Supply chain and operations shape how products, services, materials, and information move from one point to another. In practice, this can include planning inventory, coordinating transportation, managing suppliers, tracking shipments, improving warehouse processes, supporting procurement, or using data to make business systems more efficient. For high school students, this field can be especially interesting because it connects business, technology, engineering, sustainability, and problem-solving in a very practical way. A supply chain internship can help you see how companies and public agencies manage the behind-the-scenes work that keeps stores stocked, transit systems running, ports moving, and organizations prepared for changing demand.
Why should you choose a supply chain internship?
A supply chain internship gives you early exposure to a field that is both business-focused and highly hands-on. You may work on tasks related to logistics, inventory, procurement, transportation, data tracking, customer operations, or project coordination, depending on the organization. These experiences can help you build practical skills in communication, analysis, planning, teamwork, and professional problem-solving – skills that are useful across business, engineering, analytics, and public-sector careers. Internships in this field can also help you understand how major systems operate, from ports and transit agencies to laboratories, retail organizations, manufacturers, and government offices. For college applications, this kind of experience can show that you have explored a career interest in a serious, applied setting.
To help you get started, we’ve narrowed down 15 supply chain internships for high school students that stand out for their relevance, mentorship, hands-on learning, and exposure to real operational work.
Key Takeaways
- Supply chain internships and programs for high school students cover a broad range of functions including logistics, procurement, inventory management, transportation planning, data analytics, and operations, connecting business, technology, engineering, and sustainability in applied settings
- Several programs on this list are paid, including Port of Long Beach, LA Metro, GSA Pathways, Boston PIC, Idaho National Laboratory, Charleston Youth Apprenticeships, and Colorado State Global Business Academy ($3,750 stipend), making early professional experience financially accessible
- University-based programs at Purdue, UTK, TCU, Rutgers, and UNG offer focused multi-day introductions to supply chain concepts through simulations, industry visits, and faculty instruction, with most structured around practical problem-solving rather than lectures alone
- Geographic diversity is a strength of this list, with programs available across California, Texas, Tennessee, New Jersey, North Carolina, Indiana, Georgia, South Carolina, and Idaho, plus several programs open to students nationally
1. Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) Internship Program
Location: Boston area, MA
Stipend: $15 – $18 (wages vary based on employers)
Dates: 6 -7 weeks between July – August
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders at Boston Public Schools who will be 16 years old by July 1; Must have work authorization in the U.S.
The Boston Private Industry Council Internship Program connects you with employer-paid roles across Boston’s professional ecosystem. Depending on your placement, you may work in fields such as finance, healthcare, law, architecture, technology, life sciences, customer service, or business administration. While the program is not limited to supply chain, several roles can involve operations, logistics, office coordination, data tracking, or customer-facing workflows that are relevant to the field. You also build transferable workplace skills, including communication, time management, problem-solving, and professional etiquette.
2. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) High School Internships
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
Stipend: Paid hourly
Dates: 6–8 weeks in summer (typically mid-June to August)
Application Deadline: Late February
Eligibility: Rising junior, senior, or recent high school graduate; 16+ by program start; U.S. citizen or permanent resident; cumulative 3.0 GPA
Idaho National Laboratory’s High School Internship Program gives you the chance to work inside a major Department of Energy research facility, where large-scale operations depend on strong coordination across scientific, technical, and business teams. As a paid intern, you may support work connected to business, communications, logistics, operations, or strategy. Early in the internship, you’ll work with a mentor to define your project scope, understand expectations, and identify the resources needed to complete your assignment. You may contribute to internal reporting, operational coordination, data organization, or project support. Weekly seminars, tours, and networking events can also help you understand career paths beyond the specific project you are assigned.
3. Port of Long Beach – Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Port of Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June 22 – July 30
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors residing in Long Beach or attending a high school in the Long Beach Unified School District service area; Must be in good academic standing (2.5 GPA or higher) and have reliable transportation
The Port of Long Beach Summer High School Internship Program introduces you to the systems that support international trade, maritime logistics, and goods movement. Through a department placement, you can observe how port operations connect with cargo movement, infrastructure, sustainability, and regional economic activity. The experience is especially relevant for supply chain because ports sit at the center of shipping, trucking, rail, warehousing, and distribution networks. You will also receive mentoring and workplace exposure, which can help you understand what careers in trade, logistics, transportation, and public-sector operations actually involve. The built-in personal enrichment training helps you develop workplace competencies such as financial literacy, work ethic, career exploration, and professional behavior.
4. LA Metro – Transportation Career Academy Program
Location: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Los Angeles, CA
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June 18 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors ages 16–18; minimum 2.5 GPA; must live in LA County and meet transit-proximity criteria; Must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or have legal authorization to work in the United States
LA Metro’s Transportation Career Academy Program places you in a structured internship setting within one of the largest public transportation agencies in the country. You will learn how classroom concepts connect to real transportation planning, operations, infrastructure, logistics, inventory, and community mobility work. The program combines in-person training with virtual project team sessions, allowing you to build both independent and collaborative work habits. You’ll also develop a professional mentorship relationship with Metro staff, which can help you better understand careers in transit, logistics, planning, engineering, consulting, and operations. You will also give a final project presentation, where you’ll apply what you have learned to a transportation-related challenge.
5. GSA – Pathways Internship Program
Location: U.S. General Services Administration; varies by federal office
Stipend: Paid; starts at the GS-4 pay grade level
Dates: Available year-round
Application Deadline: Varies but generally applications are accepted in October and February
Eligibility: U.S. citizen; enrolled in high school, college, vocational, technical, or another qualifying education program
The GSA Pathways Internship Program can give you early exposure to procurement, contracting, logistics, and federal business operations. In a business or industry trainee role, you may learn how the government procures goods and services while supporting teams that manage projects, vendors, data, or administrative workflows. Contracting-related placements can introduce you to solicitation development, contract administration, negotiation support, and vendor management. Program-support roles may involve coordinating initiatives, analyzing information, or assisting with implementation across departments. You’ll also gain insight into how rules, documentation, compliance, and planning shape federal operations.
6. Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeships – Supply Chain Analyst Track
Location: Trident Technical College / Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeships, Charleston, SC
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Two-year program
Application Deadline: Varies by employer
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and graduating seniors in the tri-county area who are at least 16 years of age by June 1; must achieve qualifying ACCUPLACER Placement Test scores and be legally able to work in the U.S. and receive post-secondary education
Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeships’ Supply Chain Analyst Track gives you a longer, work-based pathway into supply chain and manufacturing operations where you’ll combine paid on-the-job training with related classroom instruction at Trident Technical College. Depending on your employer placement, you may build skills in inventory support, production workflows, logistics coordination, purchasing, data tracking, or operational problem-solving. The apprenticeship model also helps you understand how supply chain decisions affect manufacturing, delivery timelines, and business performance. You will gain paid work experience, mentoring, college credit, and nationally recognized credentials through one pathway.
7. Idaho Youth Ranch “YouthWorks!” Program
Location: Treasure Valley (Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell) & North Idaho (Coeur d’Alene area), ID
Stipend: $720
Dates: 8-week sessions available year–round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 14–24; must have an ID (School ID/State ID) and a Social Security Card
The Idaho Youth Ranch YouthWorks! Program introduces you to retail operations through paid, supervised on-the-job training. You’ll learn how customer service, merchandising, inventory maintenance, donation processing, pricing, cash handling, and teamwork come together in a working retail environment. The first phase focuses on job readiness, interviews, workplace expectations, and hands-on tutorials at a thrift store or distribution center. As the program continues, you will spend time in a retail location where you practice daily workplace routines under supervision. You’ll also receive support from a job specialist, which helps you connect daily tasks to broader employability skills. The final week focuses on job applications, financial literacy, job search preparation, and graduation.
8. N.C. A&T – Summer High School Transportation Institute
Location: North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC
Stipend: Meals, instructional materials, and travel for scheduled trips covered
Dates: July 12 – 26
Application Deadline: May 10
Eligibility: High-performing high school juniors and seniors
N.C. A&T’s Summer High School Transportation Institute introduces you to transportation systems, supply chain management, and related STEM fields through a mix of instruction and experiential learning. You will engage in classroom sessions, group projects, leadership activities, and professional development designed to connect technical concepts with real-world transportation challenges. The program also includes exposure to different modes of transportation, helping you understand how infrastructure supports the movement of people and goods. Site visits and field trips give you a closer look at industries and systems that shape logistics and regional mobility. You’ll also build communication, teamwork, and college-readiness skills throughout the program.
9. University of Tennessee, Knoxville – Supply Chain Management Summer Program
Location: Haslam School of Business, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Likely free; sponsored by Clayton Home Building Group
Dates: July 12–17
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The University of Tennessee’s Supply Chain Management Summer Program gives you a focused introduction to how products, information, and services move through modern supply chains. You will study topics such as customer demand, planning, purchasing, manufacturing, logistics, sustainability, and current events affecting global supply chains. Faculty-led sessions are paired with interactive simulations, allowing you to test supply chain concepts through activities such as lean exercises, push/pull games, and problem-solving challenges. You’ll also learn how supply chain decisions affect business efficiency, environmental goals, and customer outcomes. The program includes a site visit, where you can tour corporate, manufacturing, distribution, and customer service settings. You’ll also engage in team-building, networking, professionalism, and college-readiness sessions.
10. Rutgers Business School – Supply Chain Education Partnership Program
Location: Rutgers Business School, Newark, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – July 2
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Local high school students
Rutgers Business School’s Supply Chain Education Partnership Program introduces you to supply chain management through faculty instruction, industry speakers, facility visits, and applied team exercises. You’ll learn how procurement, sourcing, inventory, manufacturing, logistics, transportation, sustainability, planning, and forecasting connect across a business. The program makes supply chain concepts more concrete through activities such as mapping the supply chain of a familiar product and evaluating suppliers for a simulated product launch. You will also complete Excel training, which helps you build data skills used in supply chain analysis and decision-making. Later sessions cover sustainable supply chains, manufacturing scenarios, logistics strategy, career readiness, and personal branding.
11. TCU Neeley School of Business – Supply Chain Business Technology Camp
Location: Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX
Cost: $500; covers room, board, and program expenses; financial assistance available for students with financial need
Dates: June 8–11
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: High school students with scholastic achievement, leadership skills, and interest in supply chain business technology
TCU’s Supply Chain Business Technology Camp explores how technology is changing the way companies move, produce, and deliver goods. You’ll examine tools such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, geographic mapping, automation, and automated vehicles in the context of global supply chains. The program helps you understand how companies use technology to improve efficiency, track products, manage complexity, and respond to customer demand. You will also spend time learning from business school faculty and interacting with other students interested in supply chain and business technology. The company tours with DFW industry partners are a major highlight, since they allow you to see supply chain technology in real business settings. The residential format adds a college-exposure component, including campus life, group activities, and informal networking.
12. University of North Georgia – Camp Logistics: Movin’ It From Here to There
Location: University of North Georgia, Gainesville Campus, Gainesville, GA
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 1–5
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Current high school students in Forsyth, Habersham, Hall, Jackson, or Lumpkin counties
UNG’s Camp Logistics introduces you to the movement of goods through transportation, warehousing, packaging, handling, shipping, and related business functions. Mornings typically include learning activities, games, guest speakers, and discussions with logistics professionals. In the afternoons, you’ll visit local companies to observe how logistics works in real settings, from distribution and transportation to production support and inventory movement. A solid feature of this program is the daily industry visit, which gives you good exposure to companies involved in logistics and supply chain work. The camp also introduces college and career pathways in logistics and supply chain management.
13. Purdue Summer College for High School Students – Business Analytics and Supply Chain Course
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Cost: Not specified
Dates: July 5–10
Application Deadline: Priority deadline: February 1 | Final deadline: April 1; Rolling
Eligibility: Priority consideration is given to students with a minimum 3.30 GPA, grade-level-appropriate college prep coursework, and at least sophomore standing by the program start; students should generally be 16 or older, though younger applicants may apply
Purdue’s Business Analytics and Supply Chain course gives you a college-level introduction to how data supports supply chain decisions. You’ll work with real-world data, business tools, simulations, and collaborative projects while learning how analytics can improve global supply chain strategy. The course is especially useful if you are interested in the quantitative side of supply chain, including forecasting, decision-making, operations, and performance analysis. You will also practice communicating insights through presentations, which mirrors how analysts explain recommendations in professional settings.
14. Colorado State University – Global Business Academy
Location: Colorado State University College of Business, Fort Collins, CO
Stipend: $3,750; limited scholarships available
Dates: July 12 – 22
Application Deadline: Early Admission and Scholarship Deadline: February 1 | Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors; ages 15–18; must be enrolled in high school for fall
Colorado State University’s Global Business Academy gives you a broader look at how organizations operate across markets, with supply chain concepts appearing through global business, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and operations. You’ll work with business faculty, entrepreneurship staff, executives, and local leaders while exploring decision-making, innovation, ethics, leadership, and cross-cultural communication. Company tours and executive conversations help you see how real organizations manage growth, strategy, logistics, and sustainability challenges. The program also includes hands-on business challenges that require teamwork, negotiation, creative thinking, and practical problem-solving.
15. San José State University – Mineta Summer Transportation Academy
Location: San José State University, San Jose, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 6-17
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Bay Area high school students in good academic standing (2.0 or better)
The Mineta Summer Transportation Academy introduces you to transportation systems through academic sessions, STEM activities, projects, and field trips around the Bay Area. You’ll explore topics such as transportation development, construction, business management, technology, intermodal systems, sustainability, and environmental impact. The program is relevant to supply chain because transportation networks are central to how goods, services, and people move through regions. Local field trips to businesses and transit agencies give you a closer look at how transportation systems affect daily life and economic activity. You will also gain exposure to university life at San José State while learning from professionals and educators in the field.
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!
FAQ
What are supply chain internships for high school students?
Supply chain internships for high school students are structured work experiences that place you inside organizations where you support functions like logistics coordination, inventory tracking, procurement, transportation planning, data analysis, or operational support. Unlike classroom learning, these experiences expose you to how goods, services, and information move through real systems, from ports and transit agencies to federal offices, manufacturers, and distribution centers.
Do I need prior business or supply chain knowledge to apply?
Most programs on this list do not require prior supply chain knowledge. Programs like Port of Long Beach, LA Metro, UNG Camp Logistics, and Mineta Summer Transportation Academy are designed as introductory experiences. The Charleston Youth Apprenticeships and Purdue summer course are better suited for students who want a more structured academic or vocational pathway, but none require previous formal training in supply chain or business.
Are there paid supply chain internships for high school students?
Yes. Multiple programs on this list offer compensation. Boston PIC pays $15 to $18 per hour, Port of Long Beach and LA Metro offer paid placements, GSA Pathways starts at the GS-4 federal pay grade, Idaho National Laboratory pays hourly, Charleston Youth Apprenticeships provide paid on-the-job training, Idaho Youth Ranch YouthWorks! provides $720, and Colorado State Global Business Academy offers a $3,750 stipend.
Are there supply chain programs specifically focused on technology and data?
Yes. Purdue’s Business Analytics and Supply Chain course focuses on how data and analytics support supply chain decisions, using real-world datasets and simulations. TCU’s Supply Chain Business Technology Camp explores how AI, machine learning, automation, and geographic mapping are changing global supply chains. Rutgers Business School includes Excel training as part of its supply chain curriculum, and several programs include data tracking and operational analysis as core components.
What types of organizations offer supply chain experiences for high school students?
The programs on this list span a wide range of organizations, including a major international port (Port of Long Beach), a federal transit agency (LA Metro), a Department of Energy national laboratory (Idaho National Laboratory), the federal government (GSA Pathways), a state university apprenticeship program (Charleston Regional), and multiple business schools. This variety reflects how broadly supply chain and operations functions exist across sectors.
When should I apply to supply chain programs for high school students?
Deadlines vary significantly. Port of Long Beach closes in February, LA Metro and GSA Pathways applications open in March, and UTK and Rutgers programs have spring deadlines. TCU and Purdue have priority deadlines in February with final deadlines in April. Colorado State has an early admission deadline of February 1. Programs like Boston PIC, Idaho Youth Ranch, and some federal placements use rolling admissions. Checking individual program pages in the fall and applying as early as possible is the most reliable approach.
Image Source: Colorado State University