10 Environmental Engineering Internships for High School Students
If you are interested in how engineering can be used to solve environmental problems, environmental engineering offers several areas to explore. Environmental engineers work on issues such as water quality, pollution, waste management, air quality, and sustainable infrastructure. An internship can give you a chance to see how engineers use science, math, data, and technology to address these problems in real-world settings. You might work on a research project, analyze environmental data, learn about water or waste treatment, or see how environmental systems are designed and managed. If you are considering environmental engineering as a college major, an internship can help you learn more about the field and the specific areas that interest you most.
TL;DR
The 10 environmental engineering internships on this list span national labs, university research programs, and flexible remote or regional options. Several involve hands-on placements in areas like water quality, pollution control, environmental data analysis, or sustainable infrastructure. Costs vary: some options are free and offer stipends of up to $4,500, a few are unpaid, and a couple charge an application fee or tuition (with waivers available). Eligibility, deadlines, and features vary by program, so it’s worth carefully reviewing each option's details before making a choice.
Why should you do an environmental engineering internship?
An environmental engineering internship can help you explore how engineering is used to address environmental and public health problems. Depending on the program, you might learn about areas such as water resources, pollution control, waste management, environmental research, or sustainable engineering. You can also get a better idea of whether you would enjoy studying the field in college. To ensure you make the most of your experience, start with our guide on setting goals for your internship.
How do you apply for an environmental engineering internship?
The application process varies from one internship to another. To identify the next steps, you can begin by checking the program’s eligibility requirements, application deadline, and application materials. Some internships may ask for a resume, transcript, essays, teacher recommendations, or other information about your interests and coursework. You may also need to meet requirements related to your grade level, age, location, or academic background. Since some environmental engineering internships have limited spaces or early deadlines, it’s a good idea to check the application requirements before you apply.
To help you start exploring available options, we have put together a list of 10 environmental engineering internships for high school students.
You can also check out our selection of summer environmental engineering programs and sustainability internships if you are looking for additional structured experiences.
Quick internship overview
|
Program type |
Top programs |
Cost/Stipend |
Best for |
|
National laboratory research programs |
Free; some come with stipends up to $4,500 (NIST is unpaid) |
Students who want to work directly inside a government or national lab setting on research projects |
|
|
University lab programs |
Princeton LLP, Stanford Young Investigators Internships, NYU ARISE, CUNY HIRES, George Mason ASSIP |
Free – $1,299 tuition (waivers available); stipends of up to $2,000 available |
Students who want mentor-led research on a university campus |
|
Remote and regional mentorship programs |
Cost: $40 application fee (waivers available) – full program fee (financial assistance available); ASE offers stipends of up to $1,500 |
Students who want a flexible internship, whether fully remote or based in a specific regional area, with mentor-led experiences |
10 Environmental Engineering Internships for High School Students
1. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote! You can participate from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts every year, including Fall, Summer, Spring, and Winter
Application deadline: Varies by cohort; Fall (September), Spring (January), Summer (May), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10 – 20 hours/week for 8 to 12 weeks; high school, undergraduate, and gap year students can apply!
Ladder Internships is a selective startup internship program for ambitious high school students! Through the program, you will work with a high-growth startup on an internship. Startups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from AI/ML and tech/deep tech to journalism, health tech, marketing, consulting, and more. Ladder’s startups are high-growth companies that, on average, raise more than $1 million. You will work closely with a manager on real-world projects and present your work to the company. The virtual internship is usually eight weeks long. Apply now!
Who it’s best for: Students looking for a fully remote internship and firsthand exposure to the day-to-day operations of startups!
2. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: U.S. Department of the Navy laboratories (multiple sites nationwide)
Cost/Stipend: Free; $4,000 stipend for new participants, and $4,500 stipend for returning participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~300 placements across 38+ labs nationwide
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer; term can be extended to 10 weeks.
Application deadline: November 1; applications open on August 1.
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, ages 16 and up, who are U.S. citizens; some labs may accept permanent residents and dual citizens (check individual lab pages for additional requirements here).
Each summer, SEAP places high schoolers in Department of the Navy (DoN) labs to contribute to STEM research for 8 to 10 weeks. As a participant, you will spend time in labs, explore naval research, including in areas like environmental science and engineering, and work closely with scientists, researchers, and engineers. While the day-to-day schedule can vary by site, you will find opportunities to network with researchers and learn about careers in STEM during the summer program. Additionally, you will shadow STEM professionals and access seminars and presentations throughout SEAP.
Who it’s best for: Students interested in naval research who are looking for a paid internship within advanced lab settings.
3. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Location: NIST in Gaithersburg, MD, or Boulder, CO
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10.4% acceptance rate; 35 students in the last cohort
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application deadline: January 26
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors with a GPA of 3.0+; applicants must be U.S. citizens living within 50 miles of either of the NIST campuses.
Every summer, NIST labs host high school students for seven weeks through the SHIP research internship. As a participant, you will join a laboratory to engage in experimental, testing, and research work, with projects available across STEM areas, including environmental science and engineering. Your daily schedule may include working with materials science or measurement science data, running experiments, documenting lab findings, or assisting with a larger technical investigation. At the end of seven weeks, you will present your work in the form of a poster.
Who it’s best for: Students living near NIST campuses who are interested in spending the summer inside a professional laboratory within a government agency.
4. Princeton University Laboratory Learning Program (LLP)
Location: Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None; some labs may offer a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 1 – 2 students/lab selected out of ~3,500 applications
Dates: Five to six weeks in the summer
Application deadline: March 17
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16, enrolled in a high school, U.S. citizens, and able to provide proof of local housing and transportation in New Jersey
Princeton’s LLP is a summer lab program where local high schoolers get to work with faculty and research staff on real projects in science and engineering. The project focus and tasks vary by year and mentor, but typically include projects in environmental engineering. You may engage in core lab work, data analysis, and/or scientific writing, depending on the project. You will follow a schedule set by your assigned Princeton lab and complete safety training before starting with placement-specific work. At the end, you will submit a two-page research summary describing your research work.
Who it’s best for: New Jersey students looking for a free, credible, laboratory-based summer research experience on a university campus.
5. Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability’s Young Investigators Internships
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; unpaid opportunity for most interns, but an honorarium is available for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch at school or are legally eligible to work in the U.S.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 6 – 30 students accepted each year out of 175-300+ applicants
Dates: Third Tuesday of June – first Thursday in August (eight weeks); a mandatory evening orientation for interns and parents is held during the first week of June
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Students who have completed at least one year of high school (most accepted students are scholars who have completed 2 to 3 years) and live and attend school within about 25 driving miles of Stanford's campus; no upper age limit specified except for lab positions.
This program places high schoolers in Stanford research labs, working directly with graduate scholars, postdocs, and lab managers on real projects. You will choose from several tracks, including Environmental Science & Engineering, Agriculture, History of Life and Biodiversity, Oceans, Geology, Energy, or Social Sciences, each pairing you one-on-one (or in a small team) with a scientist on active research. Beyond your specific project, you will join the full intern cohort twice a week for talks, lab tours, and field trips covering the broader field of sustainability and earth science. You will be expected to work 20 hours a week and commute to campus daily.
Who it’s best for: Students looking for a hands-on environmental science work experience who can commute to the Stanford main campus.
6. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Internships
Location: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 10 to 16 weeks; dates vary by opportunity
Application deadline: Varies by opportunity
Eligibility: Full-time students attending accredited high schools or colleges with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; international students at accredited U.S. institutions must have valid Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization.
Internships at INL allow students to explore what it is like to work at a national laboratory within areas such as civil/structural engineering, mechanical engineering, biology, materials science, cybersecurity, clean energy, and more. You will spend most of your time working on laboratory projects and the rest on lab tours, seminars, and networking. You will also get to work closely with INL professionals who may serve as mentors throughout the experience and offer insights into potential career paths. You will wrap up with a final project presentation.
Who it’s best for: Students interested in working at a national laboratory and willing to commute to the INL facility in Idaho.
7. NYU ARISE (Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering)
Location: New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn/New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $2,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; exact details not specified
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors who live and attend school in NYC
ARISE is a paid program that offers high schoolers research training as well as hands-on research experience within New York University labs. In the initial few weeks, you will undergo training focused on college writing, lab safety, and research skills. Then, you will participate in a six-week lab experience, conducting research in STEM. Placements span a range of engineering fields, including environmental engineering. You will spend the summer gaining about 150 hours of lab experience, receiving college application guidance, working through skill-building activities, and building your research presentation, which you will deliver at the end of ARISE. The program will also offer access to its alumni network.
Who it’s best for: NYC students who want a paid research experience and lab training on a university campus.
8. CUNY HIRES (High School Initiative in Remote Sensing of the Earth Systems Engineering and Sciences)
Location: The City College of New York, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost; $1,000 stipend + three college credits available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~25 students accepted out of about 100 applications/year
Dates: June – August (reception in June, followed by a one-week orientation, then a 7-week program running July through August)
Application deadline: Typically, March
Eligibility: New York City Department of Education (charter or public high school) students who meet reading/writing and math benchmarks (such as an SAT Critical Reading score of 480+, ACT English score of 20+, or equivalent NY State Regents scores) and have completed Algebra 1 and 2 with at least a B average, and/or pre-calculus; students from groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM, including women, students of color, and those from low-income backgrounds, are strongly encouraged to apply.
HIRES, part of the NYC Science Research Mentoring Consortium funded by the Pinkerton Foundation, gives students STEM research experiences in Earth systems engineering and science through CUNY's Remote Sensing Earth System Institute. Alongside peers, NOAA CREST graduate and undergraduate mentors, and CUNY faculty, you will take pre-college credit coursework in GIS, MATLAB/Python, and remote sensing while working on a hands-on research project using real data. Throughout the program, you will take part in field trips that connect classroom concepts to real-world applications and build skills in teamwork, communication, and problem-solving alongside technical abilities. The experience will conclude with a research presentation at the CUNY STEM Summer Research Symposium.
Who it’s best for: Academically strong NYC students looking for structured coursework and project work focused on environmental engineering and Earth systems engineering.
9. Saturday Academy Apprenticeships in STEAM Exploration (ASE)
Location: Sites in Portland, Corvallis, and Oregon/SW Washington; some virtual opportunities may be available
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee (waivers available); learning stipends of $500 – $1,500 available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~75 – 130 placements/year
Dates: Typically, eight weeks in the summer
Application deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Rising 10th to 12th graders who can commute to the internship locations (usually in the Portland-Metro area or in Albany/Corvallis/Eugene)
Saturday Academy’s ASE connects students with mentor-led projects in STEM. You will secure a placement at a lab, university, or organization and engage in tasks ranging from research to fieldwork. Engineering and environmental science-focused work may include running experiments to test water quality and improve contamination cleanup efforts, designing a database to track trail hazards, or designing stormwater, potable water, and wastewater systems. Your primary responsibilities may include working alongside leading scientists and engineers on a research project and undergoing training. At the end, you will present your summer findings at a closing symposium.
Who it’s best for: Students in the Portland-Metro area or Albany/Corvallis/Eugene looking for a paid STEM-focused work experience.
10. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual or George Mason University and affiliated sites in Virginia
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee + $1,299 tuition (fee waivers available); no stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students who are at least 15 years old for remote internships or 16+ years old for in-person/wet-lab opportunities
ASSIP allows college students and high schoolers to work one-on-one with researchers at George Mason University on real STEM projects. Placements span various fields, including civil, environmental, and infrastructure engineering, where you may contribute to research focused on bioinspired design, living civil materials, natural hazard risk and resilience assessment, or cascading hazards. During the eight-week program, you will learn how to work with lab equipment and research tools, and build and practice scientific communication skills. You will also learn about career paths through discussions with researchers and STEM professionals. At the end, you will receive three college credits.
Who it’s best for: Students interested in STEM research and looking to work with a faculty mentor in virtual or university lab settings.
What skills can you pick up in environmental engineering internships?
Environmental engineering internships can help you build skills in areas such as data analysis, research, environmental monitoring, engineering design, and problem-solving. You may also learn how to use technical tools, interpret environmental data, conduct experiments, or communicate your findings. Since many environmental engineering projects involve working with other people, you can also develop teamwork, communication, and project skills.
Can an environmental engineering internship help with your college applications?
An environmental engineering internship can give you specific experiences to discuss if you’re interested in studying the field or related areas like civil engineering and environmental science in college. You can use the experience to discuss in your applications how you explored the field outside your regular classes and what you learned from working on an environmental project.
Explain your interest in the major: You can use your experience to show why environmental engineering became an area you wanted to learn more about. Explain what you did during the internship and which parts of the field interested you. You can also focus on whether the internship confirmed an existing interest or introduced you to a new area of environmental engineering.
Connect your coursework to real work: Discuss how subjects such as chemistry, biology, physics, math, or environmental science were applied during the internship.
Give you material for essays and interviews: Specific projects or challenges you tackled as an intern can become examples to mention when discussing your academic interests in your college application.
If you want a few more practical tips, our guide to using your internship to boost college applications can be your next read!
What students often wonder about these internships
1. What kind of environmental engineering work will you actually be doing during these internships?
Depending on the program, you could be involved in testing water quality, working on contamination cleanup research, analyzing remote sensing or GIS data, studying natural hazard risk, or contributing to projects on sustainable infrastructure like stormwater and wastewater systems. The specific focus depends on the lab or mentor you're assigned, so it's worth reviewing a program's past project areas before applying if you have a particular environmental issue you want to explore.
2. Will your internship focus entirely on environmental engineering, or could you end up working on a different STEM topic?
Many of these programs place students across several STEM tracks, such as biology, materials science, energy, or Earth systems, for example, with environmental engineering as one option among others rather than the sole focus. This means your actual project could lean more toward environmental science, civil engineering, or a related field depending on the mentor or lab you're matched with, so it's a good idea to check how placements are assigned before applying.
3. Are these internships in-person, virtual, or a mix of both?
Most of these internships require you to be on-site at a lab or campus, and some even require proof of local housing or a daily commute. A smaller number offer virtual participation as an option alongside in-person placements. If you need a fully virtual experience, Ladder Internships can pair you with startups to work remotely on real projects.
4. Do these internships cost money to apply for or attend?
It varies quite a bit. Some are completely free and even come with a stipend (up to $4,500 available), while others involve a small application fee (often with waivers available for students who need them) or a program/tuition fee. If cost is a concern, you can check each program's fee structure and whether financial assistance or fee waivers are offered before ruling an option out.