12 Business Internships for High School Students in California
If you are interested in exploring a career in business, healthcare, marketing, entrepreneurship or STEM fields, summer internships offer a valuable opportunity to gain experience early on. These programs give you exposure to essential skills such as communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving within a professional setting. They also put you in touch with expert mentors and like minded peers allowing you to build solid industry connections. These internships are accessible and, in many cases, provide stipends, making them a practical and rewarding option.
Several leading universities, organizations, and companies across California offer internships specifically designed for high school students. Participating in one of them can not only help you get practical experience in your potential career area but also strengthen your resume for college applications. Here’s a list of 12 business internships that are either based in California or offered virtually.
1. California Academy of Science Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program
Location: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive. Acceptance rate not disclosed on the website
Dates: Year round. During the school year, interns work on Saturdays and after school
Application Deadline: Varies every year
Eligibility: Open to SFUSD students in grades 9–10; GPA ≥ 2.5 with a C or higher in science and math; must be able to obtain a valid work permit; commitment to a multi-year, year-round paid internship; and must commute to the Academy and nearby locations on afternoons, weekends, and summer weekdays
Cost/Stipend: $12.53/hour for entry-level; increases for more advanced levels
This multi-year internship is open to San Francisco high school students, especially those who are underrepresented in STEM like girls and students of color. As an intern, you’ll get to learn, teach, and explore science at the California Academy of Sciences under the guidance of faculty mentors. If you’re a sophomore, you can join the program and stay involved through your graduation year. You’ll take part in hands-on learning, fieldwork, and group projects and be part of the CiS Leadership Council. You'll also work closely with a small team on a science research or environmental action project, led by an Academy scientist or partner.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 25%; around 100 students per cohort
Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts; Summer Cohort II starts July 14
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates and gap-year students
Cost: Startup internship program: $2490, The CEO internship program: $4400, The Combination program: $7400
Ladder Internships connects you with startups in fields like technology, AI, finance, healthcare, environmental science, sustainability, business, journalism, medicine, media, marketing, and more. This highly selective virtual program matches you with a dedicated Ladder Coach—often a startup CEO—and a startup mentor. With support from over 50 host companies and access to more than $204,000 in financial aid, you’ll attend about 8 sessions, work 5 to 10 hours per week over 8 weeks, and receive guidance throughout your project. At the end, you’ll present your findings directly to the host company.
3. Warner Bros Reach Honorship Program
Location: Burbank, CA
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; six to eight seniors selected annually (three from Burbank and three from L.A. County schools
Application Deadline: Varies annually
Eligibility: Graduating high school senior in Burbank or L.A. County with a minimum 3.0 GPA, strong interest in entertainment business or studio roles, and strong communication skills
Cost/Stipend: Scholarship totaling $5,000, paid out as four annual $1,250 tuition installments, plus paid summer internships
If you're interested in a career in media and entertainment, the Warner Bros. Reach Honorship Program is a great opportunity for you. Through this four-year program—beginning the summer after you graduate high school and continuing through college—you’ll gain exposure to key areas of the industry, including finance, HR, operations, marketing, content development, post-production, sound editing, and gaming. Whether you're drawn to social media, sales, publicity, or studio operations, you’ll have access to more than 60 departments across the company. Each year, you'll be paired with an executive mentor who will support and guide you, and many past participants—about 40%—have gone on to be hired by Warner Bros.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: Rolling
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students in 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade
Cost: Free, no stipend
Building-U offers you the chance to explore internships in a wide range of roles, including resource research and development, multimedia, blogging, coding, business development, animation, social media, and more. If you're in grades 9 through 12, you can apply from anywhere in the world. You'll collaborate with peers globally in a supportive, team-based environment, where each student team works on solving a specific need within the organization. It’s a great way to gain experience, build skills, and contribute to meaningful projects alongside other motivated high school students.
5. Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)
Location: Stanford University campus in Stanford, California
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: June 23 to July 25
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: Current high school juniors in Northern California
Cost: Free, no stipend
The Stanford Medical Youth Science Program is a five-week program designed for high school students interested in science and medicine. As part of this program, you will be mentored by medical professionals, faculty members, and college students. You will take part in hospital internships, academic seminars and lectures, public health research projects, and other immersive educational experiences.
6. Navy Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: multiple locations
Duration: 8 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Tentative, Varies based on cohort
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Eligibility: U.S. citizens; at least 16 years old by the start of the internship; completed at least 9th grade
Stipend: varies between $4,000 to $4,500, depending on the number of years a student has participated
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is a prestigious summer internship initiative by the U.S. Department of the Navy (DoN). Through this program, you will be involved in STEM research within Navy laboratories across the United States. This program offers a unique opportunity for you to interact with leading scientists and engineers and learn about Naval technology and research.
7. High School Summer Insider Internship with L.A. Times
Location: Hybrid (El Segundo office and remote)
Dates: June 16–August 1
Application Deadline: February 26
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; small cohort selected
Eligibility: residents of Los Angeles or Orange County, California
Cost/Stipend: $16.90/hour.
The L.A. Times High School Summer Insider Internship gives you the chance to spend 24 hours a week immersed in journalism and media production in a real newsroom. Over seven weeks, you’ll help produce news coverage, create feature stories, and explore multimedia work while being mentored by experienced reporters and strategists. You’ll also attend training sessions on media literacy, reporting, and professional development. The program follows a hybrid model—you’ll report to the El Segundo office three days a week and work remotely one day. As an intern, you'll draft enterprise stories with multimedia elements, seek feedback and revise your work, reach out to sources, and schedule interviews to support your reporting
Location: Meta headquarters, Menlo Park
Duration: 6 weeks
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly stated; selective
Dates: June 16 to July 25
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: sophomores who are full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City with a minimum 2.0 GPA.
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; amount not disclosed
Formerly the Facebook Summer Academy, the Meta Summer Academy is a six-week paid internship opportunity for high school sophomores in Northern California. As a Meta Academy intern, you gain firsthand experience in the daily operations within various departments like data science, engineering, and business. The program covers coding, financial literacy, art, and media and does not require you to have any prior experience in technology or coding to apply. Though you get to work with Meta employees as your mentors on a limited scale, you can communicate with them anytime through community emails and presentations. In addition, you’ll meet one guest speaker a week.
9. KP LAUNCH
Location: Kaiser Permanente facilities across Northern California
Duration: 7 weeks
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not publicly stated; selective
Dates: June 16 to August 1
Application Deadline: Varies each year
Eligibility: students aged 16–19 who are current students or recent graduates without college experience; minimum GPA of 2.5; reside in Northern California Kaiser Permanente service areas; legally authorized to work in the U.S
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
In this seven-week paid internship by Kaiser Permanente, you’ll explore non-clinical careers in the healthcare industry through full-time assignments that place you in real-time support roles. Each week, you’ll attend workshops led by KP mentors to help you build professional skills and industry knowledge. While you won’t take part in medical procedures or patient care, you’ll gain insight into administrative and support functions within a healthcare setting. This 40-hour-per-week program also gives you opportunities to network with peers and senior leaders through both work projects and social events, including community service activities.
10. Wharton Global Youth Program
Location:San Francisco, CA, Pennsylvania, UK and also worldwide ( online)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Varies by program
Duration: 3 weeks
Dates: Varies based on program
Application Deadline: Program dates vary by specific program and session
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3 (3.5 preferred for select programs). International students can also apply
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies with the program; Financial aid available
The Wharton Global Youth Program gives you the chance to explore business, finance, leadership, and entrepreneurship through a variety of summer experiences. You can choose to attend programs on the Wharton campus, participate online, or join location-based sessions. Throughout the program, you’ll dive into topics shaped by Wharton’s latest research, collaborate with peers, and work closely with faculty mentors to tackle real-world business challenges and develop practical solutions.
11. J. Craig Venter Institute’s High School Internship.
Location: California, Maryland
Duration: 10-15 weeks
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; varies with program
Dates: May to August; occasional semester internships during the academic year, typically lasting 10–15 weeks .
Application Deadline: Varies each year
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 and older
Cost/Stipend: Varies with the program, a few programs offer school credit as well
The J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI) Summer Internship Program provides you with a structured research experience in wet lab experimentation and bioinformatics. You will be paired with a mentor and other leading researchers, while engaging in professional development activities like journal clubs, workshops and seminars. The program culminates in a final judged poster presentation with feedback from faculty.
12. Bank of America Student Leaders® Program
Location: Across various states, including California
Duration: 8 weeks with a local non-profit or charitable organization
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Over 300 high school juniors and seniors are selected annually
Dates: Exact start dates vary by location. The student leaders summit is scheduled for July 21–26
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: juniors or seniors and legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Every year, the Student Leaders program connects over 300 community-minded high school juniors and seniors from nearly 100 communities across the country. The program’s core goal is to promote youth employment and economic mobility. As a participant, you will contribute to meaningful projects through a paid internship at a nonprofit organization such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America or Habitat for Humanity. In addition to the internship, you will attend the national Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you’ll explore how nonprofits, government, and businesses work together to tackle important local issues.