15 Free Remote Internships for High School Students
Internships provide early exposure to how professionals operate in fields of interest while helping you build practical skills beyond the classroom. By contributing to real projects, collaborating with mentors, and supporting ongoing initiatives, you will gain experience that clarifies potential academic and career pathways. Free remote internships for high school students increase accessibility by eliminating costs associated with travel, housing, and program fees.
If you’re interested in learning about the online programs in other subjects, check out some science internships here & find economic internships here.
Why should I do a remote internship in high school?
Remote internships offer flexibility, allowing you to balance academic responsibilities, extracurricular activities, and other commitments. Many universities, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations now offer fully virtual internships where you can contribute to research, writing, data analysis, community outreach, or policy-related work from anywhere. Some of these opportunities are completely free, while others provide full financial aid or stipends to ensure students from different backgrounds participate.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 free remote internships for high school students offered by established organizations that emphasize mentorship, project-based learning, and professional exposure.
Quick Look
15 free remote internships total spanning anthropology, computational biology, bioethics, journalism, nonprofit work, real estate finance, education research, and political science, hosted by organizations including Fred Hutch, NYU Langone, Columbia University, and USC
A few programs offer a stipend despite being fully free to join, including Fred Hutch's Coding for Cancer ($1,000) and Fred Hutch Explorers, while most others are entirely unpaid volunteer-style experiences
Fred Hutch appears twice with distinct programs: Coding for Cancer focuses on computational biology and Python programming, while Explorers centers on science communication and research literacy
Several programs focus specifically on writing, advocacy, and communications rather than STEM research, including EnergyMag, the Borgen Project, and The Legacy Project, offering strong options for humanities-oriented students
Technovation Girls stands out as the most broadly accessible on this list, open to girls and young women aged 8 to 18 worldwide with no prior technical experience required
1. American Anthropological Association Virtual High School Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 - 26
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: High school students
The American Anthropological Association offers a fully virtual internship for high school students interested in anthropology, social science research, and education. In this program, you work with mentors to translate current anthropological research into educational materials used in high school classrooms. As an intern, you will collaborate remotely with peers and researchers while learning how academic scholarship is translated into teaching resources. You will gain experience reviewing academic literature, synthesizing research findings, and creating educational content. The program concludes with a final presentation where interns present their final projects and contribute to publicly accessible teaching materials. This is a good option among free remote internships for high school students that provides a strong introduction to research and academic collaboration.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: financial aid available (up to 100%)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students
Ladder Internships offers structured remote internships where high school students work on real-world projects under the mentorship of startup founders and industry professionals. During the program, you will join a small cohort and contribute to projects across areas such as artificial intelligence, software development, public policy, marketing, and business strategy. Interns collaborate with mentors and peers on topics such as research, product development, or strategic analysis while gaining exposure to startup environments. The program emphasizes hands-on work, allowing you to produce tangible project outcomes while building professional skills. Students receive ongoing mentorship from industry professionals and develop skills in communication, research, and problem-solving. Financial aid is available, including full funding for eligible students, making this a solid option among free remote internships for high school students.
3. Fred Hutch Coding for Cancer Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,000 as a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 27 - August 1
Application Deadline: March 29
Eligibility: Students entering grades 11 - 12
The Coding for Cancer internship offered by Fred Hutch Cancer Center introduces high school students to computational biology and biomedical research through remote mentorship and training. During the program, you will learn foundational programming skills in Python and apply these skills to analyze real-world cancer datasets used by researchers. Interns participate in lectures, coding workshops, and collaborative research activities while working closely with mentors. The program also includes discussions about career pathways in biomedical research, computational science, and data analysis. By the end of the internship, students complete a final project that demonstrates how coding can be applied to real-world cancer research problems. Participants receive a stipend upon successful completion of the program.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program allows high school students to conduct independent research under the mentorship of PhD scholars from leading universities. During the program, you will work with a mentor to develop a research question, review academic literature, and design a structured research project. Students produce a final research paper or project that reflects their work throughout the program. Participants also gain hands-on experience in research methodology, academic writing, and presenting complex ideas effectively. The program supports a wide range of fields, including science, technology, social sciences, and humanities. Financial aid up to 100% is available, making the program accessible to students from diverse backgrounds.
5. NYU Langone Health High School Bioethics Project
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited cohort
Dates: July 7 - 18
Application Deadline: May 2
Eligibility: High school students (rising juniors and seniors)
The High School Bioethics Project, hosted by NYU Langone Health, introduces students to ethical issues in modern medicine and public health. During this virtual program, you will participate in seminars and discussions on topics such as patient autonomy, medical decision-making, healthcare equity, and emerging medical technologies. Students analyze real-world case studies and collaborate with peers to evaluate ethical challenges faced by healthcare professionals. The program is led by experts in medical ethics and public health who guide students through structured discussions and collaborative activities. You will also work on group presentations that apply ethical frameworks to real medical scenarios. This program is completely free and offers an accessible introduction to healthcare ethics and policy, making it a suitable option among free remote internships for high school students.
6. EnergyMag Virtual Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Flexible internship cycles
Application Deadline: Rolling applications
Eligibility: High school and college students
EnergyMag offers remote internships for students interested in energy policy, journalism, and sustainability issues. As an intern, you may contribute to articles, research policy topics, and assist with digital media content related to global energy trends. The internship provides experience in writing, research, and online publishing while allowing students to explore the rapidly evolving energy sector. Interns collaborate remotely with editors and researchers to develop content for the publication’s platform. You will gain exposure to renewable energy, climate policy, and international energy markets. This internship is unpaid but provides practical experience for students pursuing careers in journalism, sustainability, or public policy.
7. Interns 4-Good Virtual Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Rolling placements
Application Deadline: Rolling applications
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 - 12
Interns 4-Good connects high school students with nonprofit organizations needing support for digital and operational projects. As an intern, you may assist with social media management, marketing campaigns, graphic design, research, or website development, depending on your skills and interests. The program is fully remote, allowing you to collaborate with nonprofit teams across different locations while gaining practical experience. Students often work on projects that support community organizations and charitable initiatives. Interns also gain exposure to project coordination and professional communication. This internship is free and designed to help students contribute to real-world nonprofit work while building practical skills.
8. Project Destined Virtual Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students and undergraduates
Project Destined offers a virtual internship focused on commercial real estate, investment analysis, and financial modeling. During the program, you will work with mentors and industry professionals to analyze real estate deals and evaluate investment opportunities. Students participate in virtual workshops and collaborative projects while learning how financial decisions influence property development. Interns also develop skills in research, financial analysis, and professional presentation. The program concludes with teams presenting their investment analyses to mentors and professionals in the field. This internship provides exposure to real estate finance and business strategy through remote collaboration.
9. The Borgen Project Writer/Journalist Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 12-week internship cycles
Application Deadline: Rolling applications
Eligibility: High school and college students
The Borgen Project offers remote internships focused on advocacy and journalism related to global poverty and development policy. During this internship, you will research international issues and produce written content that raises awareness of poverty-reduction initiatives worldwide. Interns also participate in advocacy campaigns that encourage policymakers to support global development programs. Students gain experience in writing, policy research, and digital advocacy while collaborating in a distributed team. The internship will also introduce you to nonprofit communications and grassroots campaigning. This role is fully remote and allows you to develop writing and research skills while contributing to a policy-focused nonprofit organization.
10. The Legacy Project Remote Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohort
Dates: June 8 - August 1
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The Legacy Project offers a remote internship where students work on projects related to storytelling, oral history, and intergenerational communication. Interns collaborate with mentors to collect and document stories that reflect the experiences and insights of older generations. During the program, you will help research topics, conduct interviews, and assist with digital storytelling initiatives. Students gain exposure to research methods, writing, and communication skills while contributing to a nonprofit project. The internship encourages reflection on leadership, community engagement, and cultural history.
11. National STEM Honor Society Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Flexible internship cycles
Application Deadline: Rolling applications
Eligibility: High school students
The National STEM Honor Society offers virtual internships that allow students to contribute to STEM outreach and educational initiatives. As an intern, you may assist with developing learning materials, supporting digital events, and contributing to online STEM resources used by students and educators. The internship provides remote collaboration with students and mentors engaged in science and technology education. Interns gain experience in research, digital communication, and program coordination while supporting STEM learning initiatives. Students also learn how educational organizations design and deliver programs that promote STEM careers.
12. EPIC Virtual Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited cohort
Dates: Multiple flexible cohorts
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students
The EPIC program at Teachers College, Columbia University, offers high school students a virtual internship-style experience focused on education research and policy. During the program, you will participate in seminars, collaborative research discussions, and project-based activities that explore how education systems operate. Students explore topics such as learning science, educational equity, and the impact of policy decisions on schools. Interns also work in small teams to analyze research materials and discuss real-world case studies. The program includes mentorship from researchers and educators affiliated with Columbia University.
13. Fred Hutch Explorers Virtual Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohort
Dates: November - May
Application Deadline: September - October
Eligibility: High school students
The Fred Hutch Explorers Virtual Internship Program provides students with exposure to cancer research and scientific communication through remote collaboration with researchers and program staff. As an intern, you will participate in discussions on current biomedical research and learn how scientific findings are communicated to broader audiences. Students may assist with digital outreach projects, science communication initiatives, or research summaries. The internship introduces participants to the structure of research institutions and the work conducted in cancer research laboratories. Mentors guide interns through interpreting scientific literature and communicating complex ideas clearly.
14. USC Center for the Political Future High School Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 - August 1
Application Deadline: May
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.5+
The High School Summer Internship offered by the USC Center for the Political Future introduces students to public policy, political communication, and civic leadership. During the program, you will attend virtual seminars led by policymakers, journalists, and political strategists covering current policy issues and leadership challenges. You may also participate in discussions on government institutions, policy-making, and political communication strategies. As a participant, you will complete two major projects: a legislative policy memo and a legislative process analysis. These projects are related to a bill of your choice at the local, state, or federal level, focusing on environmental policy or sustainability.
15. Technovation Girls
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: August - May
Application Deadline: Typically April (exact dates vary yearly)
Eligibility: Girls and young women aged 8 - 18 years
Technovation Girls is a global online program in which participants collaborate in teams to design mobile applications or AI-based solutions addressing community problems. You will have access to online curriculum modules, webinars, and mentorship from industry professionals. Throughouttheprogram,you willdevelopaworkingprototypeandprepareapitchfor submission toTechnovation'sglobalcompetition. Along the way, you will gain valuable skills in coding, entrepreneurship, and teamwork. While the program is open to individuals of all experience levels, it particularly encourages participation from girls interested in STEM fields.
Questions Students Often Ask About These Programs
1. I don't have a strong STEM background. Are there options here for me?
Yes, several programs are built specifically around writing, research, and advocacy rather than technical or lab skills. EnergyMag, the Borgen Project, and The Legacy Project all center on writing and research, making them strong fits if journalism, policy, or storytelling interests you more than science. The American Anthropological Association's internship and EPIC at Columbia both focus on social science and education research, which also don't require a technical background to get started.
2. Fred Hutch appears twice on this list. What's the difference between Coding for Cancer and the Explorers program?
Coding for Cancer is more technical, teaching you Python programming and having you apply it directly to real cancer datasets, making it a strong fit if you want hands-on computational experience. The Explorers program is more about science communication, where you learn how cancer research is interpreted and shared with broader audiences rather than working directly with data yourself. If you're drawn to coding and data analysis, Coding for Cancer is the better fit; if you're more interested in how science gets communicated to the public, Explorers offers that angle instead.
3. Several of these programs don't offer a stipend. Is it still worth doing an unpaid remote internship?
Yes, especially since most of these programs offer structured mentorship and a tangible final project or deliverable, which matters more for a college application than whether the role was paid. Programs like Project Destined and USC's Center for the Political Future both conclude with a real presentation or written analysis you can reference directly in essays and interviews. If a stipend matters to you, Fred Hutch's Coding for Cancer and Explorers programs are two of the few options here that do offer one, alongside Ladder Internships and Lumiere's financial aid options.