15 Internships for 15 Year Olds

High school internships can give students an early look into careers they may want to pursue in college and beyond. Whether you’re interested in science, business, law, medicine, engineering, or media, participating in an internship for 15 year olds can help you build practical skills, strengthen your resume, and gain exposure to professional environments before senior year.  Starting this early also means you have more time to try out different fields before you have to narrow down your interests, so an internship at 15 can double as low-stakes exploration rather than a fixed career choice. It also gives you a head start on the kind of real-world experience that typically only shows up on college applications a couple of years later.

If you’re open to online programs in certain subjects, check out some science internships here & find economic internships here!

Why should you do an internship as a 15 year-old?

Many programs also provide mentorship, networking opportunities, and hands-on projects that go beyond what students typically experience in school classrooms. Finding an internship for 15 year olds can be challenging because many programs set a minimum age of 16 or 18. Which is why we’ve put together 15 internships for 15 year olds. While some internships are highly selective, there are also accessible virtual and low-cost opportunities designed specifically for younger high school students. Getting started this young also means you can revisit a field you tried and decide it's not for you, then pivot with plenty of time left before college applications matter. Many of the programs on this list are built with that flexibility in mind, so you're not locked into a single path this early on.

Key takeaways

• This list gathers 15 internships and hands-on programs for 15-year-olds spanning federal research labs, national parks, museums, and citizen science platforms, with standout hosts including Stanford, the Smithsonian, and the National Park Service.

• Most of these are free or paid, with stipends reaching up to $5,600 at one Smithsonian program, while a couple of entries carry real costs, including one Navy research apprenticeship priced at $4,000 and an international volunteer-teaching program billed weekly.

• Two entries aren't traditional internships at all, one is an ongoing citizen-science transcription project and the other is a paid volunteer teaching placement abroad, both worth knowing about since they differ meaningfully from the rest of this list; one research program's eligibility here also conflicts with the age minimum listed for the same program elsewhere, so it's worth confirming directly before applying.

• Several of these are open nationally or virtually, including the citizen-science platforms and Ladder, while a few, including one Smithsonian program, require living in a specific regional area.

• A couple of the earliest deadlines fall in November and February for two of the most competitive research programs, so it's worth building a target list well ahead of spring.

1. The New York Academy of Sciences Junior Academy

Location: Virtual (global participation through the Launchpad platform)
Cost: Free
Cohort size: Highly selective; thousands of applications received annually
Dates: Challenge periods run throughout the academic year
Application Deadline: July 2
Eligibility: Ages 13 – 17

The Junior Academy is a virtual STEM innovation program where high school students collaborate with peers from around the world to solve real-world challenges. Participants work in international teams and receive mentorship from STEM professionals and industry experts throughout each challenge cycle. The program includes training in research methods, design thinking, and data analysis before students begin team-based projects. Students interact through NYAS’s online Launchpad platform, which hosts discussions, mentorship, and project collaboration. Challenges are sponsored by major organizations and focus on areas such as science, technology, engineering, and social impact. The program typically requires a commitment of around three to four hours per week during active challenge periods.

2. Ladder Internship Program

Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type (financial aid available)
Cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!

Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.

3. Stanford University SPINWIP (Stanford Program for Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Physics)

Location: Virtual
Stipend: Free
Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 24
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11

SPINWIP is a three-week virtual summer physics program for high school students interested in exploring advanced topics in STEM. Participants attend lectures by Stanford professors and researchers covering subjects such as quantum physics, astrophysics, cosmology, and quantum computing. The program also introduces students to Python coding and includes small-group physics projects led by Stanford undergraduate mentors. In addition to academic sessions, students participate in college planning and career development workshops. No prior experience in physics or coding is required, making the program accessible to beginners.

4. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)

Location: Fairfax, VA; in-person, hybrid, and remote opportunities available
Cost: $25 application fee; $1,299 tuition for 3 college credits (fee waivers available based on financial need)
Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Ages 15+ for remote/computer lab internships; ages 16+ for wet-lab internships

ASSIP is an eight-week summer research internship that allows high school students to work directly with faculty mentors on STEM research projects. You gain hands-on experience using advanced research tools and technologies across fields such as biology, computer science, engineering, neuroscience, climate science, and data science. Interns also develop scientific writing, communication, and problem-solving skills while exploring STEM careers through workshops and discussion sessions. The program includes opportunities to contribute to research publications, presentations, and conference projects.

5. The Scripps Research Institute Student Research Internship Program

Location: La Jolla, CA
Stipend: Not specified
Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 - August 7 or June 15 - August 7
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: High school students

The Student Research Internship Program at Scripps Research is a 10-week summer internship focused on translational medicine, genomics, and mobile health research. High school students work with assigned mentors and gain exposure to topics such as genetic studies, clinical trial design, and health-monitoring technologies. Most participants conduct research in dry lab settings involving statistics, computational science, and data analysis, although a limited number of wet lab opportunities are also available. Interns learn how translational research connects scientific discoveries to patient care and personalized medicine. 

6. National Park Service Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)

Location: Various national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and fish hatcheries across the United States
Stipend: Paid; participants earn at least state or federal minimum wage
Cohort size: Varies by site
Dates: Typically 8 – 10 weeks during summer (some programs may extend to 18 weeks)
Application Deadline: Varies by park/site
Eligibility: Ages 15 – 18

The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is a paid summer employment program where high school students work on conservation and public land projects across the United States. You may help build trails, restore streams, preserve historic sites, maintain campgrounds, and support wildlife habitat projects in national parks and other federal lands. Most programs are day programs, meaning students commute daily to their assigned site, although Yellowstone National Park offers an overnight residential option. In addition to hands-on outdoor work, students take part in educational activities and field trips focused on environmental science, history, and public land stewardship. 

7. The University of Texas at Austin STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) High School Summer Intern Program

Location: Austin, TX; virtual and on-site components
Stipend: Housing, meals, and local transportation provided for selected on-site participants; limited travel scholarships available
Cohort size: Nationally competitive
Dates: Remote project work: June – July 3; on-site internship: July 5 – 18; Virtual Symposium: July 20 – 21
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–11

The SEES High School Summer Intern Program is a NASA-supported STEM internship hosted by the University of Texas Center for Space Research. You work with NASA scientists, researchers, and industry experts on projects related to aerospace, astronomy, planetary science, remote sensing, and Earth systems research. You complete online learning modules and collaborate with mentors on mission-based research projects involving data analysis, visualization, and engineering problem-solving. The program includes both virtual and on-site components, with selected students traveling to UT Austin for hands-on research experiences.

8. Department of the Navy Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)

Location: Various Department of Navy laboratories across the United States
Cost: $4,000 for new participants; $4,500 for returning participants
Cohort size: Approximately 300 placements across 38+ laboratories
Dates: Eight-week summer internship (some labs may extend up to two additional weeks)
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least Grade 9 (See exceptions below); Must be currently enrolled in high school (but may be taking college-level classes for college credit) 

The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) places high school students in Department of Navy research laboratories for hands-on STEM research experiences during the summer. You work directly with scientists and engineers on projects related to Naval research, technology, and engineering. Students gain exposure to laboratory research methods while developing technical, analytical, and professional skills through mentorship and project-based work. The program is highly competitive and selects students based on academic achievement, recommendations, personal statements, and research interests. 

9. The Metropolitan Museum of Art High School Internship Program

Location: New York City, NY
Stipend: $1,100
Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–11

The Met High School Internship Program is a paid summer opportunity for students interested in exploring museum careers and professional development. You work with museum staff across departments such as curatorial studies, education, design, imaging, and social media while participating in cohort-based activities and workshops. The program includes departmental placements totaling approximately 40 hours, along with career readiness sessions, mentorship, and collaborative check-ins with peers. No prior background in art or art history is required, and students from a wide range of interests are encouraged to apply.

10. The New York Historical Student Historian Internship Program

Location: New York City, NY
Cost: $700 stipend
Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – August 13
Application Deadline: March 29
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12

The Student Historian Internship Program is an in-person history and digital humanities internship for high school students interested in research, writing, and public history. Interns can use the museum and library resources of The New York Historical to conduct research and create digital projects focused on American history themes. Students work collaboratively with peers while learning about museum studies, archives, digital humanities, and historical scholarship from professional staff. The program emphasizes historical thinking, communication, research, and digital media skills through academically rigorous project work. 

11. English Teacher Assistant Volunteer Program - Instituto Hemingway 

Location: Bilbao, Spain
Cost: €500/week
Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Flexible; placement options range from one week to one year 
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Ages 14 and above

Instituto Hemingway brings volunteers of all ages from high school and above to work as teaching assistants for underserved children in northern Spain. You’ll intern for local instructors to support English language education, including developing creative lesson plans, games, and activities for interactive learning, and directly teaching students. You’ll also provide guidance through reading to young students, help older students complete projects and homework, and serve as a fluent speaker with whom children can practice their English skills. On weekends and weekday evenings, you’ll participate in activities like salsa lessons, museum tours, and hiking on local beaches and mountains.

12. Smithsonian Institution Digital Volunteers (Transcription Center)

Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Cohort size: Open participation
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to students; no formal minimum age (students under 18 may participate with parental guidance)

The Smithsonian Transcription Center allows high school students to contribute to real historical research by transcribing handwritten documents, field notes, diaries, and museum records from the Smithsonian’s collections. While it’s not an official internship, as a volunteer you will help make millions of archival materials more accessible to researchers and the public while developing attention to detail, historical research skills, and digital literacy. You can choose projects based on your interests, including science, aviation, art, natural history, and American history. Because the program is fully online and self-paced, you can contribute whenever your schedule allows, making it an excellent first research experience.

13. Zooniverse Citizen Science Projects

Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Cohort size: Open participation
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to participants of all ages

Zooniverse is the world’s largest citizen science platform, allowing high school students to contribute to real scientific research alongside professional researchers. You can participate in projects involving astronomy, ecology, medicine, climate science, archaeology, and artificial intelligence by classifying images, analyzing datasets, or identifying wildlife. Many published scientific papers include contributions from Zooniverse volunteers. The flexible, self-paced format allows you to explore multiple research fields while developing analytical thinking, observation, and data interpretation skills

14. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Summer High School Internship

Location: Washington, D.C.
Stipend: $5,600
Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: High school students ages 15-18, and must be located within the D.C., Maryland, or Virginia area

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Summer High School Internship gives students the opportunity to work alongside museum professionals on real scientific and educational projects. Interns are placed in departments such as paleobiology, anthropology, mineral sciences, and museum education, where they assist with research, collections, data management, and public engagement. Alongside your departmental work, you will participate in career development workshops, mentorship sessions, and networking events with Smithsonian scientists and staff. The internship also provides free lunch and transport for students, along with exposure to museum careers while helping you build research, communication, and professional skills.

15. Adler Planetarium High School Internship Program

Location: Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid
Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer and academic year opportunities available
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12

The Adler Planetarium High School Internship Program gives students the opportunity to work with educators, astronomers, and museum professionals while exploring careers in science communication and public engagement. This is an opportunity for students to engage with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), prepare for a variety of careers, act as community thinkers and change-makers, and meet peers from across the city. This year, they will continue Project LEAF in the Dark, their long-term ecological study about light pollution’s impacts on the seasonal changes of trees and spread awareness about light pollution to the Adler’s guests.

Questions Students Often Ask About These Programs

1. Do I need research experience already to apply to these internships?

No, most of these are built to introduce research skills from the ground up, so no prior background is expected. A few of the more competitive programs do favor students with some relevant coursework, so check eligibility closely.

2. Some of these listings aren't traditional internships. Are volunteer or citizen science projects still worth including on a resume?

Yes, they still demonstrate initiative, curiosity, and sustained interest in a field, which matters just as much as a formal internship title. Just be accurate about what the experience actually involved when you describe it in applications.

3. I'm turning 16 partway through the summer. Does that affect which programs I can apply to?

It might, since a few programs on this list set different eligibility rules depending on exact age at the time of the program. Check each listing's age requirement closely rather than assuming your birthday won't matter.