15 Free Internships for High School Students in NYC
High school is a great time to explore your interests and gain professional experience in a field that interests you. Internships allow you to explore work environments, develop skills, and connect with mentors who can guide your growth. They also help you build soft skills like communication, teamwork, time management, and problem-solving. You’ll learn how different industries, such as business, law, science, and the arts, function. Many of these internships are offered by top organizations and universities, so participation can add to your college application profile.
If you are based in New York City and looking for meaningful opportunities, there are many internships available to high schoolers. You can work in government, tech, business, and non-profits across the city. These internships are free or offer full financial aid, allowing you to learn without the cost associated with typical pre-college programs. To help you get started, we have gathered a curated list of 15 free internships for high school students in NYC.
15 Free Internships for High School Students in NYC
1. The Met High School Internship Program
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $1,100 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective; approximately 36 – 50 students
Dates: June 21 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Rising 10th and 11th-graders who live in or attend high school in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut
In the High School Internship Program at The Met, you’ll connect with professionals in departments like curatorial, digital, design, education, and social media. You’ll join a small cohort of interns, observe and assist in museum-based projects, and learn how real museum teams research, design, digitize, and support exhibitions and public programs. Alongside this hands-on work, you’ll develop essential skills such as professional communication, research, writing, teamwork, and career networking. By the end of your internship, you’ll leave with a genuine museum experience to reference on your resume, and an idea of how your interests might fit into creative or cultural professions.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: 100% financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 – 25%; 70 – 100 students
Dates: Cohorts run in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Winter Cohort: November 16; apply here
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work 10–20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks
The Ladder Internship Program offers high school students a flexible, global opportunity to gain practical experience with real startups, including those in health technology and research. Qualifying participants can attend the program at no cost thanks to full financial aid. You spend 10 to 20 hours weekly contributing to projects such as data analysis, presentation creation, and designing innovative health solutions. You receive mentorship from industry experts and Ladder coaches, making this an exceptional program for students eager to jumpstart their careers while working remotely on meaningful projects with professional guidance.
3. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center - Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Manhattan, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $1,200 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 2%; 20 interns per summer
Dates: June 29 – August 21
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school juniors aged 14 or older by June, maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA in science courses, and residing within 25 miles of New York City
The Summer Student Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center immerses you in an eight-week experience split into two key parts. In the research phase, you’ll join a biomedical or computational lab in Manhattan, working with MSK scientists on projects in areas like cancer biology, immunology, computer science, or structural biology. Under the guidance of a mentor, you’ll design a self-directed study, learn essential lab techniques, and present your findings in lab meetings. The professional and personal development portion takes you beyond the lab, introducing you to translational medicine and the real-world impact of scientific discovery through sessions led by MSK researchers, hospital departments, and career mentors.
4. NYU Tandon - Applied Research Innovations in Science and Engineering Program (ARISE)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $1,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 65 students
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 21
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th graders who live and attend school in NYC
This program allows you to become a real researcher in one of more than 80 university labs. You’ll work alongside NYU faculty and graduate mentors on projects in biomedical, civil, mechanical, or data engineering and gain around 120 hours of hands-on lab experience. The first four weeks prepare you with safety training, writing workshops, and research skills development before you step into your assigned lab for six weeks of immersive research. Beyond technical work, you’ll strengthen public-speaking and presentation skills through Irondale Ensemble Project sessions and share your findings at NYU’s summer colloquium and the American Museum of Natural History.
5. American Museum of Natural History - Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP)
Location: American Museum of Natural History, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $2,500 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; about 60 students annually
Dates: 10 months from August - June, includes a 4-week summer institute in August (August 4 - 28) and a school-year research session
Application Deadline: March 8
Eligibility: NYC high school students in grades 10-11 enrolled in specific programs or partner schools, or have completed AMNH’s youth programs | Passing all classes and able to commit to year-long participation
This program allows you to spend a year exploring real scientific discovery alongside museum researchers. You’ll start with a four-week summer institute in August, where you’ll learn lab techniques, programming languages like Python and R, and how to analyze data through hands-on activities and fieldwork at Black Rock Forest. During the school year, you’ll meet twice a week at the museum and work in a small group with your mentor on a research project ranging from decoding spider genetics to analyzing data from space telescopes. You’ll also meet twice a week at the museum, attend monthly advisory sessions, and receive guidance on writing, coding, and college preparation.
6. The New York Historical Society - Student Historian Internship Program
Location: The New York Historical, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $700 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 25 interns per cohort
Dates: 2 cohorts per year. School year: October 29 - June 24 | Summer: July 8 - August 14
Application Deadline: August 24
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10, 11, or 12 who live in and attend school in the NYC metro area (five boroughs of New York City, as well as areas of New York State, Connecticut, and New Jersey)
This program allows you to carry out an extended research internship working alongside museum professionals in digital humanities and American history. You will conduct in-depth investigations into themes like “Our Composite Nation” with mentors, leverage museum and library collections, and create digital media projects such as websites, podcasts, or interactive games that translate your scholarship into public educational resources. Starting in October, you will meet once a week during the school year in a small cohort to build your research, writing, historical thinking, and digital communication skills until June. Along the way, you’ll get training, collaborate with peers, and receive a stipend upon successful completion of your project.
7. Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) Teen Programs
Location: Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Artslife: $16.50/hour; RECESS: stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; Artslife: 10 students, RECESS: cohort size not specified
Dates: Artslife: 6 weeks in summer, July – August | RECESS I and II: February 18 – 21 and April 15 – 18
Application Deadline: Artslife: April 21 | RECESS: January 12 for both sessions.
Eligibility: Artslife: Rising 10th and 11th graders in NYC public or charter high schools | RECESS: NYC students aged 13 – 18
The MAD Teen Programs at the Museum of Arts and Design give you two distinct paid pathways into the world of art, design, and museums. In the six-week Artslife internship, you’ll begin with a week of team-building and museum orientation, then spend the next five weeks working with staff, local designers, and arts professionals on collaborative projects such as creating artwork, developing a podcast, or leading peer-to-peer tours. During the four-day RECESS intensives, you’ll work behind the scenes to develop youth-friendly tours of current exhibitions, lead those tours, and build your public speaking and communication skills. Both programs allow you to explore careers in curatorial work, education, development, and communications.
8. Project TRUE (Teens Researching Urban Ecology)
Location: Bronx Zoo, Bronx, New York
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Summer: $750 stipend or paid $16/hour through SYEP (if eligible); Fall: $350
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 50 students
Dates: Summer: 7 weeks from late June through early/mid August | Fall: September – December
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors who are residents of the Bronx
Project TRUE (Teens Researching Urban Ecology) allows you to become a field researcher right in your city by working in small teams mentored by Fordham University students and Wildlife Conservation Society scientists. Over a seven-week summer session, you’ll learn field research methods, design your study, collect and analyze data on topics like bird community composition or invasive species in the Bronx River, then continue your project on Saturdays in the fall. You’ll share your findings through a scientific poster or public presentation, strengthen your communication and science-writing skills, and gain firsthand experience in conservation and urban ecology. By the end, you’ll walk away with valuable lab and field skills.
9. Manhattan District Attorney's Office High School Internship Program
Location: Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Manhattan, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid at minimum wage
Acceptance rate/ cohort size: Highly competitive; typically limited cohort size
Dates: June 29 – July 31
Application Deadline: Typically, March
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors residing in Manhattan
The Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program offers summer internships for high school students looking to understand the criminal justice system. As an intern, you’ll participate in workshops and discussions on issues like police accountability, gender-based violence, and legal ethics, then apply that knowledge in a mock trial that lets you experience courtroom dynamics first-hand. Throughout the internship, you’ll develop professionalism by working in an office setting Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, collaborating with staff, attorneys, and investigators. You’ll earn minimum wage while gaining exposure to actual legal procedures, building your resume, and strengthening your critical thinking and communication abilities.
10. Brooklyn Museum - Museum Apprentice Program
Location: Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY.
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Second-year apprentices paid $17.50/hr; below second-year: $16.50/hr
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: November – August
Application Deadline: October 5
Eligibility: NYC high school students
The Museum Apprentice Program at the Brooklyn Museum allows you to immerse yourself in art, education, and museum careers while earning real pay. Over the year, you’ll assist with family programs, lead tours, and collaborate in developing lessons for audiences of all ages. You’ll work with museum educators and curators to explore topics like museum outreach, social justice in art, and how museums serve their communities. Throughout the program, you’ll build skills in communication, presentation, research, collaboration, and time management, all while gaining behind-the-scenes access to one of New York City’s leading cultural institutions. By the end, you’ll leave with meaningful work experience you can highlight on your college applications.
11. SCA College Internship Program
Location: Various SCA departments and business-partner companies throughout New York City
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $16.50/hr stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; typically small cohort size
Dates: July 7 – August 15
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: New York City public high school students in good academic standing who are legally eligible to work in the U.S.
The SCA High School Summer Internship Program offers high school students six weeks of work experience, four days a week, at a host department or partner company, while attending educational workshops one day a week. You’ll engage in meaningful tasks such as research, document management, spreadsheet work, or even construction site visits, depending on your placement and interests. The program also provides 10-hour OSHA safety training if your assignment involves construction exposure and gives you access to panels, design challenges, and networking with industry professionals. By participating, you will build practical workplace skills and explore fields such as architecture, engineering, construction management, IT, business, and public administration.
12. Ladders for Leaders Summer Internship Program
Location: New York City, with internships available in the five boroughs
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend ~$12/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; over 1,800 participants annually
Dates: Six weeks, June 15 – July 24
Application Deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Youth aged 16 – 18 who are residents of New York City, enrolled in high school or college, and legally eligible to work in the U.S.
The Ladders for Leaders Summer Internship Program connects you to a six-week paid professional internship in one of New York City’s top corporations, non-profit organizations, or government agencies. You’ll begin by completing up to 30 hours of pre-employment training where you’ll build your résumé, practice interviewing, and learn workplace professionalism. After training, the program matches you to a worksite based on your interests, taking on real tasks like data analysis, event planning, design work, or operations with professional mentors. Along the way, you’ll gain new skills in communication, collaboration, and problem-solving while building a valuable network of contacts.
13. Columbia Zuckerman Institute - BRAINYAC
Location: Columbia University Zuckerman Institute, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 20 students
Dates: Seven weeks during the summer (June – August)
Application Deadline: October 31
Eligibility: 10th and 11th-graders who live in NYC and are enrolled in partner programs (S-PREP, BioBus, Lang Youth Medical, Double Discovery Center, or Columbia Secondary School)
This program immerses you in real neuroscience research at Columbia University, working alongside scientists who guide you through your own lab project. After completing weekend training sessions in the spring to build lab and research skills, you’ll spend seven weeks in the summer as part of a Columbia lab, learning how experiments are designed, conducted, and analyzed. You might process and stain brain tissue, analyze behavior videos, or use microscopy to investigate neural cell patterns - projects that form a small but meaningful part of your mentor’s research. Throughout the experience, you’ll gain technical lab techniques and professional exposure to the scientific process.
14. Futures and Options - The Internship Program
Location: Various business, nonprofit, and government host sites in New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size varies by year
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: NYC high school juniors and seniors ages 16-19 with valid working papers
In this program, you’ll spend 6 weeks working between 15 - 30 hours/ week at a business or nonprofit that matches your interests. Before beginning your internship, you’ll complete orientation and career-readiness sessions where you’ll learn résumé writing, interviewing, professional communication, and financial literacy. During the internship, you’ll engage in meaningful tasks such as research, social media content creation, event support, or data entry, while also attending weekly workshops and a team-coordinated field trip with peer interns. Your Futures and Options coordinator will support you throughout the experience, connecting you with a workplace mentor, monitoring your progress, and helping you reflect on your goals and skills.
15. Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program (TMSLIP)
Location: Various law firms, corporations, nonprofits, and government offices in New York City
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; around 35 students per cohort
Dates: 6-8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: January 6
Eligibility: NYC public high school students aged 16 or older by program start and legally eligible to work in the U.S.
The Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program allows you to work side-by-side with legal professionals in New York City across law firms, nonprofits, and government offices. You’ll first complete pre-employment training that covers résumé building, interviewing, and workplace preparation, then spend 6-8 weeks in the summer doing meaningful legal work such as research, document preparation, and trial support. Along the way, you’ll participate in workshops, networking, and professional development events to learn about the law career pathway. This paid internship gives you early exposure to legal practice, builds your communication and analytical skills, and strengthens your college-application profile.
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