15 Prestigious Business Internships for High School Students
A prestigious business internship can give you a head start long before you apply to college or enter the workforce. As a high school student, you will gain firsthand experience working on real business challenges, learn from industry professionals, and develop practical skills in areas such as entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, consulting, and management. These experiences not only help you explore different career paths but also strengthen your resume and college applications by demonstrating initiative, professionalism, and a genuine interest in business.
You can check out other business internships available for high-school students here!
Why should I do a business internship in high school?
Whether you are interested in entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, management, consulting, or economics, a business internship can help you build valuable skills, expand your professional network, and gain meaningful industry experience. Many of the most respected business internships are offered by leading universities, companies, and nonprofit organizations, with several providing full funding or generous financial support, making them accessible to students from a wide range of backgrounds.
To make your search easier, we have narrowed down a list of the 15 most prestigious business internships for high school students based on factors such as the reputation of the host organization, the quality of mentorship, hands-on learning opportunities, selectivity, funding, and overall career value.
Key takeaways
This list rounds up 15 prestigious business internships and pre-college programs for high schoolers spanning entrepreneurship, finance, consulting, and corporate operations, with standout hosts including Wharton, Meta, Kaiser Permanente, and NASA.
Cost varies enormously here, from fully paid options like a Chicago-based business institute and Kaiser Permanente's LAUNCH program, to several thousand-dollar program fees for the university-run business institutes, so it's worth budgeting carefully depending on which type of program fits.
Three entries on this list are affiliated with Wharton specifically, giving students several ways to access the school's business curriculum depending on schedule, cost, and focus area.
A handful of these are tied to a specific city or region, including a couple of narrowly local community-based programs, while several university-run and fully virtual options are open more broadly regardless of location.
The earliest deadline falls in early January for one healthcare-affiliated internship, with several more clustering into February and March, so it's worth starting applications well before the following summer.
1. Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI)
Location: Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid
Program Dates: Six-week summer program (exact dates announced by CSBI/host site)
Application Deadline: February 1 – March 31 (Application portal open)
Eligibility: City of Chicago residents; current high-school sophomores or juniors; minimum “B”/3.0 GPA; household income below $80,000
The Chicago Summer Business Institute gives you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through a six-week paid internship with local businesses, financial institutions, and city agencies. During the program, you will contribute to real workplace projects, develop practical business and administrative skills, and gain experience using professional tools and software. You will also participate in career development workshops focused on resume writing, interviewing, and workplace professionalism while receiving mentorship and feedback from industry professionals. By the end of the program, you will have a deeper understanding of how businesses operate and the skills needed to succeed in a professional environment.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort; the Winter cohort application deadline is November 16
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 offering internships span 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 $1 million. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders who raised over $30 million, and founders who have previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, you will work closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. You will be offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other valuable skills. You will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns. This virtual internship typically lasts 8 weeks.
3. KP LAUNCH High School Internship (Kaiser Permanente)
Location: Kaiser Permanente offices and medical centers across Northern California
Stipend: $23–24 per hour
Program Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: January 6
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–19 with permanent residence in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente service area
The KP LAUNCH High School Program offers a seven-week paid internship in which you will gain firsthand experience in departments such as finance, business operations, patient services, and administration at Kaiser Permanente. Throughout the program, you will contribute to day-to-day projects, build professional skills, and gain insight into how one of the nation's leading healthcare organizations operates. You will also attend career development workshops focused on communication, networking, time management, and workplace readiness while receiving guidance and mentorship from experienced professionals. As a full-time intern, you will develop the confidence, responsibility, and practical experience needed to succeed in future academic and professional settings.
4. LaunchX Entrepreneurship Program
Location: Online
Cost: $6,495. Need-based financial awards are available for eligible students
Dates: July 13 – August 14
Application Deadlines: March 4
Eligibility: High school students ages 14–18; Open to U.S. and international students
The LaunchX Entrepreneurship Program is a startup accelerator that enables high school students to turn innovative ideas into real businesses. Throughout the program, you will collaborate with a team to identify market opportunities, develop and test a business idea, conduct customer research, and build a viable startup from the ground up. You will receive mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders while participating in workshops on product development, marketing, finance, and pitching. The program concludes with Demo Day, where you will present your venture to a panel of mentors and industry professionals, gaining valuable experience in entrepreneurship, leadership, teamwork, and business strategy.
5. Wharton Leadership in the Business World (LBW)
Location: University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School campus), Philadelphia
Cost: $11,899
Dates: Session 1: June 7 – June 27; Session 2: June 28 – July 18; Session 3: July 19 – August 8
Application Deadlines: March 18
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (rising seniors); Minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA
In this program, you will explore the foundations of business, leadership, and organizational strategy through an immersive three-week residential experience at the Wharton School. You will study topics such as management, negotiation, marketing, customer-centricity, and strategic decision-making through interactive lectures, case studies, business simulations, and collaborative team projects. Along the way, you will learn from Wharton faculty and industry professionals, work alongside academically talented students from around the world, and apply your knowledge in a capstone business case competition.
6. CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) High School Internship Program
Location: Select CLA offices nationwide (130+ locations across the U.S.)
Stipend: Paid
Program Dates: Set individually by each CLA office and shared after selection or during recruitment
Application Deadline: Varies by office
Eligibility: High school students ages 16–18 interested in business, accounting, or professional services; must be legally eligible to work in the U.S.
The program places you directly into professional services environments where you gain hands-on experience in accounting and business operations. During the internship, you will assist with entry-level tasks, including financial reporting, client support, and internal business processes, while working in a structured corporate setting. You will also collaborate with teams, strengthen your communication skills, and learn how organizations function in real-world contexts. Throughout the program, you will be mentored by experienced CLA professionals and gain exposure to career pathways in accounting, consulting, and wealth advisory, helping you build a strong foundation for future academic and professional goals.
7. Wharton Global Youth Programs
Location: University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School campus)
Cost: Varies by program
Dates: June to August
Application Deadlines: Exact deadlines vary by program and are released each year on the official site
Eligibility: High school students
These programs are university-level learning experiences designed to introduce high school students to key concepts in business, economics, and leadership through Wharton’s academic framework. Depending on the track you choose, you will explore subjects such as entrepreneurship, finance, analytics, and management through case studies, simulations, group projects, and interactive lectures led by Wharton faculty and industry professionals. You will also collaborate with motivated students from around the world, apply your learning to real-world business challenges, and often complete a final project or pitch presentation to demonstrate your understanding and ideas.
8. Meta Summer Academy (MSA)
Location: Meta offices; open to residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City, CA
Stipend: Paid stipend
Program Dates: June 15 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores (minimum GPA 2.0) who are full-year residents of eligible communities; no prior tech experience required)
Throughout the program, you will engage in structured training sessions covering topics such as coding, financial literacy, media, and professional communication, along with guest lectures and networking opportunities with Meta employees. You will follow a full-time schedule of around 30 hours per week, gaining insight into how different departments, including marketing, operations, and engineering, function within a large tech organization. Alongside technical learning, you will also develop essential workplace skills such as reflection, collaboration, networking, and presentation. By the end of the program, you will have a clearer understanding of how business and technology intersect in a real-world corporate environment.
9. Wharton Management & Technology Summer Institute
Location: University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School + Penn Engineering campus), Philadelphia, USA
Cost: Approximately $9,000 total program fee
Dates: late June to late July
Application Deadlines: April
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (primarily rising seniors)
The three-week program brings together high school students interested in both business and STEM to explore how technology and management intersect in today’s economy. Through a combination of lectures, case studies, team projects, and hands-on design challenges, you will learn how engineers and business leaders collaborate to solve real-world problems. You will also work on a group innovation project where you develop a product idea, analyze its market potential, and present your solution at the end of the program. Along the way, you will engage with Wharton and Penn Engineering faculty, gain exposure to fields like entrepreneurship, product design, and systems thinking, and build skills in leadership, teamwork, and strategic decision-making within a highly collaborative, college-level environment.
10. National Youth Leadership Forum: Business Innovation (NYLF)
Location: Hosted at various U.S. university campuses (location varies by session each year)
Cost: Varies. Check here
Dates: Exact dates vary by session and location
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18; Grades 9–12
The National Youth Leadership Forum: Business Innovation (NYLF) is a career-focused program that introduces high school students to key concepts in business, leadership, and entrepreneurship through interactive, experience-based learning. Throughout the program, you will engage in workshops, simulations, and case-based activities that explore areas such as marketing, finance, strategy, and product development in a practical context. You will collaborate with peers on team challenges, develop solutions to real-world business problems, and learn directly from professionals working in the field. The experience is designed to strengthen your communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills while giving you a clearer understanding of how businesses operate in today’s competitive environment.
11. Girls Who Invest (GWI)
Location: United States
Cost: Free
Dates: (June to August), with exact dates varying by cohort and year
Application Deadline: Applications generally open in winter (around December–February), with final deadlines typically falling in February or early March, depending on the cycle
Eligibility: High school seniors entering college in the fall are eligible to apply
The Girls Who Invest (GWI) program is a selective, finance-focused training experience designed to introduce students to the investment management industry through structured learning and real-world exposure. Through a mix of coursework, workshops, and industry engagement, you will build a strong foundation in core finance concepts such as investing, markets, valuation, and portfolio management, while also developing professional skills like communication, teamwork, and analytical thinking. The program also emphasizes mentorship and networking, connecting you with professionals and peers across the financial sector. In addition to classroom-style learning, selected participants may also gain access to internship opportunities with partner firms, allowing you to apply your skills in a real-world investment environment and explore potential career paths in finance.
12. Prequel Business Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Typically paid
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling admission
Eligibility: Open to high school students (generally ages 14–18) who are interested in entrepreneurship, creative projects, or building independent ventures
The Prequel program is a project-based experience in which you will build a long-term “masterpiece” project such as a business, app, content platform, or social impact initiative. Through workshops, mentorship, and coaching, you will learn how to develop ideas, validate them, and bring them to life while receiving feedback from advisors and peers. Alongside hands-on building, you will also strengthen skills in communication, strategy, and personal branding, helping you gain practical experience and confidence as a creator and innovator.
13. University of Colorado Boulder Business Leadership Program
Location: Boulder, CO
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: 21-27 June
Application Deadline: 13 March
Eligibility: High school students in junior year, Colorado residents, or attending high school in Colorado
The program is centered around a real-world marketing case competition, where you will work on a business challenge for the chance to earn a $1,000 scholarship to the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business. You will learn through hands-on classes taught by Leeds faculty and gain insights from industry professionals at leading organizations such as EY, Deloitte, and KeyBank. Along the way, you will collaborate with peers, build professional connections, and experience campus life at the University of Colorado Boulder, making it a strong opportunity to develop practical business skills and strengthen your college applications.
14. Building-U High School Internships
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: Year-round internship
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 to 12
Building-U is a digital learning platform that supports high school students in exploring future careers through structured programs, practical training, and access to educational resources. Each year, it runs a virtual internship where you can join a specific department such as marketing, coding, R&D, business development, social media, animation, or data privacy, with each area focusing on a distinct set of tasks and outcomes. Throughout the experience, you will complete guided projects, gain hands-on exposure to real-world workflows, and strengthen key skills like communication, collaboration, and teamwork while working with peers from different parts of the world in a fully remote setting.
15. NASA OSTEM High School Internships
Location: NASA centers and facilities across the U.S. (in-person and some virtual options)
Stipend: Paid
Program Dates: June–August
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: Open to high school students aged 16+ with a minimum 3.0 GPA; U.S. citizenship required; must be enrolled full-time in high school
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid internships for high school students across NASA centers in the U.S. Along with science and engineering roles, you can also work in business-related areas such as finance, budgeting, procurement, accounting, project management, and IT management. You will contribute to real projects, gain hands-on experience with professional tools, and receive mentorship and training throughout the program. Overall, the program shows how business and operational teams support NASA’s larger scientific and technical missions.
Questions students often ask about these internships
1. Do I need prior business coursework to apply to these internships?
No, most of these are designed to introduce business concepts from the ground up, so no prior coursework is expected. A few of the most selective university programs do favor students with strong academics generally, but business-specific knowledge isn't required.
2. A couple of these programs are limited to students in specific cities. How do I know if I'm eligible?
Check the location and eligibility fields closely, since a few of these are tied to a particular city or set of neighborhoods. Everything else on the list is open more broadly, so don't rule a program out until you've confirmed the details.
3. Some of these programs charge a significant fee. Are they worth that investment?
It depends on your goals and budget. The university-run institutes tend to offer strong academic credentials and networking, but there are also several free or paid options on this list that provide valuable business experience without the same financial commitment.