11 Free Architecture Internships for High School Students

If you’re a high school student interested in how spaces are designed and structures come to life, an architecture internship is a great way to explore this subject. These experiences let you experience design studios, planning projects, and model-making, showing you what it’s like to work as an architect. These programs are free, so you gain industrial experience and build practical skills without spending money. 

Whether you are curious about architecture, urban planning, or interior design, these internships let you test whether architecture appeals to you. You can build a portfolio and meet professionals before you commit to a college major. We’ve compiled a list of the top 11 free architecture internships for high school students, each offering experience, mentorship, and credible host organizations.

1. DPR Build Up High School Internship

Location: Construction project sites across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Paid hourly + transportation stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive (limited by available project sites)
Dates: 8-week internship (full-time, 35–40 hours/week, summer)
Application Deadline: Not specified (applications open annually)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, or recent graduates; must meet HUD income criteria; authorized to work in the U.S.

The DPR Construction Internship program gives high school students a look at how architecture and engineering come together on construction sites. You’ll work alongside professionals and see firsthand how blueprints turn into buildings. You’ll also receive mentorship, safety training, and project management experience, helping you understand every stage of the construction process. The internship culminates in a final presentation, where you’ll showcase your learning. It’s a great way to see how the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries collaborate to shape real environments.

2. Ladder Internship Program

Location: Remote (work from anywhere)
Cost/Stipend: 100% financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Application Deadline: Rolling (varies by cohort)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, or gap year students able to commit 10–20 hrs/week

Ladder Internships connect ambitious high school students with high-growth startups around the world, offering a chance to work on real projects in fields such as architecture, design, and sustainability. You’ll collaborate directly with company managers and Ladder Coaches, who’ll provide personalized feedback and guide you throughout the internship process. Even though the internship is remote, it is highly collaborative, giving you an authentic glimpse into real-world project work. Apply now!

3. Chicago Architecture Center Teen Fellows

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Cost/Stipend: Free + stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer to Spring (3 semesters)
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors attending school in Chicago

This program introduces students to architecture and urban design through the lens of  Chicago’s dynamic built environment. You’ll take college-level courses, experiment with materials and digital design tools, visit architecture firms, and build a portfolio of work. You’ll work on locally-focused design projects that explore how architecture shapes the way people live and interact with their surroundings, under the guidance of professionals. Along the way, you’ll earn college credit through the hosting institution and gain hands-on experience that helps you think and create like an architect. At the end of the program, you may even qualify for paid summer internships.

4. Boston Private Industry Council Architecture Internship

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Rolling placements
Dates: June–August (6–8 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students enrolled in Boston Public Schools

This program gives Boston public high-school students an opportunity to step into the world of architecture and design by working directly with local firms. You’ll gain experience in physical and digital modelling, take part in site visits around Boston, and see how design connects with the community, culture, and environment. You’ll develop both hands-on skills, such as model making and digital tools, and gain professional experience through firm tours, presentations, and mentorship from architects. Best of all, the program is free and paid. If you live in Boston or nearby, this is a good way to explore the design world early in life. 

5. Summer Exploratory Experience in Design (SEED) by Sasaki Foundation

Location: Boston, MA (online option available)
Cost/Stipend: Free + stipend provided?
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June–August (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: November 8
Eligibility: High school students

This six-week experience introduces high school students to the world of architecture, interior design, urban planning, and landscape architecture through real-world learning at the Sasaki Foundation. You’ll learn computer‐aided drawing and hand sketching, participate in team design projects, and end the program by presenting your work to peers and professionals. Because the program is free and includes a stipend, it is a very accessible free architecture internship for high school students. The availability of an online option makes the program even more accessible, allowing students who can’t relocate to gain valuable experience and mentorship in architecture and design.

6. STEMcx High School Architecture Internship

Location: Maryland and other states + trip to North Carolina
Cost/Stipend: $15/hour (total $2,400)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited
Dates: June 17 – August 10 (8 weeks) (Tentative)
Application Deadline: February 25
Eligibility: Rising sophomores–seniors (ages 16+), underrepresented minorities from Baltimore and nearby counties

STEMcx brings together architecture, technology, and community service in one hands-on program. Students participate in 3D printing, AutoCAD workshops, and design exercises, while also giving back through volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity. A highlight of the program is a week-long trip to North Carolina State University, where participants take an advanced AutoCAD class and experience life on a college campus. The program ends with a final design project focused on improving a local Baltimore community space, which you’ll present to your mentors.

7. UC Berkeley’s embARC Summer Design Academy

Location: UC Berkeley, California
Cost/Stipend: Paid (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 7 – August 1 (Tentative)
Application Deadline: Rolling (opens December 16)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA

embARC at UC Berkeley brings together architecture, urban design, and sustainability in a real-world summer experience. As an intern, you’ll create models, learn digital design, and engage in discussions with UC faculty. By the end of the program, you’ll have a portfolio of original design work – a valuable asset for college and scholarship applications. With generous financial aid, embARC remains one of the top free architecture internships for high school students seeking a university-backed experience.

8. Girls Garage Programs for Girls

Location: Berkeley, California
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30–40% acceptance; small cohorts (12 students)
Dates: Summer sessions + year-round workshops
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: 9th–12th grade girls and gender-expansive youth

Girls Garage empowers girls and gender-expansive youth through hands-on building and design projects that make a real impact in their communities. You’ll work on architectural and carpentry projects for nonprofits, learning skills such as drafting, construction, and design while collaborating with peers and mentors. From screen printing to building full-screen installations, you’ll develop practical technical skills and confidence in design. The program prioritizes youth of color and students with financial need, ensuring access to free, high-quality design education.

9. BSA Foundation Architecture/Design High School Internships

Location: Local firms in Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Paid via FutureBOS
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Depends on firm participation
Dates: July 6 – August 14 (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Boston Public School students (Grades 9–12)

This program connects high school students with top Boston architecture and design firms through the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC). You’ll spend most of your week at your host firm, gaining experience in architectural practice, from drafting and design to project coordination and client interactions. Each week wraps up with the “Summer Fridays,” where you’ll join firm tours, lectures, and neighborhood design walks that deepen your understanding of Boston’s built environment. Every placement is unique, offering a real taste of architectural practice. And the best part? You’ll earn a paycheck while building your skills and network.

10. SCA High School Summer Internship Program (New York City)

Location: NYC (School Construction Authority departments and partner firms)
Cost/Stipend: Paid ($16.50/hour)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited placements
Dates: June–August (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: NYC public high school students with good academic standing

This New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) program gives high school students the opportunity to experience the architecture, engineering, and construction industries from the inside. You’ll gain experience working with firms, completing OSHA safety training, visiting job sites, and attending career workshops. Firms such as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and DLR Group often participate in the program, giving students the opportunity to learn directly from industry professionals and see how major projects come together. 

11. NOMA Project Pipeline

Location: 20+ cities across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Free for many locations (varies)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by city
Dates: Varies by city (typically June-August)
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Students of colour in grades 6-12

This initiative by the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) introduces high-school students to the power of architecture and design as tools for community change. You’ll see how architecture shapes communities by collaborating with design professionals and civic leaders, and participating in workshops, interviews, and site visits. Offered at no cost at many locations, this program is a good option, especially for students interested in the intersection of design, equity, and social justice.

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