If you’re a high school student interested in advertising, an internship can give you early exposure to how campaigns are actually developed and executed. These programs allow you to assist with market research, draft social media content, analyze engagement data, or observe how creative and strategy teams collaborate. Some internships allow you to rotate across departments such as creative, media planning, account management, or digital strategy, helping you understand how different roles contribute to a campaign’s success. You might also become familiar with tools such as analytics platforms, content management systems, and project tracking software.
Why should you choose an advertising internship?
Participating in an advertising internship helps you build practical communication skills, develop an understanding of branding and audience targeting, and clarify which areas of the field align with your strengths. It also gives you tangible work experience that can inform future academic choices in business, marketing, communications, or media studies.
In this blog, we’ve put together 13 advertising internships for high school students.
1. PHC Group — Mary Miller Summer Program
Location: PHC Group, Philadelphia, PA (virtual components may be included)
Cost: Paid internship
Application Deadline: Applications typically close once positions are filled
Dates: Summer (exact dates vary by position)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; strong communication skills; unrestricted work authorization
In the Mary Miller Summer Program, you join PHC Group’s public health communications team and contribute to ongoing client projects. You help draft and schedule social media content across different platforms while monitoring audience responses and engagement patterns. As part of the team, you sit in on planning meetings to discuss and refine campaign messages and outreach strategies. You use social listening and monitoring tools to review public feedback and identify trends. You also create concise summaries that highlight performance metrics and recommend adjustments to enhance clarity or effectiveness. Throughout the program, experienced staff provide guidance, helping you improve your social marketing skills and understand how public health communication campaigns are created and managed.
2. The Met High School Summer Internship Program
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Stipend: $1,100 stipend
Application Deadline: March 13
Dates: July 7 – August 7
Eligibility: Current 10th or 11th graders who live in NY, NJ, or CT; must have working papers and SSN/ITIN
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Summer High School Internship offers a paid opportunity for rising juniors and seniors from New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut. If you select the marketing or communications track, you spend the summer working within the museum’s communications department. You assist with advertising tasks, including drafting copy, supporting social media content, preparing visual materials, and coordinating outreach related to exhibitions and events. You follow established workflows and observe how different teams collaborate to plan and execute campaigns. Working in a small, supervised group, you receive guidance while contributing to ongoing projects.
3. Building U Marketing Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: Varies depending on opportunity
Eligibility: All high school students, as well as international students
The Building U Marketing Internship, run by the nonprofit organization Building-U, is a three-month remote program for high school students interested in the operational side of education and career guidance. During the program, you join a team focused on Business Development, Research, or Marketing and learn how a nonprofit manages its day-to-day work. You complete assigned tasks that support outreach efforts, research projects, or internal planning. As you participate in ongoing projects, you practice written communication, organization, and collaboration in a structured team setting. You attend virtual meetings, contribute updates, and coordinate with peers to meet shared goals.
4. KP LAUNCH High School Internship — Sales & Marketing Track
Location: Kaiser Permanente Northern California (various sites)
Cost: Paid internship
Application Deadline: January 9
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Eligibility: High school students who meet KP LAUNCH requirements; dependents of KP employees/physicians are ineligible
The KP LAUNCH High School Internship places you within the business functions of Kaiser Permanente, where you support projects related to outreach, branding, and community communication. If you join the Sales and Marketing track, you assist with tasks such as reviewing market data, organizing customer feedback, or drafting internal communications. You attend team meetings to observe how plans are developed and how different departments coordinate their work. During the program, you are also introduced to areas such as human resources, operations, and education, which help you understand how marketing connects to other parts of a healthcare organization. Mentorship and structured workshops are included, giving you opportunities to ask questions and learn from staff across Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California network.
5. Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship
Location: Nationwide placements across media, tech, and entertainment companies
Cost: Paid internship (compensation varies by partner company)
Application Deadline: Rolling review from September – April; final decisions by May 15
Dates: Generally May – August (varies by partner company; minimum 8 weeks)
Eligibility: High school seniors and college students; GPA 3.0+; must be 18+ before internship start; U.S. work authorization required
Through the Emma Bowen Foundation program, you are placed in a full-time summer position with a media, technology, or communications company. Depending on your host organization, you may assist with advertising, content planning, audience research, public relations tasks, or marketing analysis. Your responsibilities can include drafting social media posts, preparing promotional materials, or supporting brand messaging efforts. You work alongside professionals and contribute to ongoing projects while learning how teams organize and execute their work. The program also includes group activities and structured networking opportunities to connect you with other participants and industry staff.
6. CITYarts PR and Marketing Internship
Location: CITYarts, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Rolling; apply via email
Dates: Flexible, year-round; schedule designed with staff
Eligibility: High school students strongly encouraged to apply; interest in arts/nonprofit marketing preferred; familiarity with social media and Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop
In the CITYarts PR and Marketing Internship, you join the organization’s communications team and assist with day-to-day outreach efforts. You help draft and schedule social media posts, update website content, and prepare basic promotional materials for upcoming projects. Working with program staff, you contribute to digital assets and support communication with partner organizations. Your responsibilities include utilizing design and content tools to ensure consistent messaging across various platforms. The role provides insight into how a nonprofit handles advertising, branding, and audience engagement within community arts initiatives.
7. Chicago Philharmonic Summer Internship
Location: Chicago Philharmonic, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free; information on stipend is not officially published
Application Deadline: Rolling, apply by emailing at [email protected]
Dates: Summer (exact dates vary by candidate)
Eligibility: High school students in Chicago; applicants must email the Community Engagement Coordinator for details
The Chicago Philharmonic Summer Internship is a small group of interns that allows you to work closely with staff and observe how the organization connects with its audience. You spend much of your time assisting with outreach efforts, organizing materials for upcoming performances, and supporting community programs throughout the city. You attend planning meetings to understand how communication strategies are developed and how concert promotions are coordinated. Because the organization operates as a nonprofit, you see how advertising and marketing decisions are made within budget limits and staffing constraints. In addition to administrative and promotional work, you also participate in music-related activities led by Philharmonic musicians.
8. Warner Bros. Discovery Reach Honorship Program
Location: Burbank, CA or Los Angeles County, CA (depending on honorship track)
Cost: Free to apply; includes a $5,000 scholarship (paid in $1,250 annual installments if maintaining a 2.8+ GPA) plus paid summer internships each summer during college with varying compensation.
Application Deadline: Varies by position
Dates: Varies by position
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors; must reside in Burbank or Los Angeles County (depending on honorship track); must be interested in careers in media, entertainment, or related corporate/creative fields.
The Warner Bros. Discovery Reach Honorship offers a college scholarship along with four paid summer internships that begin after high school graduation. Over the course of your college years, you receive $5,000 in scholarship support and return each summer to work in a different division of the company. Many placements are in marketing, communications, and audience engagement, though opportunities may also include roles in content development, production, or other business functions. During each internship, you assist with ongoing projects, contribute to campaign-related tasks, and observe how teams manage media brands and operations. By rotating across divisions, you gain a broader understanding of how different parts of a large media organization work together.
9. Interns4-Good
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: Open throughout the year
Dates: Varies by placement
Eligibility: High school students
Interns4-Good offers virtual internships for high school students in areas such as Marketing, Graphic Design, Social Media Management, and Video Editing in partnership with nonprofit organizations. During the program, you use digital tools and communication strategies to support the outreach goals of participating nonprofits. Your work may include drafting social media posts, developing recruitment materials, or outlining engagement plans for partner initiatives. As you work on assigned projects, you gain experience in digital marketing, advertising, written communication, and progress reporting. The program’s structure requires you to manage your time independently, meet deadlines, and submit weekly updates summarizing your progress.
10. Girls on the Run: Social Media Intern
Location: Bay Area, SF
Cost/Stipend: Paid and volunteer roles available
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: Flexible; Internships offered during summer, fall, and spring
Eligibility: High school students
As a social media intern with Girls on the Run, you support the organization’s programs by creating and scheduling content for various platforms. You help develop campaigns to increase participation and monitor how your posts perform. You are encouraged to contribute your own ideas in areas such as graphic design, video production, or event promotion, allowing you to focus on tasks that match your skills and interests. Throughout the internship, you gain practical experience in managing social media projects and learn how outreach efforts connect to broader program goals. Your work provides insight into nonprofit communication strategies and offers opportunities to document projects for a portfolio that can be shared with colleges or future employers.
11. Ladders for Leaders
Location: PENCIL, New York City, NY
Stipend: Paid at NY State minimum wage or higher ($17+/hour)
Application Deadline: February 3
Dates: July – August (tentative)
Eligibility: NYC residents ages 16–24 enrolled in high school, prior work experience preferred
This program offers students the opportunity to participate in paid 6-week summer internships with companies, nonprofits, or government agencies in New York City. Before starting, you must complete essential pre-employment training on resume writing, interviewing, and workplace etiquette. The program pairs you with employers who match your skills and interests, including fields such as advertising and marketing. You will work a minimum of 150 hours in July and August. Each year, PENCIL supports over 450 students at more than 200 organizations. Training sessions are held during spring, including mid-winter recess.
12. BLAC Internship Program
Location: Agencies in New York, NY; Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland, CA; Seattle, WA; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Milwaukee, WI; Kansas City, MO; Austin, TX; Atlanta, GA; Birmingham, AL; Lexington, KY., or remote
Cost/Stipend: Paid (rate set by agency)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: May 18 – August 7 (tentative)
Eligibility: Students at least 18 years old and eligible to work in the U.S.
The BLAC Internship is a 12-week paid summer program that places students at leading advertising agencies across the country. It begins with Intro Week for onboarding at your host agency, followed by virtual sessions that introduce advertising roles and leaders. During In Agency time, you’ll train in your role, attend meetings, listen to client calls, and support pitches. BLAC conducts virtual professional development sessions twice a week. During the program, you work on a Pitch Project, focusing on creating concepts for national brands. It concludes with a Career Fair featuring workshops, speakers, and interviews.
13. 4A’s Foundation Advertising Internships
Location: NYC public schools partner agencies, New York, NY
Stipend: Paid (agency rates for near full-time hours)
Application Deadline: Varies by opportunity
Dates: Year-round opportunities
Eligibility: NYC public high school students
You gain placement in nearly 200 spots yearly at advertising agencies through 4A’s partnerships. Internships run as winter/summer intensives with near-full-time hours, or year-round alongside the curriculum. The foundation focuses on work-based learning tied to strategy, concept development, and brand problem-solving. You can develop skills in creative thinking and interdisciplinary methods related to advertising careers. These opportunities are connected to high schools like iAM and MECA, providing real-world exposure. The aim is to support pathways to agency roles and mentorship.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like behavioral analysis, psychology, and marketing, 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 – 4As Foundation