15 Internships for High School Students in Maine
- Stephen Turban
- Aug 13
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 18
If you are a high school student in Maine, doing an internship over the summer can help you learn how work happens outside the classroom. Many of these internships are in Maine labs, hospitals, media offices, research stations, or government departments. You help out in small but important ways. This could mean collecting data, preparing materials, talking to people, or writing short notes and reports.
You might work on a small part of a larger project. You might work in a team. You might speak with people who have worked in that field for many years. These moments help you understand how people do their jobs and what skills are needed to do them well. If you want to study medicine, science, or writing in the future, this is one way to try it out early. It can also help when you apply to college later, because you will have done something that shows effort, discipline, and interest.
To help you get started, here is a list of 15 internships for high school students in Maine!
15 Internships for High School Students in Maine
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 offers high school students the chance to work with start-ups across fields like technology, AI, health, marketing, journalism, and consulting. As an intern, you join a company that is still growing and take part in projects that match your interests and skills.
You work closely with your manager at the company and also meet with a Ladder Coach who supports you through the process. Interns often help with research, content, product ideas, or marketing tasks, depending on the company’s needs. At the end of the program, you share what you worked on with the rest of the company. You can explore all the options here.
Location: Various locations across Maine, including Houlton, Bridgton, Portland, and others
Cost/Stipend: Pays a stipend
Program Dates: May 27 – August 15 (twelve weeks)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school and college students
Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at the University of Maine offers a paid internship for high school and college students to work in Maine state agencies or local government offices. You take part in policy research, data analysis, public administration, or community outreach, based on your interests. You receive direct mentorship from experienced government employees and attend a two-day onboarding workshop in Augusta to build workplace skills.
Location: Host institutions across the state
Cost/Stipend: A stipend is paid!
Program Dates: Six-week summer internship
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Maine high school juniors
Maine Research Internships for Teachers and Students (MERITS) is a six-week paid summer internship for high school juniors in Maine with a strong interest in STEM. You work full-time at research labs or tech companies across the state, including institutions like Jackson Laboratory, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, and NASA-related facilities. You focus on areas such as astrophysics, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, advanced manufacturing, or space communications.
Location: Scarborough, Maine
Cost/Stipend: Free with a stipend of $17 per hour
Program Dates: June 2 - August 8 (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: Application window opens in December
Eligibility: Graduating high school senior
Maine Medical Center Research Institute in Scarborough offers an unpaid summer internship for high school students interested in biomedical research. You work in research areas like molecular medicine, clinical science, population health, or applied technology. Guided by researchers, you help with data collection, experiment setup, and lab work. You may present your work at an internal symposium, join lab tours, and take part in community health research activities.
Location: Various research sites in Maine
Cost/Stipend: $3,000 stipend
Program Dates: Eight-week summer internship program. Start and end dates are flexible.
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is a paid summer mentoring program run by the American Fisheries Society for high school students across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. You work with a professional mentor on field projects like fish population surveys, habitat restoration, and water quality testing. You’re placed at sites near your home and take part in data collection, site visits, and research presentations.
Location: Maine (Remote as well as various locations in ME)
Cost/Stipend: $15 paid per hour
Program Dates: Fall, spring, and summer internship dates TBA
Application Deadline: September 21 for fall, January 19 for spring, May 16 for summer
Eligibility: High school students
Youth Council Internship is a part-time program where you work 5 hours per week on civic engagement and social equity projects. You help organize events, create educational materials about voter rights, and produce a Youth Council newsletter. The internship is for students interested in community organizing, youth engagement, and communications like social media and content creation.
Location: Maine College of Art & Design, Portland, ME
Cost/Stipend: $5,100 - $4,600 tuition fees, depending on single or shared room. Need-based limited scholarships available!
Program Dates: July 12 – August 2 (Three weeks)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High schoolers aged 15 – 18
The Maine College of Art & Design Pre-College Program is a residential summer program in Portland, Maine. You’ll take studio courses taught by professional artists and work on hands-on projects with daily critiques. You build your college admission portfolio, improve technical skills, and learn how to discuss and present your art. You live on campus, work with peers, and explore Portland’s arts scene and nearby coastal areas as part of the program.
Location: University of New England, Maine (Biddeford Campus)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: June 28 – June 30
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school students from rural or underserved communities
Health Careers Exploration Camp at the University of New England is a free three-day overnight program for high school students from rural or underserved communities. You stay in college dorms on UNE’s Portland and Biddeford campuses and take part in hands-on sessions in fields like nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and public health. Faculty from UNE’s health colleges guide you through simulations and real-world tasks such as patient care, medical assistant roles, and working with individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
Location: University of Maine
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded, including tuition, room, and board (travel excluded)
Program Dates: June 22 – June 28
Application Deadline: Not specified!
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
The Cohen Institute’s High School Summer Leadership Program at the University of Maine lets you earn early college credit through a college-level leadership course combined with outdoor activities and co-curricular programs. You engage with faculty, take part in real-world research at top university institutes, and connect with high school peers from across Maine. The program is the final step in the Early College Pathway in Leadership and Public Service and often leads students to enroll in the University of Maine System.
Location: University of Maine
Cost/Stipend: Free. Transportation is not available!
Program Dates: July 13 - 16, July 20 - 23, or July 27 - 30 (Offered three times in July)
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school juniors
Chip Moody Consider Engineering Program is a free four-day summer program at the University of Maine for high school juniors with strong skills in math, science, and leadership. You stay on campus and join one of three sessions held in July. You take part in hands-on engineering activities, problem-solving tasks, and lab tours, including visits to UMaine’s pulp and paper facilities. You also meet faculty, engineers, and industry experts. The program selects 132 students nationwide, 44 per session, from about 250 applicants.
Location: Bar Harbor, Maine & Farmington, Connecticut.
Cost/Stipend: $6,500 stipend including room, board, and travel!
Program Dates: May 31- August 8 (10 weeks)
Application Deadline: January 27
Eligibility: High school students and undergraduates
Jackson Laboratory’s Summer Student Program is a 10-week full-time research program in genetics and genomics for high school seniors and undergraduates, held in Bar Harbor, Maine, and Farmington, Connecticut. You design and complete an independent research project in areas like cancer genetics, Alzheimer’s models, or machine learning in behavior studies.
You work Monday to Friday, and present your findings at a formal poster session. You get a $6500 stipend, free housing and meals, and travel reimbursement. In Bar Harbor, you live near Acadia National Park with weekend retreats and outdoor activities. In Farmington, you stay in campus housing and join cultural outings.
Location: Bowdoin College campus, ME
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: Summer on-campus residential experience
Application Deadline: Open until spots are filled, but application materials received by December 1 will be prioritised.
Eligibility: Rising sophomores and juniors. Must attend one of the 14 Maine high schools
Upward Bound is a free residential summer program for rising sophomores and juniors that helps you get ready for high school and college. You take courses in subjects like art, French culture, immigration, and earth science, along with a STEM course such as chemistry or physics. You use advanced labs, join elective workshops, and get college prep support covering applications, financial aid, and interviews. You also go on enrichment trips to colleges, a Shakespeare theater, and the beach.
Location: College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, Maine
Cost/Stipend: $4,400 includes deposit fee, but limited financial aid is available!
Program Dates: July 27 - August 8
Application Deadline: March 14
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Islands Through Time is a field-based summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors, run by the College of the Atlantic near Acadia National Park. You earn college credit while studying whales, seabirds, and coastal ecology through hands-on work at field stations, island villages, and seal haul-outs. You also reflect on your experience through writing, drawing, and painting. The program includes group work, boat travel, and a final team presentation. If you later enroll at COA, you may receive a $10,000 per year scholarship.
Location: University of New England
Cost/Stipend: $2,000 fee
Program Dates: July 6 - July 12
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: High school students (grades 10 - 12)
University of New England’s NextWave Pre-College Program is a one-week residential summer program for students in grades 10 to 12. You live on campus, use university labs and classrooms, and take part in hands-on research projects while building skills in critical thinking and problem-solving. You present your final work at the end of the week and connect with peers from across the region. If you complete the program and later enroll at UNE as a full-time undergraduate, you receive a $2,000 tuition scholarship.
15. Maine Media Camp
Location: Husson University’s New England School of Communications (NESCom)
Cost/Stipend: $450 tuition $250 facility fees, and Room & Board
Program Dates: August 2 - August 7
Application Deadline: Not available!
Eligibility: Sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school
If you’re curious about media careers, Maine Media Camp gives you a full week to explore what working in the field looks like. Hosted by the New England School of Communications, the program covers audio engineering, XR, journalism, photography, film, and more. You’ll work on hands-on projects in real NESCom studios, get feedback from professionals, and learn how different media roles come together. Outside of workshops, you’ll join social activities with other students interested in media, giving you space to build connections and exchange ideas.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, 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 4,000 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!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
Image Source - Ladder Internship logo