15 Prestigious Education Internships for High School Students
As a high school student eager to explore different career paths, an internship is a great way to move closer to your goals. Trying out different roles in fields that interest you is a smart way to build experience, strengthen your skills, and make your college applications stand out.
For those looking for free education-based internships, look at our blog here, and for those interested in general education internships, check out our blog here.
Why should you do an Education Internship in High School?
Internships give you the chance to work on real tasks, learn from professionals, and understand how different industries and workplaces function. Along the way, you’ll gain hands-on experience, connect mentors and other students, and pick up insights that can guide your future academic and career choices. Many internship programs for high school students are completely free, and some even provide generous stipends, making these opportunities both accessible and rewarding.
In this blog, we’ve listed 15 prestigious education internship opportunities for high school students across a variety of fields.
1. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual (Online)
Cost: Varies. Financial aid is available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks are eligible to apply. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships connects students with a fast-growing startup for an 8-week virtual internship. Many of these startups are backed by Y Combinator or led by founders with experience at Microsoft, Google, or Facebook. As an intern, you’ll work in fields such as AI, health tech, journalism and marketing, under the guidance of a startup mentor and a Ladder coach. Along the way, you’ll get personalized training in communication, time management, and other essential skills. At the end of the program, you’ll present your project directly to your host company.
2. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) High School Summer Internship
Location: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Stipend: A stipend is offered. Information on the exact amount is not provided
Dates: June 30-August 1
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old, US citizens or permanent residents, and will be graduating seniors in high school when the internship begins may apply. Students must obtain their own transportation to and from the Laboratory
This internship gives you the opportunity to work closely with scientists and engineers at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory on real research projects. You’ll also learn about plasma physics, fusion energy, and related fields, helping you understand how researchers are working toward clean and sustainable energy solutions for the future. You’ll take part in hands-on lab work, analyse data, and use computer tools to explore scientific ideas.
3. Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Multiple AFRL sites across the country
Stipend: New participant: $4,000 and Returning participant: $4,500
Dates: June - August (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school student who has completed at least grade 9
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) gives high school students the opportunity to spend eight weeks working inside Department of Navy laboratories across the U.S. During this internship, you’ll work on real research projects and learn directly from scientists and engineers who guide your day-to-day tasks. You can explore areas such as physics, robotics, aerospace and mechanical engineering, materials science, and programming. Depending on your placement, you may work with technologies such as sensors, navigation systems, and other advanced research tools. Your assignment is based on your interests, and most labs offer strong physics-related research experiences.
4. Aspen Center for Physics (ACP) high school internship
Location: Aspen, Colorado
Cost/Stipend: Stipend paid
Dates: Late May to mid-September
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (some rising juniors also considered), especially from the Roaring Fork Valley
The Aspen Center for Physics Summer Internship gives rising high school seniors the opportunity to spend part of their summer in a world-class physics community. As an intern, you’ll help with daily tasks at the center while also spending meaningful time interacting with visiting physicists. You can sit in on conversations, ask questions about their work, and see how they approach big scientific ideas. The program also lets you assist with recording interviews for Radio Physics, a local public-radio segment, an experience that helps you practice sharing scientific ideas and hearing directly from leading researchers.
5. NASA’s Internship Programs
Location: Virtual or on-site at one of NASA’s 10 field centers across the country, based on the project
Cost/Stipend: No cost ; Stipend offered
Dates: Summer: 10-week program, from late May or early June to August
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: U.S. citizens aged 16 or older with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
NASA offers high school students an opportunity to take part in real research projects in areas such as astrophysics, Earth science, robotics, aeronautics, or data analysis. You might help gather and study data, support lab experiments, work with computer models, or assist with mission-related research. You’ll also join meetings, attend presentations, and take part in mentoring sessions that show how NASA scientists and engineers solve complex problems and plan for future missions. Through these experiences, you’ll build practical skills, learn how large research teams work, and get a close look at what a future in space science or engineering could be like.
6. (PRISM) at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Location: Batavia, Illinois (Fermilab campus)
Cost/Stipend: $500 per week Stipend
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school seniors (or recent grads) enrolled in an Illinois high school; U.S. citizens only
The Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM) gives high school seniors the opportunity to work on real scientific projects at one of the world’s top particle physics labs. In this internship, you’ll be paired with a mentor and take part in hands-on research, data analysis, and experiments connected to physics and engineering. You’ll see how scientists design experiments, collect and study data, and solve real problems inside the lab. Along with your research work, you’ll take guided tours of Fermilab, giving you a glimpse into the working of large scientific teams.
7. California Innocence Project (CIP) Internships
Location: San Diego
Cost: None
Dates: Summer, Spring, and Fall
Application Deadline: Summer – March 1, Fall – July 1, Spring – November 1
Eligibility: High school, college, law, and post-bar students
The California Innocence Project (CIP) gives students the opportunity to learn how the justice system works by supporting real cases of people who may have been wrongly convicted. As an intern, you’ll receive training on wrongful convictions and the role CIP plays in reviewing and investigating these cases. You might help with legal research, organize and file documents, and assist with tasks that support clients and attorneys. Through this hands-on experience, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of post-conviction and criminal law while contributing to meaningful work that promotes fairness and justice.
8. Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)
Location: Penn Carey School of Law, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: None; participants receive a stipend upon successful completion, daily lunch, and a SEPTA TransPass for travel
Dates: July 6-31
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Open to rising 10th and 11th-grade students attending high school in Philadelphia or surrounding counties
This program gives high school students the opportunity to explore the legal field through hands-on activities and mentorship at the University of Pennsylvania. As an intern, you’ll join legal workshops, observe courtrooms, watch real trials, and take part in mock trial exercises that help you understand how the justice system works. You may also help with basic legal research, discuss case studies, attend sessions on law and ethics, and connect with law students and legal professionals who can guide your academic and career goals.
9. Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP)
Location: Atlanta
Cost: $2,000 for the six-week program ($333 per week)
Dates: May 27 – July 17
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors
The Atlanta Bar Association Summer Internship Program gives high school students the opportunity to explore the legal field through real, day-to-day work in a professional law environment. As an intern, you might help with tasks such as copying documents, organizing files, summarizing depositions, making deliveries, and putting together trial notebooks. You’ll also get the chance to observe a deposition or court hearing, allowing you to see the legal process up close. Before you begin, you’ll attend orientation sessions that explain professionalism, confidentiality, and workplace expectations. Throughout the program, weekly check-ins help guide your progress and give you feedback, ensuring you build useful skills and gain meaningful experience in the legal world.
10. SEP High School Intern Program (HIP) Overview
Location: University of California, San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; interns earn $3,200 for part-time or $4,500 for full-time work post-internship
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Current high school juniors attending an SFUSD or San Francisco charter school
This internship gives high school students the opportunity to work with UCSF researchers on scientific projects in areas such as neuroscience, cancer biology, and immunology. You’ll learn how scientists design experiments, analyze data, and solve research questions through hands-on lab experience. Along with your lab work, you’ll take part in college prep sessions, including resume workshops, campus tours, and mentoring sessions with scientists and staff who help guide your academic and career goals. The program focuses on creating a supportive environment and expanding opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM, helping you build confidence, skills, and experience in scientific research.
11. Stanford Clinical Summer Internship
Location: Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Cost: Cost varies by program format
Dates: Session 1 (In-person): July 13 – 24, Session 2 (Virtual): July 27– August 7, Fall Intensive (Virtual): September 10 – November 12 (fresh dates yet to be announced)
Application Deadline: Typically in spring
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors (age 16+) and seniors
This program introduces high school students to the world of medicine and healthcare. You’ll learn practical skills such as measuring blood pressure, checking vital signs, suturing, giving simulated injections, and dissecting organs. You’ll also work in small groups to solve medical cases, following the same procedures used by actual doctors to diagnose and treat patients. While the program isn’t hospital-based, it still gives you meaningful, real-world learning through activities led by Stanford faculty, doctors, medical students, and healthcare professionals.
12. Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford (PIPS)
Location: Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Cost/ Stipend: No cost; $3,000 stipend available for students with demonstrated financial need
Dates: June 8 – July 24
Application Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors living in the Bay Area who are at least 16 years old with a minimum 3.0 GPA
The Pediatrics Internship Program at Stanford is designed for high school students interested in exploring medicine, healthcare, and scientific research. Throughout the internship, you’ll work closely with Stanford faculty and lab teams for about 23 hours each week, helping with experiments and learning how scientific research is done. You’ll also take part in weekly workshops on research skills, careers in healthcare and medicine, leadership development, and tips for building a strong college application. This program is created for students with little to no research experience, making it a supportive way to begin your journey into medical and scientific fields.
13. URBN Internships
Location: Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: Competitive hourly rate (exact amount not specified)
Dates: June 1-August 7
Application Deadline: November 3
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
URBN’s summer internship gives high school students the opportunity to experience the fashion and retail world up close. During the internship, you’ll work on real projects such as tracking new trends, conducting data research, and collaborating with creative teams, all while getting a feel for the fast pace of the industry. Most positions are based at URBN’s Philadelphia Navy Yard headquarters, though some remote options are available. Beyond daily work, the program includes leadership activities, social events, and off-site field trips that help you build professional skills, meet new people, and understand how the fashion industry operates from the inside.
14. Gap Inc.'s This Way Onward
Location: Local old navy stores / Virtual
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Year round program
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 16-24
Gap Inc.’s This Way Onward program is a high school summer fashion internship that gives students real experience in the fashion retail world. In this program, you’ll work side-by-side with store managers, job coaches, and trained team members to learn how a fashion store runs each day. You’ll also join workshops that help you explore career paths, build essential professional skills, and connect with mentors in the industry. Throughout the internship, you develop key skills such as teamwork, clear communication, leadership, and confidence; all while learning in a supportive workspace. Top-performing interns may even get offers for entry-level roles as brand associates at Old Navy, giving you a strong start in the fashion retail field.
15. Monell Science Apprenticeship Program
Location: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: None
Dates: June 15-July 31
Application Deadline: Tentative deadline is around mid- december
Eligibility: Open to current High school students with strong interest in science and research
This summer internship lets high school students explore biomedical science and medicine through hands-on work. You’ll focus on research in the chemical senses, including taste and smell. You’ll work on projects such as copying smell receptors, studying how flavor choices change with age, finding safe, natural ways to keep pests away from crops, and examining how air quality affects people’s health perceptions. You’ll also take part in science talks, skill-building workshops on public speaking and writing, and sessions on research ethics involving both humans and animals. This program helps you learn from experts, build strong scientific skills, and gain real experience in the world of biomedical research.
Image source - Aspen Center for Physics logo