Top 10 Prestigious Internships for High School Students in 2025
High school internships offer a pivotal gateway to real-world experience, early career exploration, and college application advantages. In 2025, more organizations are offering competitive internships designed to develop leadership, STEM, business, and creative skills among ambitious high school students. Below, we present a definitive list of the top 10 high school internships with rich details on program offerings, eligibility, application deadlines, and how to apply.
1. NASA Internships for High School Students
Keywords: NASA internship, high school STEM programs
Overview: NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement provides unparalleled internship opportunities for high school students interested in space exploration, robotics, and science.
- Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in high school (minimum age: 16)
- Fields: Aerospace, Engineering, Physics, Data Science
- Stipend: Paid
- Duration: 8–10 weeks
- Deadline: Typically February for summer positions
- Location: NASA centers across the U.S.
Apply: https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/internship-programs/
2. MITRE High School Student Internship Program
Keywords: MITRE internship, high school research internship
Overview: MITRE offers research-focused internships for students interested in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and national security.
- Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with strong STEM backgrounds
- Fields: Cybersecurity, Software Development, AI
- Stipend: Paid
- Duration: 6–10 weeks
- Deadline: Januar
- Location: McLean, VA and Bedford, MA
Apply: careers.mitre.org
3. Stanford University Clinical Summer Internship
Keywords: Stanford high school internship, clinical summer program
Overview: This immersive medical internship introduces students to patient care and the hospital environment through lectures and hands-on workshops.
- Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
- Fields: Medicine, Healthcare, Biology
- Stipend: Tuition-based (limited scholarships available)
- Duration: 2-week sessions
- Deadline: March
- Location: Stanford, CA
Apply: https://simr.stanford.edu/
4. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Keywords: student leadership internship, Bank of America
Overview: Aimed at community-minded students, this competitive program combines paid internships at nonprofits with leadership training.
- Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, U.S. citizens or permanent residents
- Fields: Nonprofit Management, Social Impact, Business
- Stipend: Paid
- Duration: 8 weeks
- Deadline: January
- Location: Nationwide
Apply: https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/student-leaders
5. Google Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI)
Keywords: Google internship, high school computer science
Overview: Google’s CSSI introduces high school graduates to coding, problem-solving, and tech innovation.
: High school seniors planning to study CSApply: https://cssicurriculum.withgoogle.com/
6. National Institutes of Health (NIH) High School Summer Internship Program
Keywords: NIH internship, biomedical research high school
Overview: NIH offers intensive research experiences in state-of-the-art labs under top-tier scientists.
- Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, age 17+
- Fields: Biomedical Research, Public Health, Genetics
- Stipend: Paid
- Duration: 8 weeks
- Deadline: March
- Location: Bethesda, MD and other NIH campuses
Apply: training.nih.gov
7. The Intern Project (TIP) – Los Angeles
Keywords: TIP LA, high school internships California
Overview: TIP places students in competitive internships across tech, arts, business, and more in the Los Angeles area.
- Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in LA County
- Fields: Multimedia, Engineering, Finance, Marketing
- Stipend: Paid
- Duration: 4–6 weeks
- Deadline: March
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
Apply: theinternproject.org
8. Smithsonian Youth Engagement through Science (YES!)
Keywords: Smithsonian internship, YES program
Overview: This internship allows students to work with museum professionals and scientists in Washington, D.C.
- Eligibility: Students aged 14–19 in the D.C. metro area
- Fields: Natural History, Anthropology, Museum Studies
- Stipend: Paid
- Duration: 8 weeks
- Deadline: February
- Location: Washington, D.C.
Apply: https://internships.si.edu/taxonomy/term/103
9. Johns Hopkins University Engineering Innovation Pre-College Program
Keywords: Johns Hopkins internship, pre-college engineering
Overview: An intensive engineering course with hands-on labs, team projects, and college credit.
: High schoolApply: ei.jhu.edu
10. Microsoft High School Discovery Program
Keywords: Microsoft high school internship, tech internship for teens
Overview: This beginner-friendly program provides an introduction to computer science and corporate mentorship.
- Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
- Fields: Programming, Project Management, UI/UX
- Stipend: Paid
- Duration: 4 weeks
- Deadline: March
- Location: Redmond, WA
Final Tips to Secure These Internships
- Prepare Early: Build a strong resume, collect recommendation letters, and craft a compelling personal statement.
- Maintain Academic Excellence: Most programs favor students with solid academic records, especially in STEM fields.
- Demonstrate Initiative: Extracurricular involvement, personal projects, or volunteer work will boost your chances.
- Apply Broadly: Competition is fierce; apply to multiple programs to improve your odds.
For ambitious high school students in 2025, these internships provide a transformative stepping stone to academic and professional success.
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