15 Free Public Health Internships for High School Students
For high school students, public health internships are a practical way to see how professionals address issues like disease prevention, mental health, and health education. They offer a blend of skill development and exposure to fields like epidemiology, community health, and health communication. Interning at a public health organization can boost your college applications, especially if you’re planning to major in public health or related fields.
Many public health internship opportunities are available for high schoolers through top colleges, government organizations (like the CDC), and non-profits, giving you a chance to build a professional network with mentors. In this list of 15 free public health internships for high school students, you’ll find opportunities that focus on research, advocacy, and practical learning. Some programs emphasize data and analysis, while others introduce you to clinical environments or public outreach. Each internship helps you build foundational skills in teamwork, observation, and communication.
1. CDC Pathways Internship Program
Location: Nationwide
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohort size varies based on the needs of individual CDC offices
Dates: Year–round
Application Deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: Students enrolled in an accredited high school who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents who meet the minimum age required by federal, state, or local laws regarding the employment of minors | Age 16+ | Specific positions may require a minimum GPA (often 2.0 or higher)
Through the CDC Pathways Internship Program, you can gain first-hand exposure to public health work within the federal government. You assist in projects tied to disease prevention, health policy, and research while learning how federal agencies operate. Your assignments are structured around your academic or career interests, giving you a clearer view of the public health field and the systems that support it. You’ll collaborate with professionals across multiple disciplines and learn how large-scale health initiatives are managed and evaluated. This free public health internship for high school students offers a structured look into how data, communication, and administration come together in national health efforts.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: 100% financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and gap year students who can work for 10 – 20 hours/week for 8 – 12 weeks
Ladder Internships offers a virtual pathway into the world of startups, including those in health tech and digital wellness. You’ll collaborate directly with company mentors on real projects that contribute to their growth, learning how data, technology, and innovation intersect with public health. Over the eight-week internship, you’ll gain experience managing tasks, presenting your findings, and adapting to a professional remote work environment. For students exploring nontraditional routes into health and policy work, this opportunity fits within the growing range of public health internships for high school students emphasizing practical, cross-disciplinary experience.
3. HHS Pathways Internship Program
Location: Nationwide
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohort size varies according to the HHS Operating or Staff Division and the particular job announcement
Dates: Year–round
Application Deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents and are at least 16 by the end of the application period
The HHS Pathways Internship Program gives you a guided introduction to the inner workings of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You’ll take part in structured learning experiences such as orientation sessions, mentorship, and professional development plans that help you explore your interests in public health, administration, or research. Rotational assignments allow you to experience different divisions and learn how health programs are developed and managed. You’ll also receive up to 40 hours of formal training each year, building core skills like communication, teamwork, and project management. This public health internship for high schoolers emphasizes professional growth through real-world exposure to the federal health system.
4. NIAID Summer Internship Program
Location: NIAID Labs in Maryland (Bethesda/Rockville) and Montana (Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton)
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; >1,000 interns across all student levels
Dates: Eight consecutive weeks between May – September
Application Deadline: Typically early March
Eligibility: Current high school seniors in an accredited school who are at least 17 years old by June 1 | U.S. citizens/permanent residents
With the NIAID Summer Internship Program, you become part of the research network behind the National Institutes of Health. You’ll work alongside scientists studying infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases, which are central to modern public health. Your work may support research aimed at improving treatment or understanding how diseases spread. This internship exposes you to both the scientific and administrative sides of public health research, offering insight into how data and discovery inform national health policy. For high school students exploring free public health internships, NIAID’s Summer Internship Program connects academic learning to real, disease-focused research.
5. Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE) Program
Location: Several institutes in Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend provided weekly
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 20 – 50 students
Dates: 7–11 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (age 16+); must reside in or attend school in MA and commute to Boston
The CURE Program introduces you to biomedical research, where you work closely with a mentor on a cancer research project. Throughout the summer, you’ll participate in seminars, journal clubs, and scientific skill-building sessions that teach you how to read, interpret, and communicate research. You’ll also practice writing abstracts and presenting your findings at the program’s final event, gaining experience in how scientists share their work. Beyond lab work, CURE emphasizes professional development through networking, career exploration, and team-building events. It’s an in-depth way to experience the research process and understand how discovery translates into advances in public health.
6. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 24 students
Dates: June 22 – July 26
Application Deadline: Typically mid-March
Eligibility: Low-income, first-generation high school juniors who live in Northern California
The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program immerses you in the academic and practical sides of health science over five intensive weeks. You’ll intern at Stanford Hospital, attend lectures from Stanford Medicine faculty, and conduct a public health disparities research project. Group projects and mentorship sessions help you connect scientific concepts to real-world health challenges such as inequitable care and community access. Beyond the technical experience, the program also builds your confidence in communicating research and collaborating in professional teams. It also features college prep workshops on financial aid and admissions to support your next steps.
7. OHSU Knight Cardiovascular Internship
Location: OHSU Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Portland, OR
Stipend: Paid, varies by track
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically small cohorts
Dates: Typically 8 weeks in the summer (First week of June – August)
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students enrolled in an Oregon high school who will be at least 16 years old by May 30
In the Knight Cardiovascular Internship, you’ll explore how the heart and vascular system connect to broader public health outcomes. This public health internship for high school students places you alongside experts at the OHSU Knight Cardiovascular Institute, where you’ll observe research and clinical work related to the prevention and treatment of heart disease. You’ll learn how data, technology, and medical collaboration are used to study cardiovascular health and improve patient care. By working with professionals in this field, you’ll develop a stronger understanding of how heart research influences overall wellness. For students seeking that bridge between science and medicine, this program offers a direct look at applied health research in action.
8. OHSU School of Dentistry Summer Research Internship
Location: OHSU School of Dentistry, Portland, OR
Stipend: $15/hour or the current minimum wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not specified
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old
This free public health internship introduces you to dental science, with research areas spanning biomaterials, oral microbiology, regenerative medicine, and craniofacial biomechanics. You’ll work under the guidance of a faculty mentor, conducting research projects and developing presentations that highlight your findings. You will also participate in career development activities and lab seminars to learn about experimental design and research ethics. The program also emphasizes scientific communication, giving you opportunities to explain your work to peers and professionals. As an intern, you’ll get to see how oral health research links to broader health outcomes and public health policy.
9. University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) Summer Internship Program
Location: Virtual/University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Portland, OR
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 8 interns
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: High school students who live in Oregon and are 16 years or older
The UCEDD Summer Internship Program gives you hands-on experience at the intersection of disability studies and health care. Over several weeks, you’ll contribute to projects in research, clinical care, and community engagement while learning how professionals support individuals with developmental disabilities. You’ll also attend workshops and site tours at OHSU to better understand the different roles within public health and allied health services. Networking sessions with researchers and practitioners help you practice collaboration and communication in professional settings. This public health internship for high school students focuses on the skills needed to build inclusive, informed, and community-driven health programs.
10. Samuels Family LA-HIP High School Internship Program
Location: Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; up to 24 interns
Dates: 7 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school juniors attending a public high school in Los Angeles County with good academic standing
The Samuels Family Latino and African American High School Internship Program (LA-HIP) is a highly selective, yearlong paid internship and college preparation program at The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). This public health internship for high school students blends laboratory training with academic preparation, including biology instruction and college application support. You’ll gain experience using professional lab techniques, documenting your work, and presenting results to your peers. Beyond research, the yearlong structure helps you build long-term academic and professional skills related to health and medicine.
11. Children’s Hospital Colorado Child Health Research Internship
Location: Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
Stipend: $4,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically small, exclusive cohort
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: Typically first week of February
Eligibility: High school seniors who are 18 or older and live in Colorado
In this internship, you’ll join researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children’s Hospital Colorado to study pediatric health topics. Your experience may include working in a lab, attending weekly research seminars, and presenting your findings at the end of the program. The mentorship structure gives you direct contact with faculty who specialize in different areas of child health and development. You’ll learn how research translates into better outcomes for children through prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. If you’re interested in public health internships for high school students that focus on children’s well-being, this program provides a strong foundation in both research and communication.
12. KU Medical Center (KUMC) KEE Research and Observation Experiences
Location: KU Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not applicable
Dates: Year–round
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients aged 16 or older
Through the KEE system at the University of Kansas Medical Center, you can explore both research and clinical environments within the health sciences. Depending on your chosen path, you might observe research in progress or take part in supervised learning in medical laboratories. The system also offers opportunities to shadow healthcare professionals across the university’s health network, providing an inside look at patient care and medical teamwork. These structured experiences help you understand how medical research and clinical practice come together to improve public health.
13. Mayo Clinic High School Career Exploration
Location: Mayo Clinic campus, Rochester, MN
Stipend: None; interns receive academic credit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not applicable
Dates: Minimum 60 hours over a semester/summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: 11th and 12th-grade students | Summer internships require applicants to live more than one hour away from the campus, or out of the state/country
Mayo Clinic’s High School Career Exploration internships give you a behind-the-scenes view of one of the nation’s leading medical institutions. You’ll spend time working with a host professional in your chosen field, learning about their daily work, career path, and the education needed to pursue it. Whether in-person or virtual, the experience focuses on practical learning: how health systems function, what various roles involve, and how professionals collaborate across departments. You’ll also gain insight into the ethical and procedural standards that guide health work, such as confidentiality and professionalism. Among public health internships for high school students, this one emphasizes how early career exploration connects to long-term goals in health and research.
14. Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Academy
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: Vary annually
Application Deadline: Varies annually
Eligibility: Rising 9th to 12th-grade high school students identifying as BIPOC or LGBTQ+ or the intersection of both
The Mental Health Advocacy Academy, hosted by Active Minds, centers on leadership and advocacy for equitable mental health access. You’ll connect with other students across the country and learn from experts working in public policy, education, and community wellness. The program dives into real-world issues such as racial justice, inclusivity in health education, and culturally responsive care. Throughout, you’ll develop campaigns and action plans aimed at improving mental health awareness in your school or community. If you’re looking for public health internships for high school students that focus on social impact and mental wellness, this virtual academy builds both your leadership and advocacy toolkit.
15. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual/George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee (fee waivers available) / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 15 – 20 interns per session
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: All high school students | Minimum age 15 for remote/computer lab work; 16 for in-person wet lab research and undergraduates who have not yet graduated
In the Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP), you work one-on-one with university researchers to contribute to original scientific projects. You’ll gain experience using professional lab equipment, analyzing data, and communicating your results in both written and verbal formats. The program emphasizes independent thinking and collaboration, helping you build confidence in problem-solving and research design. Discussion forums and meetings with mentors also expose you to a range of STEM and health-related careers. This is one of the free public health internships for high school students that encourages you to explore how science and innovation intersect with real-world health issues.
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