15 Summer Work Programs for High School Students
The transition from traditional summer jobs to career-focused internships has become a pivotal step for high school students preparing for the college application cycle. While entry-level retail or service positions provide basic work experience, high-prestige summer work programs offer high schoolers a more direct pathway into specialized industries like aerospace engineering, biotechnology, and corporate finance. These programs are designed to provide structured mentorship, professional networking, and, in many cases, financial compensation through stipends or hourly wages.
If you want to check out other summer programs, here’s a list of free leadership programs & here’s a list of some STEM-specific internships!
Why should you do a summer work program as a high school student?
These summer work programs also facilitate the development of technical competencies and essential soft skills such as project management and professional communication. They allow high school students to refine their academic interests by testing potential career paths in a high-impact setting before committing to a university major. Whether you are looking for a virtual internship with a global startup or a residential research position at a national laboratory, these opportunities allow students to contribute to real-world projects and build a professional resume before high school graduation.
Here are 15 premier summer work programs for high school students to consider.
Key takeaways
This list gathers 15 summer work programs for high school students spanning federal research labs, major museums, and university research departments, with standout hosts including MIT, Stanford, NASA, and Microsoft.
Pay varies widely, with some of the strongest stipends reaching $7,500 at one genetics research lab and $4,500 at a physics fellowship abroad, while several of the most prestigious research programs don't offer a stipend at all.
This list includes a nice mix of STEM research, arts, and museum-based options, giving students interested in fields beyond the lab, like arts administration and museum curation, a way to build professional experience too.
Nearly every program here is based on-site at a specific research campus, lab, or city, with a couple located internationally, while Ladder remains the only fully virtual, location-independent option.
The earliest deadline falls in early December for one of the most prestigious MIT-affiliated research programs, with several more clustering into January and February, so it's worth starting applications well before winter break wraps up.
1. Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 100 students
Dates: June 28 – August 8
Application Deadline: December 10
Eligibility: Academically strong high school juniors. You can find more requirements here
RSI is a rigorous summer work program that combines intensive scientific theory classes with a full-time research internship. Students are matched with experienced mentors at MIT and other Boston-area labs to conduct original research in STEM fields. The first week focuses on foundational seminars, followed by five weeks of hands-on laboratory or computational work. Beyond technical research, the program includes guest lectures from Nobel laureates and industry leaders. You would be required to produce a formal research paper and deliver a professional conference-style oral presentation.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students
Ladder Internships is a virtual program that matches high school students with startups for professional work experiences. You work directly with startup founders or managers on tasks in fields like machine learning, finance, marketing, and more. The program includes weekly development sessions led by mentors from top universities and tech firms. You’ll typically dedicate 10-20 hours per week to your assigned project deliverables. The experience is designed to provide real-world work skills through remote supervision and professional project management. Upon completion, you receive a letter of recommendation and a formal evaluation from your host organization.
3. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: $40 application fee (can be waived); $500 stipend (up to $1,500+ in need-based awards)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: <3%
Dates: June 9 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors (16+) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
SIMR places high school students in Stanford University research labs to work alongside faculty and postdoctoral fellows on medically-oriented projects. You’ll select a specific branch of interest, such as Immunology, Neurobiology, or Bioengineering. The program structure includes a heavy emphasis on lab safety training, followed by independent research design and data collection. Weekly seminars provide exposure to clinical medicine and diverse health-related career paths. At the conclusion of the summer, you will present your findings at a joint symposium for the Stanford medical community.
4. NASA SEES (STEM Enhancement in Earth Science)
Location: Virtual/UT Center for Space Research, Austin, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Online: Moderately selective; Onsite: Highly selective
Dates: May 15 – July 21
Application Deadline: February 22
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (16+) who are U.S. citizens
This internship allows students to analyze satellite data and contribute to real-world NASA mission research. You will work under the supervision of NASA scientists and engineers on projects involving climate change, space exploration, or rocketry. The program begins with a remote learning phase followed by an optional residential component for top-performing students, with virtual internships also offered. You’ll use Python and other technical tools to model planetary shifts or track atmospheric changes. There will be professional development sessions that include tours of NASA facilities and discussions with aerospace specialists about career pathways. The summer concludes with a formal research presentation delivered to NASA subject matter experts.
5. NIST Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Location: NIST, Boulder, CO, or Gaithersburg, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: Current U.S. high school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA who live within a 50-mile radius of their host campus
SHIP matched high school students with a NIST research scientist or engineer to work on a specific project within the agency’s professional laboratories. This summer work program requires a full-time commitment where you’ll contribute to active research in fields like nanoscale science, neutron research, and information technology. Your daily duties would include performing technical experiments, managing scientific data, and maintaining laboratory records under professional supervision. You will also attend weekly seminars focused on federal research careers and scientific communication. The program provides safety training and exposure to the operations of a major government standards and technology institute. The experience concludes with a formal poster session where you’ll present your technical findings to the wider NIST scientific staff.
6. Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)
Location: The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
Stipend: Need-based stipends may be provided for students facing financial hardship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 32 students
Dates: June 23 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors (16+)
This summer work program allows high school students to work in the RockEDU Science Outreach Laboratory on the university campus. The curriculum involves developing an original research project under the supervision of faculty mentors. You will learn laboratory techniques in biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics while using professional equipment. You’ll be required to commit full-time to the lab for seven weeks, with NYC transit cards to cover local commuting costs. The program also has a capstone requirement, which includes a final presentation for successful completion of the program.
7. Bloomberg Arts Internship
Location: Various organizations in Detroit, MI
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~30 interns
Dates: 7 – 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: Rising seniors attending a public or charter school in Detroit
The Bloomberg Arts Internship is an eight-week program that partners with cultural organizations to provide professional work experience. Interns are matched with worksites such as theaters, galleries, or community arts centers to assist with daily operations. You’ll work on projects ranging from event planning to archival management. The program includes mandatory professional development sessions and cultural immersion experiences across the host city. You will receive direct supervision from arts professionals and are responsible for completing a specific worksite project. The goal of this summer work program is to bridge the gap between academic interest in the arts and professional workplace requirements.
8. Met High School Internship Program
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, NY
Stipend: $1,100
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 7 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders who live or attend school in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut
Interns at The Met are placed in administrative, curatorial, or educational departments to support the operations of a major global museum. You will work approximately 10-20 hours per week, assisting with archival research, public tours, or museum programming. The program includes Career Labs where staff members discuss roles in conservation, marketing, and security. You’ll gain unique behind-the-scenes access to museum galleries and storage facilities while learning about art history. You’ll also take part in Teen Fridays and biweekly check-ins with your cohort to learn from mentors and each other.
9. Simons Summer Research Program
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: None (optional residential housing fees)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: <5%
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school juniors (16+) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
This program focuses on providing high school students with a rigorous apprenticeship in university-level research. Students are matched with Stony Brook faculty mentors to work on projects in fields like physics, chemistry, engineering, and more. The program emphasizes the practical application of scientific methods through daily lab work and data collection. You will attend weekly faculty research talks and workshops on technical writing and ethics. You’ll also be encouraged to contribute to peer-reviewed publications based on your summer work. The program concludes with a symposium where you present your technical findings to faculty and peers.
10. Fermilab Program for Research, Innovation, and STEM Mentorship (PRISM)
Location: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Batavia, IL
Stipend: $500/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 13 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising or graduating high school seniors in Illinois who are U.S. citizens
PRISM is a summer work program designed for high school seniors and recent graduates to explore particle physics. You’ll engage with Fermilab professionals on research projects involving accelerator technology and data science. The program includes hands-on technical training and seminars focused on the laboratory’s current global experiments. You will be required to produce a research abstract and a final professional presentation of their project results. There will be weekly activities which include facility tours and workshops regarding professional development in the federal laboratory system. Overall, the program emphasizes scientific communication and networking within the Department of Energy research community.
11. Max Planck Junior Scholars Program
Location: Various Max Planck institutes, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 29 – July 17
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: 10th to 12th graders who are part of an underrepresented group, are enrolled in a Frankfurt high school, and have been nominated by a teacher
The Max Planck Junior Scholars Program provides an immersive research experience for high school students at their institutes in Frankfurt. The first week consists of a Science Bootcamp where you learn foundational concepts in neurobiology and biophysics. During the following two weeks, you’ll be placed within a specific host laboratory to work on active research projects. You will learn to use advanced imaging and molecular biology equipment alongside doctoral and postdoctoral researchers. The program covers specialized topics such as synaptic plasticity, evolutionary neuroscience, and brain algorithms.
12. Microsoft Discovery Program
Location: Microsoft offices in Redmond, WA, or Atlanta, GA
Stipend: $26/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Atlanta: July 6 – 31; Redmond: July 13 – August 7
Application Deadline: Applications open in early February
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who have completed precalculus or an equivalent course. Detailed requirements can be found here
The Microsoft Discovery Program is a summer internship designed for graduating high school seniors entering university. You will work on-site at Microsoft’s Redmond or Atlanta campuses to develop foundational technical and professional skills. The core of the program is a project where students collaborate to design and build a solution to a real-world problem. You’ll receive direct mentorship from Microsoft employees and attend workshops focused on software engineering and product management. There will be daily activities that involve learning to code and exploring various career paths within the global technology industry. This summer work program serves as a high-level introductory work experience for students pursuing computer science or engineering degrees.
13. Johns Hopkins APL ASPIRE Internship
Location: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: <10%
Dates: June 23 – August 21
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (15+) with a minimum 2.8 GPA who live in these counties and are U.S. citizens
This summer work program pairs high school students with professional staff mentors at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory to complete technical research projects. You’ll be integrated into a professional research team, with a minimum commitment of 190 total hours throughout the summer session. Theassigned tasks involve solving engineering or scientific problems in fields such as aerospace, cybersecurity, and robotics. The curriculum concludes with a Student Showcase event where you present your technical findings to laboratory staff. Students are encouraged to leverage their research for academic credit or future professional applications in STEM fields.
14. Young Engineers and Scientists (YES!) Fellowship Program
Location: TRIUMF, Vancouver, BC
Stipend: $4,500 award + housing and travel allowances
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 2 or more fellowships
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: Graduating seniors in British Columbia planning to pursue a STEM degree
This fellowship provides a paid summer work experience at Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics. Selected students join a research group to assist with active experiments in subatomic physics or radiochemistry. Your daily duties include data analysis, equipment calibration, and attending technical seminars with laboratory researchers. You’ll engage with staff scientists, graduate students, and undergraduate students alongside weekly seminars and occasional workshops. The experience provides direct exposure to the operation of major physics infrastructure and rigorous laboratory safety protocols.
15. The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) Summer Student Program
Location: Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME
Stipend: $7,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24-28 positions
Dates: May 30 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 26
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors and undergraduate students (18+) who are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
This program provides a high-level research work environment focused specifically on genetics and genomics. Interns are treated as full-time lab members, assigned to a specific research group to investigate complex diseases like cancer or diabetes. You’ll learn to handle animal models, perform gene sequencing, and use advanced bioinformatics software. Mentors provide one-on-one guidance throughout the ten-week period to ensure students master technical laboratory protocols. Beyond the benchwork, you’ll participate in social activities and scientific ethics seminars. At the end of the program, you’ll produce a professional poster and oral report detailing your contribution to the laboratory's ongoing projects.
Questions students often ask about these programs
1. Do I need prior research experience to apply to these summer work programs?
Not usually. Most of these are designed to build research and technical skills from the ground up, so no prior background is expected. A few of the most selective programs do favor students with strong coursework, so it's worth checking eligibility closely.
2. Some of these programs don't offer a stipend. Are they still worth pursuing?
Yes, especially the ones affiliated with well-known universities or national labs, since the mentorship and prestige can carry real weight on future applications. If pay matters most to your summer plans, several paid options here offer strong compensation.
3. Are any of these summer work programs open to students outside the U.S.?
A couple are based internationally, so students in those specific regions may qualify. Most others are limited to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, so check each listing's eligibility section before applying.