14 Summer Internships for High School Students in Minnesota

Internships for high school students combine practical work with mentorship from professionals, allowing you to build practical skills and make workplace connections. You’ll get exposure to projects, learn industry practices, and practice communicating your results to supervisors and peers. Participating in a summer internship can also boost your college applications by showing admissions officers that you’ve taken the initiative to develop your skills. 

Minnesota hosts a range of organizations that run summer internships for high school students, including public universities and research centers, major health systems and medical device companies, state agencies and environmental nonprofits, arts institutions, and startups. You can find opportunities across fields such as biomedical and health sciences, engineering and data science, environmental conservation, museum and arts education, and business or entrepreneurship. These placements let you explore career paths, gain technical and soft skills, and develop a clearer sense of what you want to study next.

To help you get started, we’ve compiled the top 14 summer internships for high school students in Minnesota.

1. Environmental Stewardship Institute (ESI)

Location: Twin Cities, MN
Cost/Stipend: Free — participants receive a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two-month summer intensive session (plus optional school-year Youth Council).
Application Deadline: Summer applications typically open in the spring; Youth Council opportunities open in August
Eligibility: High school students, ESI especially welcomes youth from QT BIPOC and underrepresented communities

Through this program, you will work on youth-led environmental projects, visit ecologically significant sites, and learn from ecological experts. The program combines outdoor field experiences (such as canoeing, wildlife surveys, and watershed exploration) with professional development: you will build skills in resume writing, networking, and informational interviewing. At the end of the summer, you will complete a capstone project. Past projects have ranged from water-quality research and community-science work to creative campaigns raising awareness about environmental justice and sustainability. Additionally, there’s a school-year Youth Council — a platform for continued engagement, leadership development, and community advocacy alongside peers and FMR staff. 

2. Ladder Internship Program

Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November) 
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
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 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 on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.

3. Phoenix Student Worker Program

Location: Various offices and districts of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), statewide MN
Cost/Stipend: Paid — starting pay is around $19.00/hour (clerical track)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed; cohort size is modest, and selection is competitive
Dates: Summer program typically runs June through August; there is also a “Year-Round” track (full-time in summer + part-time during school year) or a “Summer Only” track
Application Deadline: Applications usually open in February through May each year.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed junior year and are entering senior year, with a minimum GPA of 3.0; Must be enrolled in a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) high school or participating in a partner youth-employment program (e.g., Step Up, Right Track, EMERGE), or be taking advanced STEM/PLTW-equivalent coursework

The Phoenix Student Worker Program gives high school students work experience with MnDOT, allowing them to work on transportation-related projects under professional supervision. You will get an opportunity to apply to their STEM coursework (especially if you are from PLTW or advanced STEM tracks) in a real-world context and build workplace skills such as project collaboration, technical communication, and time management. You may choose between a “Summer Only” track (full-time work during summer) or a “Year-Round” track (summer full-time + part-time during school year), offering flexibility depending on your schedule. The program aims to give a tangible insight into careers in civil engineering, infrastructure, and public-sector transportation, making it ideal for students considering STEM or engineering fields after high school. 

4. Hennepin County Internships

Location: Hennepin County, MN (various departments across the county)
Cost/Stipend: Paid — minimum wage is $22.00/hour for interns
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed; 
Dates: Internships available year-round, depending on department; summer placements likely available
Application Deadline: Varies by posting; Applicants sign up to be notified when new internships open
Eligibility: Applicants must be currently enrolled in (or recently graduated from) high school, GED, or a vocational/technical certificate program 

Hennepin County Internships offer high school and early-career students the chance to gain exposure to public-sector work across a wide range of departments, from administration and social services to environmental work, public health, and more. You can access professional-development resources such as workshops on resume-building, career counseling, and networking opportunities. The experience gives you a taste of working in government and community services, helping you explore career paths in public administration, policy, and social services, among others. Some internships may involve community outreach, data-management tasks, or support services offering both practical job skills and insight into how local government operates. 

5. Step Up Program Internships

Location: Twin Cities / Minneapolis, MN (various worksites: businesses, nonprofits, public agencies across the metro area)
Cost/Stipend: Paid — interns earn wages. For example, recent Level 1 participants (14-15 years) earned around $13.25/hour, while older interns (16-21 years) earned at least $16/hour or more, depending on the employer
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program serves over 1,400 youths each summer through placements with around 100+ employers
Dates: June 23 – August 22
Application Deadline: Applications usually open in early January and close mid-February of each year
Eligibility: Young people aged 14 to 21 (by start date) who live in Minneapolis and are not currently enrolled in college (PSEO is allowed)

Step Up connects Minneapolis youth with paid summer internships at local businesses, nonprofits, and public agencies across 15+ industries, ranging from social services, community organizations, and parks to corporate offices and private-sector firms. You will begin with a work-readiness training and may earn a small elective high-school credit for it; this prepares you for real-world work, helps you build resumes, and equips you with interview and workplace skills. Once placed, you’ll get hands-on work experience, mentorship, and exposure to real career paths. If a student completes required training but doesn’t get matched to a workplace during the summer, Step Up offers a paid Online Career Exploration Program instead, ensuring that most participants still get a meaningful summer employment or experience. 

6. BME High School Internship Program

Location: University of Minnesota (Twin Cities, MN)
Cost/Stipend: Paid — the internship provides a stipend (and bus transportation if needed).
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Six-week summer internship.
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students, typically before their senior year (rising seniors); 

The BME High School Internship Program gives high school students a chance to gain research experience in biomedical engineering in labs at the University of Minnesota under the supervision of graduate student mentors. You will tour research labs, including the renowned Visible Heart Lab, and engage in real lab work, learning skills such as scientific writing, data analysis, and communication. You will also benefit from career networking with faculty and graduate students as well as exposure to engineering- and biology-based fields. At the end of the six weeks, you will present your work in a poster session, which helps build experience in professional communication. 

7. Mayo Clinic’s Career Immersion Program

Location: Rochester, MN (Mayo Clinic campus)
Cost/Stipend: Free — full scholarships cover program cost for admitted students (meals, housing/transportation for residential option)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 40 high school juniors and seniors from across Minnesota are accepted
Dates: Residential session: June 21–25; Non-residential session: July (exact dates TBD)
Application Deadline: Application window typically opens early in the year; past cycles have had deadlines around mid-March
Eligibility: Current Minnesota high school students (typically sophomores, juniors, or seniors) with at least a 2.5 GPA; U.S. citizenship or permanent-resident status is required

If you join the Career Immersion Program at Mayo Clinic, you’ll spend several days exploring a range of allied health-care careers - from MRI and radiography to paramedics, respiratory therapy, histology, and more. You’ll attend hands-on labs and interactive sessions in classrooms and clinical-training facilities, giving you a real taste of what health-science work involves. You’ll also meet students, faculty, and professionals who can mentor you and help you understand what steps you’d need for college or training programs. By the end of the week, you’ll have a clearer idea of which health-science career paths interest you, a sense of the educational and training pathways for them, and a network of peers and mentors bridging high school to future healthcare professions.

8. Rooted in STEM

Location: University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, Twin Cities, MN
Cost/Stipend: Free — the program has no cost for participants, and includes lunch and a program gift
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program accepts a small cohort; admission is competitive due to limited spots
Dates: Program runs with monthly Saturday sessions through the academic year (fall and spring), plus additional summer-enrichment opportunities
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: 10th-graders who are interested in STEM

Rooted in STEM brings together high school students from historically underrepresented backgrounds and a long-term mentoring and enrichment community within STEM at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Over monthly Saturday sessions, you will engage in labs, campus tours, presentations, and discussions led by faculty, graduate researchers, undergrads, alumni, and industry professionals. You’ll build relationships with peers and mentors who share similar identities or experiences, offering community support in STEM fields. Through summer camps, conferences, or research assistantships (offered to participants who stay through 12th grade), the program gives a structured pathway to explore STEM beyond high school. 

9. University of Minnesota’s LHI-AHA Summer Research Scholars Program

Location: Minneapolis, MN — Lillehei Heart Institute (University of Minnesota Medical School)
Cost/Stipend: Paid — scholars receive an hourly wage for full-time research
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very limited; only 2 high school student spots are available per year
Dates: Tentatively, June 1 - July 24 (8-week full-time program)
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and are current juniors or seniors at the time of application; must be U.S. citizens 

If you get selected for the LHI-AHA Summer Research Scholars Program, you’ll join a prestigious lab at the Lillehei Heart Institute and work on basic or clinical research focused on cardiovascular disease under the supervision of a faculty mentor. You’ll spend full-time in the lab conducting experiments, analyzing data, and learning research techniques used in heart-disease science. Alongside lab work, you’ll attend weekly seminars and field visits to get exposure to academic, clinical, and industry aspects of cardiovascular medicine. The program helps you build practical lab skills, understand real-world applications of biomedical research, and explore what a medical or research career might look like. 

10. University of Minnesota's Go4Brains High School Neuroscience Summer Program

Location: University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, Minneapolis, MN
Cost/Stipend: Free — accepted students attend at no cost; additionally, participants receive a $400 stipend, and meals and travel expenses are covered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 to 12 students are chosen each year
Dates: July 21–25
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-11 (i.e., 9th, 10th, or 11th grade) 

If you join Go4Brains, you’ll spend a week exploring neuroscience, attending short lectures, lab sessions, and experimental activities that introduce you to how the brain works and how neuroscience research is done. You’ll have unique experiences like handling a human brain specimen, getting an EEG scan of your own brain activity, exploring brain anatomy using virtual reality, and touring working neuroscience research labs at the University. The program also offers workshops on career-development topics, including CV/resume building, college application advice, interview skills, and information about scholarships and financial aid. You’ll be paired with mentors (professors, graduate students, and undergraduates) and build contacts with peers and neuroscience professionals, giving you a support network even after the program ends. 

11. University of Minnesota’s Discover STEM Summer Program

Location: University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus, Minneapolis, MN
Cost/Stipend: Free 
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive due to limited space
Dates: Week-long sessions offered in summer; July 28–August 1, Aug 4–8, and Aug 11–15 (9 a.m.–4 p.m. each day)
Application Deadline: April 25
Eligibility: High school students entering 11th or 12th grade in the fall 

If you join Discover STEM, you’ll spend an immersive week on campus at the University of Minnesota exploring a wide range of STEM fields. You’ll attend presentations, visit research labs, take part in science and technology demonstrations, and get exposure to current research and career pathways. You’ll be guided by faculty, graduate researchers, and undergraduates. The program gives you a chance to see what college-level STEM looks like while connecting with peers and future STEM professionals. You’ll get to try experiments, attend lab tours, and ask questions, giving you real-world insight into what studying and working in STEM could be like. 

12. Summer Healthcare Experience (SHE) in Oncology

Location: Virtual — with participation possible through institutions including the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Hormel Institute at the University of Minnesota, and other partnering cancer centers across the U.S.
Cost / Stipend: Free to attend; accepted students receive a $500 stipend for completing the program
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Up to 20 students per institution per year 
Dates: Two-week program, July 21 – August 1
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: High school students (rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors) with a strong interest in biomedical sciences or cancer research. 

If you join SHE in Oncology, you’ll spend two weeks working on cancer-research and case-study projects with peers. You’ll receive a lab kit for at-home experiments and conduct real research (for example, genetics-based projects using model organisms), guided by scientists from major cancer centers. Alongside research, you’ll attend lectures, career-exploration panels, and workshops learning about cancer biology, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. You’ll get to interact (virtually) with researchers, clinicians, and biomedical professionals, building both your scientific knowledge and your professional network. 

13. University of Minnesota’s IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp

Location: Minneapolis campus, University of Minnesota, MN (with limited remote slot options)
Cost/Stipend: Free — there is no cost to attend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23–27 (camp runs one week)
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students who have completed a year-long course in single-variable calculus by the end of the school year (seniors graduating by summer are still eligible) 

If you join the Math Modeling Camp at the University of Minnesota, you’ll spend a week working collaboratively with other high-school students to use mathematics to tackle real-world problems from traffic flow and infrastructure to climate or population dynamics. Through the camp, you’ll apply calculus, algebra, and statistical reasoning to build mathematical models and test hypotheses. You’ll work in teams, so you’ll also practice collaboration, communication, and logical problem-solving, learning how to share ideas, combine strengths, and present findings as a group. By the end of the week, you’ll gain insight into how math can be used beyond the classroom in planning, forecasting, engineering, public policy, and more.

14. BestPrep’s Minnesota Business Venture (MBV) 

Location: University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN (host campus for MBV)
Cost/Stipend: $200 or $300, depending on the date of application submission; financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Cohort size is about 200 students per week.
Dates: June 21–26 and July 17–22
Application Deadline: Rolling admission; registration usually opens early in the year.
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 (public, private, charter, or homeschool) 

If you attend MBV, you’ll spend a week on a college campus working in small teams or “companies” to build a fictitious product or service, then create and present a full business plan at the end of the session, “Shark Tank”-style. You’ll participate in workshops, talks, and interactive sessions covering entrepreneurship, financial literacy, marketing, budgeting, personal branding, and career planning. Throughout the week, you’ll meet and learn from real business professionals who act as mentors, attend keynote speeches, engage in mock interviews, and gain insights into how businesses operate. The experience helps you build practical skills like teamwork, leadership, communication, and financial decision-making, which are useful for college applications or future jobs.

Image Source - Minnesota Department of Transportation Logo