University summer internships for high school students offer a great chance to explore what it’s like to work in a particular subject or field, in an advanced academic setting. These summer internships often place you in a real academic or professional setting, where you can get a feel for the kinds of questions people ask, the tools they use, and the pace of day-to-day work.
Instead of just reading about a subject in class, you will get to spend time applying what you’ve learned — or seeing how what you’ve learned connects to what’s happening in the real world. Whether you’re sitting in on lab meetings, helping analyze data, or assisting with small tasks on a larger project, you’re stepping into an environment that gives you context for what a career or college major might involve.
Here are 15 university internships that you can explore as a high school student:
1. Carnegie Mellon University’s Summer Academy for Math and Science
Location: Carnegie Mellon Campus, Pittsburg, PA
Cost: Free of cost
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: June 21 — August 2
Eligibility: You must be at least 16 years old by the program’s start date, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and be in 11th grade at the time of the application submission.
Carnegie Mellon University’s Summer Academy for Math and Science program combines classroom learning with hands-on STEM projects. You’ll work with experienced staff and faculty to explore key topics in math and science while gaining a clearer view of how these subjects connect to real-world work and study paths. The program begins with a mandatory virtual session, during which you’ll prepare for the in-person portion. After that, you’ll join a six-week residential experience that includes classes, group meetings, and a final symposium to share what you’ve worked on.
2. University of Houston’s Mohan Lab Summer Internship
Location: MohanLab, University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: Free of cost
Application deadline: March 28
Program dates: June 2 — July 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors can apply.
The MohanLab at the University of Houston, led by Dr. Chandra Mohan, studies autoimmune diseases and cancer diagnostics. The lab offers a 9 to 10-week summer internship for high school students interested in biomedical science, medicine, health, or bioengineering. At the beginning of the program, you’ll learn basic lab techniques such as pipetting, sample preparation, centrifuge use, and gel electrophoresis. After training, you’ll join an active research project, working with a scientist or graduate student. Your tasks will include collecting and analyzing data, keeping lab records, and interpreting results.
3. Princeton Summer Journalism Program
Location: Online and in-person on campus (Princeton, NJ)
Cost: Free of cost
Application Deadline: Usually in February (tentative, based on previous year’s dates).
Program Dates: July 24 — August 3
Eligibility: High school junior currently living in the U.S. and planning to attend college in the country with an unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher
The Princeton Summer Journalism Program is a free opportunity for high school students interested in journalism. In July, you’ll take part in online sessions led by professional journalists, where you’ll learn skills like reporting, interviewing, and writing about current events and media topics. In August, you’ll visit Princeton’s campus to work on assignments such as writing local news stories, conducting interviews, and producing multimedia content. You’ll also tour newsrooms and join discussions on subjects like history, politics, and culture. Your work will be published in The Princeton Summer Journal at the program’s conclusion.
4. Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) High School Summer Research Internship
Location: Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, FL
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Stipend of $13 per hour
Application Deadline: March 4
Program Dates: Typically 6 weeks between June and July (based on previous years dates).
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old, live in Palm Beach or Martin County, and have U.S. work authorization can apply.
The MPFI Summer Research Internship gives high school students the opportunity to work in a neuroscience lab at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience. You’ll be part of projects focused on brain structure, neural circuits, and imaging methods. Most of the work takes place in a wet lab setting, where you’ll learn techniques such as genetic engineering, staining tissue samples, working with microorganisms, and using microscopes. Throughout the program, you’ll contribute to ongoing research and prepare a scientific abstract to share your results with fellow interns, researchers, and others in the community.
5. NYU’s ARISE Program
Location: New York University Campus, NY (Specific Area depends on subject area/ lab choice.
Cost/Stipend: None, stipend provided
Application Deadline: February 21
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Eligibility: Students living in New York City completing 10th or 11th grade in June can apply.
The ARISE program at NYU is a ten-week summer opportunity for 10th and 11th grade students attending high school in New York City. It begins with four weeks of virtual seminars and workshops focused on building basic research and technical skills. The remaining six weeks take place in person, where you’ll join a university lab and contribute to ongoing projects in areas like computer science, robotics, or machine learning. You’ll work alongside researchers and get a look at how research teams collaborate on day-to-day tasks.
6. NASA and UT Austin’s SEES High School Summer Intern Program
Location: Hybrid program. In-person at UT Austin, TX
Cost: None
Application Deadline: February 22
Program Dates: May 1 — July 19
Eligibility: Open to current high school Sophomores or Juniors who have not worked as a SEES intern previously | Should be 16 years old by July 5 | Must be a U.S citizen.
This competitive STEM internship offers high school students the opportunity to work on Earth and space science projects utilising real NASA satellite data. Guided by scientists and engineers, you’ll explore topics such as remote sensing, climate and planetary science, astronomy, natural hazards, Earth’s gravity, and mission planning. The program includes data analysis, visualization, and possibly fieldwork, all within the context of NASA-supported research. It’s an opportunity to work with subject matter experts and see how research is carried out in these fields.
7. University of Southern California’s Annenberg Youth Academy (AYA) for Media and Civic Engagement
Location: University of Southern California Campus, CA.
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: April 14
Program Dates: June 16 — July 3
Eligibility: Students must reside and attend a high school in Los Angeles County to be eligible to apply.
The Annenberg Youth Academy at the University of Southern California is a four-week summer program for high school students interested in media, communication, and social topics. During the program, you’ll explore how media and journalism influence public understanding and learn practical skills such as writing, speaking, multimedia production, and interviewing. You’ll also take part in discussions with professionals on issues like race, gender, and identity in communication.
8. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost. This is an unpaid internship. Students will receive a certificate upon completion and the potential to extend their internship.
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 16–27
Eligibility: Must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or have a valid visa. Entering grades 9 to 12 in the Fall. Over 14 years old by program start.
The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging offers a two-week virtual program for high school students interested in the use of AI in healthcare. Open to about 50 students each year, including freshmen, the program introduces how AI tools are applied in medical research and clinical settings. You’ll attend lectures, take part in group research projects, meet with mentors, and hear from guest speakers about careers in the field.
9. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) Internship Program
Location: Plainsboro, New Jersey
Cost: None
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: June 30 — August 1
Eligibility: You must be at least 16 years old and a graduating senior when the internship begins and be authorized to work in the U.S.
The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) offers a small number of high school internships where you’ll work with a researcher or engineer on a science or engineering project. Areas of focus may include fusion energy, plasma physics, or related engineering work. Some projects involve tasks like coding or using CAD software. The program also includes the Plasma Pathways initiative, which supports participation from Trenton Central High School students and aims to increase access for underrepresented groups in science.
10. Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR)
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend, but there is an application fee. Stipend: $500 minimum, up to $2500 based on need.
Application Deadline: February 22
Program Dates: June 9- July 31
Eligibility: Must be a current high school junior or senior graduating this year or next, at least 16 years old by the program start date (June 9), and living in the U.S.
The Stanford Institutes of Medicine Summer Research Program (SIMR) is an eight-week program where high school students join research labs at Stanford. About 50 students are selected each year and placed in labs focused on areas such as genetics, cancer, neuroscience, stem cells, immunology, cardiology, bioengineering, or computational biology. As a participant, you’ll be part of a lab team and learn how to follow lab protocols, use basic equipment, and carry out routine procedures. The program ends with a poster session where you’ll present your project and explain your work to peers and mentors.
11. Colorado School of Mines CS@Mines Internship
Location: In person and remote opportunities available.
Cost: Free of cost
Application Deadline: April 18
Program Dates: June to July
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in computer science are eligible to apply.
The Computer Science Department at Colorado School of Mines (CS@Mines) offers a six-week, unpaid summer internship for high school and community college students interested in computer science research. As an intern, you’ll work in small teams led by a Mines undergraduate mentor, contributing to real CS projects. Some projects explore topics related to artificial intelligence, including algorithm design, data analysis, and foundational CS concepts. This program helps you understand how CS research connects to AI.
12. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Science Program (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual or in-person at the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology, east Baltimore Campus, Baltimore, MD
Cost: No cost. The in-person program provides an hourly stipend and covers transportation, but not housing. The virtual program offers a $500 scholarship to interns to support their education.
Application deadline: March 1
Program dates: The in-person program lasts 8 weeks, while the virtual program runs for 5 weeks from June–August.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (in the US for the virtual program and in Baltimore City, MD for the in-person program) from underrepresented backgrounds can apply.
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) provides high school students with a summer research experience through the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery. You can choose between an eight-week in-person internship or a five-week virtual program. The in-person option involves hands-on research, mentorship, career guidance, and seminars on neurological science, ending with a final presentation. Both programs include professional development workshops, college preparation sessions, and chances to connect with peers and professionals. The virtual program emphasises learning foundational lab techniques. Access past JHIBS research topics here.
13. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the Research Science Institute (RSI)
Location: In-person at MIT, MA
Cost: Free of cost
Application Deadline: December 11
Program Dates: June 22 — August 2
Eligibility: Open only to high school juniors about to enter their last high school year, i.e., grade 11.
The program begins with a week of seminars covering topics in mathematics, physics, engineering, biology, chemistry, and the humanities. You’ll use MIT’s computing resources to research current publications, model complex systems, and develop skills in writing and presenting scientific papers. Throughout the program, you’ll have opportunities to meet technology professionals and Nobel laureates like Dr. Wolfgang Ketterle, Dr. Phillip Sharp, and Dr. Dudley Herschbach. You will prepare a research paper and presentation that will be reviewed by a panel of scientists from local academic and corporate organisations.
14. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program
Location: Virtual, hybrid and fully in-person options are also available based in Fairfax, VA
Cost: $25 application fee (may be waived based on financial need)
Application Deadline: Typically ends in February
Program Dates: June 18 — August 8
Eligibility: You must be at least 15 years of age for the remote internship, and 16 years or older for the in-person or hybrid internship.
This eight-week program offers high school students the chance to take part in research across a range of STEM fields. You’ll work alongside researchers in either computational or experimental settings and use university labs and tools as part of your project work. The experience includes developing skills in research methods, science writing, data analysis, and communication. You’ll also join discussions with peers and professionals to learn more about different paths in STEM. The program concludes with a symposium where you’ll present your research to others in the community.
15. Research in Science and Engineering (RISE) Internship
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Cost: $5620 (Tuition) + $2988 (Room and Board) (Financial Aid Available)
Application Deadline: February 14
Program Dates: June 29 — August 8
Eligibility: Students must be entering their senior year of high school in the fall of the program year and must be US citizens or legal permanent residents.
RISE is a six-week, non-credit summer program for rising high school seniors interested in scientific research. In the Internship track, you’ll work full-time on a research project under the guidance of a faculty member, postdoc, or graduate student. You’ll gain experience in research methods and build technical and analytical skills in your chosen field. In computer science, projects may cover areas such as algorithms, machine learning, data mining, cybersecurity, and software verification. The program ends with a poster symposium where you’ll present your research. Many participants leave with a clearer understanding of research practices, ethics, and communication in STEM fields.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Carnegie Mellon University