Summer internships are a great way for high school students to explore academic interests, strengthen their college applications, and develop real-world skills without leaving their homes. With online formats, you can collaborate with mentors, gain hands-on experience, and explore areas like science, technology, research, and more, without worrying about travel or cost.
Below, we’ve put together a list of 12 online summer internships for high school students. Each program offers a unique combination of subject matter immersion, hands-on experience, and mentorship, all while remaining fully virtual.
1. NASA OSTEM High School Internships
Location: Virtual and on-site at NASA centers
Cost/Stipend: Free | Some positions include stipends
Dates: Exact dates vary by position and location
Application Deadline: February 27 (for Summer)
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (16+) with a GPA of 3.0+ (on a 4.0 scale)
Through NASA OSTEM internships, you’ll work alongside NASA engineers and scientists on projects tied to space exploration, robotics, air traffic systems, and advanced technologies like AR/VR. Depending on your placement, you might code aerospace systems, analyze climate datasets, or prototype new hardware. Whether you participate virtually or in person at a NASA center, you’ll receive mentorship and direct experience in advanced research environments. This internship can provide a solid foundation in STEM research and problem-solving skills, while also connecting you with leading aerospace professionals.
2. UT Southwestern “Inspiring Careers in Mental Health” Internship
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: None | No stipend
Dates: June 2 – 6 and June 9 – 13 (2 weeks)
Application Deadline: Early February (applications reopen in late September)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The “Inspiring Careers in Mental Health” internship at UT Southwestern is a free two-week virtual program where you’ll learn directly from psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers about their day-to-day work. Each day combines readings, live sessions, and Q&A to help you understand how mental health care is delivered in hospitals and clinics. You’ll also explore brain science, therapeutic approaches, and diagnostic tools, providing you with a solid foundation in the field of mental health.
3. Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) at George Mason University
Location: Remote | Hybrid | In-person at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee (waivers available) | No stipend
Dates: June 18 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: For computer lab internships, you must be at least 15 years old by the program start date. For in-person or hybrid wet-lab internships, you must be at least 16 years old.
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP) is an 8-week research opportunity where you’ll collaborate with George Mason University faculty mentors. You will enhance your skills in scientific writing, research methods, and problem-solving as you explore fields like computer science, cybersecurity, data science, electrical engineering, and biochemistry. Depending on your placement, you could work on computational modeling, protein design, or aquatic ecology, gaining both technical expertise and exposure to STEM careers. Some projects may even result in conference presentations or publications.
4. Pasquines Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None | No stipend
Dates: Flexible; interns join on a rolling basis
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Through the Pasquines Internship, you’ll join a volunteer news team focused on political reporting and analysis about U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. You’ll write stories, edit articles, and research how national policies affect underrepresented regions. The format is fully remote and self-paced, giving you flexibility to contribute according to your schedule. Along the way, you’ll strengthen your writing, editing, and policy analysis skills while engaging directly with civic and governance issues.
5. Youth Council Internship – Democracy Maine
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None | $15 per hour
Dates: Early June – Early August
Application Deadline: May 16 (for Summer)
Eligibility: High school students who are Maine residents. If you are 15 or younger, you’ll need to submit a state work permit before the program starts.
As a Youth Council Intern with Democracy Maine, you’ll design civic education projects such as public service announcements, newsletters, and community events to promote voter engagement. You will work approximately five hours each week, collaborating with staff members who regularly provide feedback to guide your efforts. Previous interns have developed voter toolkits, organized public forums, and assisted with get-out-the-vote campaigns. This program helps you develop facilitation and organizational skills while providing hands-on exposure to how state legislation and advocacy efforts function at the local level.
6. USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future – High School Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None | No stipend
Dates: June 1 – August 1
Application Deadline: May 19
Eligibility: High school students (no graduating seniors) with a minimum 3.6 GPA
In this program, you’ll take on projects connected to USC’s Climate Forward Conference, analyzing pressing political issues through videos, short reports, and research briefs. Instead of a government office, you’ll work in a think tank–style environment where you practice analytical writing and explore how climate and policy intersect. Previous interns have submitted brief policy summaries and opinion pieces, which received detailed feedback from CPF staff. By the end, you’ll have improved your essay-writing, research, and critical-thinking skills, along with structured experience in political analysis.
7. World Scholars Academy Law Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: ~$2,000 (varies by session)
Dates: Every Saturday or Sunday for 4 weeks
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–18
The World Scholars Academy Law Internship is a four-week online program where you’ll explore legal research and academic writing in a small group setting. Each session centers on a specific theme like antitrust law, capital punishment, or political economy. Participants engage in weekend discussions, literature reviews, and structured writing workshops, all while receiving mentorship and detailed feedback. Throughout the program, you’ll co-author a research paper that can be submitted to the World Scholars Review or entered in the Best Review Award competition. A certificate of completion is awarded at the end.
8. Interns 4-Good
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free | No stipend
Dates: Multiple opportunities throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Interns 4-Good connects you with remote, skills-based internships at nonprofit organizations. You’ll take on roles such as social media marketing, content writing, graphic design, data entry, or research, applying your skills to real projects that nonprofits rely on. Along the way, you’ll build experience in client communication, project coordination, and digital marketing tools. Because internships are fully virtual and volunteer-based, you can join year-round and tailor the workload to your schedule. You’ll also be able to log verified community service hours, which can support school or college requirements.
9. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free | $500 scholarship for virtual participants
Dates: July – August (specific dates vary)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors from underrepresented groups in the U.S.
The Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) provides an opportunity to delve into neuroscience through research and mentorship. During the summer, you’ll be part of a research team, contribute to a mentored project, and take part in professional development activities. As a virtual participant, you’ll engage in scientific discussions, receive personalized guidance, and learn about neuroscience techniques. You’ll also learn basic lab techniques in a remote format and get support for the college application process. This program is designed to give you both academic preparation and research experience in the brain sciences.
10. Stanford Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $850 program fee + $40 application fee | Financial aid available
Dates: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students (14+) entering grades 9–12 who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Priority is given if you have strong math or programming skills or previous healthcare project experience.
The AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program where you’ll explore how artificial intelligence can transform healthcare. You will attend lectures led by Stanford faculty and industry professionals covering topics such as machine learning, neural networks, and image classification. In teams, you’ll collaborate on projects that require working with datasets and coding in Python or other statistical tools. Alongside technical training, you’ll benefit from mentorship by Stanford-affiliated researchers and interactive “Lunch and Learn” sessions with AI and healthcare professionals. The program concludes with final project presentations, giving you practice in scientific communication and insight into career paths at the intersection of AI and medicine.
11. Medicine Encompassed Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free | Certificate may be provided
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Medicine Encompassed is a student-led nonprofit that offers you year-round remote opportunities in medical education and outreach. You’ll join one of 18 medical committees, such as neurology, anatomy, or public health, to create science communication content like articles, resource materials, quiz questions, and social media graphics. You may also collaborate on literature reviews, online course development, or outreach events through Project Cultivation. This flexible internship enables you to develop skills in scientific writing, editing, graphic design, project management, and virtual teamwork, while also earning community service hours.
12. American Psychological Association (APA) Virtual Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Mix of paid and unpaid opportunities
Dates: Offered year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by role
Eligibility: U.S.-based high school students; if you are under 18, you may need a D.C. work permit
The APA Virtual Internship program gives you the chance to explore research, communications, and mental health policy from within one of the largest psychology organizations in the world. Depending on your placement, you’ll contribute to writing assignments, digital content creation, and policy-focused projects that emphasize psychology and behavioral science. While the internships are not clinical, they’re a strong fit if you’re curious about how psychology connects to public health, governance, and scientific communication. Opportunities vary by department and time of year, with some roles available for high school students under 18.
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!
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