15 Paid Entrepreneurship Internships for High School Students
Entrepreneurship internships for high schoolers allow you to see how businesses work and how ideas turn into reality. They offer experience in business creation, marketing, finance, and innovation while exposing you to business challenges. You develop practical skills, gain industry exposure, and connect with professionals who can guide your growth. These programs, often run by top universities and leading organizations, let you learn from experienced mentors and industry professionals.
Unlike many academic programs, internships allow you to explore your interests without high costs, especially when you earn a stipend or hourly pay. Earning a stipend or other form of compensation also helps develop financial responsibility, rewards effort, and makes exploring entrepreneurship more accessible. Paid internships are typically more competitive, which means participating in one can also be a useful addition to your college applications and resume.
To help you begin, we’ve gathered 15 paid entrepreneurship internships for high school students that combine experience and mentorship.
1. Be Future Founders - Be Your Own Boss Internship
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Up to $250
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; limited cohorts per year
Dates: January 20 – February 12
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: High school students attending public or charter schools in Chicago and living in the U.S.
The Be Your Own Boss Internship gives you practical exposure to entrepreneurship while helping you build essential workplace skills. This internship encourages participation from students belonging to low-income and urban/rural settings. This online, project-driven program links you with entrepreneurs, mentors, and fellow students nationwide. Throughout the program, you’ll collaborate in teams to develop a startup concept, create a simple app prototype, and present your idea during a virtual showcase. You’ll also join workshops on innovation, leadership, and networking, all led by experienced business founders.
2. Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP)
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend of $12 – $14/hour + $2,500 scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 15 – 20 students per year
Dates: Session 1: June 2 – 27; Session 2: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school students from the Kansas City metro area
The Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) gives you hands-on exposure to Kansas City’s dynamic startup community. The program pairs you with a fast-growing local startup that aligns with your interests and strengths. You’ll work about 30 hours per week on business problems, collaborate with founders, and learn how early-stage companies operate day to day. Each week also includes a Friday visit to a different startup, allowing you to explore various industries and the resources that support entrepreneurship. The program supports your professional development while offering financial benefits, including hourly pay and a completion scholarship.
3. Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI)
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, exact amount not available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; around 125 students each year
Dates: Six weeks between June – August
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: You must be a Chicago resident, a high school sophomore or junior, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, have a family income below $80,000, and have a GPA of “B” or 3.0+
The Chicago Summer Business Institute gives you firsthand exposure to the business and financial services sector through a structured, paid summer internship. You take part in daily workplace activities, complete tasks for your host organization, and attend Friday workshops that cover communication, leadership, and professional skills. The program also brings in guest speakers and offers opportunities to tour corporate offices, giving you a broader view of business careers. Throughout the six weeks, you explore different responsibilities in a professional environment while building confidence and workplace readiness. The experience is designed to encourage you to continue your education and understand what a future in business might look like for you.
4. 1435 Capital – High School Venture Analyst Internship
Location: Hybrid (Princeton, NJ)
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically 3 – 4 students per year
Dates: 10-week summer internship between June and August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors between ages 16 – 18
In this hybrid Venture Analyst role at 1435 Capital, you take on core responsibilities in investment research, due diligence, and market analysis. You will review startups, study industry trends, test products, and help track portfolio performance while working with venture capital professionals. You will sit in on meetings, support deal sourcing, and learn how investment decisions are made inside a real venture firm. You can also expect to contribute to presentations and operational tasks that give you a clearer view of how fund teams manage their workflow. Over the summer, you may also participate in the Homeroom Fund, a student-run initiative overseen by 1435 Capital.
5. Futures and Options – High School Internship Program
Location: New York City
Stipend: At least $17/hr
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size not specified
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students between ages 16–19 and enrolled in a New York City high school
Through this program, you take part in a paid, mentored internship while attending career-readiness workshops designed to build workplace skills. After applying, you may interview with program staff who match you to internship sites based on your interests and goals. Internship placements span small businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and large companies, giving you exposure to a range of professional environments. You also participate in required orientations and workshops focused on communication, interviewing, financial literacy, and resume writing. Field trips with employer partners may also offer additional insight into possible career paths. Throughout the program, a dedicated Program Coordinator supports you and stays in touch with both you and your supervisor.
6. Warner Bros. Reach Honorship Program
Location: Burbank, California
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid during summer internship + $5,000 scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; around 5 – 7 students each year
Dates: 4 summers during your college years, beginning the summer you graduate
Application Deadline: Generally in January or February
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors residing in or attending school in Burbank or Los Angeles County | Minimum GPA of 3.0
The Warner Bros. Reach Honorship program offers high school seniors an opportunity to explore the business and creative functions of a major entertainment studio. As you work toward your college degree, you’ll complete paid summer internships in areas like marketing, finance, communications, and production. Each year, the program pairs you with a different team and executive mentor, giving you exposure to a variety of roles and helping you build skills in teamwork, project management, and studio operations. The program also provides a $5,000 scholarship, distributed over four years, as long as you meet academic requirements in college.
7. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Local nonprofit partners across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend provided, amount not specified, travel expenses for the Summit covered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 300 students each year
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer; Summit between July 21 – 26
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. and reside in an eligible location, and are first-time applicants
Bank of America’s Student Leaders Program gives you practical experience working with a local nonprofit while helping you strengthen your leadership and collaboration skills. Across eight weeks, you’ll contribute to community-focused projects, work closely with nonprofit staff, and gain insight into how social impact organizations function. The internship is paired with workshops on civic participation, ethical decision-making, and public service. A key feature of the program is the National Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you’ll meet peers from around the country and learn how government, businesses, and nonprofits partner to create change. The program includes a stipend and covers all expenses.
8. Meta Summer Academy
Location: Meta office, Menlo Park, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 150 students selected each year
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores residing in East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City | GPA ≥ 2.0
The Meta Summer Academy allows you to explore the tech industry and build foundational coding skills while learning about different career paths. The curriculum covers topics like Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI), with the goal of helping students become tech creators. Throughout the internship, Meta employees mentor you and introduce you to machine learning, AI, finance, sustainability, business, and marketing. Along with technical learning, you also participate in resume building, professional communication, and presentation skills workshops.
9. Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship
Location: Various locations across the United States (depends on partner company)
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; about 150 Fellows
Dates: Start and end dates vary by partner company; most internships begin in May or June
Application Deadline: Rolling acceptance; final non-selection notifications sent May 15
Eligibility: High school seniors planning to attend or currently attending a four-year U.S. college | | At least a 3.0 GPA | Currently authorized to work in the U.S. | At least 18 years old prior to the internship’s start
In this internship, you take on a full-time role (35–40 hours per week) with a partner company in media, entertainment, or tech. You gain experience in areas like journalism, production, engineering, business, PR, sales, or digital media, depending on your placement. Throughout the cycle, EBF reviews applications and reaches out when a role aligns with your profile, so you may hear from them anytime between fall and spring. You build workplace skills, explore different corners of the industry, and work directly with professionals who guide you through daily tasks and larger projects. Because placements are limited and competitive, you’ll move through a structured review process before securing a summer role.
10. CLA High School Internship Program
Location: Varies by CLA office across the United States
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 60 – 70 students
Dates: Eight weeks (mid-June – August)
Application Deadline: Typically, in January
Eligibility: High school students at least 16 at the start of the program | Authorized to work in the U.S. without visa sponsorship.
The CLA High School Internship is a four-week, in-person experience that gives you a close look at the accounting and professional services world. You explore different areas of the industry through interactive case studies, team projects, and hands-on exposure to multiple service lines. Throughout the program, you shadow professionals at various levels, observing how they work with clients and contribute to their communities. You also participate in group activities that help you understand CLA’s culture and collaborative environment. Interns work Monday through Thursday, receive a laptop for use during the program, and follow a business-casual dress code.
11. KPMG Empower High School Experience
Location: 11 U.S. markets (Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Hartford, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, St. Louis)
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Stipend paid between $20 – $25/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 18 – 20 students per market
Dates: 3-week summer program in July
Application Deadline: Typically, early spring
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors who live near a participating KPMG office
In this three-week paid internship, you explore careers in accounting and professional services through hands-on projects, workshops, and team-based activities. You work with KPMG professionals who guide you through auditing, tax concepts, advisory services, and core business skills. The program includes structured learning sessions focused on communication, leadership, relationship building, and industry knowledge. You’ll also attend case studies, guest lectures, and networking events with firm employees and nonprofit partners. With nearly 500 professionals involved as mentors and facilitators, you receive significant exposure to the firm’s culture and expectations.
12. OTM Journalism & Entrepreneurship Internship (Economic Awareness Council + DePaul University)
Location: Hybrid (Chicago, IL)
Stipend: Paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; typically, limited spots
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year; Spring/Summer: January – May; Fall/Winter: September – December
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Spring/Summer: January; Fall/Winter: September
Eligibility: High school students in Chicago
In this three-month hybrid internship, you research, write, and publish articles focused on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and business. You participate in workshops and small-group sessions that help you build writing, interviewing, and research skills while learning from guest speakers and mentors. The program includes a mix of virtual and in-person meetings, where you collaborate with peers and develop workplace skills used in journalism and business. You also receive structured support for résumé building, scholarship preparation, and professional communication. The program concludes with an in-person graduation event.
13. Mary Miller Summer Program – PHC Group
Location: Virtual (with global collaboration opportunities)
Cost/Stipend: None / Stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; typically, limited spots
Dates: Summer; between May – August
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The PHC Group's Mary Miller Summer Program is a selective internship honoring Mary Miller's commitment to community and education by cultivating youth leadership and professional preparedness. You gain career readiness by collaborating closely with senior leadership on team-based initiatives and pursuing independent research aligning with the PHC Group's objectives. Your responsibilities will include analyzing market trends, executing social media strategies, and driving community outreach efforts. You will regularly contribute to collaborative strategy discussions and present findings to leadership, thereby enhancing both your technical acumen and professional communication abilities.
14. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) High School Business Internship
Location: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (WA); some virtual roles offered
Stipend: Paid, exact amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically, small and localized cohorts
Dates: School-year internship between August – May
Application Deadline: Rolling acceptance
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who attend a partnering local high school (Tri-Cities, WA) and have U.S. work eligibility
The internship at PNNL provides an opportunity to investigate the important finance and operational support systems required for major scientific research. You will work in departments like finance, operations, or communications, engaging in business activities such as budget reporting, cost tracking, and generating internal lab communications. You will attend classes in the morning and perform hands-on lab work in the afternoon, ensuring continued education alongside practical experience. This role is perfect for students interested in the financial administration of STEM or government organizations, offering exposure to capital, data, and operational management.
15. Kaiser Permanente LAUNCH High School Internship
Location: Northern California (various Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers and offices)
Stipend: $24/hr
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 40 – 50 students
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: High school students ages 16 – 19 by June 1 | Must reside in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area | Legally allowed to work in the U.S.
The Kaiser Permanente LAUNCH Internship offers practical experience in non-clinical roles across the healthcare field. Over the course of seven weeks, you’ll work full-time with administrators, project teams, and assigned mentors while being paid an hourly wage. Each week includes workshops focused on developing workplace skills, such as communication, collaboration, and job readiness. You’ll also learn how large health systems function through networking sessions, community service activities, and guidance from your supervisor. The program is designed to support your professional development while promoting inclusion and leadership in a setting that reflects real workplace expectations.
Looking for another immersive internship option?
The Ladder Internship Program allows you to work remotely with fast-growing startups in fields such as technology, healthcare, marketing, sustainability, and environmental science. The program pairs you with a company where you’ll collaborate with industry professionals, work on real-time projects, and share your findings with the team. Typically lasting about eight weeks, the program helps you connect academic learning with practical experience while building research, analytical, and communication skills. Offering full financial aid and flexible participation, it’s an ideal opportunity for students eager to explore innovative and purpose-driven careers.
Location: Remote – you can participate from anywhere in the world
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program type; 100% financial aid available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective (varies by cohort)
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout – Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort (January, May, September, and November)
Eligibility: Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students able to commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
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