Internships are one of the best ways to get experience in a field you’re curious about while you’re still in high school. They let you step outside of the classroom, work on real projects, and see how your interests connect to careers. Along the way, you also pick up transferable skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving that will serve you well in college and beyond.
If you’re based in Massachusetts, you’re in a great place to find these kinds of opportunities. The state is home to world-class universities, research hospitals, startups, and nonprofits that welcome motivated high school students. By interning here, you can learn directly from professionals, explore potential majors, and start building a network that could help guide your future path.
To help you begin your search, we’ve put together a list of 14 internships for high school students in Massachusetts that stand out for their hands-on experience and strong mentorship.
14 Internships for High School Students in Massachusetts
1. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type (financial aid available)
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!
As an ambitious high school student looking for a selective and rigorous internship, you may consider participating in Ladder Internships. In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up. These start-ups operate across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Internships are offered by high-growth companies, on average raising over a million dollars. Throughout the internship, you will work alongside managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects. At the end of the program, you will present your work to the company. Here is the application form.
2. Arch/Design High School Internships
Location: Architecture firms in Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend is available
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis starting February 21
Program Dates: July 7 – August 15
Eligibility: Boston public school students in grades 9–12
The Arch/Design high school internship provides students with the opportunity to explore architecture through site tours and practical projects. You will spend six weeks at a local architecture firm developing design and 3D modeling skills. The experience is enriched by a Summer Fridays series, where each week includes neighborhood tours to discover architectural, cultural, and historical sites across Boston. These tours conclude with a firm crawl, providing opportunities to connect with peers and firms.
3. The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship
Location: Various locations across the U.S., including Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend is available
Application Deadline: Rolling review from September to April; final placements by May 1
Program Dates: May – August (minimum 8 weeks, full-time)
Eligibility: High school seniors planning to attend a four-year accredited U.S. college or university, who have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and are at least 18 years old before the start of the internship
If you’re interested in a career in media and tech, this summer internship may be suitable for you. You will undertake a paid internship for at least 8 weeks with a partner organization, where you will have the opportunity to meet industry professionals and executives. Along with joining a network of peers, alumni, and professionals, you will receive opportunities for one-to-one coaching and mentoring. The organization also hosts professional development workshops and an annual conference that you can participate in.
4. PIC Summer Internship Program
Location: Various companies in Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Stipend of $15 – $18 per hour
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis
Program Dates: 6 – 7 weeks from July – August
Eligibility: 9th – 12th graders at a Boston Public School who are 16 years old by July 1
In this program, Boston high school students can select from a range of companies across various industries such as healthcare, financial services, life sciences, technology, architecture, and law for their internships. You can work either part-time or full-time in the summer. Your responsibilities may vary according to the industry and company you intern with. However, some tasks you can expect to undertake are office work, customer service, programming, research, and more.
5. Mass General Youth Neurology Education and Research Program
Location: MGH Main Campus, in the Charlestown Navy Yard, at Assembly Row in Somerville, or another lab location within Boston, Cambridge, or Somerville, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend is available
Application Deadline: January 31
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors or recent graduates who are living or studying in Massachusetts at the time of the program.
Students interested in neurology and neuroscience have the opportunity to conduct research at Mass General through mentored research, educational activities, and a series of training sessions. It begins with a boot camp that covers research and clinical skills, along with interactive lab sessions and networking opportunities. You will be assigned to a lab and work on ongoing projects under the guidance of a mentor. Weekly lectures by neurologists, neuroscientists, and other specialists are designed to deepen your understanding of neurology. The program may also include field trips, lunches, and special events, culminating in final presentations where you can display your research.
6. NASA’s OSTEM Internship Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Free; paid and unpaid internships available
Application Deadline: Fall: May 16 | Spring: September 12 | Summer: February 27
Program Dates: Fall: September – December | Spring: January – May | Summer: May/June – August
Eligibility: High school students who have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and are at least 16 years old
NASA provides paid internships for high school students interested in science, technology, aeronautics, and space exploration. Interns will receive practical work experience at a NASA center, guided by mentors including research scientists, engineers, and other professionals. While project specifics vary across centers, the program consistently offers valuable on-the-job learning. The OSTEM internship program includes training, mentorship, and career development opportunities, helping students start their professional paths.
7. Museum of Science’s Youth Internship
Location: Museum of Science, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis
Program Dates: Typically, 7 weeks between June and August
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 – 19 years old
The Museum of Science provides internships for students to enhance their skills and gain knowledge about science. As a youth intern, you’ll gain hands-on work experience and improve social and vocational skills through interactions with supervisors, colleagues, and visitors. Working collaboratively in a team, you’ll help advance the museum’s mission and receive feedback on your performance. Additionally, completing the internship may qualify you for course credit.
8. Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s High School Apprenticeship Challenge
Location: Various organizations throughout Massachusetts
Cost/Stipend: Stipend is available
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis
Program Dates: Part-time or full-time between May 1 and April 30, depending on host organization
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years old and are enrolled in or have recently graduated from a school that meets at least one of the required descriptions
This statewide program aims to connect underrepresented and low-income high school students across Massachusetts with paid summer internships in the life sciences sector. As a participant, you’ll undergo pre-internship training in biomedical and professional skills, then complete a paid internship at a biotech firm, academic research lab, or another life sciences organization. This enables students to explore careers in the life sciences and develop their workplace skills. The initiative aims to foster a diverse pipeline for STEM careers.
9. Summer Exploratory Experience in Design (SEED)
Location: Sasaki Foundation, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Stipend is available
Application Deadline: Applications open in spring
Program Dates: 6 weeks starting in July
Eligibility: Current high school students who are residents of Boston or the Metro North region.
SEED is a 6-week paid internship program. You will be introduced to design. During the internship, you’ll work on collaborative projects, learn design basics, and experience office culture. Additionally, you’ll create solutions for real local projects in collaboration with community organizations. The program helps you develop hand sketching and computer drawing skills and offers opportunities to interact with Sasaki professionals in design charrettes. You will present your final projects at the end of the program.
10. Broad Summer Scholars Program
Location: Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: $3,600 stipend
Application Deadline: January 22
Program Dates: June 30 – August 8
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (i.e. students can apply in their junior year) who attend a high school in MA within commuting distance to the Broad and have earned a B or better in science and math classes
High school students interested in science can spend six weeks at the Broad Institute conducting research. You will be matched with scientists to conduct original research in various subjects, including cancer biology, psychiatric disease, chemical biology, computational biology, and infectious diseases. Furthermore, you can reach out to an on-staff tutor to review scientific concepts related to your project. You can explore scientific careers, attend interesting scientific talks, and present your research to the Broad community in a scientific poster session. Social and team-building activities are built into the program to help you meet other students who share similar interests.
11. MIT’s Research Science Institute
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded
Application Deadline: January 15
Program Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: High school juniors with PSAT Math scores of at least 740 and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing scores of 700 or higher. For the ACT, math scores should be at least 33, and verbal scores should be at least 34.
The Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT provides a hands-on research experience in a real laboratory. In the first week, participants engage in intensive STEM seminars covering the latest advancements in biology, physics, and engineering. Over the next five weeks, you’ll carry out an independent research project with mentorship from a lab supervisor. The program concludes with the submission of the research paper and a conference-style presentation, both of which are evaluated by academic and industry professionals.
12. MFA Boston’s STEAM Team
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Stipend of $15 per hour
Application Deadline: February, rolling through May
Program Dates: 12‑month fellowship (with summer engagement)
Eligibility: Rising sophomores who attend a Boston public school and/or live in Boston
The STEAM Team is a paid fellowship and workforce development program. Participants explore STEAM careers by creating projects that combine art, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while gaining professional experience at cultural institutions. MFA staff serve as mentors throughout the program. Participants visit local businesses, organizations, and artists to undertake innovative projects. These activities can help develop communication and leadership skills. The program also offers field trips and activities at various institutions.
13. Northeastern University’s Young Scholars Program
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Application Deadline: February 20 (tentative, based on previous years)
Program Dates: June 23 – July 31 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Massachusetts residents (within commuting distance of Northeastern University) who are rising high school seniors
YSP is a free program that enables high school students to engage in scientific research across engineering, science, and health sciences departments. Students work on hands-on projects under the supervision of university faculty and graduate students. Past topics included cancer therapy development, battery optimization, robotics, and materials design. Beyond research, students receive college and career counseling from program mentors and coordinators. Besides your lab work, you’ll participate in seminars, career panels, and field trips to nearby science and engineering firms and government laboratories.
14. The Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging’s Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $840 + $40 application fee; financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: June 16 – 27
Eligibility: High school students who are over 14 years old by the start of the program
Stanford’s Center for AIMI aims to promote AI research in medicine. Students interested in exploring both the technical and clinical aspects of AI in healthcare can join this virtual internship. The program includes introductory lectures that cover the basics of AI in healthcare. You will also attend mentored activities led by Stanford students and researchers and partake in hands-on group sessions for research projects. Virtual Career Lunch and Learns with guest speakers introduce you to various career pathways. At the end of the internship, you will receive a certificate of completion.
Image source – Northeastern University