8 Online Business Internships for High School Students
Interested in business but not sure where to start? An online business internship can give you a chance to explore the field, work on real-world projects, and learn how businesses operate, all without having to travel to an office. Whether you are curious about entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, or management, there are online opportunities that can help you get a closer look at different areas of business. You will also have the opportunity to build practical skills, collaborate with others, and learn more about what a future in business could look like.
TL;DR
This article covers 8 online business internships you can complete as a high school student without needing to travel to an office. Most involve working remotely with a mentor or team on real projects in areas like entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, or research, spanning organizations from startups and nonprofits to policy institutes and university-affiliated programs. A few options offer stipends or paid hourly work, while others are unpaid but come with academic credit or scholarship opportunities. To choose the right option for you, it's worth comparing cost, time commitment, and eligibility across the list before you apply.
Why should you do an online business internship?
An online business internship can help you explore different areas of business before deciding what you may want to study in college. You will gain exposure to real-world business concepts while working on real projects, collaborating with professionals like team managers, accountants, advertisers, and project managers, and learning about the daily operations of an organization. As these internships are online, you can also gain experience without needing to travel to a workplace. To make the most of your experience, our guide to staying visible in remote internships can be your next read!
How do you apply for an online business internship?
The application process varies depending on the internship. Some programs may ask you to submit an application form, while others may require a resume, essays, recommendations, or an interview. So, before applying, carefully check the eligibility requirements, application deadline, program format, and any materials you need to prepare. If this is your first-ever internship, here’s how to apply for internships without any experience to help you feel prepared for the process!
To help you get started, we have rounded up 8 online business internships for high school students. We have focused on options running fully virtual internships and offering roles within business and related areas.
If you are also looking for in-person opportunities near you, check out our lists of business internships for high schoolers and structured business programs.
Quick overview
|
Program type |
Top programs |
Cost |
Best for |
|
Startup and entrepreneurship programs |
Free, fee-based (with financial aid), and stipend-based options available (YEP KC pays $12 to $14/hour) |
Students who want hands-on exposure to startup culture or entrepreneurship, whether fully remote or paired with a local company |
|
|
Policy and nonprofit programs |
Free; limited stipends available |
Students interested in how policy institutes or service-oriented nonprofits operate day to day |
|
|
Mentored programs |
SPARK Summer Mentorship Program, George Mason ASSIP, EnergyMag Internships |
Free – $25 application fee + tuition; some SPARK opportunities come with stipends |
Students who want closer mentorship on a research-based business or technical project |
8 Online Business Internships for High School Students
1. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote! You can participate from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts every year, including Fall, Summer, Spring, and Winter
Application deadline: Varies by cohort; Fall (September), Spring (January), Summer (May), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10 to 20 hours a week for 8 to 12 weeks; open to high school, undergraduate, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective startup internship program for ambitious high school students! Through the program, you will work with a high-growth startup on an internship. Startups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from AI/ML and tech/deep tech to journalism, health tech, marketing, consulting, and more. Ladder’s startups are high-growth companies that, on average, raise more than $1 million. You will work closely with a manager on real-world projects and present your work to the company. The virtual internship is usually eight weeks long. Apply now!
Who it’s best for: Students looking for firsthand exposure to startup culture and a fully virtual internship experience.
2. Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) Internship Program
Location: Remote or FPRI, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; limited stipends available + unpaid opportunities available
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: Fall, summer, and spring opportunities available; dates vary
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school, college, and graduate students interested in foreign policy and international affairs
The FPRI runs remote and in-person internships designed to help students explore real-world work focused on international relations, policy analysis, communications, and research within a foreign policy think tank. You can choose the Administration and Operations track to engage in tasks like researching efficiency strategies for the department, developing presentations, assisting with internship-related tasks, and moderating select events. You will spend most of your time assisting the FPRI management staff on real projects. This role can offer insights into organizational roles, teamwork, and operations management within a think tank.
Who it’s best for: Students interested in exploring the inner workings of a policy-focused organization.
3. SPARK Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)
Location: Remote or in-person in the Greater Seattle area, WA; other sites may also be available
Cost/Stipend: Small registration fee and project costs may apply; paid (with up to $500 stipend) and unpaid opportunities available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; exact number varies by project
Dates: 8 – 10 weeks between June and August
Application deadline: Typically, April/May
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
SPARK SMP connects high school students to project teams led by professionals from academia, industry, or research. You will spend a few weeks in the summer working on real projects in marketing, business, or STEM areas, depending on your mentor’s expertise. You may work on research or documentation while learning how collaborative environments function. As tasks vary by placement, mentors will outline the project scope, overall expectations, and deliverables at the beginning of the experience. You will learn about real organizational workflows and problem-solving, and may even access professional development opportunities. The experience may wrap up with a formal presentation of project outcomes.
Who it’s best for: Students seeking mentored work experiences and opportunities to collaborate with professionals on real projects.
4. Young Founders Lab
Location: 100% virtual with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application deadline: Varies according to cohort; you can access the application link here!
Eligibility: High school students
The Young Founder’s Lab is a startup boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating startup that addresses a complex problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. Apart from building the startup itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideation, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, and panel discussions. This can be an opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and explore multiple theoretical and practical frameworks that lead to business success. You can check out the brochure for more details!
Who it’s best for: Students looking for a remote opportunity to learn how to build and launch a startup.
5. Young Entrepreneurs Program Kansas City (YEP KC)
Location: Kansas City, MO + remote options available
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend of $12 – $14/hour + a $2,500 scholarship ($1,250/session) available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 1 – 26; Session 2: July 6 – 31 (students can participate in one or both sessions)
Application deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Students completing their junior or senior year of high school
YEP KC is a summer internship program designed to offer students exposure to entrepreneurship and high-growth companies in the Kansas City area. You will be matched with a company based on your interests and talents and work on placement-specific tasks and attend informational sessions. You will explore a range of industries and entrepreneurial environments through weekly Friday company visits. Depending on your placement, you may work in areas such as engineering, marketing, product management, sales, finance, or analytics. You will receive hourly compensation and a scholarship upon completing the program.
Who it’s best for: Students who want hands-on experience within a company while exploring real-world entrepreneurship, business, and technology.
6. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Virtual option available
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee + $1,299 tuition for three course credits (fee waivers available); no stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students who are at least 15 years old for remote internships or 16+ years old for in-person/wet-lab opportunities
George Mason’s ASSIP is an eight-week opportunity for you to explore the world of business through a mentored research placement. Placements span various fields, including finance and business, where you may contribute to research in the economics of AI, market structure, blockchain, investments, corporate finance, or financial tech, depending on your mentor’s work. During the internship, you will gain hands-on experience with reviewing existing literature and research technologies, and practice formal writing and communication skills. You will also learn about career paths through discussions and meetings with researchers and professionals.
Who it’s best for: Students interested in exploring business through research alongside a faculty mentor.
7. Internships @ American Psychological Association
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend and academic credit (unpaid) opportunities available
Acceptance rate: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Spring, summer, fall, and winter internships available; exact dates vary depending on the opportunity
Application deadline: Varies based on the opportunity
Eligibility: Students enrolled in school at least part-time, authorized to work in the U.S. through E-Verify, and residents of a U.S. state where APA is registered as an employer; students under 18 need to submit a D.C. Work Permit.
The American Psychological Association lets students explore real psychology-focused work environments through internships in areas such as policy, research, communications, publishing, education, and operations. You will explore the inner workings of a nonprofit organization while working alongside professionals on department-specific projects and tasks. You will gain workplace exposure through projects, workshops, research tasks, writing assignments, and discussions related to psychology and public service. You will also learn about non-traditional career pathways in psychology and practice communication and analysis in a professional setting. The program can be your opportunity to build an early network of professionals across APA’s teams and offices.
Who it’s best for: Students interested in exploring the work of a service-oriented nonprofit and building early workplace skills.
8. EnergyMag Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two to eight weeks in the summer | One to nine months during the year; flexible dates
Application deadline: Open year-round
Eligibility: College students with a GPA of 3.0; high school students are also eligible.
EnergyMag’s internships let students explore how to research and report technologies and organizations with a focus on sustainability, clean energy, and energy storage. During the internship, you will investigate a given issue, organization, startup, technology, market, or activity under the guidance of a mentor to learn about energy use and storage. While working on your assignment, you will compile and examine the data you collect from sources and draft an analysis report, which may be published on the EnergyMag website. The experience can help you develop core research skills.
Who it’s best for: Students looking for a flexible, project-based opportunity to build research and writing skills.
What skills can you pick up in online business internships?
Online business internships can help you develop skills such as communication, research, problem-solving, teamwork, organization, and business analysis. Depending on the internship, you may also build more specialized skills in areas such as marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, or management. Working remotely can additionally offer you some experience in communicating and collaborating in a virtual environment. Before you explore available options, start by checking out a few tips for securing an internship in high school.
Can an online business internship help with your college applications?
An online business internship can give you an opportunity to demonstrate your interest in business beyond your regular coursework. You may be able to discuss the projects you completed, skills you developed, and what you learned about the field in your college applications. The experience can also help you better understand your academic interests and potential career paths.
What students often wonder about these internships
1. What kind of business work can you actually do remotely?
Depending on the internship, you might conduct market or financial research, assist with marketing or communications projects, support operations for a nonprofit or think tank, or work directly with a startup team on a specific deliverable. Some internships assign you a defined project from the start, while others involve rotating through smaller tasks based on your mentor's or department's needs.
2. Do these internships focus on one specific area of business, or can you explore multiple areas?
It varies. Some internships are broad, exposing you to several business functions like finance, marketing, and operations within one organization, while others are more specialized, such as research-focused placements tied to a specific field like economics, entrepreneurship, or energy markets.
3. Are online business internships harder to get into than in-person ones?
Competitiveness varies by program rather than by format. Some online internships are highly selective with limited spots, while others have more open eligibility criteria and rolling or flexible application windows. If you are looking for opportunities beyond the summer, which sees most high schoolers competing for opportunities, Ladder Internships run cohorts in the fall, spring, and winter, pairing students throughout the year with startups across a range of industries.
4. Do online business internships cost anything to participate in?
Most are free to join, though a few require an application or tuition-related fee. The cost or compensation structures vary widely, from unpaid to hourly pay to project-specific stipends of up to $500.