14 Summer Internships for High School Students in Missouri

If you are a high school student wondering how to use your summer in a productive way, internships are one of the most effective options. They give you a chance to explore potential career paths, apply what you have learned in the classroom, and start building skills that will stand out on your college applications and resume. Through practical work, mentorship, and exposure to professional environments, internships help you understand what different careers are like. 

What summer internships are available for high school students in Missouri?

For high school students looking for summer internships in Missouri, the state offers a range of opportunities across healthcare, STEM, business, public service, and the arts. Missouri’s universities, research institutions, nonprofits, and local organizations regularly host programs that let you work with professionals. To help you navigate these options, we’ve compiled a list of 14 summer internships for high school students in Missouri. 

1. Missouri Innovation Campus (MIC) Internship Program

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; limited placements based on partner availability
Location: Missouri (in-person at partner company sites)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Dates: Summer after junior year onward (ongoing)
Application Deadline: Varies by program cycle
Eligibility: High school juniors admitted to the Missouri Innovation Campus program

The Missouri Innovation Campus (MIC) Internship Program gives high school students the chance to gain hands-on work experience while still in school. You begin your internship during the summer after junior year and continue working with the same corporate partner through multiple terms, allowing you to build deep project-based experience. You'll work full-time during the summer and part-time during the academic year. You will collaborate closely with professional mentors,  who will help you develop job-ready skills aligned with industry needs. MIC coordinates internships, including interviews and placements with partner organizations,  but you must secure and maintain an internship placement to remain in the MIC program. All internships are in person, giving you first-hand exposure to professional work environments. 

2. Ladder Internships

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; limited cohorts each term
Location: Remote (students in Missouri may participate)
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program; full financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts available, including summer (8–12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines depending on cohort
Eligibility: High school students able to commit 10–20 hours per week

Ladder Internships is a selective virtual internship program that lets you work on real projects with fast- growing startups from anywhere. You'll be placed in a small,  project-based team and work directly with a startup manager to tackle real operational challenges. Internship projects span fields such as technology, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting, giving you a chance to explore areas that match your interests.  Throughout the program, you will receive guidance on how to plan, execute, and deliver professional-quality work while collaborating with experienced professionals. The internship concludes with a formal presentation of your work to the host company. While the program is remote, it opens the door for Missouri students to gain startup experience that may be hard to find locally, particularly during the summer term.

3. St. Louis Internship Program (SLIP)

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; limited placements
Location: St. Louis, Missouri (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: Paid (stipend provided)
Dates: Summer (multi-week program)
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Current sophomores or juniors attending a St. Louis bi-state area high school with a minimum 2.0 GPA

The St. Louis Internship Program (SLIP) connects high school students with paid, in-person summer internships at local businesses and organizations across the St. Louis region. You will be placed at a host location where you take on responsibilities, gain exposure to the workplace, and develop professional skills such as communication and time management. In addition to your daily work, the program requires participation in SLIP activities designed to support career readiness and personal development. Applicants must complete their application through the official SLIP portal and commit fully to all the program requirements.

4. Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) Internship 

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; small cohort matched to 15 startups
Location: Kansas City, Missouri (primarily in-person)
Cost/Stipend: Paid ($12–14/hour) + $2,500 scholarship upon completion
Dates: June 2–27 and/or July 7–August 1
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Students completing their junior or senior year of high school

The Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) gives high school students the chance to work inside a fast-growing startup and experience what entrepreneurship looks like in the real world. This summer program places you in a high-growth startup in the Kansas City area that aligns with your interests, and you'll have to work there consistently for one or two summer sessions at about 30 hours per week. Your internship will focus on business operations, problem-solving, and startup execution, offering exposure to work in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment. In addition to your daily work, you will participate in mandatory, in-person Friday company visits, where the cohort tours different organizations and learns directly from founders and professionals within the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. The application process is competitive and includes essays, interviews, and recommendations. Accepted students will be compensated hourly, receive a scholarship upon successful completion, and remain connected through an ongoing YEP network.

5. Emma Bowen Foundation (EBF) Summer Internship

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; approximately 150 fellows per summer
Location: Partner company sites across the U.S., including Missouri (placement varies)
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded; paid internship with stipend
Dates: Typically May–June; minimum of eight continuous weeks
Application Deadline: September–January (rolling review)
Eligibility: High school seniors and undergraduate students graduating in spring or later

The Emma Bowen Foundation (EBF) Summer Internship gives you the opportunity to gain paid, full-time experience inside leading media, entertainment, and technology sectors. During the program, you may work in fields such as journalism, content production, business operations, public relations, sales, and web development, depending on your placement and interests. Internships are hosted by established industry organizations and require a serious professional commitment of 35–40 hours per week over at least eight weeks, giving you a true taste of industry-level work. In addition to day-to-day responsibilities, EBF focuses on professional development through mentorship,  career guidance, and access to industry networks that can shape your long-term goals. Placement locations and exact internship dates are set by partner companies, so opportunities may vary by year and region.

6. Summer Focus Research Internship 

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 15–18 students per year
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: Paid; $4,500 stipend
Dates: June 1–July 24
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: Students who have completed their junior year at a Greater St. Louis area high school

Summer Focus is an eight-week research program that lets you experience what it's like to work in a real biomedical lab at Washington University in St. Louis. You will be placed in a research laboratory and work with a scientific mentor on a research project, while receiving academic and personal support from a graduate-level tutor. Research areas vary each year and include fields such as genetics, neuroscience, cancer biology, microbiology, engineering, and environmental sciences. In addition to lab work, the program includes two structured courses focused on scientific writing, communication, and college preparation. You will receive lab safety training and learn essential research techniques before beginning your projects. The program concludes with a formal research symposium, where you present your findings to faculty, peers, and family members. 

7. CLIMB (Collaborative Laboratory Internship and Mentoring Blueprint)

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Small, selective cohort
Location: University of Missouri–St. Louis, Missouri (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: Paid; $13/hour (transportation and lunch support provided)
Dates: Six weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Varies by district and year
Eligibility: High school students from participating St. Louis County districts (Jennings, Hazelwood, Ritenour, Riverview Gardens, University City)

CLIMB is a paid summer research internship that gives high school students an opportunity to experience what real university research looks like, long before college. At the  University of Missouri–St. Louis, you will spend four days each week working in a university lab in a discipline such as chemistry, biology, physics, psychology, mathematics, computer science, or education. Fridays are set aside for career and college preparation. You'll attend workshops on applications, financial aid, and presentation skills, as well as talks from guest professionals who share their insights about careers in research and related fields. The program concludes with formal presentations, where you share your work with family members, educators, and university administrators.

8. TERA (Tyson Environmental Research Apprenticeship) 

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; limited cohort
Location: Tyson Research Center and partner field sites in the St. Louis area, Missouri (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Dates: Six weeks during the summer (with additional academic-year activities)
Application Deadline: Varies by year
Eligibility: High school students who have previously completed the SIFT program

TERA is an advanced field research internship for high school students who want to dive into environmental biology. Based at Tyson Research Center, the program places you in research teams to work with university scientists, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers on ongoing field studies. Throughout the summer,  you'll take part in daily field research, building practical skills in data collection, observational research, and scientific communication. You will also participate in weekly colloquia focused on poster development and communication skills, and discussions on equity and inclusion in environmental science. Your summer work culminates in a scientific poster presentation at the Tyson Summer Research Symposium, where you'll share your research with a professional audience and gain valuable experience presenting in an academic setting. TERA also includes follow-up activities during the school year, culminating in a spring capstone project in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.

9. SIFT (Student Internship Field Training) Program 

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Up to 28 students per year (lottery-based selection)
Location: Shaw Nature Reserve, Tyson Research Center, and partner field sites in the St. Louis area, Missouri (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend
Dates: June–early August (summer training and work), with additional academic-year activities
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–11 from the St. Louis region

The SIFT Program is an introductory field research internship that gives high school students a strong foundation in environmental science and ecological fieldwork. You will begin with a training week focused on Missouri ecosystems, where you’ll learn essential field skills such as species identification, biotic sampling, GPS and map use, and measurement of environmental factors. Following training, you participate in paid fieldwork during the summer and throughout the school year, contributing to research and restoration projects at Shaw Nature Reserve, Tyson Research Center, and other regional sites. Your field work may include habitat restoration, invasive species management, ecological data collection, and support for field experiments, giving you a broad view of how environmental research and conservation efforts operate in practice. The program concludes with capstone-style activities that strengthen your research and scientific communication skills, and connect your field experiences to broader environmental work.

10. STAR 2.0 Research Program

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; limited cohort
Location: Children’s Mercy Research Institute, Kansas City, Missouri (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: Paid; $2,600 stipend
Dates: June 15–July 23
Application Deadline: December 15–January 9
Eligibility: Current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors attending public or charter schools in Missouri or Kansas

The STAR 2.0 Research Program is a six-week, full-time summer research internship hosted at the Children’s Mercy Research Institute. As an intern, you will work in a clinical and biomedical research environment and see how scientific research connects to patient care and medical decision-making. You'll take part in real-world research activities and interact with physicians, scientists, and academic researchers within an integrated medical research setting. The program places a strong emphasis on career exploration in science and medicine, while helping you build foundational research and professional skills, and an understanding of how medical teams work. The internship runs Monday through Friday and requires full-time commitment for the entire six weeks. Select research projects may even lead to opportunities for scholarly dissemination, offering an early opportunity to contribute to the scientific community.

11. Missouri Coalition for the Environment (MCE) High School Summer Internship

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 2 interns per summer
Location: Missouri (primarily St. Louis; in-person with some flexibility)
Cost/Stipend: Paid; $500 stipend
Dates: June–August (120 total hours; flexible schedule)
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in environmental or public issues

The Missouri Coalition for the Environment (MCE) High School Summer Internship offers students real-world exposure to environmental advocacy, public policy, and community engagement. As an intern, you'll support a statewide nonprofit working at the intersection of environmental protection, public health, and social justice, gaining insights into how advocacy translates to change. You will contribute to a range of projects, which may include policy research, media tracking, web content development, and preparation of historical or legislative materials that support MCE’s advocacy efforts. You will also assist with outreach efforts and gain insight into how environmental organizations collaborate with government agencies and community groups. The internship requires a total commitment of 120 hours over the summer, with scheduling flexibility to accommodate other responsibilities. With only two students selected each year, the program offers close mentorship and individualized guidance. 

12. Partners in Education (PIE) Summer Internship 

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not stated; selective placement based on fit and availability
Location: Rockwood area partner sites in Missouri (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: None (unpaid)
Dates: Summer leading into senior year (schedule varies by placement)
Application Deadline: October 15 - November 12
Eligibility: Qualified Rockwood juniors (rising seniors); reliable transportation required

The Partners in Education Summer Internship gives high school students the opportunity to step into a real workplace and explore a career path they are interested in. This internship matches you with a professional mentor at a partner organization, where you'll work on meaningful tasks in the field. You'll work independently and manage your schedule throughout the experience. Because internship placements occur at off-campus sites, you'll need to arrange your own transportation, and a driver’s license is strongly recommended. Students who complete the internship can earn 0.5 CTE credit, making it a valuable option both for academic planning and career exploration.  To apply, you'll submit an internship application and a teacher recommendation, and accepted students are expected to maintain sufficient summer availability to participate fully in the program. 

13. Students and Teachers As Research Scientists (STARS)

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Approximately 48 students per year
Location: St. Louis, Missouri (in-person at partner research institutions)
Cost/Stipend: Not publicly specified
Dates: Six weeks during the summer (optional seventh week)
Application Deadline: Varies by year
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with strong academic potential

Students and Teachers As Research Scientists (STARS) is a summer research program that lets high school students step into the role of a real scientist. You will work on an independent research project in fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, psychology, computer science, and environmental science at partner institutions like Washington University, Saint Louis University, and the University of Missouri–St. Louis. You will collaborate closely with research mentors and science teachers, who will guide you through every stage of the research process. Along the way, you'll develop essential skills in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication. The program includes formal training in technical writing, oral presentation, and basic statistical methods, as well as career-focused discussions with practicing scientists. You will present your research findings in a seminar-style format, gaining experience sharing complex scientific ideas in a professional setting.

14. STAHR High School Scholars Program

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; limited number of scholars
Location: UMKC Health Sciences Campus, Kansas City, Missouri (in-person)
Cost/Stipend: None; program is free with stipends and/or scholarships available
Dates: June 8–July 17 (summer component; followed by academic-year programming through April)
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA who are economically or educationally disadvantaged

The STAHR High School Scholars Program is a year-long health career exploration program for students who want an early, meaningful introduction to the health professions. The program begins with a six-week, in-person summer experience at UMKC’s Health Sciences Campus. During the summer, you will participate in clinical observations with medical, dental, or pharmacy professionals, conduct a health-related research project with faculty mentors, and engage in community service initiatives. The program also places a strong emphasis on professional skill development, including writing, leadership, and networking. Following the summer session, STAHR  continues through the academic year, providing ongoing mentorship, coaching, and career preparation activities.

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