13 Summer Internships for High School Students in Cincinnati, OH
Internships give high school students a chance to step outside the classroom and see how different careers work. You gain work experience that helps you understand your chosen field, allowing you to confirm your interests or pivot toward new ones before committing to a college major. Over the summer, you can build practical skills, learn how professional teams operate, and get a clearer sense of what might interest you long term. These experiences boost your college admissions odds by providing evidence of initiative, reliability, and soft skills. An internship also allows you to meet mentors who can provide letters of recommendation and career advice.
What summer internships are available for high school students in Cincinnati?
For high school students in Cincinnati, the city's diverse economy, spanning healthcare, technology, engineering, and business, provides many summer internship opportunities. The state provides opportunities to work at world-class hospitals such as Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Fortune 500 companies such as Procter & Gamble, and finance companies such as American Financial Group. Interning in this environment gives you a competitive advantage in the state’s labor market since you’ll have industry-recognized credentials and a professional network in the city.
Below, we've compiled a list of 13 summer internships for high school students in Cincinnati, OH, to help you find programs that match your goals.
1. SWEL (Summer Work Experience in Law)
Location: Legal sites throughout Greater Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus, OH
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; generally between 25–40 students
Dates: Early June–early August
Application Deadline: January 23
Eligibility: High school seniors and college students from the Greater Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton areas
SWEL is a summer academic enrichment and paid internship program designed to help students make informed decisions about pursuing law school and legal careers. As a SWEL scholar, you'll work at law firms, legal organizations, and government agencies while attending weekly legal seminars and workshops. Throughout the summer, you'll visit law schools throughout the tri-state region and beyond, gaining firsthand exposure to legal education environments. The program includes networking opportunities with legal professionals and community service activities that connect you to the broader legal community. Students are selected based on their academic performance, demonstrated writing ability through their application materials, extracurricular activities, and personal qualities such as leadership, motivation, and resilience.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies according to the program type; financial aid available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Between 10 and 25%; generally, 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
Ladder Internships is a selective, eight-week-long internship program for ambitious high school students where they work with a high-growth startup. Startups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s startups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars, backed by Y Combinator, and have founders who have previously worked for Microsoft, Google, and McKinsey. In the program, you work closely with your manager and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. Apply now!
3. INTERalliance INTERnship Program
Location: Greater Cincinnati
Stipend: ~$13/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; >190 interns placed last year
Dates: First week of June–Second week of August
Application Deadline: Typically, late February
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9–12 in the application year
The INTERalliance INTERnship program places students at leading technology companies throughout Greater Cincinnati, offering practical experience in IT and digital business environments. As an intern, you'll work on assignments that may include coding, systems analysis, marketing support, or other technology-related projects, depending on your placement. Beyond hands-on work, the program includes leadership and professional development workshops where you'll learn from executives about career progression in Cincinnati's IT industry. This program provides both technical skill development and insight into professional workplace culture. You'll build your resume with real corporate experience while forming connections with technology professionals in the region.
4. Groundwork Ohio River Valley Green Team
Location: Various community sites throughout Cincinnati, OH
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; roughly 100–120 students
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort; Summer: mid-to-late April
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18
The Green Team is a paid youth workforce development program that cultivates high school students for employment readiness within the green industry. By improving and maintaining trails, parks, and community spaces throughout Cincinnati, you'll develop valuable job skills while enhancing the urban environment. You'll gain experience in natural resource management, composting, recreation, energy efficiency, urban agriculture, and green infrastructure. The Green Team equips participants with practical skills and a deeper understanding of sustainability while preparing them for future career opportunities in environmental and green sector fields.
5. ArtWorks Cincinnati Apprenticeship
Location: ArtWorks Creative Campus, Cincinnati, OH
Stipend: $13/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 100+ youth
Dates: June 1 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Youth and young adults ages 14–21 residing in the Greater Cincinnati/Hamilton County region
In this program, you cover diverse topics ranging from public art and large-scale mural production to specialized fields like photography, film, and graphic design. You will paint outdoor murals, record podcasts, and collaborate on community storytelling projects under the guidance of artists. By participating, you gain technical artistic skills alongside life skills like critical thinking, effective communication, and collaborative leadership. This experience not only builds your creative portfolio but also prepares you for any future career path by fostering civic engagement and professional responsibility.
6. Gaylor Electric High School Internship
Location: Construction sites and Production & Innovation Centers throughout Greater Cincinnati
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 10–15 students
Dates: 10 weeks, late May–late July
Application Deadline: Rolling applications
Eligibility: High school students
Gaylor Electric's high school internship program combines construction career exploration with hands-on training in entry-level electrical skills that prepare students for future electrical apprenticeships. As an intern, you'll work on traditional construction sites or in the Production and Innovation Center, gaining experience as an entry-level electrician. You initially learn safety protocols and foundational electrical skills, after which, you're assigned to a site as close to your home as possible, generally within 30 miles of your address. You'll also receive guidance on professional development topics, including resume writing, interviewing, workplace professionalism, and career planning.
7. Earn As You Learn Summer Cohort – Youth At The Center
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Stipend: $14/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; up to 16 students
Dates: June 2 – July 31
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: High school students ages 14–18 who live within Cincinnati city limits
The Earn As You Learn Summer Cohort is an eight-week, part-time youth employment program run by Youth At The Center in partnership with the City of Cincinnati. You commit to a consistent weekday schedule and participate in structured training sessions focused on career awareness and workplace skills. The program includes job shadowing opportunities with local organizations and collaborative work on a community-based project connected to the development of a teen center. You will complete training, shadow professionals, and work in team-based settings. Sessions combine guided instruction with group discussions and project planning.
8. Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) Youth Programs
Location: Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, Cincinnati, OH
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not specified
Dates: Year–round
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: Students ages 13–18
As a high school student in the Cincinnati Museum Center’s Youth Programs, you will immerse yourself in a year-round development initiative that covers a broad range of topics, including science, regional history, early childhood education, and museum operations. You will lead educational demonstrations for museum guests, assist with behind-the-scenes collections support, and participate in college readiness workshops like financial aid seminars and scholarship fairs. Through this experience, you will sharpen life skills like public speaking, time management, and leadership while learning how a major cultural institution functions.
9. Cincinnati Children's Weekly Hospital Volunteer Opportunities
Location: Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately competitive; 100+ students
Dates: June – August
Application Deadline: Mid-January to Early February
Eligibility: High school seniors at least 15 years old at the time of application
This volunteer program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital offers high school students the opportunity to develop team-building and leadership skills while gaining exposure to the pediatric healthcare environment. You'll complete tasks under the supervision of hospital staff, requiring a weekly commitment of two to three hours throughout the summer. The program may involve contributing to hospital quality improvement and patient safety initiatives by analyzing data, designing interventions, and measuring impact. Some volunteer tracks allow you to interact with patients and families, while others focus on administrative or operational support. At the program's end, you present your contributions to hospital leadership.
10. Cincinnati Zoo ZooTeens
Location: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 100–150 students
Dates: May 25–August 15
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Students ages 13–17
The ZooTeens program offers teenagers passionate about nature, animals, and conservation a chance to gain hands-on experience in a zoo setting. As a ZooTeen, you'll develop public speaking skills and animal knowledge by interpreting various habitats and working with summer camp classes. First and second-year participants complete 100 hours, including one week of camp training, visitor engagement shifts, and supplemental activities like lunch-and-learns and special events. Third-year and returning ZooTeens have reduced hour requirements (70 hours minimum) to accommodate other commitments like part-time jobs or extracurriculars. Advanced participants can apply for specialized roles in animal care, animal handling and interpretation, enrichment, conservation research, or other focus areas based on availability.
11. Teen Volunteer Program – Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library
Location: Cincinnati, OH (Downtown Main Library and branch locations)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Non-selective; large cohort sizes
Dates: Early June – Early August
Application Deadline: Late April to Mid-May
Eligibility: Students ages 13–18
This volunteer program places high school students in active library environments where they support daily operations and public-facing services. You may assist with shelving and organizing materials, preparing supplies for children’s and teen programming, or helping staff manage Summer Reading activities. Some roles involve basic office support or assisting patrons with technology and self-service tools. Volunteers are expected to follow a consistent schedule and commit for multiple months. Assignments depend on branch needs and current openings. The experience emphasizes reliability, service responsibility, and exposure to how a large public library system functions.
12. Biology Meets Engineering Summer Program
Location: University of Cincinnati, Uptown Campus
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; ~20–30 students
Dates: June 1 – 18
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: High school students interested in STEM
This interdisciplinary program explores the intersection of biology and robotics through lab activities and design challenges. You'll build robotic models inspired by animal sensory systems, learning how biological principles can inform engineering solutions. The coursework emphasizes collaborative problem-solving as you work in teams to develop engineering prototypes that mimic living systems. Throughout the program, you'll gain experience with design thinking, prototyping, and scientific methodology. The program concludes with a mini-symposium where you showcase your designs and present your creative solutions to the challenges you tackled during the program.
13. GE Next Engineers Summer Camps
Location: UC Clifton and Blue Ash campuses
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 100+ students per summer
Dates: One-week sessions in June–July
Application Deadline: Late January
Eligibility: Students aged 14–15 from the Greater Cincinnati area
GE Next Engineers Engineering Camp offers week-long immersive experiences focused on engineering and the engineering design process. During your week at camp, you'll participate in hands-on design challenges, engage in small group Q&A sessions with practicing GE engineers, and take part in college and career readiness activities. You can select a preferred week based on the engineering field you'd like to explore, allowing you to tailor the experience to your interests. Throughout the week, you'll work on engineering projects that you'll showcase during a Friday capstone event for family and friends. This program provides an accessible introduction to engineering careers and helps you understand what different engineering disciplines involve.
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