on laboratory experience within the Stanford School of Medicine’s research institutes. You’ll be assigned to a specific research track, including immunology, cancer biology, neurosciences, stem cell biology, or bioengineering. You’ll conduct daily empirical benchwork, utilize laboratory assays, and perform computational data modeling under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Weekly core lectures deliver fundamental knowledge on medical ethics, graduate-level science pathways, and molecular biology research methodologies. In the bioengineering track, you’ll work in teams to design and manufacture functional biomedical prototypes using engineering software. The internship concludes with a public poster session where you’ll present your scientific data to families and Stanford researchers.

4. The Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)

Location: The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Stipend: Need-based stipends may be provided for students facing financial hardship
Cohort Size: 32 students
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (16+)

The program integrates you into active biomedical research labs within the RockEDU Science Outreach Laboratory. You’ll work alongside graduate students and postdoctoral mentors on scientific investigations covering genetics, biochemistry, and structural biology. You’ll learn to operate laboratory instrumentation, practice sterile tissue culture techniques, and execute molecular cloning protocols. The curriculum emphasizes the application of the scientific method, hypothesis generation, and computational analysis of biological datasets. You’ll also participate in professional development workshops that focus on reading primary literature and mastering scientific communication skills. The research experience culminates in a symposium where you present your results and conclusions to the university community.

5. Texas Tech University Anson L. Clark Scholars Program

Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee; $750 stipend
Cohort Size: 12 students
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application Deadline: February 16
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and graduating seniors (17+) 

This program offers intensive research opportunities across a broad range of engineering, humanities, and science disciplines. Accepted students are individually paired with Texas Tech faculty mentors to execute specific, ongoing laboratory or theoretical research projects. You’ll gain direct experience with specialized university equipment, quantitative data analysis tools, and field-specific methodologies. Beyond laboratory work, the curriculum includes weekly seminars focused on academic writing, research ethics, and career development. You’ll also participate in structured field trips and collaborative discussions with peers to broaden your scientific perspectives. At the program's conclusion, you will produce a comprehensive research report and deliver an oral presentation of your findings.

6. UC San Diego Research Experience for High School Students (REHS)

Location: UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Cost: $2,000 (scholarships available)
Cohort Size: ~40 students
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: 10th-12th graders (16+) who live in Southern California, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and are college-bound

This internship provides you with hands-on experience in computational science and engineering. You’ll be matched with research mentors at the San Diego Supercomputer Center to work on active scientific projects. You’ll learn to formulate scientific hypotheses, execute computational experiments, and process large datasets using university systems. Weekly obligations include attending lab meetings, participating in technical discussions, and learning specific programming languages or software frameworks. The curriculum emphasizes data analysis, data structures, algorithm implementation, and computational physics or biology applications. At the conclusion of the program, you’ll design scientific posters highlighting your empirical findings for a celebratory exhibition. 

7. Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)

Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Cohort Size: ~40 students
Dates: 5+ weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: February 15 – March 17
Eligibility: New Jersey high school students (16+) who are U.S. citizens

This internship places local high school students into active university research laboratories under faculty supervision. You’ll assist Princeton researchers with ongoing, primary experiments in engineering, natural sciences, or computing fields. You’ll also receive direct training in advanced laboratory safety, experimental protocols, and the configuration of specialized scientific equipment. The curriculum requires you to read peer-reviewed literature, attend internal lab meetings, and contribute to group technical discussions. Individual project requirements dictate the specific use of computational modeling tools, chemical assays, or engineering design software. The experience finishes with you compiling your findings into a research abstract or academic presentation for your host department.

8. University of Iowa Secondary Student Training Program (SSTP)

Location: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Cost: $7,500 (financial aid and scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 17 – July 24
Application Deadline: December 15 – February 16
Eligibility: 10th-11th graders

This research program allows you to conduct laboratory investigations under the University of Iowa faculty mentors. You’ll be matched with research labs in departments such as chemistry, biology, engineering, or computer science based on your interests. The program teaches advanced research techniques, data tracking protocols, and the use of university-level laboratory instrumentation. You can earn three semester hours of undergraduate credit upon fulfilling the academic requirements of the course. Weekly instructional seminars provide training in writing literature reviews, analyzing experimental variables, and delivering technical research presentations. The program concludes with a mandatory research symposium where you’ll present your finalized scientific posters to peers and faculty.

9. Stony Brook University Simons Summer Research Program

Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: None (optional residential housing fees apply)
Acceptance Rate: <5%
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school juniors (16+) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents

In this program, you will engage in hands-on research in science, math, engineering, or computer science. You’ll work as an apprentice within active university research groups under the direct supervision of faculty mentors and learn to apply specific laboratory methodologies, perform statistical analysis, and operate advanced computational or experimental equipment. The academic schedule includes weekly joint lectures, safety training workshops, and tours of regional scientific facilities. You’ll also learn to navigate academic databases, read peer-reviewed journals, and draft formal scientific abstracts. The experience concludes with a closing symposium where you will present your research findings to peers and faculty.

10. Carnegie Mellon University Summer Academy for Math and Science (SAMS)

Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 20 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Rising seniors (16+) with demonstrated financial need

SAMS delivers rigorous academic instruction through a combination of traditional lectures, hands-on projects, and collaborative research seminars. You’ll complete core quantitative courses in mathematics and physics alongside specialized computer programming and engineering workshops. You will also collaborate in teams on a capstone STEM research project advised by Carnegie Mellon faculty and graduate students. The curriculum teaches computational modeling, data interpretation, technical writing, and structural design concepts. Dedicated academic support sessions and faculty office hours provide you with direct feedback on your engineering and mathematical problem sets. The experience concludes with the SAMS Research Symposium, where teams present their technical capstone projects to families and instructors.

11. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program (RMP)

Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $5,675 (commuter); $13,274 (residential)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: December 15 – March 9
Eligibility: 10th-11th graders with a minimum 3.80 weighted GPA

This program engages you in university-level research across a selection of disciplines in the sciences and humanities. You’ll be paired with a UCSB faculty member, postdoc, or graduate student mentor to complete an independent research project. You’ll acquire skills in research design, experimental methodology, data visualization, and academic literature curation. The curriculum features a series of research lectures known as GRIT Talks, exposing you to diverse fields of scientific inquiry. You’ll receive formal training in university library database navigation and the use of statistical software for data analysis. The program culminates in a research symposium where you present your final papers and research posters.

12. Wharton Leadership in the Business World (LBW)

Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $11,899 (financial aid available)
Cohort Size: 120 students/session
Dates: June 7 – 27; June 28 – July 18; July 19 – August 8
Application Deadline: January 28 (priority); March 18 (final)
Eligibility: Rising seniors with a 3.5+ GPA and demonstrated leadership experience

This program introduces you to undergraduate-level business education and organizational management concepts. You’ll attend lectures delivered by Wharton faculty and industry experts on topics including finance, entrepreneurship, and marketing strategy. You’ll work in collaborative teams to design, iterate, and refine an original business plan from initial concept to market entry. The coursework teaches financial modeling, strategic market analysis, operations management, and team communication methodologies. Real-world case studies and business simulations are utilized to analyze corporate decision-making and operational bottlenecks. The program concludes with a final pitch competition where teams present their business models to a panel of venture capitalists and business leaders. 

13. University of Florida Student Science Training Program (UF SSTP)

Location: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Cost: $5,500 (scholarships available for Florida high schoolers)
Cohort Size: ~90 students
Dates: June 7 – July 25
Application Deadline: April 1 (out-of-state/international students); April 15 (Florida students)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (16+)

UF SSTP is a residential research experience designed for high school students interested in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. You’ll conduct laboratory research under the direct supervision of the University of Florida faculty and research staff. The academic component includes a weekly seminar course focused on current developments across various scientific and engineering disciplines. You’ll receive practical training in scientific writing, abstract preparation, statistical data analysis, and oral presentation techniques. Laboratory placements cover diverse fields such as biochemistry, computer science, medicine, and environmental engineering. You’ll be required to produce a formal research paper and deliver a technical presentation at the concluding symposium.

14. Texas State University Honors Summer Math Camp (HSMC) 

Location: Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
Cost: $6,600 (scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students

This camp provides intensive mathematical training and research opportunities to high school students. The core curriculum focuses on foundational topics in higher mathematics, including number theory, combinatorics, and advanced algebra. Returning students are paired with faculty mentors to conduct primary research on original mathematical and computational problems. You’ll develop skills in proof-writing, logic analysis, mathematical modeling, and coding platforms like Mathematica or MATLAB. Daily problem-solving sessions encourage collaborative teamwork and peer-led peer review of mathematical logic. The camp culminates in the drafting of a formal research paper and presentations delivered to university faculty.

15. University of Chicago Research in the Biological Sciences (RIBS)

Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $15,200 (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate: <10%
Dates: June 15 – July 10
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: 10th-11th graders who have completed high school biology

This course introduces you to modern molecular, cellular, and developmental biology techniques. You’ll spend your days in the university's instructional laboratories learning hands-on experimental methods. The curriculum covers gene cloning, polymerase chain reactions, gel electrophoresis, cell culture, and fluorescent microscopy. You’ll formulate independent hypotheses, design experimental controls, and analyze quantitative biological datasets using statistical software. Faculty and graduate teaching assistants provide direct instruction on laboratory safety protocols and the interpretation of experimental variables. The program concludes with a research symposium where you present your findings via formal research posters.