15 Summer Internships for High School Students in New Hampshire
Summer internships give high school students a chance to explore their career interests, gain practical experience, and boost their academic portfolios. Instead of only hearing about possible careers during school, you can try things out, whether that’s helping in a lab, supporting a nonprofit, or shadowing professionals in a field you’re curious about.
If you’re a high school student in New Hampshire, you’ll find plenty of local options. The state has research centers, community organizations, healthcare institutions, and educational programs that welcome high school students every year. Participating in a local program can also help you save time and money.
To make your search easier, we’ve put together a list of 15 summer internships in New Hampshire spanning fields such as healthcare, science, technology, public service, media, business, and research, among others. While not all of these are formal internships, they still provide valuable, practical experiences in the field.
1. University of New Hampshire’s HighTech Bound
Location: University of New Hampshire Campus, Durham, NH
Cost/Stipend: Free | Interns earn a competitive hourly wage
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive
Dates: July 7 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 1 – February 28
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are U.S. residents
The University of New Hampshire’s HighTech Bound is a summer internship program that allows high school seniors to gain hands-on experience with network technology. You’ll work in a computer lab with mentors and teammates on projects that involve AI integration, using hardware and software from companies like Dell, Apple, and Cisco. While contributing to a tech project, you’ll learn how to collaborate with others and research solutions. The internship will help you develop technical and problem-solving skills, while also allowing you to explore college-level tech programs and potential career paths. You can earn 0.5 high school credits through the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School. Past projects have included working with Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) using PYNQ, validating CnC tools, rebuilding IOL test software with Java, and creating tracking software with GUIs.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on the program; financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Around 19%; the exact percentage varies by internship and cohort
Dates: Programs run year-round in 8–12 week sessions during spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, or gap year students who can work 10–20 hours a week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a remote program that connects high school students with nonprofits and startups worldwide. Many of these organizations are backed by Y Combinator or led by individuals with experience at McKinsey, Google, and Microsoft. Started by Harvard graduates, the program offers internships in areas like health tech, finance, nonprofits, mental health, AI, environmental science, software engineering, consulting, and journalism. As an intern, you’ll work on real projects for your host organization and present your work at the end of the program. You’ll also develop communication and time management skills, join group sessions with other interns, and get guidance from a Ladder coach and a site manager throughout your internship. If you want to plan ahead, you can look at the application form to see which internships are currently open.
3. Dartmouth Health High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH
Cost/Stipend: Free | Interns earn $14 per hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: December 15 – March 11
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 by the start of the internship and live in the local or regional area of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center & Clinics
The Dartmouth Hitchcock High School Foundations Summer Internship Program allows students to explore various healthcare careers and build workplace skills. You’ll work in host departments across the institution, take on a range of tasks, and get a clearer picture of how a large medical center functions. You’ll join a cohort of interns for workshops on personal growth, mentoring, professional skills, and networking. The program uses a rotational model, so you’ll spend the summer working in two to three departments. This will give you a broader view of the roles, skills, and people involved in patient care and help you try out different work settings. Your placement will depend on your interests and the availability of host departments.
4. HCA Healthcare’s Summer Healthcare Exploration Program
Location: Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Portsmouth, NH | Parkland Medical Center, Derry, NH | Frisbie Memorial Hospital, Rochester, NH
Cost/Stipend: Free | Paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: 7 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: December 1 – January 31
Eligibility: High school and college students
HCA Healthcare’s Summer Healthcare Exploration Program is a paid, 7-week rotational internship for high school students. You’ll shadow different hospital departments, work with a mentor on a summer-long project, and present your final work to the hospital administration. Throughout the program, you’ll hear from healthcare professionals about their careers and take part in simulation and hands-on activities. Each day, you’ll shadow new professionals to get a clearer sense of the many roles in a hospital. You’ll also attend weekly professional development workshops, learn from hospital staff, and build your professional portfolio while preparing for your final presentation.
5. Senator Maggie Hassan Internships
Location: Offices are located in Manchester, Portsmouth, Berlin, and Concord in New Hampshire, plus one in Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: Free | Stipends may be offered to candidates who meet the required age and work eligibility rules
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: Opportunities are available in summer, fall, and spring
Application Deadline: March 15 (Summer Session) | August 1 (Fall Session) | November 2 (Spring Session)
Eligibility: High school students can apply, with preference given to those from New Hampshire or enrolled in a New Hampshire college or university
Senator Hassan offers internships for high school students in both New Hampshire and Washington, D.C. The program is geared toward students who are active in their communities and want to learn more about how the federal government works. As an intern, you’ll get practical experience while working with Senator Hassan’s staff and learning how they support New Hampshire residents. You’ll help with community meetings and events, draft letters, conduct research, handle constituent phone calls, and write memos. You may also assist with legislative projects, sit in on committee hearings and briefings, and participate in educational events. You might also help draft written materials such as press releases and social media content.
6. Mentis Sciences Inc.’s Internship Program
Location: Mentis Sciences Inc., Manchester, NH
Cost/Stipend: Free | Information about a stipend is not provided
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Varies depending on the number of available positions
Dates: Year-round opportunities are available
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; you can find the application here
Eligibility: Local high school students in good academic standing who live in the HUBZone area of Manchester, NH
The Mentis Internship Program brings local high school students into various work and learning settings, including partners such as The Salvation Army, the Manchester Police Athletic League, and the Office of Youth Services. You’ll work with Mentis engineers to set a future goal, map out the steps to reach it, and start putting that plan into action. You’ll take STEM courses, work on engineering projects, and receive mentoring. You will learn technical skills tied to Mentis’ core work, and some interns may be considered for employment after graduation. The program also includes a Bridge Building Competition, where your team gets minimal instructions and explores structural design through research and testing. During the school year, weekly classes taught by Mentis engineers cover composite fabrication, materials testing, and CAD modeling.
7. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Local nonprofit organizations in Hillsborough and Rockingham, NH; you can view the available sites here
Cost/Stipend: Free | Paid (rates vary by internship)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 5–8% | Each year, more than 300 juniors and seniors from around 100 communities are selected and placed into cohorts of two to five students
Dates: The internship lasts about eight weeks in the summer and includes a Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., from July 21 to 26
Application Deadline: October 14 – January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are legally eligible to work in the U.S., are in good academic standing, live in designated locations, and have not participated in the program before
Bank of America’s Student Leaders Program is an eight-week paid summer internship where you’ll be paired with a nonprofit partner, help with community projects, and learn how organizations work with government and businesses to meet local needs. You will spend about 35 hours a week working with a local nonprofit such as Habitat for Humanity or the Boys and Girls Clubs. The program also includes a week in Washington, D.C. for the Student Leaders Summit. There, you will learn how different sectors collaborate to create change and take part in workshops that will help you improve your leadership skills. This experience will give you a clearer look at how the nonprofit world works. It can also help you develop the civic and community leadership skills needed for future business, nonprofit, or community projects.
8. HCA Healthcare’s Extended Learning Opportunities Program (ELO)
Location: Portsmouth Regional Hospital, Portsmouth, NH | Parkland Medical Center, Derry, NH | Frisbie Memorial Hospital, Rochester, NH
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: Available in fall, spring, and summer; the schedule is flexible and can include evening and weekend hours
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the session
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old
HCA Healthcare’s Extended Learning Opportunities Program is an internship that allows high school students to explore different specialties and administrative roles in a medical setting. You’ll work in a department of your choice, help with daily tasks, attend professional development workshops, and research and present a healthcare topic that interests you. Tasks can include answering phones, assisting nursing staff, stocking crash carts, analyzing slides, organizing paperwork, and supporting patients. You may intern in both clinical and non-clinical roles at partner hospitals in New Hampshire and explore different healthcare careers. Since the internship runs for a semester, you might earn academic credit if your school allows it.
9. Dinah Whipple STEAM Academy
Location: University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited spots are available
Dates: July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; registration must be completed by June 1
Eligibility: Rising 5th–12th grade students
The Dinah Whipple STEAM Academy is a program that blends science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) with the Black experience. You’ll learn basic science and engineering through activities, interact with professional engineers and peer mentors, and explore the humanities. You’ll explore African empires, the Black experience in the U.S., and key Black figures who shaped history. The program lets you choose from several STEM-focused projects that also highlight Black history and scientific contributions. In the Microbes and Fermentation project, you’ll look at bacterial fermentation and how it supports digestion and sustainable energy. The Sustainable Infrastructure project will allow you to design, build, and test strong, sustainable towers to learn about load-bearing and materials. Finally, in the Smart Tech & Weather Wonders project, you’ll tackle Electrical and Computer Engineering projects to explore real-world technology solutions.
10. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Internships are offered across all 50 states, including New Hampshire, as well as Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, and the Pacific Islands
Cost/Stipend: Free | Students earn a $3,000 stipend and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: 8 weeks between June and August; internship dates are flexible and set by the mentor and student
Application Deadline: November 21 – January 25
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who will be 16 or older by the internship start date
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an 8-week paid summer internship run by the American Fisheries Society. It introduces you to careers in fisheries and aquatic science by pairing you with a professional mentor within a 45-minute commute from your home. You’ll work around 32 hours a week, with some field days lasting 10 to 12 hours. You’ll get hands-on experience in fisheries biology, habitat restoration, conservation, and management. Projects can focus on ecosystem health, physiology, aquatic populations, habitats, toxicology, biodiversity, socioeconomics, or fisheries management. You might help with water-quality testing, fish surveys, microscope-based specimen work, habitat restoration, electrofishing, snorkeling, data organization, or youth education activities. Some placements also offer overnight or multi-day fieldwork trips.
11. Project SEED by the American Chemical Society
Location: In-person and virtual research projects are available. One lab is located at the Dartmouth Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH, and you can find other lab locations here
Cost/Stipend: Free | Interns receive a $4,000 fellowship award or stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Over 350 students participate each year
Dates: 8–10 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: April 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent grads who have taken at least one chemistry class and have a family income at or below 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines based on family size can apply
Project SEED is a paid summer program that offers chemistry research experience. You’ll work about 8 hours a day for 8 to 10 weeks at a government lab, university, or similar site. You might work on your own or with a team, and complete the program by writing a report or creating a poster about your project. Summer I is for first-time participants who are matched with a chemistry research project and supervised directly by a scientist mentor. Summer II gives Summer I students another summer of research, either continuing the same project or starting a new one. You’ll explore chemistry careers, develop college readiness, and may even present your work at the American Chemical Society National Meeting. If you complete the full program and plan to major in chemistry or another STEM field, you can apply for scholarships of up to 5,000 dollars per year for up to four years.
12. Emma Bowen Foundation Internship
Location: Multiple locations, including New Hampshire
Cost/Stipend: Free | Details about a stipend are not available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; around 150 students
Dates: Minimum 8 weeks between May and June, with exact start and end dates set by the partner company
Application Deadline: September – Early January
Eligibility: High school seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA who plan to attend a four-year accredited college or university in the United States, are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and are 18 or older before the internship starts
The Emma Bowen Foundation Internship is a summer opportunity that helps students explore careers in media and tech. It places new and returning fellows in full-time roles for at least eight weeks, with schedules set by each partner company. You might work with organizations such as Discovery, Comcast, Forbes, Spectrum, Hearst, or TVB Local Media Marketing Solutions. Throughout the program, you’ll attend the EBF Summer Conference for networking and career sessions, join info sessions, workshops, and panels with industry professionals, and get mentoring, interview prep, and job search support through the Launch Program. You’ll explore how companies grow, operate, and market their products. Some students may be invited back for additional summers with the same company.
13. Nashua Mayor's Summer Intern Program
Location: Various locations across Nashua, NH
Cost/Stipend: Free | Interns earn $15 per hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: July 8 – August 16 (tentative)
Application Deadline: May 15 (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors or equivalent from Nashua who are at least 16 years old
The Nashua Mayor's Summer Intern Program is a paid six-week experience for local rising high school seniors who want to spend the summer working with professionals in different city departments. You’ll get to explore public service careers, learn how the city operates on a daily basis, and understand how your work can support the community. The program gives you a close look at areas such as planning, public works, public health, and community outreach, depending on department needs. You’ll work 15 hours each week, take on real tasks that help staff, and learn new skills. Applicants should be interested in community service, open to new ideas, and comfortable working with people from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives.
14. Manchester Tech Camp
Location: University of New Hampshire, Manchester, NH
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited spots are available
Dates: July 28 – August 1 | August 4 – 8
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students in the Manchester School District entering grades 5–12 can apply, with priority for those attending public schools in the district
Manchester Tech Camp offers free programs for Manchester students in grades 5–12, focusing on STEAM activities. The program, run through the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, will give you access to modern labs, advanced technology, and faculty support. You can pick from a range of projects available to high school students. The Zoom Lens project will introduce you to Leeuwenhoek microscopes and allow you to build your own phone-ready version with custom lenses. In the Body Builders project, you will explore body systems and organs, then create working models using anatomy, art, and basic electrical engineering. The Perceptive Plushies project will help you learn about traditional robotics by animating stuffed animals with biosensors and hobby computers that respond to different inputs.
15. New Hampshire Academy of Science – Summer Programs
Location: NHAS Stem Center, Crossroads Academy Campus, Lyme, NH
Cost: $3,500 (Applied Scientific Research) | $800 (Introduction to Scientific Research) + $50 non-refundable registration fee; need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – July 10 and July 20 – August 7 (Applied Scientific Research) | July 13 – 17 (Introduction to Scientific Research)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12 can join the Applied Scientific Research program. The Introduction to Scientific Research program is open to both middle and high school students
The New Hampshire Academy of Science Summer Program offers several science options for high school students, including Applied Scientific Research and Introduction to Scientific Research. In the Applied Scientific Research program, you’ll work on STEM projects with guidance from Dartmouth College PhD faculty. You’ll also learn statistical analysis, scientific best practices, and technical writing. You’ll spend time in the lab, and you may be invited to submit an abstract and research summary to the NHAS for peer review. If accepted, you could present your work at science conferences at different levels. The Introduction to Scientific Research program focuses more on lab skills. You’ll work with professional scientists and get hands-on experience with advanced tools like 3D printers, PCR machines, microscopes, and spectrophotometers. You’ll also learn how to design ethical experiments in biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering.
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