More high school students are moving beyond traditional summer jobs and using their breaks to build real skills that stand out on college applications. If you’re interested in business, tech, or creative work, a summer marketing internship is a great way to test the waters while doing something meaningful.
Marketing blends strategy with creativity; you could be working on social media posts, branding ideas, data analysis, or digital campaigns, all while seeing how companies actually connect with people.
Why a Marketing Internship Is Worth It
Unlike typical summer jobs, marketing internships let you contribute to real projects and learn directly from professionals. You’ll gain hands-on experience, build a portfolio, and start figuring out what kind of work you actually enjoy.
If you’re still exploring your options, you may also want to check out Horizon’s guide to the best business summer programs for high school students for more ways to spend your summer wisely.
14 Summer Marketing Internships for High School Students
1. NASA OSTEM Marketing Internships
Location: NASA facilities
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns may receive a stipend based on academic level and session duration
Program Dates: Not specified
Deadlines: Spring deadline: September 12, Summer: February 27, Fall: May 22
Subject Areas and Focus: Strategic Communication, Marketing, Digital Content Management
Who is Eligible: Full-time high school students 16 years old at the time of application, U.S. citizens, and a 3.0 GPA
The NASA OSTEM Marketing Internships, offered by NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, provide high school students with the chance to work on real NASA projects in Communication, Public Relations, and Social Media. You will learn how to create and execute content strategies, share information clearly, and build essential skills in writing, digital post creation, and online storytelling.
You will also collaborate with various NASA experts to help formulate the agency’s information-sharing strategy for its internship programs, giving you experience in shaping how NASA communicates with the public. Along the way, you will develop specialized skills in strategic communication and digital content management. The program also includes optional activities, such as mentorship with a NASA professional and networking opportunities across different NASA facilities.
2. Meta Summer Academy
Location: Meta headquarters, Menlo Park, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Stipend available
Program Dates: June 16 – July 25
Deadlines: February 2
Subject Areas and Focus: Corporate Communication, Marketing, Digital Content Management
Who is Eligible: High school sophomores, full-year residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City with a minimum GPA of 2.0
The Meta Summer Academy, offered by Meta (formerly Facebook), is a six-week, paid summer program that provides high school students with an inside look into the operations of a large social media company and the technology industry. As an intern, you’ll work for 30 hours per week on structured projects under the guidance of a Meta mentor. As part of this summer marketing internship, you will explore how different teams, including marketing, work together every day to build products and shape the broader technology space.
Along the way, you will develop essential professional skills in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management.
3. Smithsonian Science Education Center Internships
Location: Virtual or in-person (Smithsonian Science Education Center, Washington, DC)
Cost/Stipend: None; modest stipend
Program Dates: 9–10 weeks between early October and early December
Deadline: August 29
Subject Areas and Focus: Public Relation, Marketing, Digital Content Management
Who is Eligible: High school students who are at least 16 years old
The Smithsonian Science Education Center Internships, offered by the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC), place high school students in Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations roles in a global K-12 STEM education initiative. As an intern, you will learn how a communications team works daily by helping create marketing material to strengthen the SSEC brand and mission.
You will gain hands-on experience using skills in writing, editing, design, and organization to help create and manage content for various communication projects. You’ll also develop professional skills in public relations, content management, and strategic communication planning. The program places a strong emphasis on collaboration; you will work with the communications team to implement the SSEC’s communication plan. You’ll also gain exposure to the center’s work in creating STEM lessons and digital resources for communities worldwide.
4. Warner Bros Reach Honorship Program – Business Track
Location: Warner Bros. Discovery Studios, Burbank, CA
Cost/Stipend: None; $5,000 stipend paid in four annual installments of $1,250 for college tuition
Program Dates: Program Dates vary
Deadlines: Not specified
Subject Areas and Focus: Marketing Campaigns, Digital Content Management
Who is Eligible: High school seniors in Burbank or Los Angeles County with at least a 3.0 GPA at graduation planning to attend an accredited college or university, are interested in a career in the business side of media and entertainment, and have strong verbal and written communication skills
The Warner Bros Reach Honorship Program Business Track, offered by Warner Bros. Discovery Studios, is a selective program for graduating high school seniors interested in corporate and administrative roles within the entertainment industry, including marketing and communications. You will learn how a major studio operates on a daily basis and explore business areas such as Finance, Marketing, and Communications in relation to film and television production. You will gain hands-on experience by contributing to tasks that may involve creative development, working on marketing campaigns, or supporting the creation of multimedia content.
As you take on these projects, you’ll develop essential skills in communication, organization, creative thinking, and teamwork. The program focuses on nurturing professional collaboration; you will work with industry professionals and receive guidance from an assigned mentor to help you navigate the studio environment and build a professional network. The program also offers extracurricular opportunities, including exposure to the studio’s broader network of contacts, giving you additional insights into careers across the entertainment landscape.
5. Building U Marketing Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Program Dates: Depends on the opportunity
Deadlines: Rolling
Subject Areas and Focus: Corporate Communication, Business Development, Marketing, Digital Content Management
Who is Eligible: All high school students, as well as international students
The Building U Marketing Internship, offered by the Building-U nonprofit organization, is a three-month, fully remote program that equips high school students with experience in the administrative and business side of career and education guidance. You will learn how a nonprofit operates by working within a team focused on Business Development, Research, or Marketing. You will gain hands-on experience by completing different tasks that directly contribute to the organization’s marketing and outreach goals.
As you contribute to real projects, you will build practical skills in communication, organization, problem-solving, and teamwork. The program emphasizes professional collaboration; you will work within a specialized team to contribute to the Building U’s mission of helping students with educational and career pathways. The program also offers extracurricular exposure to the research and development work behind education and career guidance for high school students, giving valuable insights into how non-profit initiatives take shape.
6. CITYarts Internship
Location: New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Paid Internship (Stipends and school credit available)
Program Dates: Summer, School Year
Deadlines: Rolling
Subject Areas and Focus: Public Relations Outreach and Communication, Marketing, Digital Content Management
Who is Eligible: High school students from age 16-18
The CITYarts Internship offers paid opportunities to high school students in marketing-focused roles such as design and social media, public relations, and photography/videography, all centered around creating public art. You will learn how to execute marketing campaigns for nonprofit public art projects that bring together youth people and professional artists. You will gain hands-on experience working in areas such as Social Media Management, Content Creation, and Promotional Design, earning school credit in the process.
As you take on real projects, you will develop skills in visual design, public relations outreach, and digital marketing application. The program emphasizes professional collaboration; you will work directly with professional artists and CITYarts staff on active community arts initiatives. You’ll also have the opportunity to get involved in the creation of public art installations such as murals and mosaics across New York City, giving you both creative exposure and real-world experience.
7. Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s (TIP) Internship Program
Location: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: None; stipend available
Program Dates: Not specified
Deadlines: Rolling admissions
Subject Areas and Focus: Financial Literacy, Business Operations, Applied Marketing, Strategy
Who is Eligible: High school students from Boston Public Schools who have completed their sophomore year
The Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) Internship Program, offered by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, is a paid summer program for income-eligible high school students interested in exploring careers in Business, Finance, and Marketing. You will learn how different departments, such as financial markets and corporate operations, function within a federal banking institution. You will gain hands-on experience by working on real tasks assigned by your team within the Bank, helping you build practical workplace skills.
As you take on these responsibilities, you will develop professional competencies in financial literacy, business operations, and applied marketing strategy. You won’t be navigating the experience alone; the program pairs you with a team at the Bank and provides coaching and guidance from professionals who support your growth. In addition to your daily work, you can participate in training sessions and enrichment activities on personal money management and professional skill-building.
8. CityArts PR and Marketing Internship
Location: New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective
Program Dates: Interns choose their schedule with CITYarts staff; average of 15-20 hours a week
Deadlines: Varies depending on the opportunity
Subject Areas and Focus: Marketing Research, Digital Content Creation
Who is Eligible: High school students familiar with Google Suite programs and willing to learn Trello
The CityArts PR and Marketing Internship, offered by CITYarts, provides high school students with practical experience in Nonprofit Public Relations and Marketing, focused on promoting youth art projects in New York City. You will learn how to manage social media pages and create both print and digital promotional materials to support a nonprofit’s mission. You will gain hands-on experience using tools such as Illustrator, Photoshop, and social media platforms to design flyers, brochures, and videos for real CityArtsprojects.
During the course of your work, you will develop valuable skills in digital content creation, organizational outreach, and marketing research. Collaboration plays a big role in the program; you will work directly with CityArts staff to manage online content, update the organization’s website, and research possible partners for marketing work. You’ll also get opportunities to be involved in community-based art projects and learning to use professional tools such as Trello, giving you well-rounded exposure to non-profit communications work.
9. The Met Internship Program for High School Students
Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns are paid a stipend of $1,100 upon completion
Program Dates: June 21 – August 8
Deadlines: March 7
Subject Areas and Focus: Marketing Research, Digital Content Creation, Social Media Management
Who is Eligible: High school juniors and seniors based in and around New York City
The Met Internship Program for High School Students, offered by The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met), is a paid summer program that blends your interest in art, design, and creative work with real marketing experience. You will learn how a museum operates in areas such as Marketing, Social Media, and Research. You will gain hands-on experience by working on real marketing and social media projects that directly support the museum’s goals.
As you work on these projects, you’ll build essential skills in social media management, creative content development, teamwork, and communication. The program ensures professional collaboration, as you will meet and learn from museum professionals and experts across art, media and marketing. The program also offers extracurricular activities such as Career Labs, where you can ask questions and receive advice about various career paths from museum professionals.
10. Spark Summer Internship Program (Spark SIP)
Location: Various locations across the country, varies with the internship, or remote
Cost/Stipend: None paid opportunities are available
Program Dates: Varies by opportunity
Deadlines: Typically in April
Subject Areas and Focus: Marketing Research, Data Analysis, Digital Content Management
Who is Eligible: All high school students (grades 9–12) who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Spark Summer Internship Program (Spark SIP), offered by Spark SIP, is a competitive program that connects high school students with specialized research and professional opportunities, including roles in sales, marketing, and social media content creation. You will learn how to connect technical fields such as Computer Science and Data Analysis with practical uses in Market Research and Marketing Strategy. You will gain hands-on experience by selecting and contributing to 5 to 6 projects, which could involve engineering sales and competitive analysis.
Along the way, you will build critical skills in research, problem-solving, communication, and applied data analysis. Spark SIP focuses on professional collaboration; you will work with scholars and industry leaders, with each project having a dedicated sponsor to guide your work. Extracurricular activities typically include contributing to market research efforts and creating social media content.
11. KP Launch High School Internship Program (Sales & Marketing track)
Location: Kaiser Permanente Medical Center headquarters, or hospitals and medical offices across Northern California
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns receive a stipend of $24/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Program Dates: June 16 – August 1
Deadlines: January 6
Subject Areas and Focus: Corporate Communication, Marketing, Digital Content Management
Who is Eligible: High school students or graduating seniors of ages 16-19 by June 1; priority for juniors and senior-level students. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the U.S.
The KP Launch High School Internship Program (Sales & Marketing track), offered by Kaiser Permanente, is a seven-week, paid summer program that provides high school students with real-world experience in healthcare marketing. You will learn how Marketing and Sales function within the Healthcare industry, with a focus on areas such as Account Management and Product Development. You will gain hands-on experience by working with a professional mentor on real-world marketing tasks and business planning projects relevant to the healthcare sector.
As you take on this work, you will build essential skills in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and strategic business planning. Collaboration is built into the experience; you will work directly with a dedicated mentor and interact with healthcare professionals who guide your learning. The program includes weekly workshops designed to develop your professional skills and prepare you for future career opportunities.
12. Interns4-Good
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Program Dates: Varies
Deadlines: Open throughout the year
Subject Areas and Focus: Marketing, Organisations Management, Digital Content Management
Who is Eligible: High school students
Interns4-Good, offered by Interns4-Good in collaboration with various nonprofit organizations, provides high school students with virtual opportunities in Marketing, Graphic Design, Social Media Management, and Video Editing. You will learn how to use digital marketing and social media management to support the mission and goals of nonprofit organizations. You will gain hands-on experience by working on real tasks, such as creating recruiting plans for partners such as Her Term, and creating social media content for active campaigns.
As you complete these projects, you will develop valuable skills in digital marketing, communication, and organizational reporting. The program emphasizes independence, self-management and accountability. You will complete your tasks on your own schedule and submit weekly reports to update the non-profit on your progress and collaborate effectively. Extracurricular activities typically include working on projects that promote civic engagement and community service.
13. Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP)
Location: Kansas City, MO
Cost/Stipend: None; $2,500 scholarship ($1,250 per session) upon completion of the program and compensation of $12-14/hour
Program Dates: Session 1: June 2 – 27, Session 2: July 7 – August 1
Deadlines: February 17
Subject Areas and Focus: Marketing Applications, Digital Content Management
Who is Eligible: High school juniors or seniors residing in Kansas City
The Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP), offered by a consortium of Kansas City-based startups and business organizations, is a paid internship that introduces high school students to careers in Business, Finance, Engineering, and Marketing. You will learn how companies operate by working directly with local high-growth startups aligned with your interests and contributing to their daily operational and marketing needs.
Along the way, you will develop essential skills in professional conduct, applied marketing and collaboration across different teams. The program places a strong emphasis on collaboration and networking; you will work with a dedicated mentor who supports your growth and enjoy opportunities to connect with professionals through networking events.
14. L.A. Times High School Insider
Location: California
Cost/Stipend: Paid Internship (made possible by the Jack and Denny Smith Memorial Fund for Literacy)
Program Dates: Summer (7 weeks)
Deadlines: Rolling
Subject Areas and Focus: Multimedia Marketing, Digital Content Management
Who is Eligible: Information not fully specified in the prompt, but generally for high school students in Southern California
The L.A. Times High School Insider program, offered by the Los Angeles Times, hosts a paid summer journalism internship that provides high school students with Foundational Skills essential for Media and Content Marketing careers. You will learn core journalism fundamentals: how to report breaking news, and how to craft engaging feature stories using professional techniques. You will gain hands-on experience by producing written stories, videos, and podcasts for publication on the latimes.com/hsinsider platform.
As you build your portfolio, you will build key skills in writing, media literacy, multimedia storytelling, and navigating a professional newsroom environment. Collaboration is a major part of the program: you will connect with journalists from the L.A. Times staff and work with a mentor to guide your growth through your assignments. The internship also offers extracurricular activities, including immersive professional learning opportunities and mentorship sessions that deepen your understanding of the journalism field.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you want a structured research experience in areas like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, or chemistry, you can look at the Horizon Academic Research Program. This virtual program pairs you with a professor or PhD-level mentor who guides you through a trimester-long research project. You choose a specialization from a wide catalog, meet regularly with your mentor, and work toward producing a full research paper. Horizon has worked with more than a thousand high school students and offers hundreds of subject tracks. Multiple application rounds run throughout the year for the spring, summer, and fall cohorts. You can find the application theory here!
Image source – Smithsonian Science Education Center




