If you’re a high school freshman looking for internship opportunities, you’ve come to the right place! Freshman year of high school is an ideal time to apply for internships as they provide an opportunity to work in professional environments, explore potential career interests, and develop valuable skills.

Engaging in internships will help you build a strong resume, showcasing initiative and practical experience that can set you apart from your peers. These experiences will demonstrate your commitment to learning and personal growth and highlight your ability to excel in challenging environments. By working alongside professionals, you will understand your field of interest, build a strong foundation for future career pursuits, and enhance your college applications.

Here are 10 internships open to high school freshmen that are worth considering! Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.

1. Ladder Internship Program

Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.

Cost: Starting at $2,490. Financial aid is available.

Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November). 

Dates: 8-week programs with 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. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.

2. NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internships

Location: Depending on the project, interns will work either remotely or on-site at any of NASA’s 10 field centers across the country.

Cost/Stipend: Interns may receive a stipend based on academic level and session duration.

Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship opportunity. 

Dates: Fall (16-week program, from late August or early September to mid-December) | Spring (16-week program, from mid-January to early May) | Summer (10-week program, from late May or early June to August).

Eligibility: U.S. citizens who have a cumulative 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) and are full-time students (high school through graduate level) or a part-time college-level student enrolled in a minimum of 6 semester hours.

NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement offers internship opportunities across America. Their extensive internship database, which you can access here, allows you to find opportunities specifically open to high school students, including those that welcome high school freshmen. These internships provide training, mentorship, and career development to over 2000+ students annually, alongside exposure to experts in science, engineering, finance, IT, and business. The internships are offered in a range of subjects and disciplines, including space science, engineering, aeronautics, technology, space microbiology, robotics, ecology, and even outreach and communications. You will design experiments, analyze mission data, and contribute to the development of innovative technologies. 

3. Alley Pond’s Field Biology Internships

Location: Alley Pond Environmental Center, Douglaston, NY

Cost/Stipend: $150. Financial aid available

Application Deadline: September (Fall) | February (Spring) | June (Summer)

Dates: Fall: October 5–November 9 (Saturdays) | Spring: Typically between March and May (Saturdays) | Summer: July 3–August 7 (Wednesdays)

Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 14 years old and currently in high school

The Alley Pond Environmental Center’s Field Biology Internship (FBI) is meant for high school students interested in field research, urban biology, and local ecosystems and wildlife. This program offers a foundation in research and experimental design. You'll explore ecosystems within Alley Pond Park and other Queens, NYC areas, conducting biodiversity surveys, bird observations, soil and water quality assessments, macroinvertebrate identification, coastal seining, and native flora planting. Throughout your internship, you'll gain practical experience, learn from environmental experts, and build community with fellow interns and mentors. 

4. Monell Science Apprenticeship Program (MSAP) at the Monell Center

Location: Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, PA  

Cost/Stipend: Free; students are provided a stipend.

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January.

Dates: June 18–August 16

Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in high school from the greater Philadelphia area, including Camden, NJ, are eligible to apply.

The Monell Science Apprenticeship Program’s mission is to stimulate interest in biomedical science or medicine as careers, particularly among groups that are typically underrepresented in science. This apprenticeship program includes seven weeks of structured research with a Monell scientist and a public conference where you will present your research to scientific staff, family members, and friends. You will attend lectures on scientific topics, public speaking, written communication, and the ethical principles guiding human and animal research. You will also learn about different careers in medicine and science. MSAP is highly competitive, and 10% or less of applicants are accepted. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.

5. U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Headquarters Student Internship Program

Location: Washington D.C.

Cost/Stipend: Fully funded; No stipend is provided to the interns.

Application Deadline: June (Fall Internship Period) | October (Spring Internship Period) | December (Summer Internship Period) 

Dates: Fall Internship Period (September-December) | Spring Internship Period (January-May) | Summer Internship Period (May-August)

Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are enrolled or accepted at an accredited institution and maintain student eligibility and enrollment throughout the internship.

The Treasury Department offers internships for students in grades 9–12, providing an opportunity to collect, analyze, and present policy data. You will conduct research and summarize academic literature and news relevant to the department's priority missions. This program is ideal for building a foundation for a future career in international policy. During the internship, you will develop valuable research, analytical, management, and organizational skills through interactions with Treasury colleagues and other U.S. government agencies. You can choose to work in one of the several offices within the Treasury Departmental Offices (headquarters). These internships have an acceptance rate of around 10–12%. To learn more about this internship, check out our complete guide here.

6. Spark Summer Mentorship Program (SPARK SMP)

Location: Greater Seattle area, WA or remote

Stipend: Stipends are dependent on the project

Application Deadline: Applications typically close in May after opening in April.

Dates: June to August (~ 6-8 weeks)

Eligibility: High school students in the Greater Seattle area who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and can work for 40 hours/week for 8-12 weeks.

SparkSMP allows students to apply concepts in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data visualization to business projects. You will have the opportunity to learn from industry leaders, university professors, and mentors. Internships projects in the past have covered extreme weather conditions, software engineering, detecting tick-borne infections and cancers, machine learning (ML) workflow, quantum computing, CHIPS/semiconductors (GaN/AIGaN), low-temperature electronics, competitive analysis and market research, data engineering and artificial intelligence (AI), social media content generation, and more. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.

7. UCSC Science Internship Program (UCSC SIP)

Location: University of California, Santa Cruz, CA and online. 

Cost/Stipend: $60 application fee; $500 deposit fee; $4250 program fee; need-based financial aid is available.

Application Deadline: Typically late March or early April

Dates: This 9-week program typically runs from late June to early August

Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 14 years old on the program start date and be enrolled in high school (some projects require 16 years of age)

This 9-week program connects high school students with UCSC researchers who mentor them through open-ended research projects in the sciences, arts, humanities, and engineering. You’ll work with your mentor on your research project, building a research portfolio before college and gaining foundational skills in engineering. The program features small cohorts, opportunities to share your research, field trips, and training sessions. The program involves two weeks of online research prep, two weeks of online research, and five weeks of in-person research. You can explore projects from past programs here, and for a deeper dive into the program, you can check out this blog.

8. Learning Club Teaching Internship Program

Location: Learning Club, ​Kansas City, MO

Cost/Stipend: No cost; $20 stipend per session and/or three community service hours per session during the academic school year.

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Dates: Interns begin their internship program working with students in mid-September.

Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 can apply!

The Learning Club Teaching Internship in Kansas City offers high school students a unique opportunity to teach and mentor children in the local community. As an intern, you’ll tutor younger students one day a week, helping them with homework, reading, writing, and math. You'll also serve as a role model to support them. Additionally, the internship provides transportation and a weekly stipend, making it accessible for all. The program offers comprehensive training in personal and professional development, covering topics such as financial literacy, career exploration, community service, college applications, resume building, interview skills, and self-care. 

9. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship

Location: Virtual

Cost/Stipend: No cost. Students will receive a certificate upon completion.

Application Deadline: March 31 

Dates: June 17–28

Eligibility: Students entering 9th grade through 12th grade in the fall who will be over the age of 14 by the start of the program.

The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging offers a prestigious 2-week virtual internship that explores the technical and clinical applications of AI in healthcare. You will receive guidance from Stanford AI research engineers. You will also attend Virtual Career Lunch and Learns featuring guest speakers from academia, nonprofits, and government, which will help you explore different career paths and build strong networks. This program is highly competitive, accepting approximately 50 students each year. To learn more about this internship, check out our complete guide here.

10. Harvard-Smithsonian Science Research Mentoring Program

Location: Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA), Cambridge, MA or virtual

Cost/Stipend: No cost; A stipend is provided courtesy of the City of Cambridge.

Application Deadline: Applications are expected to open in May

Dates: September– May

Eligibility: Cambridge Rindge and Latin School students (grades 9–12) are eligible to apply.

With an acceptance rate of under 5%, this program allows high school students to work on a year-long astrophysics project alongside scientists from Harvard or the Smithsonian Center. Each year, 10–16 students are chosen and organized into 5–8 groups to collaborate on their research projects. You will participate in monthly workshops and lectures to enhance your knowledge and skills. You’ll also attend monthly advisory sessions with the SRMP team. At the culmination of the program, you’ll showcase your findings at a symposium through posters and presentations. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.

One other option — Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’re interested in pursuing independent research in your field of interest, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.

Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!

Trisha Malhotra, an Ashoka University alumna, has 5 years of experience being a freelance writer and currently writes for Lumiere Education. She is passionate about music, reading, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, as well as a devoted cat parent.

Image Source: Alley Pond Environmental Center logo