15 Internships for High School Students in El Paso
As a high school student, pursuing an internship can help you build hands-on experience, strengthen your college applications, and gain insight into different career paths early on. Whether you are interested in medicine, technology, or public service, internships can give you the chance to explore a professional angle in these fields outside the classroom.
If you are looking for opportunities in El Paso, the city is home to universities and organizations offering many internships to high school students. These opportunities help you develop key skills like communication, critical thinking, and teamwork. You will also get to learn from and network with professionals during the internship.
To help you find the right option, we’ve done the research and compiled a list of 15 internships for high school students in El Paso. We have focused on options that offer networking opportunities, hands-on professional exposure, and provide free participation and/or stipends.
1. Congresswoman Escobar’s El Paso Internships
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; exact details not specified
Location: Congresswoman Escobar’s office in El Paso, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: 12- to 16-week internships available multiple times a year. The fall session starts on August 25
Application deadline: July 31 for fall internships; other session deadlines TBA
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in Texas's 16th District
Congresswoman Veronica Escobar’s office offers various internships to help high school and college students gain experience working in a congressional office and insights into the work of the federal government. As an intern, you will assist with a range of tasks, including attending legislative meetings, researching policies, preparing briefings, drafting correspondence, and supporting community events. You can also join the Youth Advisory Council to engage in discussions on civic issues and policies. Summer internships involve a work commitment of at least 35 hours/week.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; varies by cohort
Location: Virtual
Dates: Several cohorts throughout the year; start and end dates vary based on the program format and cohort
Application deadline: Varies by cohort; the fall cohort’s application deadline is August 24
Eligibility: High school students able to work for 10 to 20 hours/week for 8 to 12 weeks
Ladder Internships offers remote opportunities to work with high-growth start-ups. If selected, you will get to work on real-world projects in areas like environmental science, healthcare, AI/ML, tech, journalism, consulting, and marketing. You will be paired with a professional manager and a Ladder Coach, who will offer support and guidance throughout the program. You’ll collaborate with your team, gain hands-on experience, and present your final work to company leaders. This is a selective program designed to help you build your resume while exploring industries of interest.
3. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; ~300 students around the country
Location: In-person at an El Paso nonprofit + a week-long summit in Washington, D.C.
Stipend: Paid + costs covered for the summit
Dates: Eight weeks in summer; internship typically begins shortly following the end of the school year; Summit dates: July 21 – 26
Application deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors
The Student Leaders Program is a nationally recognized initiative that assigns high school juniors and seniors eight-week paid internships at local nonprofits. As a Student Leader, you will develop real-world leadership skills, gain hands-on experience in community development, and explore the inner workings of nonprofits. You will wrap up the summer with a fully funded, week-long summit in Washington, D.C., where you will get insights into the community-oriented work of government, businesses, and nonprofits. The program offers access to mentors, civic leadership experiences, and a close-knit cohort of like-minded peers.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; Cohort size varies
Location: Fully virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: January 1 – December 31
Application deadline: Typically in November; applications open October 1
Eligibility: U.S. high school sophomores and juniors outside the Greater Boston area
MIT PRIMES-USA is a free, year-long virtual research program in which you will be paired with a mentor from MIT or partner universities to investigate an original math problem. You will begin with advanced reading, write a detailed five‑page report, and then move on to weekly guided research sessions. Over the summer, you will work independently while staying in touch with your mentor. In the fall, you will finalize your work, deliver a virtual presentation at a conference, and prepare a formal research paper. You are expected to commit a minimum of 10 hours per week.
5. Girls Who Code Summer Programs
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; exact details not specified
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free + $300 needs-based grant offered
Dates: Summer Immersion: July 7 – 18 or July 28 – August 8 | Pathways: June 30 – August 8
Application deadline: Early acceptance: February 28 | General application: April 16
Eligibility: U.S.-based girls and nonbinary students in grades 9 to 11 (Summer Immersion) and grades 9 – 12 (Pathways) who are between the ages of 14 and 18
Girls Who Code provides two free, virtual summer programs for high school students: the two‑week Summer Immersion Program (SIP) and the six‑week Pathways program. The SIP offers a Game Design track, in which you'll explore the basics of the field while working with p5.js, a JavaScript library, creating interactive games, participating in a GameJam-style challenge, and collaborating with peers. The Pathways program lets you explore Data Science + AI, Cybersecurity, or Web Development through self-paced, beginner-to-advanced coursework, with suggested learning paths and accessible content. Both the summer programs offer access to student support hours, partner-sponsored events, and a final showcase, providing hands-on experience, peer collaboration, and insights into computer science careers.
6. University of Texas at El Paso LSPI High School Law Camp
Location: University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, TX
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Cost: Free (includes meals)
Dates: June 9 – 20
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates
The LSPI High School Law Camp is a free, two-week program hosted at UTEP. While not exactly an internship, the program offers internship-like career insights and skill development opportunities. At the camp, you will explore the fundamentals of the legal system through case law instruction, professional development workshops, and a mock trial. You will also visit local legal institutions, gaining firsthand exposure to the field. The camp activities focus on the development of critical thinking, reading, and writing skills, which are crucial for pursuing legal studies and a career in law.
7. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective; ~40 students each year
Location: Opportunities throughout the U.S., including in Texas. You will be assigned a mentor in your area within a 45-minute distance from your home.
Cost/Stipend: No cost; a $3,000 stipend + an all-expense-paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit offered
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer; dates are flexible
Application deadline: January 19
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors + recent graduates who are at least 16 years old and live in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program, sponsored by the American Fisheries Society, offers paid internships to high school students interested in learning about fisheries and aquatic science. As a Hutton Scholar, you will get access to mentorship from fisheries professionals and engage in projects focusing on habitat restoration, protection, and management. The program offers insights into the life of a fisheries biologist and other career paths in the animal and aquatic sciences. Additionally, you will work on tasks like examining aquatic specimens, taking fish population surveys, electrofishing, and data processing. Also part of the program is an all-expense-paid four-night trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit, offering sessions on college prep and exploring fisheries as a field. You will also present your project at the end of the internship.
8. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Location: Virtual
Cost: Fall: $35 application fee + $1,980 program cost | Summer: $95 application fee + $4,380 program cost; fee waivers available for the Summer session
Dates: Summer: July 28 – August 8; Fall: September 11 – November 13
Application deadline: Fall: June 2 | Summer: February 24
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, as well as undergraduate pre-med students who are at least 16 years old
Stanford’s Clinical Summer Internship offers virtual hands-on learning experiences to high schoolers and undergraduate pre-med students interested in medical professions. During the internship, you will attend virtual lectures and activity-based sessions led by university faculty and doctors and practice techniques like suturing, administering injections, and conducting physical examinations. You will also get to work on real medical cases, make diagnoses, suggest treatment, and engage in a group presentation to discuss your medical case. The experience can help you learn about medical specialties and refine the technical skills required to pursue a career in medicine.
9. UTEP Nexus Shadowing Program
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Limited slots per lab; exact details unavailable
Location: University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Fall, spring, and summer sessions; dates not specified
Application deadline: August (fall sessions), January (spring sessions), or May (summer)
Eligibility: High school students in the El Paso region
In the Nexus Shadowing Program, you will gain exposure to real biomedical research by spending time with the University of Texas at El Paso’s faculty and lab teams. The experience may include shadowing ongoing experiments, engaging with graduate students, and assisting with small lab projects. Depending on the assigned lab, your role may also involve a final presentation or leadership training. This program can help you explore research settings and learn how scientific research teams operate.
10. University of Texas Southwestern Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Two weeks in June
Application deadline: Early February; applications typically open in late September
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship is a virtual program offered by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center to high schoolers interested in exploring careers in mental health. The program offers opportunities to interact with mental health professionals, including licensed social workers, psychiatrists, physician assistants, and neuropsychologists. Through online sessions, professionals share their experiences in the field of psychology, offering you insights into pursuing a career. Additionally, you will learn about fields like psychotherapy, neuroscience, interventional psychiatry, community psychiatry, and neuropsychological testing.
11. Texas Department of Transportation Student Internships
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Location: Statewide program with sites in El Paso
Stipend: Hourly wage provided
Dates: Varies by internship; opportunities are offered throughout the year
Application deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and enrolled in school co-op programs
The Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) internships provide high school students opportunities to explore careers and gain practical work experience in transportation-related fields. During the internship, you will participate in training sessions and take on part-time or full-time roles in different departments. The exact requirements and duties can vary for each position. For instance, if hired as a Fleet Equipment Mechanic Intern, you will carry out entry-level repair work on TxDOT vehicles and equipment. For certain positions, you may work on administrative tasks or write/edit social media posts and news releases for the concerned division.
12. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective;
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $850 and a $40 application fee; unpaid internship
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students who are 14 or older and U.S. citizens | Preference is given to applicants who have worked on a healthcare project and/or have strong math or computer programming skills
The Summer Research Internship offered by the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) is a virtual program for high school students interested in learning about the role of AI in healthcare. Here, you will get to explore the basics of AI in the context of medicine and healthcare and work on solving a real-world medical challenge with the assistance of AI tools. Throughout the program, you will have access to the support and guidance of researchers and Stanford Student Leads. You will work on a research project, which you can continue engaging in after the program ends. Along with project work, you will participate in social activities, group work sessions, and virtual interactive sessions, where guest speakers from nonprofits, academia, government, and industry share career insights.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Dates: Flexible; quarter-time (8 hours/week for 1–9 months) and half-time (20 hours/week for 2–8 weeks) formats offered
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 – 12 with a GPA ≥ 3.25 who have enrolled in at least one honors science/English course
As an EnergyMag intern, you will research developments, companies, and technologies in the renewable energy industry and write a professional-quality report based on your findings. You will spend time analyzing trends, studying technologies, and refining your writing skills. You will also look for reliable sources of information and contact them to get data for your report. The program offers access to a site mentor, who can help you with your report. If your report meets editorial standards, EnergyMag may even publish it on its platform.
14. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Five weeks in June–August; dates not specified
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in the US from underrepresented backgrounds in North America
JHIBS is a summer research internship meant for high school students interested in a career in STEM, especially in behavioral health-related sciences like neuroscience or psychology. Here, you will engage in activities related to science and learn about basic laboratory techniques. You will also get to attend professional development workshops, college preparatory classes, scientific presentations, and networking activities. The experience can help you explore laboratory settings and get insights into the lives of behavioral and neurological science researchers.
15. El Paso Health Volunteer Program
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Location: El Paso Health, El Paso, TX
Cost/Stipend: None; volunteer position
Dates: Flexible
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Anyone between 13 and 18 years old
El Paso Health, a health maintenance organization, offers teens opportunities to contribute to its charitable, educational, and other community services. Although this is not an internship, the program offers a hands-on professional and community service experience. Here, you will get insights into the city’s healthcare system and El Paso Health’s services. You will assist with community service projects like distributing food, backpacks, and kids’ car seats to community members and engaging in discussions that help the organization formulate local healthcare policies.