16 Internships for High School Students in Washington, DC
The nation’s capital has a lot to offer to high school students who have started thinking about college majors, college applications and future careers. Doing an internship in this city can help you tick several boxes in your path – as you explore a subject or field of interest, build on your knowledge and skill, and get some practical experience.
Let’s not forget, an internship on your college application will demonstrate your capabilities, and the fact that you’re motivated to hone career skills early on – helping you stand out to admissions officers. Internships also give you the chance to interact and learn from young and experienced professionals in your field and build lasting connections.
Washington, DC offers plethora of in-person internship opportunities for high schoolers – from top institutions like NASA to the heart of American politics in the US Senate, the city offers a vast array of internships that allow you to dive into real-world settings, engage with professionals in your chosen field and develop crucial skills that will come in hand in the future. In this article, we’ve listed 16 internships for you to choose from. Whether it’s STEM or politics, art history or biomedicine, there’s a program for you.
Fields: Multidisciplinary; machine learning, finance, engineering, health tech, fashion, non-profit, media, journalism, and more
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starting $1,990. Financial assistance is available.
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. The summer cohort deadline is April 14, 2024.
Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts in a year.
This is a fairly selective virtual internship program that matches high school students with start-ups and nonprofits across the world to work on a real-world project that is relevant to the organization. Students can choose from fields like machine learning, finance, engineering, health tech, fashion, non-profit, media, journalism, and more. Examples of previous projects include “Machine learning model to predict customer churn for an e-commerce website” and “Marketing campaign for series—A backed media company”. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. The Ladder Coach can be considered a second mentor and a sounding board, guiding students in navigating the startup environment. Overall, interns are expected to work 10–15 hours per week. The internship includes professional skill development and training sessions as well!
2. NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internships
Fields: Multidisciplinary—space science, engineering, aeronautics, technology, space microbiology, ecology, outreach, communications, and more
Location: Multiple locations across the country. Students in Washington may select roles based in the NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Stipend: The majority of interns receive a stipend based on academic level and session length.
Eligibility: High school students in the US who are at least 16 years old and have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale can apply.
Application deadline: Varies from internship to internship. Spring programs typically have an August deadline, summer internships have an October deadline, and fall internships come with a January deadline.
Dates:
- Spring internships run 16 weeks from mid-January to early May
- Summer internships run 10 weeks from late May/early June to August
- Fall internships last 16 weeks starting in late August/early September to mid-December/January
NASA internships are worth considering for the prestigious and practical opportunities it offers to high school students interested in STEM and related fields. NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) provides internships at all its locations around the USA, including Washington, D.C. Or, you could also opt for NASA’s virtual internships. Look up available opportunities here. This internship offers students practical work experience by working with mentors like research scientists, engineers, and other professionals. Along with STEM opportunities, NASA also offers internships in business, arts, social sciences, and many other non-STEM fields. The internships are offered in three internship sessions throughout the year. Each internship involves short-term work on a specific project and you can select a different project in the next session. For instance, you may be involved in designing experiments, analyzing data from space missions, or developing new technologies, thereby gaining valuable experience and insight into NASA's work. You can keep an eye out for NASA OSTEM’s updates and guidelines here.
3. Pathways Internship Programs at the U.S. Department of State
Fields: Foreign affairs, public policy, international affairs, and more
Location: This will vary, but students in Washington, D.C. may opt for openings in their location, such as the Pretrial Services Agency Student Trainee. You can find vacancies in Washington, D.C. under this program here.
Stipend: Paid internship. The stipend varies from post to post.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the time of application and throughout internship appointment are eligible for the program.
Application deadline: Varies from location to location.
Dates: While the dates of the internship vary from post to post, those under the Internship Experience Program (IEP) are expected to last the length of the academic program for which the intern is enrolled, and those under the Internship Temporary Program (ITEP) run during seasonal and holiday breaks as well as year-round.
The Pathways Internship Program is an opportunity for high school students to explore federal careers in various offices of the government. Students get to work alongside experienced professionals and participate in and contribute to public service projects. The internships can prepare you for future leadership roles, and encourage you to become informed and culturally sensitive global citizens. Pathways offers two types of internships: the Internship Experience Program (IEP) and the Internship Temporary Program (ITEP). IEP interns are eligible for noncompetitive promotions and federal employee benefits. ITEP interns are assigned temporary appointments, which will not exceed one year or their expected graduation date (whichever is shorter) and extensions can be made in one-year increments. Here, interns have no promotion potential. All vacancies under this program are posted on USAJobs.gov, and you can find opportunities in Washington, D.C. here.
Fields: Engineering, science, and technology + business fields (social sciences, program management, accounting, communication, math, statistics, and more)
Location: While there are many NASA locations to choose from, you can choose to apply to the vacancies at the NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C. itself.
Stipend: While this is a paid internship, the exact stipend amount varies.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old, have and can maintain a cumulative 2.9 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and will be able to work at least 640 hours before completing their degree/certificate requirements, can apply.
Application deadline: Varies from location to location, but application windows open in the spring and fall each year, typically around February and September, respectively.
Dates: This is a long-term internship that will run parallel with the school year. Interns are required to complete at least 640 hours of work before completing their degree/certificate requirements
NASA’s Pathways Internship program is a multi-semester paid opportunity that could convert into a full-time work opportunity at NASA! During the internship, you will be mentored by renowned scientists and engineers at NASA and get to work on meaningful tasks that are aligned with your academic or career interests. The program also invites students interested in non-STEM careers, allowing them to engage in business and program management work, including human resources, administration and program analysis, accounting and budgeting, and more. All internship opportunities are posted on USAJobs.gov. You can also check out NASA’s Pathways Internship Program: Applicant Guide before applying.
Fields: Public service, political science, public policy, legislature
Location: United States Senate, Washington D.C. During the school year, pages have to live in the Daniel Webster Senate Page Residence on Capitol Hill, Washington D.C. This costs $780 per month, which is deducted from the stipend. Summer sessions are commuter programs.
Stipend: Stipend is offered on an annual salary of $35,360. As most pages do not serve the entire year, they can expect a monthly stipend of $2,946.
Eligibility: Rising juniors and rising seniors who are 16 or 17 years old and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0/B can apply.
Application deadline: Rolling
Dates:
- Spring 2024: January 28, 2024–June 7, 2024
- Summer Session I: June 9–21, 2024
- Summer Session II: July 21, 2024–August 2, 2024
- Fall 2024: Early September–late January
The US Senate Page Program is unlike a traditional internship, however, it provides pages with real-world experience as well as a stipend. It is one of the longest-running opportunities for high school students interested in political science. Pages are sponsored by their senators and will reside in Washington D.C. They will perform tasks like delivering correspondence and legislative material within the Capitol and Senate office buildings, preparing the chamber for Senate sessions, and working on the Senate floor, which would involve offering assistance during roll call votes, offering support to senators and staff during debates, and carrying bills and amendments to the desk. Pages are also expected to attend page school in the morning. The program only has 30-page positions for supporting 100 members of the United States Senate, so not all senators will sponsor or select a page. You can directly reach out to a senator here to check if they are sponsoring a page.
6. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) at the Department of Navy (DoN)
Fields: STEM disciplines, mainly engineering
Location: There are several lab locations to choose from, however, you may select the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) or the United States Naval Observatory (USNO), both located in Washington, D.C.
Stipend: $4,000 (new participant) and $4,500 (returning participant) paid bi-weekly via direct deposit. There are no registration costs, however, housing, meals, transportation, and medical expenses are not covered by the program.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least grade 9 and are at least 16 years old when the internship begins can apply. Before applying, you should check if your preferred lab has any other particular requirements.
Application deadline: Applications open in August and close on November 1 every year.
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer. Exact dates vary depending on the lab you choose.
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) is an opportunity for you to work in Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories for 8 weeks. SEAP offers 300 placements across 38 laboratories nationwide, making it a highly selective program. At the lab of your choice, you will work on Naval research and collaborate with researchers, scientists, and engineers. You will also be mentored by these experts as you work in the lab five days and 40 hours per week. The experience can help you build knowledge and skills in various STEM disciplines, such as computer science and aeronautics. Your lab choice should be based on your subject of interest and you can select a maximum of three labs.
7. NIH High School Summer Internship Program (HS-SIP)
Fields: Healthcare research, mainly in biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences
Location: NIH research campuses in the USA including the main NIH campus in Bethesda, MD, which is the closest to Washington, D.C. (only 30 minutes away). No housing is provided to interns, but there is free parking.
Stipend: A monthly stipend of $2,300 is provided.
Eligibility: Students who are high school juniors or seniors at the time of application (or have recently graduated), and are 17 years or older on June 15, 2024, may apply. Do look through all the eligibility requirements before applying. There are some additional requirements for HiSTEP and HiSTEP 2.0.
Application deadline: February 16, 2024
Dates: June to August (tentative, based on previous years)
If you are interested in both interning with the government and gaining some real-world experience in the fields of healthcare, biomedicine, and research this internship opportunity could be for you. The HS-SIP is an 8-week program conducted at NIH facilities. Here, interns get to carry out cutting-edge research under the mentorship of world-renowned researchers and acquire essential laboratory skills. It is important to note that the HS-SIP is extremely competitive, with a ~7% acceptance rate. Interns are selected by a central committee and placed in a research group to work under the supervision of a Principal Investigator. They also have access to NIH’s professional development programs when enrolled in the HS-SIP to enhance the skills needed for a successful career in science. On the program’s Summer Poster Day, scheduled for August 1–2, 2024 this year, interns share their research with the NIH community. You can either apply to HS-SIP or one of its student cohorts: HiSTEP and HiSTEP 2.0.
8. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Fields: Public service, civics
Location: Multiple locations in the country, including Washington, D.C.
Stipend: It is a paid internship, but no information is available on the exact amount.
Eligibility: All high school juniors and seniors can apply. Check the detailed eligibility criteria here.
Application deadline: Applications typically close in January.
Program dates: 8-week summer internship, including an all-expenses-covered week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. Dates vary by location, but the internship usually begins shortly after the school year ends.
Bank of America is one of the Big Four banks in the country. Its Student Leaders program is intended for high school students who are passionate about serving their community. The program offers an opportunity to work at a local non-profit organization, helping students develop their social, civic, and business leadership skills. It is also a chance to explore various aspects of running such an organization, engage in community service projects, and build a deeper understanding of social issues. The 8-week paid internship includes a week-long Student Leadership Summit held in Washington, D.C. The travel, food and stay for this summit will be covered by Bank of America. This entire experience will equip young students with the knowledge and skills to help their own communities.
9. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program
Fields: STEM
Location: Several locations across the United States. Students in Washington D.C. can choose the program conducted by the Joint Staff (J-7) Directorate at the Pentagon.
Stipend: $492.40/per week
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old can apply. Check the detailed eligibility criteria here.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary based on the chosen site.
Dates: The program typically offers summer internships, with a limited number of positions during the fall and spring semesters. Dates vary each year. ARFL internships typically run 10–12 weeks, with a minimum requirement of 8 weeks. They can last up to 14 weeks based on mentor preferences and funding availability.
The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Scholars program is a paid internship opportunity for high school students interested in aerospace engineering. During the internship, you will receive guidance from full-time AFRL scientists and engineers. You will also get to tour AFRL laboratories and work on cutting-edge research and technology during the internship. During the program, you get to work on exciting research, on topics like satellite navigation, machine learning techniques, atomic physics, AI development, astrodynamics, robotics, and more. You can check the range of research topics available here, and the mentor bios here. You can apply to no more than 3 topics per AFRL site. A couple of the topics offered this summer are Advanced Carbon-Based Conductors for Aerospace Applications and Characterization of High-Temperature Structural Materials.
10. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) High School Apprenticeships
Fields: STEM disciplines
Location: There are AEOP locations in almost every state, students in Washington, D.C. may select the site closest to them, which is likely to be the University of the District of Columbia located in the city. The program is intended for commuters and transportation, meals, and housing are not covered.
Stipend: Varies from location to location.
Eligibility: Those applying must be current high school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents. Additional eligibility requirements vary by location. Check details here.
Application deadline: Rolling basis. Check AEOP’s Summer 2024 opportunities here for the exact dates.
Dates: This is a summer internship program, specific dates vary from location to location.
This program is a chance to work one-on-one with a university researcher or Department of Defense (DoD) scientist mentor on research projects. As an intern, you will be exposed to high-tech equipment and cutting-edge techniques in state-of-the-art laboratories. You will also have access to professional scientists and engineers and learn from other STEM practitioners during the internship. Additionally, the Army-sponsored research that you will be a part of addresses the USA’s biggest challenges. The program aims to hone critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills to prepare you for a career in STEM. Further, through expert mentorship and collaboration with professionals, you can contribute to meaningful discovery and innovation that will benefit the country. You can check the program’s Summer 2024 opportunities here.
11. Architect of the Capitol Summer Internships
Fields: Multidisciplinary with a focus on public service
Location: Architect of the Capitol, Washington, D.C.
Stipend: $17 per hour is typically offered
Eligibility: Students who are at least 16 years of age by June 30, 2024 can apply. The precise requirements can vary for each internship.
Application deadline: Rolling basis
Dates: 12-week summer internship. Dates vary based on the internship.
The Architect of the Capital is a federal agency responsible for maintaining, preserving, and developing the landmark buildings and grounds of Capitol Hill. It offers several internship opportunities to high school students to help them gain work experience and explore a federal career. The duties vary based on the role. For instance, if you apply for the Audiovisual Aide role, you will be expected to perform audiovisual production tasks and provide technical and logistical support to program managers and audiovisual production specialists. An Office Clerk internship at the Architect of the Capitol will involve tasks like planning and organizing work, communication (oral and written), typing, filing, routine procedural processing, maintenance of records, and note-taking, among other duties. You can check out current vacancies here.
12. U.S. Department of the Treasury Headquarters Student Internship Program
Fields: Economics, management/business, policy, and public service
Location: Washington, D.C.
Stipend: None
Eligibility: High school students in the US who are enrolled or accepted at an accredited institution can apply.
Application deadline: Varies for all three Internship periods. You can apply in October for the Spring Internship period, in December for the Summer Internship, and in June for the Fall Internship.
Dates: Treasury typically offers internship opportunities in three sessions:
- Spring internships run from January to May
- Summer internships run from May to August
- Fall internships run from September to December
The Treasury’s Departmental Offices (headquarters) Internship Program is an unpaid opportunity for high school students. As an intern, you will collect, analyze, and present policy data. You will also conduct research and summarize academic literature and news important for the department’s top missions. Additionally, students get to attend and report on Congressional hearings, meetings, and conferences. This is a great program if you are looking to build a solid foundation for a career in public service. Through this internship, you can hone your research and analytical skills as well as management and organizational skills through interactions with Treasury colleagues and other government agencies. You can intern at any one of the several offices that make up the Treasury Departmental Offices (headquarters). You can apply through the USAJobs platform and look for vacancies here.
13. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency High School Scholars Internship Program (HSSIP)
Fields: Banking, finance, business administration/management, economics, accounting, international business, and information technology.
Location: Hybrid internship (virtual and in-person at OCC Headquarters in Washington, D.C.)
Stipend: High school seniors get $18/hr and high school graduates get $20/hr. All interns get benefits like meal stipend and public transportation subsidy (for onsite days)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and recent high school graduates who are residents of Washington, D.C., or Prince George’s County, Maryland can apply. Do note that D.C. residents have to complete the D.C. Department of Employment Services Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program application, certification, and orientation to apply.
Application deadline: March 1, 2024
Dates: Six weeks from late June through early August
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is an independent bureau of the U.S. Department of Treasury. OCC regulates and supervises all national banks and federal savings associations. Its High School Scholars Internship Program (HSSIP) is a 6-week paid opportunity. Here, you will get to learn about the banking industry, explore the roles and activities involved in bank supervision, and discover career opportunities in the federal government and banking industry. OCC’s goal is also to help students develop financial literacy and public speaking skills by working in a professional setting. You will also serve as a mentor or mentee and then come up with an elevator pitch, reflection paper, résumé, a short paper on mentorship, and a capstone project during the internship. OCC also organizes enrichment activities and interagency events, which you can be a part of to network. Interns are expected to work Monday–Friday from 9 am to 4 pm, making it a total of 35 hours per week. You can check the information sheet before applying.
14. Department of Education's Internship Opportunities
Fields: Multidisciplinary
Location: Washington D.C.
Stipend: None
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old can apply
Application deadline: Rolling, dependent on program dates.
- Fall internship applications are open from May 1 to July 31
- Winter/spring internship applications are open from September 1 to November 30
- Summer internship applications are open from January 1 to March 31
Dates: ED offers internships in the summer, fall, and winter/spring, with each program lasting 8 to 10 weeks.
- Fall internships run from September to December
- Winter/spring internships run from January to May
- Summer internships run from May/June to July/August
The Department of Education (ED) internships are intended for students interested in gaining some work experience in government and federal education, policy, and administration. The goal of ED is to tailor the internship experience to the student’s interest, so you get to choose opportunities from areas like Education Policies, Data Analytics, Grants Management, and more. Interns usually work 20 to 40 hours per week during the spring and fall terms and full-time in the summer session. That being said, the scheduling, including start/end dates and hours per week, is flexible and can be negotiated. An ED internship can be a great way to network and build a foundation for a government career. You can look for vacancies on the USAJobs site.
15. Library of Congress High School Summer Internship
Fields: Humanities, arts, history, cultural studies
Location: Hybrid; you can choose between an entirely virtual internship and virtual + on-site (Library of Congress, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.)
Stipend: None, however, you may be able to get Library of Congress internal discounts as benefits
Eligibility: Current high school students who are at least 16 years old at the time of the internship can apply.
Application deadline: March 27, 2024
Dates: June 24, 2024–July 18, 2024
The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, and it acts as a research arm of the US Congress. Its High School Summer Internship is designed for students with strong research and writing skills and an interest in exhibition development, outreach, public speaking, and public programming. The 4-week unpaid summer internship can help students learn about the Library of Congress (LOC) and also contribute toward creating content to support family and youth engagement for a new exhibition space in the LOC. Interns are also supposed to research LOC collection materials and displayed items in the exhibit, study information on the collection materials, and present it to visitors in verbal or written formats. In the process, interns learn about the careers and resources at the Library and hone their writing and oral communication skills. The program is conducted Monday–Thursday from 10 am to 3.30 pm and involves virtual training, workshops, and peer working groups. In-person interns must visit the Library once a week during the internship.
16. NIST’s Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP)
Fields: STEM subjects, mainly chemistry, physics, computer science, environmental science, and engineering. Applicants can check the details here before choosing a NIST laboratory.
Location: NIST laboratory at Boulder, Co or the Gaithersburg, MD campus. You can commute to the Gaithersburg, MD campus, which is just 25 miles away from Washington D.C. You need to make your own transportation arrangements.
Stipend: None
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in the USA can apply.
Application deadline: February 9, 2024. You can check the application guide here.
Dates: June 17, 2024–August 9, 2024
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a part of the U.S. Department of Commerce and is one of the oldest physical science laboratories. Its Summer High School Intern Program (SHIP) is an 8-week unpaid internship for students inclined toward scientific research. Interns will work with scientists and engineers on a research problem and get to witness cutting-edge NIST research. NIST is divided into six organizational laboratories: Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL), Engineering Laboratory (EL), Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), Material Measurement Laboratory (MML), NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR), and Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML). You can look through the different websites, choose any one laboratory (based on your interest), and mention the same in your personal statement while applying. If you want to check out the kind of research problems you will be working on, take a look at the past SHIP projects here. You can apply via USAJobs.
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, with a large number of them in tech. 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.