15 Free Business Management Internships for High School Students
As a high school student interested in management, you’ve probably learned business skills through textbooks or club meetings. Internships, however, allow you to experience management, finance, and operations firsthand. Participating in a business management internship can help you stand out when applying to top colleges for business majors. Many business management internships are fully funded or paid, giving you the chance to explore different career paths without the financial burden of traditional summer programs.
Business-focused internships, offered by top colleges or large organizations, provide the opportunity to interact with professionals, build confidence in a workplace environment, and understand how various departments within a company work together. These experiences are particularly useful if you enjoy organizing, problem-solving, or learning how teams operate. To help you find the right fit, we’ve put together a list of the top 15 free business management internships for high school students.
1. Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) Internship Program
Location: Boston area, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Cost/Stipend varies between $15 – $18 based on employer
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 6 -7 weeks between July - August
Application Deadline: Typically late winter or early spring
Eligibility: High school students between grades 9 – 12 attending Boston Public Schools who are 16 years old by July 1 | Must have work authorization in the U.S.
The Boston PIC Internship Program links Boston Public School students with paid summer roles through the Mayor’s Summer Jobs initiative, placing participants at companies across industries such as finance, health care, law, life sciences, and technology. You will assist with tasks in human resources, accounting, marketing, operations, or customer service, depending on your placement. Past business partners include major employers like Bank of America, Liberty Mutual, Fidelity Investments, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, giving you a chance to observe how decisions are made in professional settings. Since placements span a wide range of office environments, you gain exposure to how different sectors approach business.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: 100% financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 – 25%
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: High school, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
The Ladder Internship Program matches high school students with high-growth startups for an eight-week, fully virtual internship built around real project work. You collaborate directly with startup managers on assignments involving fields such as consulting, media, AI/ML, fintech, or marketing, depending on the company’s focus. Throughout the program, you develop workplace skills through regular check-ins, ongoing feedback, and structured training sessions on communication, time management, and presentation skills. At the end of the internship, you present your project deliverables to the host company.
3. Chicago Summer Business Institute
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid (amount unspecified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective
Dates: 6 weeks from June to August
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors residing in Chicago, having a GPA of B or 3.0, and a family income of $80,000 or less per year
The Chicago Summer Business Institute provides paid internships designed to introduce high school students to the financial services sector and the broader business landscape. Through placements at firms such as Siebert Brandford Shank, Cabrera Capital Markets, and the City of Chicago’s Department of Finance, you learn how economic research, budgeting, and financial analysis support daily decision-making. Alongside the internship, the program includes workshops and seminars that explore financial planning, economic principles, and workplace expectations. If you join, you can expect to contribute to projects that help you understand how public and private organizations manage resources.
4. Young Entrepreneurs Program
Location: Kansas City, MO / Columbus, OH
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend of $12–14/hour + $2,500 scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Session 1: June 2 – June 27; Session 2: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors residing in Kansas City or Columbus
The Young Entrepreneurs Program places students in paid internships with businesses across the Midwest, providing a four-week experience focused on understanding how companies innovate and manage day-to-day operations. You work on projects that highlight skills such as financial planning, problem-solving, and communication while observing how startups and established companies balance costs, market demand, and growth. You also have opportunities to collaborate with mentors who walk you through how business decisions are shaped by economic and engineering considerations. Those who complete the program successfully receive a $2,500 scholarship, which supports both academic and career development goals.
5. Warner Bros. Reach Honorship Program – Business Track
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $5,000 scholarship towards college + stipend paid during summer internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 4 summers during your college years, beginning the summer you graduate
Application Deadline: Typically, January or February
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors from Burbank or Los Angeles County with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
The Warner Bros. Reach Honorship Program supports graduating high school seniors by offering a multi-year internship-scholarship combination centered on the business side of the entertainment industry. You receive a paid summer internship each year of college and a total of $5,000 in scholarship support, disbursed annually with GPA requirements. Internships take place across more than 60 studio departments, such as marketing, publicity, social media, operations, finance, and media research, where you may work on tasks tied to current film or television projects. Each summer, the program pairs you with a new executive mentor who introduces you to the professional networks and workflows that shape studio operations.
6. The Emma Bowen Foundation (EBF) Summer Internship
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer (exact dates vary by placement)
Application Deadline: Rolling acceptance
Eligibility: High school seniors who plan to attend a four-year accredited U.S. college or university and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 | Currently authorized to work in the U.S. | At least 18 years old prior to the internship’s start
The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship places students in paid positions at leading media, technology, and entertainment organizations, including Paramount, NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Discovery, and the NFL. The program is organized into three tracks–Business, Content, and Innovation, covering areas such as journalism, marketing, PR, sales, engineering, computer science, and data analysis. If selected, you’re matched with a partner company where you take on projects aligned with your chosen track while receiving mentorship from industry professionals. You also participate in the EBF Launch Career Activation Program and attend the Annual Summer Conference, both of which provide training and networking opportunities.
7. Clark County Summer Business Institute (SBI)
Location: Clark County - Las Vegas
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount/per hour rate not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: 6 – 8 weeks in the summer; early June – late July/early August
Application Deadline: Typically, late winter/early spring
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are at least 16 years old by June 9 and have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
The Clark County Summer Business Institute offers high school students a paid eight-week introduction to professional environments through placements at more than 80 local businesses and organizations. You work Monday through Wednesday in full-day assignments that can involve fields like business administration, law, medicine, IT, or communications, earning $12 per hour. Thursdays are dedicated to seminars that cover financial literacy, workplace communication, and other career-readiness topics. At the end of the summer, some interns also qualify for college payment bonuses, which support continued education beyond high school.
8. TIP Intern Program – Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Location: Boston
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective
Dates: Summer placements between July – August for 8 to 10 weeks
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: High school students who attend a Boston Public School and have completed their sophomore year
The TIP Intern Program at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston introduces high school students to paid professional work through a summer experience that blends job responsibilities with structured coaching, workshops, and mentorship. It places you in departments where you support administrative functions, financial operations, or project-based tasks tied to the bank’s broader mission. Those who perform well may be invited to continue in a year-round role for up to three years, giving you continuity in a professional environment. You also meet professionals across multiple departments, which helps you understand how different roles connect within the financial sector.
9. KP Launch High School Program
Location: Kaiser Permanente Medical Centre or business office closest to you
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid up to $24/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–19 with work eligibility in the U.S. and permanent residence in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area
The KP Launch High School Program is a paid seven-week internship that exposes students to the business and administrative side of healthcare by placing them in departments such as operations, finance, accounting, communications, and workforce administration. As an intern, you earn hourly wages while assisting staff with tasks that support hospital or clinic operations, providing a behind-the-scenes view of how large healthcare systems manage resources and deliver services. Weekly workshops introduce topics like project management and communication, and students also participate in mentorship sessions with supervisors who explain how various non-clinical roles contribute to patient care.
10. CLA High School Internship Program
Location: Multiple locations around the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Eight weeks (mid-June – August)
Application Deadline: Typically, in January
Eligibility: High school students at least 16 at the start of the program | Authorized to work in the U.S. without visa sponsorship
The CLA High School Internship Program places students in a professional accounting and business services environment where they assist teams working on client projects. You get to participate in activities such as job shadowing, interactive case studies, and team assignments that introduce them to tax, audit, and financial analysis workflows. You’ll also spend time developing communication and collaboration skills by observing how professionals analyze financial information and prepare deliverables for clients across different industries. Mentors guide you through project expectations and answer questions about various career paths in finance and accounting.
11. Fidelity Investments Asset Management High School Summer Internship
Location: Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: 5 weeks from July-August
Application Deadline: Typically, late October or November
Eligibility: All high school students
The Fidelity Investments Asset Management High School Summer Internship gives students a five-week introduction to how investment teams evaluate markets, analyze data, and make decisions about portfolio strategy. You’ll work on projects that familiarize you with core concepts such as risk management, financial analysis, and asset allocation, using market information to understand how economic factors drive investment choices. You’ll spend part of the internship learning from professionals in asset management and related areas, observing how different roles contribute to the investment process. Critical thinking and data interpretation are covered through assignments that require evaluating trends or comparing performance outcomes. At the end of the program, participants receive a certificate.
12. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Nationwide (the Leadership Summit is held in Washington, D.C.)
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend provided + all expenses covered towards the trip to Washington, D.C.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 5% – 8%
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer; The summit takes place between July 21 – 26
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who have authorization to work in the United States, live in an eligible area, and have not participated in the program before
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program selects high school juniors and seniors for an internship at a local nonprofit, where students support daily operations and observe how organizations balance budgets, manage programs, and conduct community outreach. Around 300 students nationwide participate each year, working with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and the Boys and Girls Clubs. You handle tasks that reflect real organizational needs, giving you insight into how nonprofits apply business principles to serve their communities. You also attend a national Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., which includes discussions on civic engagement, public policy, and cross-sector collaboration.
13. High School Business Internship – PNNL
Location: PNNL (various locations)
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: August – May (during the school year)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who attend a partnering local high school (Tri-Cities, WA) and have U.S. work eligibility
The High School Business Internship at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory runs during the academic year and lets students work up to four hours per day in areas such as administration, accounting support, communications, or project coordination. You’ll earn elective credit through your school’s work-based learning program while collaborating with mentors who guide you through daily responsibilities. You also take part in leadership development workshops, career awareness activities, and occasional laboratory tours that highlight how business roles support scientific research. The internship gives students a structured view of how a federal research laboratory manages its operations and administrative workflows.
14. Summer Venture in Business – University of Kansas
Location: University of Kansas School of Business (Lawrence, KS)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 15 – 20; July 13 – 18
Application Deadline: Typically in the spring
Eligibility: Rising 11th–12th grade students
This fully-funded Summer Venture in Business (SVB) pre-college academy immerses students in business concepts such as entrepreneurship, marketing, and finance. Guided by expert KU faculty, you will be a part of classes, group projects, and professional presentations. The program also dedicates attention to college readiness, offering resources on admissions, financial aid, and academic success strategies. Designed as an access-focused experience, SVB actively prioritizes students from underrepresented backgrounds for this academically enriching opportunity, fostering networking and mirroring real-world business scenarios. The program includes workshops with corporate partners, panels featuring current students and alumni, and industry tours.
15. University of Colorado Boulder – Business Leadership Program (BLP)
Location: Boulder, Colorado (University of Colorado Boulder Campus)
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $1,000 scholarship given to the winning case competition team
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 50 – 60 students
Dates: June 21 – 27
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Current high school juniors attending a Colorado high school, particularly first-generation or low-income students | Seniors must plan on attending the Leeds School of Business
The University of Colorado Boulder – Business Leadership Program (BLP) is a fully-funded, one-week residential summer program hosted by the Leeds School of Business, specifically targeting talented high school juniors interested in business and leadership. Its curriculum covers essential topics like management, strategy, marketing campaigns, and diversity/social identities in business. You will compete in a case challenge, receive advice from top business professionals, and learn from CU Boulder professors. A unique feature is that the program is no-cost and prioritizes underrepresented, first-generation, and diverse Colorado students. You develop critical skills in teamwork, public speaking, problem-solving, and professional networking.
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