15 Summer Internships for High School Students in Miami

Internships are a useful way for you to gain experience in professional settings while still in high school. Summer internships, in particular, give you the chance to use your break to develop practical skills, explore different career paths, and strengthen your college applications. Whether you’re interested in science, medicine, law, business, or the arts, these programs allow you to engage with real projects and learn from professionals in the field.

If you’re based in Miami—or planning to spend the summer there—you have access to a wide range of opportunities. The city is home to major research universities, media organizations, healthcare systems, and public service institutions, all of which offer programs designed for high school students. Miami’s diverse industries also make it possible to explore areas like marine biology, climate science, public health, and technology within a local context.

To help you find the right fit, we’ve compiled a list of 15 summer internships for high school students in Miami, including both in-person and virtual options. 

1. Miami-Dade County Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP)

Location: Miami-Dade County, Florida
Cost/Stipend: Application Fee - $30; students will be paid
Dates: July 1 to August 2
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) students entering grades 10–12, ages 15–18

If you're a high school student in grades 10–12 in Miami-Dade County, the Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP) gives you a chance to get paid while gaining practical experience over five weeks during the summer. You can work up to 150 hours, build professional skills, explore different careers, and connect with mentors, while contributing to your community. The program is supported by partnerships with local businesses and focuses on preparing you for college and your career.

2. Ladder Internships

Location: Remote
Cost: Varies with the program type
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: 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 will work with a high-growth start-up or nonprofit organization for a virtual internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies that raise over a million dollars on average. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on current projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship also includes professional skills and group training sessions. 

3. ArtWorks’ Internships in the Arts Summer Internship

Location: MDC Koubek Center, Miami, Florida
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students will be paid at an hourly rate
Dates: June – July (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: Typically in the spring
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 interested in the arts (Miami-Dade area preferred)

ArtWorks is a six-week paid summer internship designed for high school students who want to explore creative careers. You'll get the chance to work closely with professional artists in fields like visual art, dance, music production, theatre, animation, architecture, creative writing, and film. This hands-on experience not only lets you build your artistic portfolio but also teaches you essential career skills like collaboration, communication, and time management. The internship takes place at the MDC Koubek Center in Miami, and runs Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. It’s a great option if you're looking to grow both creatively and professionally this summer.

4. Bank of America Student Leaders

Location: Various U.S. locations, including Miami, Florida
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students will be paid
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Mid-January
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors

Bank of America Student Leaders offers students a paid 8-week internship where interns work with nonprofits like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Habitat for Humanity. The program provides paid summer internships and leadership training for high school juniors and seniors. You will gain practical business experience during these internships, while you learn how nonprofits, government agencies, and local businesses come together to address issues. As part of the program, you will engage in current projects and assignments related to financial analysis and community leadership. This experience allows you to apply your classroom knowledge to practical situations. The internship includes a week-long Student Leadership Summit held in Washington, DC. The travel, food, and stay for the same will be covered by the bank.

5. FIU Summer Research Internship

Location: Florida International University (FIU), Miami
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: 5 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: High school students in South Florida and first-year students at FIU 

With this FIU 8-week summer research internship, you will get a chance to work with scientists, university faculty and graduate students on biomedical research, particularly in the field of cardiovascular health. With a structured curriculum, this program will allow you to engage in lab meetings, journal clubs, case studies, and workshops to build science research skills. You will spend at least 15 hours per week in the lab, working on topics like bioethics, experimental design, and data analysis. You'll also gain critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork skills through weekly seminars and discussions. During the final week, you'll present your findings in a symposium and compete for awards that may qualify you to present at the MARC U*STAR symposium.

6. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Teen Academic Year Program

Location: Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida. Virtual, hybrid, and in-person options are offered
Cost/Stipend: None. Students may earn academic credit
Dates: August – May (academic year)
Application Deadline: Varies by school; applications are managed by M‑DCPS
Eligibility: M-DCPS high school juniors or seniors with a minimum 2.5 unweighted GPA and good attendance

In collaboration with Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), Nicklaus Children’s Hospital offers high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to gain experience in healthcare administration through an academic year internship. Whether virtual, hybrid, or in-person, this internship will provide you with flexible scheduling, mentorship from professionals, and the chance to earn academic credit while building a skillset essential for a career in healthcare or related fields. During the program, you will take on administrative responsibilities and projects, strengthening competencies in areas like project coordination, data handling, and professional communication. 

7. JJ Vance Memorial Summer Internship at the University of Miami's School of Medicine

Location: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students will be paid (amount unspecified)
Dates: June 16 - August 8
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Rising seniors from Miami and Broward area high schools; strong performance in biological or computational sciences; must be authorized to work in the U.S.

This summer internship gives high school students an opportunity to explore the field of biological and computational sciences. As an intern, you will conduct intensive research over 8 weeks at the John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics (HIHG) laboratories. You will be paired with a staff member, post-doctoral student, or faculty member, who will be your 1-on-1 mentor for the program. This internship will allow you to work with relevant technology, develop your research and presentation skills, and dive into a subject you’re interested in. The HIHG is committed to identifying genes involved in human diseases, focusing on diagnosis, intervention, and prevention. You’ll also get to present your work at the end of the program.

8. High School Summer Internship Program at FIU-CTS

Location: Florida International University (FIU) Center for Translational Science (CTS), Miami, Florida
Cost/Stipend: None. Students can earn 100+ volunteer hours
Dates: June 9 – July 10
Application Deadline: Typically in spring; check with your school counselors
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors enrolled in St. Lucie County Public Schools

This is a five‑week internship in biomedical science designed for highly motivated high school juniors and seniors in St. Lucie County. The program allows students to work directly in FIU's translational science labs. You’ll collaborate on projects with expert researchers in areas like stem cell biology, drug discovery, neuroscience, genomics, pulmonary disease, and bioinformatics. The program aims to help you get familiar with the scientific process, from hypothesis to experimentation, analysis, and presenting your research, while you develop critical thinking, lab technique, and problem-solving skills. You'll also participate in a final poster presentation and a luncheon to showcase your results, earning volunteer credit and a certificate of completion.

9. City of North Miami’s Youth Opportunity Board (YOB) Summer Internship Program

Location: Miami, Florida
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students will be paid for 20 hours per week
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: Typically in the spring
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 years old by the start of the program, are residents of North Miami, and meet the income criteria

The YOB Summer Internship Program gives high school students a chance to explore the way the local government works with practical experience. Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), this paid summer internship helps you build professional skills, work within municipal departments, and understand how public service and community development work in action. You’ll gain insight into civic leadership while contributing to programs that have an impact in your community. The program runs for six weeks and includes 20 paid hours per week, with the option to volunteer for more.

10. Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Academic Year Internship Program

Location: Various locations in Miami-Dade County, with virtual, in-person, and hybrid options
Cost/Stipend: None. Students can earn academic credit
Dates: Academic year (Fall - Spring)
Application Deadline:  Varies by school; applications are managed by M‑DCPS
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors enrolled in Miami-Dade County Public Schools

This year-long internship program allows high school juniors and seniors in Miami-Dade County to gain hands-on experience in a field they’re planning to pursue in college or are interested in exploring further. For the program, you’ll be paired with a local professional, based on your subject of interest, who will mentor you and help you explore practical applications of concepts in that field, virtually, in-person, or through a hybrid format. With over 1,000 students selected to participate every year, this program is a good way to strengthen your resume, start building a professional network, and gain insight into professional life before college.

11. ArtWorks’ Internships in the Arts Summer Internship

Location: Lewis Arts Studio, Coral Gables, Florida | Koubek Center, Miami, Florida 
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students will receive a stipend of up to $12/hour 
Dates: 6 weeks, June - July
Application Deadline: April 3
Eligibility: High school students from grades 9–12 can apply. Students must be at least 14 years old, a Florida resident, and meet I-9 work eligibility requirements to apply. Non-residents can receive community service credit hours.

The ArtWorks Summer Internship is a paid arts program for high school students in Miami that allows you to work across various sectors, hone your creative skills, develop essential career skills, and create your own pieces. During the internship, you will work under the guidance of professional artists and Arts for Learning staff. You will get to explore career possibilities and learn to network and interact with different kinds of people. You can apply for internships in areas such as visual art, dance and theater, music production, creative writing, animation, film, and architecture. In addition to the summer program, ArtWorks also offers internships in the Visual Arts during the Fall and Spring.

12. Miami-Dade College Dual Enrollment Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP)

Location: Worksites across Miami–Dade County, including schools, businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students receive stipends of up to $1,500
Dates: 5 weeks in the summer (July - August), 30 hours per week
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders, aged 15–18, enrolled in M-DCPS public or charter schools, legally eligible to work in the U.S.

This is an opportunity for high school students in the Miami-Dade County area to gain work experience while also earning academic credit. For the program, you will need to complete an online soft skills course, after which you’ll be paired with a local organization based on your interests and skills—you could work in hospitals, tech startups, nonprofits, and government offices, among others. You can earn dual enrollment credit through Miami Dade College for courses such as Co-op Work Experience in Computer Information Systems, Engineering, and General Business Internships. These internships help you apply your academic coursework to practical experience, enhancing your career readiness and understanding of your chosen field. 

13. Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade Internship

Location: Florida Department of Health (DOH) – Miami‑Dade County offices and clinics
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Internships typically begin in late spring or early summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school and college students enrolled in schools/universities that have an affiliation with DOH–Miami-Dade. High school students must apply through school counselors or designated faculty.

This internship program for high school students by The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade gives students an opportunity to explore careers in public health. During the program, you could work on programs in epidemiology, family planning, nutrition (WIC), HIV/STD prevention, or emergency preparedness. As an intern, your responsibilities may include data collection, supporting community health outreach events, or assisting with administrative and educational projects. You’ll work under the guidance of department supervisors, complete required training, and gain valuable insights into how public health systems function. 

14. University of Miami’s Young Scholars Program

Location: University of Miami, College of Arts & Sciences, Miami, Florida
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: Summer (exact dates vary; minimum 40 hours required)
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in the spring
Eligibility: U.S. high school students, minimum age 16, completed sophomore year, in good academic standing, U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident

The Young Scholars Program allows high school students to work alongside University of Miami faculty on high-level research in current projects in a real, working laboratory. During this program, you’ll be paired with a faculty mentor who will guide you and work with you as you explore a topic you’re interested in. This is a good option if you're curious about science, research, or academia. The program requires a minimum of 40 lab hours and a reflective essay to earn a certificate of participation. This program is a good choice for you if you're looking to explore research before college and build your academic resume.

15. Stanford Center for AI in Medicine & Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $850 participation fee (financial aid available)
Dates: June 16-27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Must be high school students (entering grades 9-12 in the fall), and at least 14 years old by the start of the program

This two-week virtual internship is designed for high school students to explore the intersection of AI and healthcare. During the program, you'll join live technical lectures and interactive mentoring sessions led by Stanford researchers and student leaders. Working in small groups, you'll tackle a project, such as learning to apply AI to medical imaging or data, with support and guidance from your mentors. The program also includes a virtual career "Lunch & Learns" where you can meet professionals from academia, industry, and government. At the end, you'll earn a certificate of completion and can even opt for an extended independent research project.

Image Source - Ladder Internship logo

Dhruva Bhat

Dhruva Bhat is one of the co-founders of Ladder, and a Harvard College graduate. Dhruva founded Ladder Internships as a DPhil candidate and Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, with a vision to bridge the gap between ambitious students and real-world startup experiences.

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