11 Internships for High School Students in Alaska
For high school students in Alaska, internships are a great way to gain real-world experience, explore potential career paths, and develop practical skills before entering college. Whether you're interested in healthcare, education, environmental science, or community engagement, there are a range of programs across the state designed to support student growth and exploration.
These internships can help you strengthen your resume, connect with mentors, and better understand the professional world. Many are hosted by universities, hospitals, government agencies, and nonprofits, and several offer stipends or other forms of support.
In this list, we’ve highlighted 12 internships for high school students in Alaska, including details such as location, eligibility requirements, application timelines, and whether stipends are available.
Location: Virtual
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!
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
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.
Location: Nome, Alaska
Application deadline: April 16
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who identify as Alaskan Native/American Indians
Program dates: 10-12 weeks between May and August
Stipend: $20 per hour starting wage
The Kawerak Internship Program aims to offer Alaska Native and Native American students the chance to acquire work experience and enhance professional skills while serving their communities. The program offers internships in a variety of fields, including administration, natural resources, and social services, with placements designed to match your academic and career goals.
You will have the opportunity to collaborate with seasoned professionals and gain practical experience. The internship emphasizes cultural relevance, encouraging you to connect with your heritage while contributing to your communities.
3. Alaska Coastal Studies High School Program
Location: Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies (CACS) at: Peterson Bay Field Station | Wynn Nature Center | Inspiration Ridge Preserve
Application deadline: April 25
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates with a strong interest in marine science, indigenous studies, gardening, land stewardship, and education.
Program dates: Typically early June through August. Interns commit to at least 20 hours/week, with some remote communities offering up to 5 months at 5 hours/week
Stipend: $12.5 per hour
The Alaska Coastal Studies Internship Program is a solid opportunity for high school students passionate about environmental science, conservation, and education. As an intern, you will engage in hands-on fieldwork in the natural environment of Alaska’s Kachemak Bay, focusing on marine biology, ecology, and coastal ecosystems. The program is designed to provide you with valuable experience in research, public outreach, and environmental education.
You'll collaborate with scientists and educators to research and safeguard Alaska’s coastal habitats. In addition to research, you'll partake in educating the public through guided tours, workshops, and school programs, helping to raise awareness about the importance of coastal conservation.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Cost: Varies from program to program. Full financial aid is available!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
5. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Nationwide placements within approximately a 45-minute commute of each student’s home
Application deadline: January 19
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who live and reside in the United States
Program dates: 8 weeks from June – August
Stipend: $3,000
Note: Please contact the program and check if they are currently running a program in Alaska.
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program offers high school students a chance to explore animal biology and its related areas. As a scholar, you will be guided by a research mentor who will aid you in engaging in activities such as field sampling, data analysis, and habitat restoration projects. You will get the chance to gain hands-on fisheries science experience in marine or freshwater, conducting laboratory and field research.
You will also participate in management projects and efforts for resource conservation. Some of the activities you would be involved in outdoors are electrofishing, examining specimens under a microscope, water quality testing, data processing, and more. You will get to explore academic and career-related opportunities in the field with the help of your mentor
6. High School Summer Intern at the Alaska Songbird Institute
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Application deadline: Rolling admissions until April 27
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 14-18
Program dates: May 12 – July 18
Stipend: $500
The Alaska Songbird Institute’s High School Internship Program offers high school students a hands-on opportunity to engage in wildlife and conservation. As an intern, you will get the opportunity to work closely with professional biologists and scientists to study migratory songbirds, contributing to important conservation efforts. You will also have an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in fieldwork, data collection, and monitoring, all while learning about ecological principles and the significance of avian species.
In addition to field research, the internship includes components related to public outreach and education. The program gives you a chance to do meaningful conservation work while learning about animal biology and wildlife.
7. NASA OSTEM High School Internship Programs
Location: NASA centers across the United States. You can check the opportunities available in the state using this map.
Application deadline: February 28 (Summer) and May 16 (Fall)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in high school, aged 16 or above, with a cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
Program dates: Spring session (Mid-January - Early May) | Summer Session (Early June- August) | Fall session (Early September - December)
Cost/Stipend: A stipend will be provided
Note: Please check the list of available internships and ascertain if they are currently running a program in Alaska.
The NASA OSTEM Internships aim to provide high school students with exposure to STEM areas related to space sciences and astronomy. You will get to work with the most advanced technologies used in space exploration, satellite communication, and aerospace engineering. The internship program also provides additional access to high-end NASA facilities and resources.
You will gain hands-on experience within the world-class NASA labs, be a part of ongoing projects, and work with research scientists. With an acceptance rate of 4–6%, NASA’s high school internships are highly selective and provide mentoring, training, and career development advice.
8. Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP) – Fairbanks Memorial Hospital
Location: Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Fairbanks, AK
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, or recent graduates
Program dates: 5 weeks in the summer
Stipend: Unpaid
The Foundation Health Partners' Summer High School Internship Program (SHIP) is a five-week initiative aimed at offering students practical experience across different healthcare sectors. You will have the opportunity to work alongside medical professionals for 15 hours each week at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital.
You can explore multiple medical departments while participating in weekly activities that cover areas such as surgery, radiology, and medical laboratories. The program aims to equip you with practical skills, help you build your resume and expand your skill set in your area of interest.
9. Internships at the Foreign Policy Research Institute
Location: Remote
Application deadline: Varies depending on cohort
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply.
Program dates: Fall: September – December | Spring: February – May | Summer: June – August
Cost/Stipend: Limited paid stipends are awarded based on financial need
The FPRI internship program is designed for high school students aspiring to build a career in international relations. You will gain hands-on experience in foreign policy and international relations while also developing essential skills for career readiness through weekly workshops.
As an FPRI intern, you will be paired with FPRI scholars or professionals in fields such as Asia, Eurasia, Africa, and the Middle East. The roles include research intern, special events intern, communications intern, and operations intern. Additionally, upon selection, you can also gain the chance to work on a research paper for potential publication through FPRI.
10. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: February 2
Eligibility: High school students applying for the virtual internships should be at least 15 years old at the start of the program.
Program dates: June 18 – August 8
Stipend: Unpaid
George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) is an intensive, 8-week research-focused internship. As a part of the program, you will work with a faculty researcher who will serve as your mentor. Placements vary across disciplines such as biology, engineering, AI, and environmental science.
Throughout the program, you will have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with advanced tools and technologies, refine your scientific writing skills, and investigate STEM careers through discussions and meetings. The program wraps up with the annual ASSIP Research Symposium and Celebration. One of the major benefits is that participants have the opportunity to have their names published in scientific journals and present their work at scientific conferences.
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12) with some experience in graphic design or visual content tools
Program Dates: Open year-round
Stipend: Unpaid
Note: Please contact the program and check if they are currently running a program in Alaska.
Medicine Encompassed is a nonprofit organization led by students that aims to raise awareness and improve access to information regarding medical careers. ME provides several positions within the organization, concentrating on committees dedicated to different medical domains like anatomy, surgery, neurology, and others. As an intern, you will be expected to develop content for the Medicine Encompassed medical curriculum, covering different branches of medicine.
Currently open roles consist of writers, editors, and resource developers. The responsibilities for these positions involve writing precise articles, revising blog and social media content, and creating study guides and slideshows for students. This may include researching medical topics, writing informative articles or guides, and developing educational materials that others can use to learn about various medical fields.
Additionally, you can contribute to the ‘Project Cultivation’ outreach initiative, which aims to increase awareness and accessibility of medical education.