15 NYC High School Summer Internships in 2026
A summer internship can help you gain the knowledge and skills required in real-world settings. You develop technical skills, practice teamwork, get professional writing experience, and receive mentorship that can be difficult to find in school alone. For college applications, internships can provide material for essays, recommendation letters, and evidence of sustained interest in a field. They can also help students decide what they don’t want to study, which can be just as valuable. Some internships may offer early work experience and financial support, while research-based internships often introduce students to lab methods, public presentations, and independent inquiry.
If you want to check out other summer programs, here’s a list of free leadership programs & here’s a list of some STEM-specific internships!
Why should I do a summer internship in high school in New York?
New York City offers one of the largest ecosystems of youth programs in the U.S. Students can find opportunities in hospitals, universities, government agencies, and nonprofits. That breadth can make the search overwhelming, which is why we narrowed this list to some of the best NYC high school internships for summer 2026 options that are active, in-person, and scheduled during May - August.
We’ve curated below a list of 15 Summer Internships for High School students in New York City based on cost, stipend & overall program quality and learning outcomes.
1. The Met High School Internship Program
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art High School, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,100
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: July 1 - August 7 (Bootcamp July 1; internship July 7 - August 7)
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 and 11, or students obtaining a High School Equivalency, who reside in and attend high school or homeschool in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut.
The Met High School Internship Program is a paid summer opportunity for high school students seeking professional experience in a museum setting. Interns work approximately 40 hours over the course of the program and are placed in departments such as curatorial, education, design, imaging, and social media, depending on placement availability. You participate in professional development activities, including biweekly cohort check-ins, mentorship, and career readiness training. The program also includes required Teen Fridays events and a final celebration, helping interns engage with peers while building workplace skills.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more.You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
3. DOROT Summer Teen Internship
Location: DOROT, New York, NY
Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not publicly specified
Dates: July 21 - August 13
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors; participants must commit to the full four-week summer program and complete at least 15 volunteer hours with DOROT during the following academic year.
The DOROT Summer Teen Internship is a four-week in-person internship focused on intergenerational engagement and community service. High school interns work with older adults through activities such as home visits, technology assistance, discussion groups, and creative arts programming. This NYC high school internship summer 2026 program includes leadership training, structured workshops, weekly reflection, and themed activities designed to develop communication and relationship-building skills. Interns participate Monday through Thursday and can earn more than 100 service hours through the experience. The internship emphasizes civic engagement and social connection while giving students experience in service-oriented work.
4. Immerse Education’s - New York Track
Location: London, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo
Cost: Varies according to program. Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18
The Career Insights Program is a 2-week summer program that lets high school students explore careers in major global industry hubs. The New York track is designed for ambitious students who want to see how ideas work in the real world. This NYC high school internship summer 2026 combines expert-led teaching, small-group workshops, and close mentor support, giving students first-hand exposure to professional thinking and industry contexts. Participants engage in project-based learning with established companies, attend interactive workshops, and visit offices, factories, and headquarters. You attend in-person 1:1 career coaching sessions weekly, where you receive personalized feedback on your resume and overall profile. At the end of the program, you also present your findings to industry experts. Find out more about the application here!
5. NYC Parks Internships
Location: New York, NY (placements across the five boroughs; administrative offices at 830 Fifth Avenue)
Stipend: Paid internship (amount not specified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: Varies by internship; school-year and summer options available
Application Deadline: Rolling/varies by position
Eligibility: Varies by position. High school students may be eligible for certain internship roles, particularly in education, recreation, environmental field work, and related departments
NYC Parks offers paid internships across multiple departments, including education, environmental field work, recreation, communications, and public administration. Depending on the role, you may support park programming, community engagement, operations, or special projects related to New York City’s park system. Opportunities can occur during the summer or the academic year, with responsibilities varying by department and placement. Interns gain exposure to public service, environmental stewardship, and municipal operations while developing professional skills. Because internships are offered across a large city agency, students may find opportunities aligned with interests in urban planning, sustainability, recreation, or government.
6. NYC Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)
Location: Various locations across New York City’s five boroughs
Stipend: Paid program (wages vary by placement and age group)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer 2026 (specific dates vary by provider and placement)
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: New York City residents ages 14–24 who are legally authorized to work in New York City
The NYC Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is a paid summer employment program that connects students with work experiences and career exploration opportunities across a range of industries. Students ages 14 - 15 typically participate in project-based learning, while older students may be placed in paid summer jobs through worksite partners across the city. In addition to job experience, participants engage in career exploration activities, workplace-readiness training, and financial-literacy programming. Placements vary and may include nonprofit, government, education, and private-sector settings, depending on provider partnerships.
7. NYC School Construction Authority (SCA) High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Various locations across New York City (SCA departments and partner company sites)
Stipend: $17/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: July 6 - August 14
Application Deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Students enrolled in a New York City public high school, in good academic standing, able to work 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Monday–Friday, and authorized to work in the United States.
The NYC School Construction Authority High School Summer Internship Program is a paid six-week internship that places students in SCA departments and partner firms across fields such as architecture, engineering, construction management, IT, and public administration. Interns spend four days each week at their placement and one day participating in career workshops, training sessions, and mentoring activities. Depending on the assignment, students may contribute to office-based projects, use tools such as AutoCAD, or participate in supervised construction site visits.
8. Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) Artslife Internship
Location: Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), New York, NY
Stipend: $17/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 students
Dates: Six-week summer program (specific dates not publicly specified)
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: Juniors and rising sophomores of NYC public or charter high schools
Artslife is a paid summer internship focused on museum studies, visual arts, and professional skill development for high school students. You participate in the first week of orientation and team-building, followed by five weeks of collaborative projects with museum staff, artists, and design professionals. You explore careers across museum departments, including curatorial, education, marketing, security, and visitor services, while also creating artwork, producing a podcast, and leading peer tours. The program includes mentorship, site visits to other cultural institutions, and opportunities to strengthen communication and presentation skills.
9. Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship Program
Location: Various locations across the United States, including New York
Stipend: Paid internship (amount varies by partner company)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 150 fellows selected annually
Dates: May or June; minimum of 8 continuous weeks
Application Deadline: Applications reviewed September–April; placement decisions finalized by May 15
Eligibility: High school seniors who plan to attend a four-year accredited U.S. college, have at least a 3.0 GPA, are interested in media, entertainment, or technology, are at least 18 before the internship starts, and are authorized to work in the United States.
The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship Program places students in paid internships with partner companies in media, entertainment, and technology. Fellows work full-time in roles that may span journalism, engineering, business, public relations, and digital media, depending on placement. In addition to workplace experience, the program is designed to support career development through mentorship, professional exposure, and industry connections. Because placements are hosted by partner organizations, internship experiences vary by role and company.
10. BRAINYAC (Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia)
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Stipend: Not publicly specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not publicly specified
Dates: Summer program (specific dates not publicly specified)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: 10th and 11th grade students residing in NYC and currently enrolled in one of the partner programs: S-PREP, Lang Youth Medical, Double Discovery Center, Columbia Secondary School, and BioBus. Students from Upper Manhattan and the South Bronx are given preference.
BRAINYAC is a selective summer research internship that places high school students in Columbia neuroscience laboratories for hands-on research experience. Each intern is paired with a Columbia scientist mentor and works on a research project while learning laboratory techniques and research practices. You gain exposure to neuroscience, academic research environments, and the role of laboratory science in scientific discovery. The program emphasizes mentorship, scientific skill development, and exploration of research as a potential career path.
11. NYC DCAS High School Automotive Internship Program
Location: Various locations across New York City (placements with agencies including FDNY, NYPD, DOT, DSNY, and DCAS)
Stipend: Paid internship (amount not specified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: Six weeks in summer (approximately 150 hours; begins in early July)
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: Students enrolled in participating New York City Department of Education Career and Technical Education automotive high schools
The NYC DCAS High School Automotive Internship Program gives students hands-on experience working with municipal fleet vehicles. You are placed with New York City agencies where they assist with tasks such as diagnosing equipment, performing basic maintenance, using shop equipment, and learning about fleet management operations. The program runs for six weeks and provides practical exposure to automotive careers within the public sector. Students work alongside city fleet professionals who maintain one of the largest municipal vehicle fleets in the United States.
12. The Intern Group Global Internship Program (New York)
Location: New York, NY
Stipend: Unpaid; program fee starts at $4,290 (without accommodation) or $6,500 (with accommodation)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: Year-round start dates; program lengths range from 4 to 24 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students may be eligible, subject to program approval and interview outcomes; applicants complete an admissions interview and placement process.
The Intern Group Global Internship Program places students in in-person internships in New York across a range of career fields, with program lengths from 4 weeks to 6 months. You are matched with an internship placement and receive professional development support, workshops, and career training in addition to your experience with your host organization. The program includes structured support such as orientation, advising, and optional housing, along with cultural and networking activities. Because placements vary, students may be able to pursue opportunities aligned with interests in fields such as business, media, nonprofit work, or technology.
13. The New York Historical Student Historian Internship Program
Location: The New York Historical, New York, NY
Stipend: $1200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students per cohort
Dates: July 7 - August 13
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students residing in and attending schools in NYC; entering grades 10, 11, or 12
The Student Historian Internship Program is a paid summer internship focused on historical research, digital humanities, and public scholarship. You conduct research using museum and library resources and create digital projects designed as educational resources for public audiences. You work collaboratively while building skills in historical analysis, research, writing, communication, and digital media production. The program also includes meetings with museum professionals and exposure to careers in museums, libraries, and digital humanities.
14. Memorial Sloan Kettering Summer Student Program (SSP)
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: June 29 - August 21
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Current high school juniors who live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Summer Student Program is an eight-week paid research internship for high school students interested in biomedical sciences. You are placed in MSK research labs where they work with mentors on self-directed projects related to ongoing biomedical or computational research. You gain hands-on laboratory experience, participate in lab meetings, and build technical research skills while contributing to broader scientific work. The program also includes professional and personal development programming focused on translational medicine, research careers, and the scientific workplace.
15. Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program (HSIP)
Location: Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, New York, NY
Stipend: Paid at minimum wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: June 29 - July 31
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors
The Manhattan District Attorney’s High School Internship Program is a five-week paid internship that introduces you to the criminal justice system through structured programming and office-based experience. You participate in workshops, discussions, and a mock trial program while developing professionalism and workplace skills in a legal setting. The program provides insight into how a prosecutor’s office operates and may help students better understand careers in law, public service, and criminal justice. Through in-person participation, you engage with legal concepts and institutional processes while building communication and analytical skills.
Questions Students Often Ask About These Programs
1. There are several city agency internships on this list (NYC Parks, SYEP, SCA, DCAS Automotive). How do these compare to each other, and which one should I prioritise?
These city-run programs differ mainly in specialization and structure. SYEP is the broadest and most accessible, open to a wide age range (14 to 24) and placing you across nonprofit, government, and private-sector worksites depending on availability, making it a strong default option if you're not sure exactly what field you want. The SCA High School Summer Internship is far more specialized, focused specifically on architecture, engineering, and construction management, and pays a clear $17 per hour. NYC Parks offers the most subject variety within a single agency, spanning education, environmental fieldwork, and recreation. DCAS Automotive is the most narrowly defined, requiring enrollment in a Career and Technical Education automotive program specifically, so it's only relevant if you're already on that academic track.
2. A few research-based internships here (BRAINYAC, MSK Summer Student Program) require enrollment in specific partner programs or have geographic restrictions. What if I don't currently belong to one of those partner pipelines?
BRAINYAC's eligibility is particularly narrow, requiring enrollment in one of five specific partner programs, including S-PREP, Lang Youth Medical, or BioBus, so without that existing connection, direct application isn't possible. If you're interested in neuroscience or biomedical research specifically but don't have access to BRAINYAC's partner pipeline, MSK's Summer Student Program is a strong alternative, open to any high school junior residing in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut without requiring a separate partner program affiliation. It's worth researching whether your school or a local community organization has a relationship with one of BRAINYAC's partner programs well before application season, since that's the only path into the program.
3. The Intern Group charges a program fee starting at $4,290, while almost every other internship on this list is either free or pays a wage. Why would someone choose a paid program over the many free, paid-stipend options here?
The Intern Group's model is fundamentally different from the others on this list, since it functions as a placement and support service rather than a direct city, hospital, or museum-run internship, and the fee covers guaranteed placement, structured advising, workshops, and optional housing support. This can be worth considering if you're having difficulty securing a place in NYC's highly competitive free programs, since spots at places like MSK or the Met fill up quickly and are limited to specific regions or grade levels. That said, given the strength and breadth of the free options on this list, most students would be better served by applying broadly to the no-cost city, museum, and hospital programs first and treating a paid placement service as more of a backup option.
Key Takeaways
This list covers 15 NYC high school summer internships for 2026, with a particularly strong cluster of paid city agency programs, including SYEP, NYC Parks, the School Construction Authority, and DCAS Automotive, alongside prestigious institutional placements at the Met, the New York Historical, and Memorial Sloan Kettering. Most programs on this list are either free with a paid stipend, ranging from $17 per hour at SCA and MAD to flat amounts like $1,100 to $1,200 at the Met and New York Historical, with The Intern Group standing out as the lone fee-based option at over $4,000, worth treating as a backup rather than a first choice given the strength of the free alternatives. For students outside NYC's specific partner program pipelines, like BRAINYAC's restricted eligibility, broader regional programs like MSK's Summer Student Program and Ladder Internships offer comparable subject depth without requiring a pre-existing institutional connection.