11 Entrepreneurship Internships for High School Students
If you are a high school student, an internship can be a defining experience in your academic and career journey. Internships can be great learning opportunities, offering you a chance to explore real-world applications of concepts you learn in school. A high school internship can also boost your college application by helping you stand out from your peers.
If you are interested in entrepreneurship, you can find various opportunities that help you learn how to set up and run an organization. Entrepreneurship is a dynamic field that uses concepts from business, finance, or management-related fields to create, manage, and develop ventures. To be a successful entrepreneur, you would need skills such as problem-solving, leadership, critical thinking, and written and verbal communication. One way to develop and hone these skills is through an internship in entrepreneurship.
So, here are 11 entrepreneurship internships for high school students:
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Open to all high school students, who can work for 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks.
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year. For the upcoming summer cohort, the regular admission deadline is May 12, 2024.
Program dates: 8-week program with multiple cohorts throughout the year. The Summer Cohort starts on June 3, 2024
Cost/Stipend: Starts at $1,990. Financial aid is available.
Ladder Internships is a selective virtual internship program that provides high school students with an opportunity to work with start-ups and non-profit organizations. If you are interested in business, there are several internship opportunities in business, finance, growth, and marketing across industries, from tech to healthcare. You can explore all the options on their application form here!
During the internship, you will work on a real-world project relevant to the organization. In addition to working closely with the startup, you will also be paired with a Ladder Coach, who can be considered a second mentor and a sounding board, guiding students in navigating the startup environment. The program includes one-on-one skills training and group training sessions with fellow interns. Overall, interns are expected to work 10–15 hours per week.
2. Warner Bros Reach Honorship Program: Business Track
Location: Warner Bros. Discovery Studios, Burbank, CA.
Eligibility: Applicants must be:
- Graduating high school seniors in Burbank or Los Angeles County with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 upon graduation
- Planning to attend an accredited college or university
- Passionate about a career in the business of media and entertainment
Application deadline: The program has been temporarily paused for 2024 and will resume in 2025. The application deadline is usually February.
Program dates: No specific dates are mentioned, however, the program usually starts right after the summer post-high school graduation
Cost/Stipend: There is no cost to attend. The program contributes to students’ education by offering a $5,000 stipend toward their college tuition in four equal installments.
A unique and extremely selective program, the Warner Bros. Reach Honorship Program gives students an opportunity to engage with the entertainment industry’s business and creative fields. Here, you will get to see the behind-the-scenes of the entertainment industry through a variety of interactive activities. If you are interested in marketing, finance, communications, or administrative roles, the Reach Honorship Business Track is worth considering.
The program can help you hone necessary practical skills by working alongside industry experts in departments like marketing, production, and post-production. You will participate in the day-to-day operations of a well-known film and television studio as an intern. By the end of the internship, you will have gained useful industrial experience and added to your network.
Location: New York, NY
Eligibility: Applicants must be
- Between the ages of 16 and 24 and enrolled in high school or college
- Resident of New York City and legally allowed to work in the US
- Have prior work experience, either paid or volunteer
Application deadline: Applications typically close around the end of January
Program dates: 6 weeks (July–August)
Stipend: A minimum of $16/hour is provided. The hourly wage may be higher depending on the employer.
The Ladders for Leaders Program caters to students in New York City. It is a nationally recognized initiative that pairs students with top corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies in the city. By being a part of the program, you will acquire essential real-world experience and professional skills and also get a chance to network with like-minded peers. The program’s pre-employment training will prepare you for future professional life by helping you with writing resume and cover letters, as well as preparing you for interviews. With paid internship opportunities available across multiple industries, you will have the opportunity to explore career interests and gain practical experience in your chosen field. Additionally, you will become part of the growing Alumni Network, which gives you access to exclusive post-internship opportunities and networking events.
4. KP Launch High School Program
Location: Multiple locations. You can find an opportunity at a Kaiser Permanente Medical Center or business office near you.
Eligibility: Applicants must be:
- High school students and graduating seniors aged 16–19
- Available to work full-time during the 7-week summer program from Monday to Friday and be eligible to legally work in the US
- Have a permanent residence in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area
Application deadline: Applications typically close at the end of December. You can join their mailing list to receive updates for applications for the 2025 cohort
Program dates: June 17, 2024–August 2, 2024.
Stipend: $15.50 to $18 per hour
Kaiser Permanente’s summer internship program offers high school students an opportunity to gain practical experience and insights into the healthcare industry. The program will enable you to explore administrative and business-related roles in the healthcare sector. It has specific tracks such as accounting, sales, marketing, and communications. Through practical activities, teamwork, shadowing opportunities, and workshops, you will explore the business aspect of healthcare. In this seven-week paid internship, you will also gain valuable personal and professional development by being able to network with peers and senior leaders.
5. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Multiple locations in the US. You will be assigned a non-profit organization in your area.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors are eligible to apply. Check out the detailed eligibility criteria here.
Application deadline: TBA, but applications open in October
Program dates: 8-week summer internship, including an all-expenses-covered week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, DC. Information on dates is not provided, however, the internship starts shortly after the school year ends.
Stipend: It is a paid internship, but information on the exact amount has not been provided.
The Bank of America Student Leader Program enables students to explore the nonprofit sector. As an intern, you will get to hone your leadership skills and get some hands-on work experience in community service. The program partners with renowned nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity and the Boys and Girls Club, offering high school students a chance to contribute to nonprofit management, engage in meaningful community service projects, and get a chance to understand social issues from the ground up. Through hands-on work experience and expert mentorship, you can work on your civic, social, and business leadership skills which are essential for future academic and career pursuits.
6. PNNL High School Business Internship
Location: Richland, Washington
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA can apply.
Application deadline: Rolling basis, but applications typically open in early February.
Program dates: During the academic year beginning in August and ending in May
Cost/Stipend: No information is available
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory offers high school students interested in entrepreneurship an opportunity to develop interpersonal and professional skills, gain exposure, and network. As a business intern at PNNL, you will have the chance to work throughout the academic year by putting in just 4 hours every day for 5 days a week. You will be paired with mentors from PNNL’s business department. You will get to build leadership skills with the internship. Additionally, PNNL works with your high school’s work-based learning (WBL) program to provide elective credits that apply to graduation
Location: Menlo Park, CA.
Eligibility: High school sophomores who are residents of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City and have a minimum 2.0 GPA can apply.
Application deadline: Applications typically open in December and close in March.
Program dates: 6 weeks from June to July. Interns are supposed to work 30 hours per week.
Cost/Stipend: It is a paid internship, but information on the exact amount is unavailable.
Meta Summer Academy (formerly known as Facebook Summer Academy) is a prestigious summer opportunity for you if you are interested in tech and entrepreneurship. Through this internship, you will get to explore Meta’s day-to-day operations as a tech company. The internship is a 6-week-long opportunity to learn directly from industry experts at Meta headquarters in California. As an intern, you will learn coding, explore careers, and develop the soft skills required for a successful career as an entrepreneur.
8. Young Entrepreneurs Program
Location: Kansas City, MO
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors can apply. Applicants should b
Application deadline: Applications typically close mid-February.
Program dates: Session 1: June 6–July 1, 2024 | Session 2: July 11–August 5, 2024
You can participate in either one or both sessions
Stipend: $2500 scholarship ($1,250 per session) upon completing the program and $10/hr compensation
The Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) is a hands-on summer internship meant for high school students interested in entrepreneurship. The internship focuses on enhancing entrepreneurial thinking through practical experience. YEP partners with local high-growth companies to provide students with opportunities to learn from professionals in various fields, like engineering, marketing, product management, sales, finance, and analytics. You can explore YEP’s Kansas City partners here. The goal is to help students who want to make an impact in their community through entrepreneurship. So, selected students will be provided internships in these partner organizations, and they can choose to intern at the same place for one or two sessions. They will be expected to work for 40 hours each week. To know what to expect from the program, you can check out alumni experiences here before applying.
9. The Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI) Summer Program
Location: Hunter College main campus, New York City, NY
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 13 and 21 in the NYC metropolitan area can apply. Those from underserved neighborhoods and schools are given priority.
Application deadline: May 5, 2024
Program dates: You can choose from three 11-day cohorts: July 1–12, 2024 | July 15–26th, 2024 | July 29–August 9, 2024
Stipend: $500
Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI), named after New York Congresswoman Bella S. Abzug, aims to inspire youth to take on leadership in civic, political, corporate, and communal spheres. If you are interested in developing leadership skills, the program is worth considering. During the program, you will receive mentorship to help you develop critical skills essential for becoming a leader. The program gives preference to youth belonging to underserved communities and female-identifying members of the LGBTQAI+ community to enhance their access to leadership opportunities.
You can check the program details on the form here before applying.
Location: New York City, NY
Eligibility: High school sophomores who can travel to NYC for two meetings per month can apply.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in the first week of April.
Program dates: 2-year fellowship
Cost: No information available
YouthBridge-NY Fellowship is a two-year program where high school sophomores and seniors passionate about equity, inclusion, and social justice come together to engage in intensive training on leadership in these areas. Here, students will participate in team-building workshops, activities, and games alongside work. The program kicks off with an orientation retreat that gives students a chance to network. The first year of the fellowship engages the fellows in skill-building workshops and team activities focusing on problem-solving and conflict resolution, working towards diversity, and volunteering for community causes. In the second year, the fellows engage in hands-on learning and more advanced skill-building workshops where they work towards building partnerships with people and organizations while being mentored one-on-one by top professionals in NYC.
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: All high school students can apply.
Application deadline:
- Early decision deadline: March 17, 2024
- Regular admission deadline 1: April 14, 2024
- Regular admission deadline 2: May 12, 2024
Program dates: The 4-week program starts on June 5, 2024
Cost: The 4-week program costs $2900. Need-based financial aid is available.
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work on building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also get the chance to be mentored by entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
Apart from working on the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and ideation, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, and panel discussions. The program is a great opportunity to explore the world of business in high school and explore theoretical concepts as well as practical frameworks that are essential for creating a successful business. Check out the program brochure before applying.
You can access the application link here.
Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries, including computer science, tech, and engineering. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!
Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate