15 Summer Internships for High School Students in San Diego, CA
- Stephen Turban
- Aug 6
- 12 min read
Updated: Oct 14
If you're a high school student in San Diego, a summer internship can give you a clear idea of what working in a real-world setting feels like. It’s a way to learn how workplaces run, how teams operate, and how to take responsibility for tasks that matter.
Internships in San Diego usually cover a wide range of fields: science, healthcare, technology, writing, nonprofit work, and more. These internships place you in labs at research centers or universities. In many of these programs, you’ll be asked to attend meetings, follow instructions from a mentor, complete tasks on time, and sometimes present what you’ve worked on at the end.
You might spend time gathering data, writing reports, observing professionals, or doing hands-on tasks like using lab tools or helping at events. You also learn practical skills like how to communicate, ask for feedback, take notes, manage time, and follow safety procedures.
With that, here are 15 internships for high school students in San Diego! If you're looking for more prestigious internships, check out this set of blogs.
15 Summer Internships for High School Students in San Diego, CA
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Competitive
Cost/Stipend: Varies by the program type. Need-based financial aid is available
Dates: Vary, with spring (January), summer (May), fall (September), and winter (November) cohorts
Application Deadline: Varies, with multiple cohorts throughout the year - spring (January), summer (May), fall (August), and winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students are eligible; they should be able to work for 5 - 10 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective virtual internship program for ambitious high school students eager to work with high-growth start-ups, which are companies that, on average, raise over $1 million. Start-ups offering healthcare internships span diverse industries, including mental health, neurology, ophthalmology, health tech, and more. Earlier host companies included June Brain, IPMD, and Softenmind. You will work closely with the host company's managers and a Ladder Coach on a real-world project, which could be a product, service, or strategy, and present your work to the host company. You will receive one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other key professional and research skills, and attend group training sessions with other interns in your cohort. You can explore program options and apply here.
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: 40
Cost/Stipend: Free; $7,000 fellowship award on completion
Dates: June – August (8 weeks, 32 hours commitment)
Application Deadline: February 10
Eligibility: Immigrant youth ages 18 - 28 (no maximum age cap); must be 18 years old by June 15; no high school or GED requirement; an ACTIVE ITIN or SSN will be required upon acceptance; those who have previously participated in Dream Summer for two years are ineligible.
Offered by the UCLA Labor Center’s Dream Resource Center (DRC), this program places you with a community-based host organization in your city that works on immigrant-related issues. Host sites may include legal aid organizations, labor unions, housing advocacy groups, LGBTQ+ rights groups, and others focused on immigrant communities. You’ll receive a $7,000 fellowship award and a certificate of completion. Before starting, you’ll attend a virtual pre-orientation. During the program, you’ll work with your host organization, participate in professional development sessions, and receive ongoing support from DRC staff and alumni. The fellowship ends with a closing retreat in Los Angeles.
Location: Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA (off-campus location, if applicable, will be informed to participants)
Cost/Stipend: Free. Stipend figure varies by funding
Dates: June 16 - August 8
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: High school students 16 years and older residing and attending school in San Diego County with a minimum GPA of 2.75; must be at least age 16 by June 16 (check full eligibility criteria here)
This is an 8-week paid summer internship that places you in a research lab at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. You’ll work alongside scientists and gain hands-on experience in lab-based research. No prior lab experience is required. You’ll learn how to design experiments, test hypotheses, and analyze results. The program introduces skills in wet lab techniques, bioinformatics, and data analysis. You’ll also attend seminars, workshops, and career exposure events, including visits to biotech sites. At the end of the program, you’ll complete a capstone project and present it to peers, mentors, and family.
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S. (check lab locations here)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Information not available
Cost/Stipend: Stipend - $4,000 for new participants, $4,500 for returning participants
Dates: Vary depending on lab (8 weeks in summer with a possible extension up to 2 additional weeks)
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school; must be at least 16 years of age on or before your internship start date; must be a U.S. citizen (check eligibility exceptions here)
SEAP is a summer apprenticeship for high school students interested in gaining research experience and exploring STEM careers at the Department of the Navy (DoN) laboratories. You will work directly with scientists and engineers, job-shadow professionals, and develop skills in communication, collaboration, and research.
In San Diego, you can apply for an internship at the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, which focuses on cyber and space technologies for communication and surveillance systems used by U.S. warfighters. You can also apply to the Naval Health Research Center, which researches infectious diseases, performance testing, and epidemiology to support the health of service members, veterans, and their families.
Location: Scripps Research's La Jolla, CA campus
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Information not available
Cost/Stipend: $4,830 stipend
Dates: June 23 - August 8 (7 weeks, 40 hours/week)
Application Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: San Diego County residents who have completed their most recent semester of high school in one of the six partner schools with a minimum 3.0 GPA; must be at least age 16 at the start of the program
The Scripps Research High School Student Research Education Program is for high school students keen to pursue a career in biomedical research. It begins with an unpaid pre-internship training course followed by a research internship. You’ll be matched with a lab at Scripps Research, where a graduate student mentor will guide you in lab techniques, experiment design, and data interpretation. The mentor also offers support with college applications and decisions. As part of the outreach component, you will visit local public high schools with Scripps faculty who share their research and career journeys. You’ll also take part in lab tours and hands-on activities at Scripps through the in-reach component.
Location: SRTI
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: 40
Cost/Stipend: Stipend exists; Previous year flyer shows $4k-$8k tiers
Dates: June 2 - August 8 or June 16 - August 22
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students in high school, college, or professional training with a strong interest in genomics or mobile health translational research; high school students must be at least 16 years of age at the start of the program (check full eligibility criteria here)
The Student Research Internship Program at the Scripps Research Translational Institute (SRTI) offers students an immersive experience in translational medical research in diverse fields such as genomics, mobile health technologies, digital medicine, and more. You’ll be matched with a primary mentor aligned with your research interests, take part in scientific seminars and discussions, and collaborate with other researchers at the institute. You’ll receive training in research tools, hypothesis development, manuscript writing, and scientific presentations. The program helps you build skills in communication, critical thinking, biostatistics, and analysis of scientific literature. With your mentor, you’ll design and carry out an independent research project and present your findings at an internal research meeting and a final poster symposium.
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S. (check San Diego, CA locations here)
Cost/Stipend: Free with a stipend (amount details not available)
Dates: Vary by market (8 weeks, inclusive of the week spent at the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, DC)
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are permanent residents of select CA regions; Bank of America employees or their families are ineligible (check full eligibility requirements here)
The Bank of America Leadership Program is a paid internship for high school students in San Diego keen to take up an internship in a non-profit organization. You’ll gain hands-on experience, strengthen your communication and leadership skills, and take part in community service projects, workshops, and seminars focused on career and college readiness. At the end of the internship, you’ll attend an all-expense-paid Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., where you’ll meet students from across the country, engage with Bank of America leaders and public officials, and visit key landmarks in the city.
Location: San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego, CA
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Information not known
Cost/Stipend: Free (unpaid)
Dates: TBA (4 months, minimum 4 hours twice/week)
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students age 16 and older with at least one course in general biology
The San Diego Natural History Museum's high school internship program is for high school students interested in science and the natural world. You’ll gain hands-on work experience while learning professional etiquette and collaboration skills. You may be assigned to a specific department or rotate between departments such as botany, entomology, herpetology, or paleontology. During the internship, you’ll learn how to use scientific tools, software, and safety equipment like fume hoods and protective gear. You’ll also build skills in data collection, recording, and using identification keys. You’ll keep a log of your work and present your experience and findings to the museum’s science staff at the end of the program.
Location: Multiple Banfield Pet Hospital locations across the U.S.
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Information not available
Cost/Stipend: $15/hour pay
Dates: Vary as per the site (6 - 10 weeks in the summer)
Application Deadline: Varies as per the site
Eligibility: Students age 16+
Banfield Pet Hospital NextVet Internship is a paid part-time summer internship for high school students aged 16 or older who are interested in animal care. You’ll be placed at a local Banfield Pet Hospital, including locations in San Diego, where you’ll gain hands-on experience by shadowing veterinarians and veterinary technicians. The program includes in-person training at the hospital and virtual group sessions with veterinary professionals and peers. You’ll learn about daily clinical work, animal care practices, and careers in veterinary medicine while getting direct exposure to the hospital environment.
Location: San Diego, CA (hybrid)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Four
Cost/Stipend: Information not available
Dates: June 14 - August 15
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Current full-time high school students attending a school in San Diego County; must be a descendant of Asian Pacific Island origin; commit to at least 60 hours to write, edit, and publish at least three articles before the end of the internship.
THE ACA API Summer Journalism Internship is a 10-week hybrid internship for high school students interested in journalism and civic engagement within the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community. You’ll report on local stories, attend community events, and interview members of the API community in San Diego to write articles focused on heritage, identity, and advocacy. Selected articles will be published on the ACA Journalism blog and social media platforms. You’ll also participate in service projects and team-based initiatives aimed at building leadership and communication skills. A $250 scholarship is awarded upon successful completion of the program and a positive evaluation from the ACA board and program coach.
Location: Mira Mesa Recreation Center, San Diego, CA
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Information not available
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: Multiple days, between July 11 and July 30
Application Deadline: July 1
Eligibility: Youth ages 15 - 25 years
The City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department's Leader Academy program offers youth who desire to serve the community an opportunity to acquire knowledge and gain skills for entry-level park and recreation job opportunities. You will attend eight classes and volunteer/intern for 15 hours. You will get training in first-aid skills and CPR/AED training, and participate in sports and drills, art and craft activities, therapeutic recreation services, and more. A Park Ranger event will be scheduled at the end of the program with a graduation ceremony where you will receive a certificate of completion. Check the schedule and program activities here.
Location: Various departments/labs of UCSD, La Jolla, CA
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Information not available
Cost/Stipend: $975 for a research project with no application fee; an exempted registration fee for a non-research project
Dates: June 23 - July 18
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 - 12
The UCSD Anita Borg Leadership and Engagement (ABLE) Advanced Research Experience (ARE) is for high school students interested in engineering, data science, and computer science. Each week focuses on a specific field through hands-on research and training at the University of California, San Diego. In the first week, you’ll work on AI and machine learning research projects with faculty from the UCSD Department of Computer Science. The second week covers data science and analytics. In the third week, you’ll explore medical engineering in a lab setting at the UCSD School of Medicine. The final week focuses on Python programming and computing skills at the San Diego Supercomputer Center.
Location: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Information not available
Cost/Stipend: $1,500 for a research project with no application fee; an exempted registration fee for a non-research project. Financial assistance is available
Dates: June 16 - August 8 (15 - 20 hours/week)
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: San Diego County high school students in grades 10 - 12
University of California, San Diego (UCSD)'s San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) offers an 8-week volunteer program for high school students to get hands-on research experience alongside scientists and staff personnel in computational science and its related fields. You will get assigned scholarly or practical readings and discuss them with your mentor and peers, working on a project for a specified number of hours. You can select an individual project opportunity to work one-on-one with a UCSD mentor and participate in lab meetings and group discussions. The internship program wraps up with a celebratory event where you will present a scientific poster highlighting the research done and future career goals.
Location: J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA
Cost/Stipend: $17.50/hour pay for high school students (check compensation rates here)
Dates: Primarily in summer, May through August (10 - 15 weeks); faculty may offer internships during the academic year
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Full-time high school students age 16 and older, undergraduate and graduate students with at least a 3.0/B average; must be a U.S. resident; must be eligible to work in the U.S.
The J. Craig Venter Institute Internship Program (JCVI) offers opportunities for high school students, undergrads, and grads with a strong interest in a science career to have an immersive learning experience in research work that matches academic experience. You will work under the mentorship of the institute faculty and network with research scientists. You will get access to research equipment and technology, attend scientific seminars to enhance knowledge in diverse fields of science, and participate in workshops to develop soft skills and scientific professional abilities for career development. There will be a poster presentation at the end of the program.
Location: Multiple locations in San Diego County, CA
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Information not available
Cost/Stipend: $16.50/hour - $19.79/hour salary (Hourly rates vary based on the level of education completed)
Dates: Vary as per the host department
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Full-time students at a local high school, vocational program, job readiness program, or an accredited college or university with at least a 2.0 semester/quarter (GPA); some internships require a minimum age of 18 years. Check all eligibility requirements here.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department of Human Resources provides paid internships and work opportunities for local students, including those enrolled in high school. You will work temporarily at various San Diego County Departments to explore careers in civic service, public administration, law enforcement, and more. You will gain hands-on internship experience in your field of study while working at one of the offices of San Diego County, such as environmental health, animal services, emergency dispatch services, etc. There are also opportunities to work in a library or take up clerical duties at the main administrative center of the San Diego County Sheriff's Office. Check for current student worker/internship opportunities here.
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.
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