If you are a high school student thinking about gaining work experience before college, internships are one of the smartest ways to do that!
Internships help high school students explore their interests early. You may discover what kind of work you enjoy, what you find challenging, and what environments suit you best. They allow you to step into real workplaces, take on responsibilities, and understand how different roles function day to day. This kind of clarity is hard to gain through coursework alone.
Why choose Michigan for an internship as a high schooler?
Michigan offers a wide range of internship opportunities across industries such as engineering, healthcare, research, manufacturing, technology, and public service. With major universities, research centers, hospitals, and companies across the state, you can find internships that expose you to serious work environments while still being designed for high school students.
Being local makes these internships easier to manage without relocating or taking on housing costs. These experiences also add substance to college applications and give you real examples to talk about in interviews.
With that in mind, here are 15 internships for high school students in Michigan! If you’re also exploring academic pathways, you may want to read our guides on research programs and free summer programs for high school students in Michigan.
15 Internships for High School Students in Michigan
1. Aspirnaut Summer Internship Program
Location: University of Michigan campus, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: No fee. $3,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 6–10 students only
Dates: June 14 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Current junior attending a high school in the state of Michigan. Check more details here.
The Aspirnaut Summer Internship Program is a six-week, residential research experience hosted at the University of Michigan. You live on campus and work full-time in an active life sciences lab. Your work involves assisting with real experiments in areas such as biology, chemistry, neuroscience, or genetics. You learn basic wet-lab techniques, follow research protocols, and document findings under the guidance of university scientists. The program is structured around daily lab work rather than classroom instruction.
2. Bloomberg Arts Internship (BAI) by CultureSource
Location: Multiple organizations across Detroit, MI
Cost: A stipend is provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 students
Dates: June 30 – August 13
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Rising seniors from Detroit public and charter schools
The Bloomberg Arts Internship is a 7 to 8-week summer internship across arts and culture organizations in Detroit. You work on-site several days a week at a host organization, handling real operational or creative tasks. The remaining days are spent in structured sessions focused on writing, leadership, public speaking, and financial basics. You also take part in curated visits to cultural spaces across the city. The program combines workplace experience with exposure to how cultural institutions operate.
3. Multicultural Apprenticeship Program (MAP) by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) at MSU
Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Cost: None; Interns are paid a weekly stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive admissions
Dates: July 5 – 31
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Must be high school students currently in 10th and 11th grades with a strong interest and aptitude in math, science, and other academic areas
The Multicultural Apprenticeship Program (MAP) is a four-week, residential summer program at Michigan State University for high school students interested in agriculture, food sciences, and natural resources. You’ll be paired with a CANR faculty mentor and work daily on a hands-on research project in areas such as food science, agricultural engineering, animal sciences, forestry, environmental management, or veterinary-related fields. Alongside research, the program includes field trips, leadership seminars, and college-prep activities that expose you to academic and career pathways in STEM and applied sciences. You will live on campus, use university labs and equipment, and experience MSU student life firsthand.
4. Henry Ford Health Department of Surgery High School Mentorship Program
Location: Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI
Cost: $1,000 stipend in summer; unpaid mentorship during academic year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 students
Dates: Mentorship cohort size varies; 10 paid summer internship spots available
Application Deadline: Varies; visit program page for more details
Eligibility: Detroit-area high school students
This mentorship program gives Detroit-area high school students direct exposure to surgical skills and healthcare careers at Henry Ford Hospital. You’ll learn hands-on techniques such as suturing, knot tying, and minimally invasive surgical simulations in the hospital’s Surgical Simulation Suite. The program also includes hospital tours and conversations with surgeons, medical students, and healthcare professionals. Led by Dr. Ikenna Okereke, it runs throughout the academic year with Saturday sessions and is designed to build confidence and clarity around medical career paths. Ten students are selected annually for a paid summer internship to receive professional guidance.
5. BioMed Focus
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $4,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Eligibility: Rising junior or senior at one of the partner schools (Ypsilanti Community High School, Lincoln High School, or Belleville High School); Currently living and attending high school in the state of Michigan
BioMed Focus is an 8-week, paid summer research program for rising juniors and seniors interested in biomedical science at the University of Michigan’s Michigan Medicine. You’ll work full-time in a research lab on a hypothesis-driven project, guided closely by a faculty or researcher mentor. Alongside lab work, the program includes structured courses in science communication and college preparation. By the end of the summer, you’ll write a formal research manuscript and present your findings at a symposium for family and peers.
6. Internships at the American Psychological Association (APA)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Paid and unpaid opportunities available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive admissions
Dates: Programs are offered throughout the year
Application Deadline: Depends on the internship and position
Eligibility: high school student with U.S. work eligibility and residence in one of the states where APA is a registered employer (click here to see which states are excluded)
APA internships offer students interested in psychology a chance to see how psychological science is applied beyond clinical settings. You’ll work within APA departments such as policy, research, communications, publishing, education, or operations, depending on your interests. You will apply classroom knowledge to real projects, gain exposure to professional workflows, and better understand how psychology shapes public policy, research dissemination, and education. Alongside daily responsibilities, you may participate in workshops, group projects, and networking opportunities with APA staff.
7. Discovery to Cure Summer Internship Program
Location: Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Cost: Unspecified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive admissions
Dates: June 22 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are at least 16 years of age
The Discovery to Cure Summer Internship Program offers high school and undergraduate students an intensive, eight-week biomedical research experience at Wayne State University’s C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development. You’ll be paired with a faculty mentor and work full-time in a research lab, developing hypotheses, running experiments, and analyzing data. Research areas include reproductive biology, immunology, oncology, toxicology, prenatal health, and precision medicine. Alongside lab work, you’ll attend weekly research seminars and present your findings in a formal oral presentation at the end of the program.
8. Biomedical Career Advancement Program (BCAP)
Location: Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Cost: Monetary award based on funding
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 23 – August 15 (based on the previous year’s program)
Application Deadline: April 7
Eligibility: Current 10th–12th graders, with preference given to Wayne County residents, Detroit Public Schools students, and those from an underprivileged background
The Biomedical Career Advancement Program (BCAP) is a six-week summer research experience for high school students in grades 10–12 who are interested in health sciences and biomedical research. You’ll work closely with senior faculty and research staff on an independent research project, gaining hands-on experience in laboratory techniques, clinical exposure, and scientific inquiry. The program includes daily research work along with weekly enrichment activities such as CPR and phlebotomy training. You’ll also take part in professional development sessions and networking opportunities with health professionals. BCAP concludes with a research symposium where you present your findings to peers and mentors.
9. Summer Youth Program – Jackson Hospital
Location: Henry Ford Jackson Hospital, Jackson, MI
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; invitation-only
Dates: June 9 – August 8 (tentative based on previous year’s program)
Application Deadline: April 30 (tentative based on the previous year’s program)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores to seniors
The Summer Youth Program at Jackson Hospital is an eight-week volunteer experience for high school students who have completed at least their freshman year. After a competitive interview process and mandatory orientation, you’ll volunteer a minimum of one four-hour shift per week in hospital departments, supporting staff with non-medical tasks and observing daily healthcare operations. The program focuses on professionalism, communication, and leadership while helping you gain confidence in a hospital environment. You’ll also build workplace skills, receive meaningful exposure to healthcare careers, and earn professional references.
10. Harper Academy 4 Future Nuclear Engineers
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: None; student will receive a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Unspecified
Dates: July 6 – August 1 (tentative based on previous year’s program)
Application Deadline: Typically closes in January
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students
The Harper Academy 4 Future Nuclear Engineers is a four-week residential program at the University of Michigan for rising high school seniors interested in nuclear engineering and advanced STEM fields. You’ll explore nuclear science through faculty-led lectures, lab tours, and field trips to facilities like the Michigan Ion Beam Laboratory, the ZEUS laser system, and the Fermi Nuclear Power Plant. The program blends technical learning with college readiness, leadership development, and community-focused discussions on energy and society. Select students also collaborate on research projects with U-M faculty, gaining early exposure to academic research and engineering careers.
11. RYSE MED Program
Location: Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI
Cost: None; Stipends may be available, but are not guaranteed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: June 28 – August 7
Application Deadline: Application opens February 28
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders in Metro Detroit with at least a 2.5 GPA (2.75 for seniors). Check more details here.
RYSE MED is a free, six-week summer immersion program based at Henry Ford Hospital. You spend time inside clinical and research settings, shadowing physicians, nurses, researchers, and healthcare leaders. The program includes hands-on simulations, workshops, and virtual reality–based clinical experiences. A central part of the work involves researching a health equity issue connected to your own community. You present that work through an infographic and a group presentation to healthcare professionals. The program also includes mentoring that continues beyond the summer.
12. Medical Mentors Pathway Program (M2P2)
Location: Health Centers Detroit, Inc., Detroit, MI
Cost: Not mentioned
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Unspecified
Dates: June 24 – August 6
Application Deadline: Application opens in March
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors through rising college undergrad juniors
The Medical Mentors Pathway Program is a multi-week medical immersion experience built around clinical exposure. You rotate through three two-week clinical placements, shadowing doctors and healthcare staff across specialties such as surgery, cardiology, pediatrics, emergency medicine, and neurology. Each rotation focuses on observing patient care, hospital workflow, and specialty-specific practices. Alongside shadowing, you attend weekly academic sessions and complete structured assignments tied to medicine and healthcare careers. The program also includes BLS certification and visits to medical training and simulation facilities.
13. University of Michigan’s NAF Future Ready Scholars
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Unspecified
Dates: 2 weeks in summer; Programming continues during the school year through monthly Saturday Sessions
Application Deadline: Typically in April
Eligibility: High school students within Southeast Michigan
NAF Future Ready Scholars begins with a two-week summer program at the University of Michigan and continues during the school year. During the summer, you work in teams on problem-solving projects using the Engineering Design Process. You explore tools such as robotics, CAD, app development, and basic entrepreneurship while building and testing prototypes. University students and instructors guide your work throughout the program. After summer, monthly Saturday sessions focus on academic preparation, career exposure, and job shadowing.
14. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Online
Cost: $850 (Fee waiver and scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students
Dates: June 15 – 26; July 6–17
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: All high school students aged 14 years or above entering 9th to 12th grade; U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Preference for applicants with strong math or computer programming skills, or applicants with experience with a healthcare project
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program focused on artificial intelligence in medical research. You learn core ideas in machine learning and biomedical data analysis through technical instruction and guided sessions. You work in small groups on research projects that involve coding, handling medical datasets, and examining how AI models are applied in healthcare. Faculty, graduate students, and research staff provide regular mentorship through working sessions and discussions.
15. University of Texas Southwestern Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship
Location: Online
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1–5 & June 8–12
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship is a two-week, virtual program for high school students interested in mental health careers. You’ll learn directly from clinician-scientists, including psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, physician assistants, and licensed clinical social workers, who explain their day-to-day work and training pathways. Before live sessions, you’ll complete guided readings that prepare you for interactive discussions on topics like psychotherapy, neuroscience, community psychiatry, and neuropsychological testing. Through open Q&A, professionals share insights into career decisions, education costs, and real-world challenges in mental health care.
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 – University of Michigan