14 Summer Internships for High School Students in North Dakota
High school isn’t just about classes and grades anymore; what you do outside the classroom matters just as much. A summer internship lets you build skills employers care about and add concrete experience to your resume before college applications. Just as importantly, an internship is one of the easiest ways to figure out whether a field you’re curious about is something you’d want to pursue in the long term.
The tricky part is figuring out which internships offer meaningful work experience. To help you choose wisely, we have put together a focused list of the 14 best summer internships for high school students in North Dakota. These programs trust you with responsibilities and allow you to see what working in a professional setting is like.
1. Sanford Health PROMISE Scholars Summer Internship
Location: Fargo, ND
Cost/Stipend: $4,000 scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 4 students per cohort
Dates: May 26 - July 31
Application deadline: January 9
Eligibility: High school students entering senior year in the fall of the upcoming academic year (home-schooled students are eligible) who are at least 16 by May 26 and have an interest in a research career
The Sanford Health PROMISE Scholars Summer Internship is a 10-week, full-time research program designed for high school students with a strong interest in biomedical science and medical research. During the internship, you will work in research laboratories alongside scientists, contributing to projects that are underway. Your work includes developing core research skills such as designing experiments, collecting data, analyzing results, and understanding how scientific conclusions are drawn. You'll also explore research ethics through seminars and journal club discussions. As you progress, you'll share updates about your work regularly and present your findings as a scientific poster at the Sanford Research Symposium. The program also includes seminars on career pathways in science and medicine. You'll earn three undergraduate elective credits through the University of South Dakota and receive a scholarship upon completion of the internship.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students
The Ladder Internship Program is an eight-week, fully virtual internship that connects high school students with early-stage and high-growth startups across sectors such as technology, health tech, consulting, journalism, and marketing. You are matched with a startup based on your interests and work on a defined project that supports the company’s real operational needs. Depending on your role, your responsibilities might include research, data analysis, content development, or strategic planning. Throughout the program, you receive guidance from both a startup manager and a Ladder Coach. At the conclusion of the internship, you formally present your completed project to the startup’s leadership team.
3. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: All 50 U.S. states plus Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, and the Pacific Islands
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 3% | 27-33 students make it to the final cohort each year
Dates: 8 weeks from June to August
Application deadline: January (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors aged 16+ years
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight-week paid summer internship that gives high school students a firsthand look at what it's like to work as a fisheries biologist. You're paired one-to-one with a professional scientist, who mentors you throughout the program. Your daily work depends on your mentor’s area of expertise and can take you into laboratories, offices, or aquatic environments. You might help conduct fish population surveys, habitat assessments, water quality monitoring, specimen analysis, and data processing. Some placements involve extended fieldwork or travel, particularly for projects tied to conservation or resource management. Along the way, you'll document your hours and reflect on your learning through written reports. The program concludes with a multi-day Scholars Summit focused on college preparation, career pathways, and professional development in fisheries and aquatic science.
4. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Nationwide (the Leadership Summit is held in Washington, DC)
Stipend: Stipend provided + all expenses towards the trip to Washington, DC
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer | Student Leaders Summit: July 21 – 26
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 5% – 8%; about 300 students selected annually across 100 communities
Application deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who have authorization to work in the United States, live in an eligible area, and have not participated in the program before
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program is an eight-week paid summer internship for high school juniors and seniors who want to make an impact in their communities. You'll be placed in a local nonprofit organization, where you will assist with operational tasks such as budgeting, fundraising support, program coordination, and community outreach. The experience is designed to help you understand how nonprofit organizations address social and economic challenges at a local level. Midway through the program, you attend a national Student Leaders Summit in Washington, DC, focused on civic engagement and public policy. The summit explores how government, business, and nonprofits interact to drive community change.
5. University of North Dakota INMED Summer Institute
Location: University of North Dakota, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Grand Forks
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 60 students
Dates: June 9 - July 10
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: American Indian students entering grades 7–12
The University of North Dakota INMED Summer Institute is a six-week residential academic enrichment program for American Indian high school students interested in healthcare careers. You'll take daily courses in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, health, and communication, subjects that align with the academic demands of health-related college programs. Beyond the classroom, you'll take part in educational field trips and have opportunities to meet American Indian healthcare professionals who share insights into their career paths. You also develop study strategies and professional habits necessary for long-term success in science and medicine.
6. Internships at the Foreign Policy Research Institute
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Limited stipends offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Spring: February – May; summer: June - August; fall: September - December
Application deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students authorized to work in the U.S.
Internships at the Foreign Policy Research Institute give you a behind-the-scenes look at how a real policy think tank works. As an intern, you'll be placed with a scholar or team working in areas such as national security, regional studies, or foreign policy analysis. Depending on your placement, your responsibilities often include research support, writing assistance, communications tasks, or coordination for public events. You'll take part in weekly seminars featuring guest speakers who discuss current policy issues and career paths in government, research, and academia. You also gain access to FPRI’s public programming, both virtual and in person. In some roles, your writing may even be considered for publication in FPRI’s Intern Corner.
7. PHC Group High School Summer Program
Location: Remote
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Varies depending on the position
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
The PHC Group High School Summer Program is a paid, fully virtual internship for rising juniors and seniors interested in public health, leadership, and digital communication. You'll work with senior leadership and the Public Health Director on projects tied to community engagement and outreach. During the program, you'll take on real responsibilities, including managing social media content, analyzing engagement trends, conducting online research, and contributing to planning meetings. Because the internship is fully remote, you'll gain experience using professional collaboration tools and work effectively as part of a remote team environment. By the end of the program, you'll have a clearer understanding of how public health organizations connect with different communities.
8. Pathways Internship Programs
Location: Remote
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Dates: Flexible; Varies based on session and position
Application deadline: Varies by position
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in educational institutions (high school to graduate school levels); Must be 16+ and have a cumulative GPA of 2.0
The U.S. Department of State’s Pathways Internship Programs provides students with paid work experience in the federal government. The program has two distinct tracks; the Internship Experience Program runs alongside the academic year, while the Internship Temporary Program offers short-term roles during school breaks. Depending on your placement, your responsibilities may include administrative support, research assistance, or contributions to policy-related projects. You'll gain an inside look at how federal offices function on a day-to-day basis. Some Pathways positions also come with added benefits, including eligibility for federal benefits and the possibility of future civil service opportunities after graduation. Internship openings are posted on USAJOBS throughout the year as they become available.
9. USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future: High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June 1 – August 1
Application deadline: May 19
Eligibility: High school students with at least a 3.0 GPA are eligible (seniors who are about to graduate cannot apply)
The USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future High School Summer Internship is a virtual program for high school students interested in environmental policy and legislative analysis. You choose a real environmental bill at the local, state, or federal level and dive deeply into how policy is shaped and debated. You'll complete two major research projects: a legislative policy memo that breaks down the issue and a legislative process analysis that explains how the bill moves through the government. The internship includes scheduled online check-ins where mentors provide structured feedback on your research and writing. A key part of the experience involves engaging with ideas from the Climate Forward Conference and connecting these themes to your chosen legislation. Students who complete the program are formally recognized as research interns. Select projects may be published online, allowing your work to reach a broader audience.
10. American Psychological Association (APA): Remote Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Paid and unpaid (academic credit) available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Internships are offered all year round
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students eligible to work in the U.S. (as verified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s eVerify service) and residing in one of the states where APA is a registered employer
The APA Remote Internship Program introduces high school students to how psychology is applied across research, education, public policy, and communications. As an intern, you're assigned to a specific department where you contribute to ongoing projects such as data analysis, digital resource development, or creating public-facing educational materials. Each intern reports to a supervisor who provides guidance, feedback, and oversight throughout the program. In addition to your core responsibilities, you can take part in optional workshops and networking sessions that explore different career paths within psychology. Positions may be paid or offer academic credit, depending on the role and department.
11. Youth for Innocence Summer Internship
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 16 – August 10
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school and college students
The Youth for Innocence Summer Internship is an eight-week program for students interested in law, criminal justice, and social justice advocacy. During the internship, you'll take an active role in investigating wrongful conviction cases through detailed legal research. You'll work with case materials by organizing files, summarizing transcripts, tracking witnesses, and assisting with interviews. Along the way, you're introduced to post-conviction legal processes and the role of innocence advocacy in the justice system. The program also features guest speakers, including attorneys and investigators, who break down complex topics such as false confessions and eyewitness misidentification. You also support outreach efforts through blog writing and social media related to case awareness. The internship requires a commitment of at least 20 hours per week.
12. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Remote
Cost: $25 application fee
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: 15 years or older for the remote internships; 16 years or above for wet-lab in-person/hybrid internships
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program at George Mason University is an eight-week, full-time research experience for high school students who want to explore what real STEM research looks like. You'll work with faculty or partner laboratories on active projects in areas including chemistry, biotechnology, forensic science, nanoscience, and related STEM areas. Your daily work involves conducting experiments, analyzing data, and learning techniques that reflect real research workflows. The program emphasizes communication, giving you opportunities to practice scientific writing and prepare a research poster for the closing symposium. In some cases, students contribute to work that later appears in publications or conference presentations.
13. Johns Hopkins’ – ASPIRE
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 23 – August 21
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are 15 or older by June 1 of the application year | Minimum 2.8 GPA | Residents of specific regions of Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia | U.S. Citizens
The ASPIRE program at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory is a 6-8 week remote research internship for high school students interested in real-world STEM work. You’ll work under the guidance of an APL mentor and work on a focused STEM project, giving you a realistic look at how research is done in professional settings. Depending on the assignment, your project may focus on areas such as computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, data analysis, or applied research. The program begins with an orientation and continues through regular check-ins and progress reviews. By the end of the internship, you'll communicate your findings clearly by creating a digital research poster and presenting it at the end-of-summer showcase. If a project continues beyond the summer, mentorship may even extend into the academic year.
14. Changing The Present – Community Engagement Intern
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective
Dates: Year-round
Application deadline: Rolling (apply through the site’s application form)
Eligibility: High school students
Changing The Present offers flexible virtual internships for high school students who want to get involved in nonprofit outreach, advocacy, and communications. Interns focus on raising awareness for charitable causes supported by the organization. Your responsibilities may include social media engagement, email outreach, and connecting with schools or community groups to spread the word about important causes. You can choose to align your work with causes you care about the most, such as education, environmental issues, public health, or social justice. The position is unpaid, but many schools accept it for community service or academic credit. Regular check-ins with staff provide guidance and structure throughout the internship.
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