Top 30 Business Internships for High School Students

In today’s competitive academic and job market, business internships for high school students have become a critical stepping stone for future success. Whether you’re dreaming of launching your own startup, climbing the corporate ladder, or entering a top business school, gaining early exposure to the professional world gives you a significant edge.

This guide explores the best business internships for high school students, how to apply, what skills you’ll learn, and why these opportunities can transform your career path.

Why High School Business Internships Matter

Business internships help students:

• Gain hands-on experience in real-world business settings

• Develop valuable skills like communication, project management, marketing, and finance

• Enhance college applications and job resumes with real-world achievements

• Explore career paths in business, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, or consulting

• Build a professional network early in life

These benefits align with Google’s Helpful Content and EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) guidelines, ensuring this content is credible and value-rich.

Types of Business Internships for High School Students

Business internships span a wide range of roles and organizations. Here are the most popular types:

1. Corporate Internships

Offered by large corporations, these are structured and competitive. They provide exposure to departments like finance, human resources, and marketing.

2. Startup Internships

Working at a startup can give students a dynamic, hands-on experience with more responsibility and creativity.

3. Non-Profit and Social Enterprise Internships

Ideal for students interested in social entrepreneurship or business for good.

4. Virtual Business Internships

Online programs provide flexibility and allow students to collaborate globally.

Business Internships for High School Students

These programs offer invaluable real-world experience, skill development, and networking opportunities that can set the foundation for future success. Whether you’re interested in finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, or management, there’s an internship tailored to your aspirations.

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1. Microsoft Discovery Program

• Location: Various U.S. locations
• Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors
• Overview: This program offers students the chance to work on real-world projects at Microsoft, gaining valuable business and technology experience.

2. Bank of America Student Leaders Program

• Location: Nationwide (U.S.)
• Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
• Overview: Provides paid summer internships and leadership training, connecting students with local non-profits to foster community engagement.

3. Meta Summer Academy

• Location: Menlo Park, CA
• Eligibility: High school students
• Overview: Offers a unique opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the inner workings of Meta, working closely with experienced mentors to acquire practical work experience.

4. Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI)

• Location: New York City, NY
• Eligibility: Middle, high school, and college students
• Overview: Focuses on mentoring and training motivated youth to cultivate confidence and essential leadership skills necessary to thrive in the 21st century.

5. Ladder Internship Program

• Location: Remote
• Eligibility: High school students
• Overview: Connects students with global startups, allowing them to work on business-related projects and gain entrepreneurial experience.

6. LaunchX Entrepreneurship Program

• Location: Various locations
• Eligibility: High school students
• Overview: Students create and pitch startups in a highly intensive environment with peer collaboration and mentorship.

7. InternHQ Business & Microfinance Internships

• Location: Remote or in-person (international)
• Eligibility: High school students
• Overview: Offers virtual internships in various business fields, including finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship, allowing students to gain experience remotely.

8. NYU Future Entrepreneurs Program (FEP)

• Location: New York City, NY
• Eligibility: High school students in underrepresented communities
• Overview: Provides mentorship and business training to empower students with entrepreneurial skills.

9. The Intern Project (TIP)

• Location: Los Angeles, CA
• Eligibility: High school students
• Overview: Offers paid internships in various sectors, including business, tech, design, and government, hosted by the LA Mayor’s Office.

10. Young Founders Lab

• Location: Remote
• Eligibility: High school students
• Overview: A startup incubator for teens focused on building and launching a business with guided mentorship.

11. Girls Who Invest (GWI) Summer Intensive

• Location: Various U.S. locations
• Eligibility: Female high school students
• Overview: Encourages young women to explore careers in asset management through education and mentorship.

12. KPMG Future Leaders Program

• Location: Various U.S. locations
• Eligibility: Female high school seniors
• Overview: Provides scholarships, leadership training, and mentorship to empower the next generation of female leaders.

13. Boston University High School Honors Program – Business Track

• Location: Boston, MA
• Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
• Overview: Offers college credit and hands-on business projects to prepare students for academic and professional success.

14. Wharton Pre-College Programs

• Location: Philadelphia, PA
• Eligibility: High school students
• Overview: Business and finance-focused summer programs that provide a glimpse into Ivy League education and networking opportunities.

15. SAGE (Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship)

• Location: Various locations
• Eligibility: High school students
• Overview: A global business competition where students start real businesses and pitch for investment, fostering entrepreneurial skills.

16. INROADS High School Internship Program

• Location: Various U.S. locations
• Eligibility: High school students from underrepresented backgrounds
• Overview: Aims to develop and place talented underserved youth in business and industry, preparing them for corporate and community leadership.

17. Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) Internship

• Location: Remote
• Eligibility: High school students
• Overview: Involves projects that enhance the SSEC brand, including creating marketing materials and assisting in communications strategy.

18. Kaiser Permanente KP Launches High School Program

• Location: Northern California
• Eligibility: High school students aged 16-19
• Overview: Offers exposure to the business and administrative aspects of healthcare settings, with weekly workshops and mentorship.

19. NASA High School Internship

• Location: Various U.S. locations
• Eligibility: High school students aged 16-18
• Overview: Provides training, mentoring, and career development opportunities while working with top professionals in science, engineering, and business.

20. U.S. Senate Page Program

• Location: Washington, D.C.
• Eligibility: High school students aged 16-18
• Overview: Introduces students to the legislative process, offering experiences in the nation’s capital and exposure to public service.

21. StandOut Connect

• Location: Remote
• Eligibility: High school students
• Overview: Matches gifted high school students with online internships in their industry of interest, including business, finance, and more.

22. 1435 Capital Management LLC – Venture Analyst Internship

• Location: Princeton, NJ (Hybrid)
• Eligibility: Rising juniors or seniors (16+ years old)
• Overview: A highly selective internship offering hands-on experience in venture capital, including investment analysis and market research.

23. United Planet Virtual Internship

• Location: Remote
• Eligibility: High school students
• Overview: Offers virtual internships with international organizations, focusing on education, community development, and environmental sustainability.

24. Harvard Pre-College Program – Business Track

• Location: Cambridge, MA
• Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
• Overview: Offers academically motivated students the chance to engage in college-level coursework with a focus on business and entrepreneurship. It provides classroom discussions, hands-on projects, and networking opportunities with peers from around the world.

25. Deloitte Discovery Internship

• Location: Various U.S. locations
• Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from underrepresented backgrounds
• Overview: Aimed at introducing students to careers in consulting and accounting, this program combines mentorship, team-building, and shadowing professionals at Deloitte.

26. FBI Teen Academy

• Location: FBI Field Offices across the U.S.
• Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
• Overview: While not a traditional business internship, students gain insights into federal law enforcement operations and management, which includes business and administrative functions.

27. Junior Achievement Company Program

• Location: Nationwide (U.S.)
• Eligibility: High school students
• Overview: Students collaborate to launch and run a real business, learning about product development, marketing, sales, and finance under the mentorship of local business leaders.

28. Ernst & Young (EY) Launch Internship

• Location: Various U.S. locations
• Eligibility: High school seniors entering college
• Overview: Focused on preparing underrepresented students for careers in business and accounting through mentorship, leadership development, and exposure to EY’s business practices.

29. Morgan Stanley JumpStart Scholars Program

• Location: New York City, NY
• Eligibility: High school juniors
• Overview: Designed to expose underrepresented youth to financial services, the program includes skill-building workshops, mentorship, and networking with industry professionals.

30. Blackstone Future Women Leaders Program

• Location: New York, NY
• Eligibility: High school female students interested in business
• Overview: A one-day immersive program introducing students to finance and private equity with panels, workshops, and one-on-one sessions with Blackstone professionals.

31. The Knowledge Society (TKS)

• Location: Remote and in-person hubs (Toronto, New York, and others)
• Eligibility: Students aged 13-17
• Overview: TKS develops future innovators through startup building, networking with global CEOs, and solving real-world problems using emerging technologies and business models.

32. Google CSSI (Computer Science Summer Institute) with Business Focus

• Location: Various Google offices and remote
• Eligibility: High school seniors from historically underrepresented groups
• Overview: Aimed at bridging computer science with business innovation, this program gives students technical skills and insights into Google’s business culture.

33. Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!)

• Location: Various U.S. locations
• Eligibility: Middle and high school students
• Overview: Over the course of a school year, students generate business ideas, conduct market research, write business plans, pitch to investors, and launch legally registered businesses.

Skills You’ll Learn During a Business Internship

• Marketing & Branding
• Basic Financial Literacy
• Project Management Tools (Trello, Asana, Slack)
• Public Speaking & Pitching Ideas
• Excel and Google Sheets Analytics
• Customer Service & CRM Tools
• Social Media Strategy

How to Land a Business Internship in High School

Step 1: Identify Your Interests

Decide if you’re more interested in finance, marketing, startups, or entrepreneurship.

Step 2: Prepare a Resume & Cover Letter

Highlight:

• Coursework (e.g., economics, business studies)

• School clubs (DECA, FBLA, Junior Achievement)

• Volunteer experience

• Personal business projects or side hustles

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Step 3: Apply Early

Applications for summer internships often open between October and March. Deadlines vary.

Step 4: Nail the Interview

Common questions include:

• “Why are you interested in business?”

• “Tell us about a project you’ve worked on.”

• “What’s a brand you admire and why?”

Tips to Maximize Your Internship Experience

1. Set Clear Goals: Know what you want to learn.

2. Ask for Feedback: Regular check-ins help you improve.

3. Network: Connect with mentors on LinkedIn.

4. Keep a Journal: Reflect on tasks, achievements, and new skills.

5. Update Your Resume: Showcase measurable results after the program ends.

Alternatives to Internships: Build Your Own Business Experience

If you can’t find an internship, create your opportunity:

• Start a dropshipping business
• Offer digital marketing for local businesses
• Run a tutoring side hustle
• Participate in business competitions like the Diamond Challenge or DECA

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are high school internships paid?

Some are paid (like TIP and Microsoft), while others offer valuable experience and networking instead of money.

2. Do I need experience to get a business internship?

No. Most internships are designed for beginners. Your curiosity, drive, and willingness to learn matter more.

3. Can international students apply?

Some programs are global or virtual (like InternHQ or Ladder), but others may have geographic or citizenship restrictions.

4. What should I include in my business internship application?

Include a resume, a strong cover letter, and, if possible, letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors.

Final Thoughts

High school business internships open doors to learning, growth, and leadership. Whether you’re interested in becoming a CEO, a product manager, a social entrepreneur, or a financial analyst, starting early gives you the insight and advantage to make informed decisions.

Now is the time to explore, apply, and build your future—one internship at a time.