15 Summer Internships for High School Students in Illinois
If you are a high school student, participating in an internship can be a worthwhile way to build skills, explore your career interests, and work alongside professionals in fields you want to learn about. Summer internships for high school students combine projects with mentorship, helping you to develop practical skills, strengthen your communication and problem-solving abilities, and grow your professional network. Whether your interest lies in business, technology, research, healthcare, or public service, these opportunities help you understand how classroom learning translates into workplace environments.
What summer internships are available for high school students in Illinois?
Illinois offers a range of internship opportunities for high school students. From major organizations in Chicago to research institutions, hospitals, nonprofits, and government offices across the state, these institutions offer meaningful internships for high schoolers. They provide access to diverse industries and mentorship from experienced professionals, which can help you decide what career you might eventually want to pursue.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 summer internships for high school students in Illinois.
1. University of Chicago Medicine’s ResearcHStart
Location: Research labs across the Chicago metro area at institutions including the University of Chicago, Northwestern, UIC, UIUC, & Rush University, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 students
Dates: June 15 - August 7
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old at program start
ResearcHStart is an immersive eight-week summer research internship that places highly motivated high school juniors and seniors in active cancer research labs across top Illinois universities. You will work alongside faculty researchers and graduate students on projects in cancer immunology, bioengineering, therapeutics, health disparities, and other STEM fields. The experience combines lab work with professional development workshops and career-skill seminars. You present your findings to peers and mentors at a final research symposium.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program. 100% financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort – spring (January), summer (May), fall (September), and winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 8 - 12 weeks, devoting 10 - 20 hours/week
Ladder Internships connects students with fast-growing startups in areas such as AI and machine learning, deep tech, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. You’ll work directly with founders or team leaders on structured projects, gaining experience in areas such as research, data analysis, content creation, or strategy. Each intern is supported by a dedicated ladder coach who provides guidance on project management, communication, and goal-setting. The program places a strong focus on professional growth through regular check-ins and formal project presentations, and offers full financial aid for students seeking a demanding remote internship. Apply now!
3. Fermilab’s Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)
Location: Fermilab, Batavia, IL
Stipend: $500 per week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 13 - August 7
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school seniors (and recent graduates) enrolled in an Illinois high school; must be U.S. citizens and provide proof of medical insurance
The PRISM is an immersive four-week summer internship that introduces high school seniors to explore cutting-edge STEM fields in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermilab, which is one of the world’s leading particle physics and accelerator research facilities. You will engage with expert physicists, engineers, and research professionals while gaining exposure to topics such as particle physics, quantum science, engineering design, and artificial intelligence. The internship combines project-based learning, guided tours of Fermilab’s research facilities, expert-led lectures, and hands-on activities that strengthen your analytical and experimental skills.
4. University of Chicago Youth Internship Program (YIP)
Location: University of Chicago, Hyde Park, IL
Stipend: Hourly wage paid (Chicago minimum wage)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 22 - July 30 (tentative)
Application Deadline: Typically April
Eligibility: Chicago public high school students ages 16+ years | authorized to work in the U.S.
The YIP provides Chicago area high school students with a paid, hands-on summer internship that blends workplace experience with career and college readiness. During the first summer, you will engage in structured professional development seminars, workshops with STEM professionals, workplace tours, and college preparation activities designed to introduce you to careers in fields such as health sciences, computer science, and IT services. In the second year, you can apply to take a six-week paid placement within university departments, where you will contribute to real departmental tasks, shadow professionals, and build practical skills. Along the way, you will receive mentorship, network with staff, and gain insight into STEM and allied careers while earning wages for your work.
5. UChicago’s SHE in Oncology
Location: Virtual
Stipend: $500 (taxable)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 trainees every year
Dates: July 13 - 25
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Full-time high school students
The summer healthcare experience in oncology is an immersive two-week virtual summer internship designed for high school students focused on science, medicine, and cancer research. You will collaborate on a genetics-based research project and complete a patient-case study to explore key facets of oncology, ranging from molecular mechanisms to clinical applications. The program blends daily faculty lectures, interactive panel discussions, and skill-building workshops that strengthen scientific understanding and offer insights into biomedical careers. You will also work with a home lab kit, connect with mentors across partnering institutions, and build a professional network.
6. Young Scholars Summer STEMM Research Programs – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
Stipend: Free plus housing and meals covered, plus fellowship payments available ($2,400 stipend for SpHERES participants)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 6-week summer research session; previous session was between June and August
Application Deadline: Applications open in February
Eligibility: Rising 10th - 12th graders from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, or Wisconsin
The research program gives high school students a fully supported, six-week immersion into hands-on STEMM research at a world-class university. You will work alongside faculty, graduate students, and peers on projects in fields such as bioengineering, computer science, neuroscience, physics, and artificial intelligence. In addition to research work, students attend professional development seminars, learn scientific communication and presentation skills, and conclude the program by showcasing their findings at a final symposium.
7. After School Matters Internships
Location: Programs offered across Chicago through After School Matters in schools, community centers, libraries, and partner sites
Stipend: Stipend or hourly wage provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer programs typically run late June - early August
Application Deadline: Summer applications open in April
Eligibility: Chicago residents enrolled in a Chicago high school, ages 14 - 18 years
After School Matters (ASM) is a citywide nonprofit initiative offering Chicago high-schoolers paid summer and after-school programs in STEM, arts, communications, leadership, sports, and technology. You will participate in project-based learning where you will build key skills ranging from scientific inquiry and tech labs to media production and business leadership. Older teens (16+ years) can access structured internships that connect them to entry-level professional experiences, earning competitive hourly wages while working on real-world team projects.
8. University of Illinois Summer Science Internship
Location: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Rockford, IL
Stipend: Stipend paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 5 interns
Dates: June - August
Application Deadline: April 1 (based on previous deadlines)
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years or older by program start
The Summer Science Internship offers a small group of high school students an opportunity to work full-time with faculty mentors in biomedical research laboratories. Over the course of the program, you will learn laboratory techniques, data collection, and scientific analysis while contributing to ongoing research projects in areas such as biomedical science, health research, and translational medicine. In addition to lab work, students participate in professional development activities that include research presentations and career-focused workshops, helping them understand how scientific research contributes to medical and healthcare careers.
9. Argonne National Laboratory’s College Bound Research Program
Location: Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL
Stipend: $500 per week (taxable)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 9 - August 1
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school seniors who will be 18 years old at program start, U.S. citizens, with a GPA of 3.75+
The program places high-school seniors into full-time STEM research roles at one of the nation’s premier national laboratories. Over the eight-week summer session, you will work alongside Argonne scientists and engineers on projects in fields such as energy research, computational science, biosciences, accelerator physics, and materials science. You will also participate in seminars, professional development activities, and team collaborations that strengthen your understanding of scientific research environments and build practical skills such as data analysis, problem solving, and scientific communication.
10. Rush Education and Career Hub’s MedSTEM Pathways
Location: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15 - July 31
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Chicago-area high school juniors and seniors with a minimum weighted GPA of 2.5
The MedSTEM pathways summer internship at Rush University Medical Center offers high school students a paid, hands-on introduction to careers in medicine and healthcare. You will be placed within hospital departments and research or clinical support teams, where you will gain exposure to patient care environments, biomedical science, and health system operations. You will also participate in structured workshops focused on college readiness, professional skills, and healthcare career exploration, while receiving mentorship from Rush faculty, clinicians, and staff.
11. Cancer Health Equity Summer Scholars (CHESS)
Location: University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15 - August 7
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors from backgrounds underrepresented in science and healthcare
The Cancer Health Equity Summer Scholars (CHESS) program gives high school students an immersive eight-week summer research experience focused on cancer science and health equity. You will be paired with faculty mentors and matched to research labs at UIC based on your interests. You will work on real projects that may involve molecular biology, computational science, biostatistics, or other cancer-related STEM fields. In addition to lab work, the program includes professional development workshops, lectures, networking events, and opportunities to build research, academic, and presentation skills.
12. DSI Summer Lab
Location: Ryerson Laboratory, University of Chicago, Hyde Park Campus
Stipend: $5,600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15 - August 7
Application Deadline: January 12
Eligibility: High school students from the Chicago area
The DSI Summer Lab is an eight-week research program focused on applied data science across multiple disciplines. You’ll be matched with a mentor and work on a specific project in areas such as computer science, public policy, health, climate and energy, or the social sciences. The experience emphasizes data analysis, including coding, statistics, and introductory machine learning. Through regular group check-ins and mentorship from UChicago researchers, you’ll build collaboration and communication skills and learn to analyze real datasets, build models, and present technical insights clearly. The program concludes with a professionally produced video presentation showcasing each student’s research work.
13. Northwestern Medicine – Sci-High Program
Location: Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Biomedical Research Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Stipend: No cost; stipend paid, amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: To be decided; 7 - 8 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: Applications will open in January
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with completed science coursework who reside in Chicago or neighboring Illinois suburbs
The Sci-High Program gives rising seniors an immersive introduction to laboratory research at Northwestern University. You’ll be paired with a faculty mentor and join a research team, contributing to projects in areas such as biology, chemistry, biomedical science, and related disciplines. Weekly workshops and seminars provide training in research planning, data analysis, and scientific reasoning, while strengthening your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly. Throughout the program, you’ll build hands-on lab skills and collaborative research. The experience concludes with a symposium where you present your work to faculty, mentors, and fellow students.
14. Southern Illinois Healthcare’s High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) hospitals and facilities – Carbondale, Herrin, Harrisburg, and surrounding southern Illinois sites
Stipend: None (meal cards offered)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, past cohorts had around 20 students
Dates: June 18 - July 31
Application Deadline: April 13
Eligibility: High school students entering their sophomore, junior, senior, or graduating senior year
The SIH Summer Internship Program places high school students in real-world healthcare environments to explore clinical and allied health careers. You will spend two to three days a week (4 - 6 hours/day) shadowing and assisting professionals in departments such as laboratory services, radiology/imaging, nursing, respiratory therapy, physical/occupational therapy, and pharmacy. You will observe daily operations, interact with staff and patients, and gain insight into how different healthcare roles contribute to patient care and hospital operations. At the end of the program, SIH hosts a recognition awards dinner.
15. Discovery Partners Institute – Digital Scholars Program
Location: Discovery Partners Institute, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 30 students per class
Dates: June 23 - August 1
Application Deadline: May 2
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders or those who will graduate in the application year
The Digital Scholars Program is a six-week, on-campus experience that introduces students to advanced topics in computing and engineering. You’ll select a specialized track, such as computer science, data science, mobile app development, or electrical and computer engineering, and take part in courses that combine technical learning with workshops on communication, teamwork, and other career-ready skills. Daily sessions are led by faculty and industry professionals, offering insight into real-world technology applications within Chicago’s technology landscape. The program also features guest speakers and networking events to highlight pathways into tech careers, with a strong focus on expanding access for students from underrepresented STEM backgrounds.
Image Source - University of Chicago logo