15 Business Internships for High School Students in Virginia
Internships can be a practical way for high school students to strengthen their resumes while gaining real experience in a professional setting. By working on actual projects, you develop transferable skills such as communication, time management, problem-solving, and teamwork. Internships also help you explore whether a field like business, marketing, consulting, or operations fits your interests before you commit to college coursework. The experience earned in these internships significantly enhances your employment chances, making you stand out in the eyes of recruiters.
For students interested in business, internships offer early exposure to how organizations operate, from small startups to public institutions. Virginia has a strong mix of government agencies, nonprofits, startups, and private employers that regularly host high school interns. We’ve narrowed this list to the best business internships for high school students in Virginia that are structured, recurring, and open to students across the state.
What business internships are available for high school students in Virginia?
High school students in Virginia can find valuable business internships that offer a first look into the corporate world through part-time roles during the school year or full-time positions over the summer. These opportunities generally place students in introductory roles where they help with daily operations, basic accounting, market research, or administrative support. You get to build practical workplace skills and figure out what career paths actually interest you, along with getting a head start on building a professional network and making your college or job applications stand out. If you're looking to get your foot in the door, you can look toward several prominent business organizations based right in Virginia, such as Capital One, Hilton, Dominion Energy, and Northrop Grumman, which frequently seek out fresh local talent to train and mentor.
P.S. If you want more options in the business space, 15 Business Internships for High School Students in New York covers a lot of strong programs, and 15 Paid Education Internships for High School Students is useful if you want paid opportunities specifically.
15 Business Internships for High School Students in Virginia
1. James City County General Services Internship Program – Budget & Administration Track
Location: James City County, VA
Stipend: $16.89/hr
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 1 intern per specific position
Dates: Typically 8 weeks; Summer: July – August; Spring: February – April; Fall: September – October
Application Deadline: Summer: May 29; Spring: January 9; Fall: July 28
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
In this internship, you will dive directly into the business side of local government, learning business topics like budget management, customer service, departmental communications, and financial oversight. Throughout the program, you will tackle practical activities like preparing budget documents, performing administrative data entry, supporting department-wide coordination, and shadowing seasoned professionals. The program allows you to bridge public administration with corporate business principles while receiving one-on-one mentorship from county leadership. Ultimately, you will learn skills in financial planning, efficient workflow management, and professional communication.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25%; 70–100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10–20 hours/week, for 8–12 weeks
In the Ladder Internship Program, you will explore the startup world by interning virtually with a high-growth business. Throughout the eight weeks, you will cover topics such as business, finance, marketing, technology, artificial intelligence, healthcare, media, and sustainability while working directly alongside startup founders. Your routine will involve hands-on activities such as drafting real-world market reports, attending one-on-one professional development sessions, and formally presenting your final project to company leadership. A unique feature of this program is that Harvard entrepreneurs founded it, offering you direct mentorship from executives with experience at firms like McKinsey and Google. By completing these tasks, you actively build workplace skills like professional communication, time management, problem-solving, and data analysis.
3. Urban Alliance High School Internship Program
Location: Northern Virginia
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies per region
Dates: Fall through Summer of senior year
Application Deadline: Early September of senior year
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors, on track to graduate with a minimum 2.0 GPA, attend a Title I/CEP school or qualify for free/reduced lunch, and have an early-release class schedule
The Urban Alliance program places you directly into a corporate environment so you can learn exactly how local businesses operate from the inside. During the year, you will cover key workplace topics like professional communication, digital literacy, financial management, and office etiquette. As an intern, you will manage daily administrative tasks, attend weekly professional development workshops, collaborate closely with a workplace mentor, and deliver a final presentation to your team. The internship targets mid-achieving students to level the playing field, while also offering alumni support long after you graduate.
4. EO Ignite Student Internship
Location: Southwest Virginia (In-person at various local employers)
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies based on local employer availability
Dates: June and July
Application Deadline: Mid-April
Eligibility: Students 16+ years old by June 1, eligible to work in the US, reliable transportation, available to complete 82 hours, and selected a Career Path in MajorClarity
In the EO Ignite Student Internship, you will step directly into the local business world by working on-site with employers in Southwest Virginia. The program covers essential business topics like workplace culture, professional networking, and daily corporate operations. During the summer, you will perform real job duties, participate in direct on-site mentoring, build your professional resume, and network with established industry contacts. The program features a highly flexible 82-hour summer schedule combined with one-on-one guidance from a dedicated workplace mentor. Through these experiences, you will learn critical soft skills, professional communication, and practical, industry-specific operational abilities.
5. JSSA High School Internship
Location: National Capital Region (Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: Flexible over the summer (typically 12–16 hours per week)
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: Local high school students residing in VA, MD, or DC
In this program, you get a behind-the-scenes look at the business and operational side of a major healthcare nonprofit. You will cover topics ranging from mental health and hospice care to disability and employment services, learning how a multidisciplinary agency sustains its daily operations. During your internship, you will actively assist with administrative tasks, analyze data, coordinate staff training, and develop community outreach presentations. The program also allows you to earn Student Service-Learning (SSL) hours while tailoring your department collaborations to match your specific career goals. By the end of the summer, you will have developed skills in cross-cultural communication, project management, empathetic leadership, and practical business administration.
6. VITA Junior Associate Program
Location: Richmond / North Chesterfield, VA
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 8 students per cohort
Dates: Varies by cohort (Typically January – June or Fall semesters)
Application Deadline: September/October (Varies based on the upcoming cohort)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
As a Junior Associate at the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, you will explore the operational and administrative side of a major state agency. Your experience covers core business topics like human resources, finance, supply chain management, and corporate communications. During your time there, you will shadow experienced business professionals, attend cross-functional administrative meetings, and collaborate on real-world projects that support state operations. The program integrates high school students into high-level state executive meet-and-greets and cross-agency initiatives. By the end, you will develop workplace skills such as complex problem-solving, professional communication, and collaborative teamwork.
7. IALR Summer Internship Program
Location: Danville, VA
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; up to 16 interns across all departments
Dates: June – August (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: Late March
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors entering college in the fall, current college students, or recent college graduates
As an intern in the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) summer program, you gain highly practical business experience working within a regional economic development hub. Your placement covers core corporate topics like public relations, human resources, research and data analysis, and conferencing services. Throughout the summer, you will collaborate on community development initiatives, manage program logistics, draft professional communications, and tackle real-world project tasks. The program features a structured 224-hour framework that pairs you with a dedicated mentor to support Southern Virginia's economic transformation.
8. High School Internship Program – CliftonLarsonAllen
Location: Select locations nationwide
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 60–70 students
Dates: Summer (starts in June; exact dates vary by location)
Application Deadline: Typically early January
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who are between the ages of 16-18 and authorized to work in the U.S. without the need of an employment visa
The CLA High School Internship Program is a paid summer internship that gives you hands-on exposure to professional services, including accounting and business operations. You’ll work in an office setting on real projects, interact with professionals, and get a clearer picture of what client-facing work looks like in a large firm. The focus is on practical experience, letting you test whether accounting or professional services is something you want to pursue before college. You’re treated like a working intern rather than a student in a classroom, which makes the experience more job-focused than academic. This program is a solid fit if you want early, paid exposure to business or accounting.
9. Henrico County High School Internship - Intern I
Location: Henrico, VA
Stipend: $15/hr
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies by department
Dates: Year-round (Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters; Summer is typically 9 weeks)
Application Deadline: Varies by individual department job postings
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students
As an Intern I with Henrico County, you get a hands-on introduction to the business of local government across various county departments. Your experience covers operational topics like public administration, community engagement, and departmental workflows. During your internship, you will shadow experienced public servants, assist with daily administrative or technical projects, interact with the community to connect them with services, and maintain a journal detailing your progress. The program's standout feature is its flexibility, allowing you to establish customized learning goals that match your specific career interests.
10. M.C. Dean Early Internship Program
Location: Tysons, VA
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; ~80 interns company-wide
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Students currently pursuing a high school degree or equivalent
In this internship, you will explore the project management and operational workflows that drive a massive engineering and technology contracting business. Your experience covers crucial operational topics like project controls, modular manufacturing logistics, and cross-functional team coordination. During the summer, you will collaborate with technical teams, track complex project deliverables, observe manufacturing processes at worksites, and attend professional development workshops. The program teaches you how a large-scale enterprise finances, builds, and maintains critical cyber-physical infrastructure for global clients. By the end, you will develop workplace skills such as technical communication, agile problem-solving, and efficient project execution.
11. NextGen Loudoun High School Internship
Location: Leesburg, VA (Loudoun County)
Stipend: $15/hr
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not disclosed
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 27
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who reside in Loudoun County
In this program, you will explore the operational and administrative business topics that keep local county governments running smoothly. You will engage in meaningful administrative projects, shadow experienced municipal professionals, and assist with daily departmental workflows. The program provides a customized placement process, where you interview directly with specific departments to align your summer role with your actual career interests. Throughout this hands-on experience, you will learn highly transferable corporate skills like professional communication, collaborative teamwork, and practical problem-solving. Ultimately, this paid opportunity gives you a substantial head start in understanding public administration.
12. City of Virginia Beach Internship Program
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 100+ students
Dates: June 22 – August 5
Application Deadline: March 12
Eligibility: Students ages 16–21 (must be 16 before June 4), resident of the City of Virginia Beach
In this program, you will dive directly into the operational realities of local government and partnered businesses. Your experience covers business topics like financial literacy, workplace readiness, and public administration. During this eight-week program, you will assist city agencies with daily administrative tasks, participate in professional mentorship sessions, and complete hands-on job readiness training. The program has a robust matching system, which pairs you with one of over thirty distinct city departments or local private businesses based on your specific career goals.
13. High School Career Exploration Internship – Lynchburg Beacon of Hope
Location: Lynchburg, VA
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 100 students
Dates: 4 weeks in June
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors attending Lynchburg public high schools
This summer internship program is a structured career exploration experience that blends professional skills training with hands-on workplace exposure. You’ll begin with a required job readiness module that covers resume writing, interview practice, networking, workplace communication, and basic financial literacy, all completed as a cohort before internships begin. The core of the program is a multi-week, on-site internship with a local employer, where you gain firsthand experience in a real work environment aligned with your interests and availability. Alongside the internship, you’ll meet weekly with Beacon of Hope staff and near-peer mentors to reflect on what you’re learning and connect your experiences to long-term career goals.
14. Norfolk Emerging Leaders (NEL) Program
Location: Norfolk, VA
Stipend: $15/hr
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 140 students per summer
Dates: June 1 – July 24
Application Deadline: Mid-February
Eligibility: Students ages 16–21, resident of Norfolk, currently enrolled in high school (or a vocational/trade school)
As an Emerging Leader for the City of Norfolk, you will be placed in municipal departments to learn the daily administrative and operational realities of running a local government. You will explore practical business topics such as human resources, departmental budgeting, civic administration, and community communications. During the summer, you will assist city staff with data entry, help coordinate community outreach projects, and participate in mandatory financial literacy workshops. The program has a dual focus on providing a real municipal desk job while actively teaching you how to manage the money you earn. By the end of this program, you will have developed office etiquette, cross-departmental communication, and basic financial management.
15. Emma Bowen Foundation Internship
Location: Nationwide (Including various cities in Virginia)
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; ~150 fellows nationwide
Dates: 8 weeks from May – August
Application Deadline: Early January
Eligibility: High school seniors planning to attend a four-year U.S. college; at least 18 years old before the internship begins; authorized to work in the U.S
As an Emma Bowen Fellow, you will enter a multi-year partnership that embeds you within the business operations of a top-tier media or technology company. You will explore tracks like marketing, public relations, sales, and human resources, specifically as they apply to the media industry. During your summers, you will assist with corporate projects, participate in professional development workshops, attend the annual EBF conference in NYC, and work directly with executive mentors. The program's unique feature is its multi-year commitment, where you return to your partner company every summer until you graduate from college. By participating in this fellowship, you will develop skills in corporate networking, business strategy, and professional communication.
Image source - Urban Alliance logo