15 Internships for High School Students in Minneapolis
Exploring different career options during high school can help you find what interests you, while you gain experience in ways the classroom can’t always provide. Whether you’re curious about medicine, technology, business, or the arts, internships let you step into professional environments and learn what certain jobs are really like.
An internship experience strengthens your college applications, demonstrates responsibility and allows you to start building your professional network early on.
In this blog, we’ve listed 15 of the best internship opportunities for high schoolers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. These programs span a wide range of fields and offer both in-person and remote experiences. From healthcare setups to innovation labs and community organizations, these internships are a great starting point for learning, growth, and figuring out what motivates you most. Let’s jump in!
1. Step Up Youth Employment Program
Location: Various locations in Minneapolis
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students will receive a stipend
Application Deadline: Check this page for application information in January
Dates: June 23 - August 22
Eligibility: Minneapolis youth aged 14-21 by June 23
The Step Up Youth Employment Program offers paid summer internships to high school students in Minneapolis. Once accepted, you’ll begin with work readiness training to develop skills and share your career interests. After training, you’ll be matched with a local business, government agency, or nonprofit, where you’ll work. These internships provide exposure to different industries and include support from expert mentors throughout the summer. You’ll build a resume, gain practical experience, and explore what professional environments are like.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies based on program type
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year, varies with the cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students
Ladder Internships is a selective program that provides motivated high school students with virtual internships at high-growth start-ups. Throughout the program, you’ll work remotely with a nonprofit or start-up in sectors such as tech, AI/ML, health tech, journalism, consulting, or marketing. Internship opportunities are listed in the application form, which outlines the industries and you can choose from. Most participating start-ups have secured over one million dollars in funding. You’ll contribute to projects under the guidance of a company manager and a dedicated Ladder Coach, culminating in a final presentation. The virtual internship runs for approximately 8 weeks.
3. Discover STEM at the University of Minnesota
Location: University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: April 25
Dates: July 28 - August 1 | August 4 - August | August 11 - August 15
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 11 or 12
While not a traditional internship, Discover STEM is a summer program designed to introduce high school students to STEM research, careers, and college study options. Each session features presentations by faculty, alumni, and graduate students affiliated with the College of Science and Engineering. You’ll explore laboratories, engage with experiments, and view technology demonstrations that reflect current research. Q&A sessions and peer networking are included to foster interaction and exploration. Each session’s theme varies, providing insight into the wide range of STEM disciplines. The experience emphasizes both academic and applied aspects of science and engineering.
4. Go4Brains
Location: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students will receive a stipend of $400
Application Deadline: March 10
Dates: July 21-25
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-11
Go4Brains is a week-long neuroscience program where you’ll have the opportunity to study the human brain closely, scan your own brain activity, and tour working laboratories. You'll participate in experiments and learn how research is conducted. The program includes short lectures, career workshops, and mentoring from faculty and neuroscience students. You’ll explore neuroscience-related career paths and attend poster sessions to see ongoing work in the field. Outreach activities give you the chance to share what you’ve learned with younger students. You’ll leave with foundational career and research skills, plus contacts to support your continued interest in neuroscience.
5. LHI-AHA Summer Research Scholars Program
Location: Lillehei Heart Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students receive an hourly stipend
Application Deadline: February 15
Dates: June 2 - July 25
Eligibility: High school students must be 16 years of age or older, must be current Juniors or Seniors at the time of application
Through the LHI-AHA Summer Research Scholars Program, you’ll engage in full-time research in cardiovascular science while working closely with a faculty mentor. The program places you in a laboratory setting where you'll focus on either basic or clinical research related to heart disease. Weekly seminars expose you to diverse career paths in cardiovascular medicine, led by academic and industry professionals. You'll also participate in field trips and experiences that introduce you to clinical and industrial perspectives. Each scholar is awarded a research scholarship to support their participation. The program aims to build your interest in scientific and medical careers in cardiovascular health.
6. Hennepin County Internships
Location: Hennepin County, Minnesota (Minneapolis is within Hennepin County)
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students will be paid $22/hour
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship you apply for
Dates: Internships are offered year-round
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled (or a recent graduate within six months) in a high school or GED program
Hennepin County offers paid internships across more than 50 departments throughout the year. As an intern, you’ll gain work experience while exploring a range of career paths within the county. The program includes access to one-on-one career conversations and development classes at the Employee Career Center. You can participate in workshops on resume writing, Diversity and Inclusion, Strengths Finders, and more. Interns also receive Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) benefits during their placement. Click here to explore available internship opportunities.
7. Internships at the American Psychological Association
Location: Various locations | Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Paid and academic credit internships are offered
Application Deadline: Varies with the internship role
Dates: Internships are offered year-round
Eligibility: High school students enrolled at least part-time in an academic institution
APA internships provide opportunities in areas including policy, research, publishing, communications, education, and operations. You’ll learn to apply academic knowledge, while working closely with a supervisor who helps guide your work and learning objectives. Based on your role, you might take part in workshops, group meetings, and team-based projects. The program also includes optional sessions that offer deeper insight into professional psychology. During the program, you can work with your supervisor to engage with APA staff or participate in networking opportunities. Intern experiences and learning outcomes differ based on placement.
8. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Students are placed within a 45-minute commute of their location
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students receive a $3,000 stipend
Application Deadline: January 19
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer, dates are flexible
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors aged 16 and above by the start of the internship
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is a paid, eight-week summer internship designed for high school students with an interest in fisheries and aquatic sciences. As a Hutton Scholar, you’ll be paired with a local professional mentor to gain experience in either freshwater or marine settings. Tasks may include fish sampling, water testing, or snorkeling activities. Depending on your mentor’s assignment, you could work in labs, offices, on boats, or out in the field. To complete the program, you must submit time sheets and two written reports. Internships are held nationwide and often involve outdoor physical work and travel. An added benefit is an all-expense-paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit conducted at the University of Arkansas.
Location: Virtual | NASA centers across the country
Cost/Stipend: No cost. While most interns receive a stipend, some opportunities are unpaid
Dates: Fall (16-week program, from late August or early September to mid-December) | Spring (16-week program, from mid-January to early May) | Summer (10-week program, from late May or early June to August)
Application Deadline: January (Fall session) | August (Spring session) | October (Summer session)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens, full-time students (high school through graduate level) aged 16 at the time of application, with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
High school students can participate in NASA OSTEM Internships to collaborate directly with professionals in aerospace and STEM disciplines. Depending on your placement, you might work on scientific research, engineering assignments, or data-focused projects. These internships offer flexible scheduling options, including full-time or part-time roles during the academic year or summer. You may be placed at a NASA center or complete your work remotely. The experience allows you to gain insight into potential careers in space science or engineering.
10. Johns Hopkins Virtual Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual | Baltimore, Maryland
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns in the virtual program receive a $500 stipend
Application Deadline: March 1
Dates: 5 weeks from July - August
Eligibility: Current rising juniors or seniors in high school
The Johns Hopkins Virtual Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is a five-week remote program designed for high school juniors and seniors with an interest in neuroscience. You will take part in live lectures, engage in online lab simulations, and be mentored by researchers from Johns Hopkins. The coursework covers essential neuroscience principles and common research techniques used in the field. Career development sessions are included to guide you in planning future studies in science. By the conclusion of the program, you’ll gain a stronger understanding of concepts in neuroscience and insight into research-based professions. Students who meet all program expectations are awarded a certificate of completion.
11. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $850 + $40 application fee
Application Deadline: February 28
Dates: June 16 - June 27
Eligibility: High school students entering 9th - 12th grade in Fall; over the age of 14 by the start of the program; Strong preference for students with strong math and/or computer programming skills and/or experience with a healthcare project
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship provides high school students with a chance to learn how artificial intelligence is applied in the medical field. You’ll explore both the technical and clinical uses of AI in healthcare. Organized by the Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging, the program highlights themes of health equity and societal impact. Participants work on research projects under the guidance of specialists in AI and medical imaging. The internship is centered on introducing students to advancements in medical AI. It aims to foster understanding at the crossroads of technology and medicine.
12. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Online | Hybrid | In-person (Fairfax, Virginia)
Cost: $25 application fee (waivers available)
Application Deadline: February 2
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old at the start of the internship
George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) offers high school students a summer research experience in science and technology. You’ll collaborate with faculty mentors in university labs, focusing on research topics such as neuroscience, nanoscience, cybersecurity, and machine learning. The program provides hands-on learning in areas like game design, software development, and human-computer interaction. Many students go on to contribute to research publications or present at scientific meetings. This program highlights the impact of scientific research and supports interdisciplinary exploration. By the program’s conclusion, you’ll have built technical abilities and gained insight into team-based research settings.
13. SHTEM: Summer Internships for High Schoolers at Stanford University
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January
Dates: June 17 - August 9
Eligibility: Students who will be in grades 11-12 at the time of application, OR full-time community college students (within the first 3 years of community college), are eligible to apply
Hosted by Stanford University, this internship gives high school students a chance to conduct research, collaborate with peers, and receive mentorship from university faculty and industry experts. Interns typically work 30–40 hours a week on projects across the fields of technology, science, design, and the humanities. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary learning and problem-solving, helping students build both technical skills and core strengths like communication and adaptability. Along with hands-on experience, you will gain access to Stanford’s academic and professional network, making this a valuable foundation for future college and career goals.
14. Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) Internship Program
Location: Remote | In-person (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Cost/Stipend: None (10 paid stipends available for the summer session, based on financial need)
Application Deadline: Spring: Typically November | Summer: March 1 | Fall: Typically July
Dates: Spring: February – May | Summer: June – August | Fall: September – December
Eligibility: Open to high school students with an interest in international relations or research
The FPRI Internship Program provides high school students with a chance to explore foreign policy through research and mentorship. You’ll be matched with a scholar or fellow, and you’ll work on projects about global issues like diplomacy, security studies, or regional affairs. As an intern, you will attend weekly seminars led by experts in the field, offering a deeper understanding of both theory and real-world policy challenges. During the program, you will also write a research paper and may be asked to contribute to FPRI’s blog or Intern Corner publication. This is one of the few virtual research opportunities for high school students focused on international relations and think tank work.
15. Smithsonian Science Education Center Internships
Location: Virtual | Hybrid (Washington, DC)
Stipend: Paid, but information on the exact amount is not available
Dates: 10 weeks between May-August, with a flexible schedule for virtual internships
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old can apply
The Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) Internship offers high school students the opportunity to gain insight into science communication, marketing, and STEM education. As an intern, you will support the SSEC’s mission to improve K–12 science education by contributing to projects in digital media, communications strategy, social media, and graphic design. You’ll work alongside professionals to create outreach materials, manage content assets, conduct background research, and help strengthen the SSEC brand. This internship is ideal for students interested in science education, digital storytelling, or nonprofit communications. You’ll gain insight into how a communications team functions within an educational organization and develop skills in messaging and strategy.