15 Summer Pharmacy Internships for High School Students
High school internships are a fantastic way to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the real world, giving you a head start on your future career. By stepping into a professional environment, you gain hands-on experience in a field you’re curious about, which helps you decide if it’s the right fit before you commit to a college major.
Why should I do an internship in high school?
These roles allow you to develop soft skills like professional communication, time management, and teamwork that are hard to learn from a textbook but are highly valued by employers. Beyond personal growth, having an internship on your resume makes you stand out to college admissions officers and hiring managers, as it proves you have the initiative and maturity to handle workplace responsibilities.
Why should I do a pharmacy internship? What will I do as a high school intern?
These programs offer rare exposure to clinical environments, drug discovery laboratories, and patient care simulations that are not typically available in a standard high school curriculum. By participating in them, you can bridge the gap between classroom chemistry and real-world medical application, all while building a network of professional mentors. Many of these opportunities are hosted by top-tier pharmacy schools and healthcare systems, offering hands-on training in compounding, research methodology, and healthcare equity.
Whether you are interested in retail pharmacy or advanced pharmaceutical research, we have listed 15 of the best summer pharmacy internships for high school students to give you the clarity needed to pursue a degree in Pharmacy or a career in the life sciences.
1. High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
Location: NIH campuses nationwide; main campus in Bethesda, MD
Stipend: $2,530 before graduation and $2,840 after graduation
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size varies as per PI funding and year
Dates: Minimum eight weeks in summer
Application Deadline: Typically, mid-February
Eligibility: High school students who are 18 and enrolled in an accredited educational institution, and are U.S. citizens and permanent residents
As an HS-SIP intern, you’ll dive into pharmaceutical sciences by working directly in NIH laboratories on drug discovery, pharmacology, and translational research. You will spend your summer conducting experiments, analyzing complex data, attending scientific seminars, and presenting your results during the annual Summer Poster Day. This program stands out for its "Resilient Scientist" series, which prioritizes your mental well-being alongside rigorous technical training. Beyond mastering lab techniques like pipetting or microscopy, you’ll develop professional communication skills and build a network with world-class mentors. This paid immersive experience gives you a realistic look at how chemistry and biology translate into life-saving medicines.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial assistance is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25%; 70–100 students per session
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Summer, Winter, Fall, and Spring
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap-year students who can work for 10–20 hours per week, for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships, founded by alumni of the prestigious Harvard University, provides high school students with virtual internship experiences at startups, in the development sector, and not-for-profit organisations all across the world. You will have the opportunity to work on impactful projects directly relevant to the organization, culminating in a presentation of your work at the end of the internship. What sets Ladder Internships apart is its strong emphasis on mentorship, allowing you to collaborate with seasoned professionals and engage with innovative research. Each of you will work closely with your startup manager and be paired with a Ladder Coach, providing an additional layer of guidance and support. Apply now!
3. Pre-Pharmacy Scholars Program at Medical College of Wisconsin
Location: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 25 students
Dates: One-week bootcamp between August 4–7, followed by quarterly meetings in October, January, and April
Application Deadline: Typically, mid-to-late Spring
Eligibility: High school students in the Milwaukee area
This unique year-long initiative provides Milwaukee-area students with sustained exposure to the pharmacy profession, starting with an intensive summer immersion. You will benefit from a one-week "boot camp" where you explore various career pathways and practice hands-on compounding and vitals collection. Following the summer session, the program matches you with both a practicing pharmacist and a student mentor for mentoring throughout the academic year. The program emphasizes the pharmacist's role in addressing health disparities and fostering community engagement. You will gain hands-on experience by shadowing your mentors at practice sites or community health screening events.
4. KP Launch’s High School Program
Location: Northern California
Stipend: $24/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 40–50 students
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 16 and 19 as of June 1 who live in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area and can legally work in the US
Through KP Launch’s High School Program, you’ll spend your summer gaining hands-on experience in a pharmacy department while earning a competitive hourly wage. You will explore vital topics like medication safety, healthcare operations, and health equity. During the program, you’ll complete work assignments, attend professional workshops, network with medical leaders, and deliver a final capstone presentation. This program commits to diversifying healthcare by specifically mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds. By the end, you’ll have developed public speaking, time management, and professional communication skills.
5. STEP Summer Program at the University of Washington
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost: $100; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 30 students per year
Dates: July 6–9
Application Deadline: Late April
Eligibility: Current high school students; priority given to rising juniors and seniors.
In this program, you will benefit from attending classes led by leading pharmacy experts who discuss the evolving role of pharmacists in clinical healthcare. The curriculum moves beyond traditional medication dispensing to explore specialties in research, policy, and direct patient management. You will gain hands-on experience through laboratory time, medication compounding procedures, and clinical skill-building workshops. The program also features discussion groups with current PharmD students, providing a peer-level perspective on the challenges and rewards of the field. STEP prioritizes rising juniors and seniors to ensure the content aligns with upcoming college application cycles.
6. City of Hope – Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Location: City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California (Los Angeles area)
Stipend: $4,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 70–82 students
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 11
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students; must be at least 16 years old by the first day of the program; must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
In this program, you dive into pharmaceutical research by designing your own 10-week project alongside expert mentors. You will explore critical topics such as drug delivery systems, medicinal chemistry, and biomedical ethics. Throughout the summer, you engage in hands-on lab work, participate in weekly seminars, and perform professional data analysis. The academy’s unique structure empowers you to lead your own investigation, offering a rare chance to co-author publications or patent inventions. By presenting your final research poster, you master advanced lab techniques, critical thinking, and scientific communication. This immersive experience bridges classroom theory and pharmacy innovation, building a solid foundation for your future.
7. Pharmacy Summer Research Program at Chapman University
Location: Chapman University, Irvine, CA
Cost: $1,503 (tentative)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 3–5 students
Dates: 3 weeks in July
Application Deadline: Typically, Spring
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12 with a suggested minimum GPA of 3.0
In this program, you will benefit from learning professional research methods and utilizing advanced laboratory equipment and technology under the guidance of a faculty advisor. The curriculum focuses on developing essential academic skills, such as writing formal research reports and critically evaluating complex scientific literature. You will gain hands-on experience by conducting an original research project, with past topics ranging from travel health services to the reduction of patient readmission rates. The program also offers the chance to interact with current PharmD students to gain insights into the pharmacy school experience.
8. Future Pharmacists Program – University of the Pacific
Location: University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
Cost: $3,800 ($3,300 for Pacific affiliates)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 30–50 students
Dates: Session 1: June 1–11; Session 2: June 16–26
Application Deadline: May 10
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12
The Future Pharmacists Program is a two-week residential experience that introduces you to both the clinical and research facets of modern pharmacy. You will interact with pharmaceutical scientists and PharmD students while exploring specialized fields such as oncology and pediatric pharmacy. The curriculum features patient care simulations where you practice critical skills like compounding and immunization. You will gain hands-on experience by participating in a mock cardiac emergency response and solving pharmacy-related challenges in a specialized escape room. In the lab, you will design small research experiments and learn the regulatory frameworks of clinical trials.
9. Pharmacy Summer Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Location: University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 25–40 students
Dates: July 13–17
Application Deadline: April 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA
The Pharmacy Summer Program (PSP) at UW-Madison is a four-day residential camp specifically focused on introducing students to the PharmD program and career paths in health sciences. In this camp, you will interact with practicing pharmacists and admissions representatives to resolve doubts about the college application process. The program is designed to acquaint you with campus life while providing a clear overview of the day-to-day activities of a pharmacy student. You will gain hands-on experience through interactive workshops and sessions that demonstrate the impact pharmacists have on patient outcomes. This program is particularly geared toward students who are traditionally underrepresented in healthcare.
10. Pharmacy Summer Institute at the University at Buffalo
Location: University at Buffalo South Campus, NY
Cost: $150
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately competitive; 40–60 students
Dates: July 13–15
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Current high school students with a minimum 3.0 GPA
In this program, you will participate in academic advising sessions and lab tours that showcase the cutting-edge facilities used in pharmaceutical research. The program includes live demonstrations of essential pharmacy skills, allowing you to see how medications are developed and managed in a professional setting. You will gain hands-on experience by interacting with U-Buffalo faculty and current students to explore diverse career opportunities within the industry. The short duration makes it a perfect introductory experience for students who want to test their interest in the field.
11. Pharmacy and Science Career Camp at the University of Toledo
Location: University of Toledo, OH
Cost: $300
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 50 students
Dates: June 15–17
Application Deadline: Early May
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors in the Fall
U-Toledo’s Pharmacy and Science Career Camp is a three-day residential program that highlights the diversity of roles available to science majors. You will participate in workshops and lectures that cover forensic science, medical simulations, and drug discovery. The program shows you how a pharmacy degree can lead to roles as a cosmetic scientist, research chemist, or drug developer. You will gain hands-on experience through medical simulations and interactive lab activities that reflect real-world pharmacy challenges. The residential nature of the camp provides a focused environment for exploring potential science-based career paths while living on campus.
12. RxPLORE Camp at the University of Pittsburgh
Location: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 25–35 students
Dates: July 24–26
Application Deadline: Early July
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
RxPLORE is a three-day professional camp that explores the varied roles a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree can unlock. The program includes tours of the University of Pittsburgh’s pharmacy school and allows you to connect with current faculty and student leaders. You will gain hands-on experience by practicing clinical skills such as taking blood pressure measurements and administering simulated vaccines and IV injections. By simulating the day-to-day tasks of a pharmacist, the camp provides a clear picture of the diverse career paths available in modern healthcare.
13. Bulldog Pharmacy Camp at Samford University’s McWhorter’s School of Pharmacy
Location: Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama
Cost: $675; limited scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 40–50 students
Dates: June 21–26
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
At the Bulldog Pharmacy Camp, you’ll dive into the professional world of pharmacy through an overnight experience at Samford’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy. The curriculum covers various specialties like retail, hospital, and nuclear pharmacy to show you the profession's full scope. You will engage in hands-on activities like compounding medicated creams, checking blood pressure, and practicing with patient simulation manikins. Beyond the lab, you will tour local healthcare facilities and participate in unique community service projects. Ultimately, you’ll master essential patient assessment skills and gain a clear vision for your career path in healthcare.
14. Mercer University Pharmacy Scholars Summer Program (PSSP)
Location: Mercer University College of Pharmacy, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $125
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 20–30 students
Dates: June 22–23
Application Deadline: May 2
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Mercer University’s Pharmacy Scholars Summer Program offers you a two-day deep dive into the profession at their Atlanta campus. You will explore diverse topics ranging from patient care and drug information to professional ethics and various pharmacy careers. During the program, you will engage in hands-on compounding labs, interactive workshops, and a pharmacy-themed field trip while meeting industry alumni. This experience helps you build foundational skills in laboratory science, critical thinking, and professional networking. Ultimately, you gain a clear understanding of the academic and professional path required to successfully become a pharmacist.
15. Pharmacy Camp at Ohio Northern University
Location: Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH
Cost/Stipend: $495; financial hardship scholarships are available
Dates: June 14 –18
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 24 students
Application Deadline: Typically, early June
Eligibility: High school students who will be entering their sophomore through senior year in the Fall of the attending year
In this camp, you will learn everything from the history of pharmacy to technical topics like drug modeling, design, and pharmaceutical development. You will spend your time working in compounding labs, researching drug information, and visiting professional pharmacy settings to see the industry in action. One of the most unique perks is the $1,000 scholarship eligibility for attendees who eventually enroll in ONU’s direct-entry PharmD program. By the end, you’ll have sharpened essential skills in scientific analysis, medication manufacturing, and patient counseling. It’s an immersive, hands-on way to experience campus life while exploring your future in pharmacy.
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