Top 15 Business Internships for High School Students in 2025–2026

Are you a high school student looking for business internships? Some of the top business internships for high school students provide exposure to marketing, finance, operations, and management. These hands-on experiences help you explore your interests in different fields whether it’s expanding healthcare access through public policy proposals through Wharton Leadership in Business World (LBW) or building a mobile app to address autism like at MIT LaunchX, strengthening your college admissions profile to demonstrate strong evidence of your curiosity, initiative, and social impact.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through some of the strongest business-focused internships and programs available right now—what they cost, where they’re located, how long they run, and most importantly, what you’ll get to experience, build, and learn once you’re there.

• What Are the Best Business Internships for High School Students?
• MIT LaunchX
• Wharton Leadership in the Business World (LBW)
• UPenn M&T Summer Institute
• National Youth Leadership Forum: Engineering
• Bank of America Student Leaders
• JP Morgan High School Programs
• Meta Summer Academy
• Chicago Summer Business Institute
• The Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI)
• DOROT Summer Teen Internship
• Interns4Good
• Ladders for Leaders
• KP LAUNCH
• NASA Internship Programs
• Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Are the Best Business Internships for High School Students?

Business internships for high school students give you the chance to step straight into the world of entrepreneurs, strategists, and decision-makers. You pick up real business skills, learn how to collaborate with a team, and get a clearer sense of which area of business—finance, marketing, management, entrepreneurship, or analytics—actually excites you.

Because of all that, joining these programs can help you stand out if you’re aiming to get into Ivy League schools known for business, such as UPenn, Harvard, and Columbia.

Below, you’ll find a lineup of business internships and programs worth paying attention to—complete with locations, timelines, and what you’ll actually be doing.

Let’s discuss them one by one.

1. MIT LaunchX

• Dates: Summer 2026 (examples include June 1–July 24 for Online Startup Experience; July 12–August 8 for the in-person Flagship)
• Location: Online and select in-person U.S. campus sites
• Cost: from $1,995 to $11,495

LaunchX lets you choose the path that matches what you want, whether it’s to get the basics, start a business, consult with a real company, or even intern at a startup.

You’ve got five core options, and programs run anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks:

• Online Flagship Entrepreneurship Program. A 5-week, team-based sprint where you build a real company from scratch, complete with testing and early sales.
• Online Innovation. Runs for 3 weeks and pairs you with a corporate partner to solve a real-world business challenge.
• BootCamp. A 2-week intro experience where you learn startup fundamentals and validate an idea.
• San Diego Flagship Program. A 4-week residential experience at UC San Diego where you prototype, iterate, and launch with in-person mentorship.
• San Diego Exploration. A 2-week builder-focused program where you develop ideas and create a working prototype.

To apply, you need to be a current high school student (usually 14–18) and demonstrate that you’re curious, motivated, and ready to work on a team. Acceptance is competitive, especially for the Flagship tracks.

We laid out the full LaunchX experience; take a look for more details.

2. Wharton Leadership in the Business World (LBW)

• Dates: Jun 7–27, 2026 | Jun 28–Jul 18, 2026 | Jul 19–Aug 8, 2026
• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (on campus at Wharton)
• Cost: $8,299 – $11,899

Wharton’s Leadership in the Business World (LBW) is a three-week, on-campus program built for rising seniors who want to understand how real companies operate and how leaders make decisions under pressure.

This business internship for high school students mixes classroom sessions with simulations, case discussions, and hands-on activities that push you to think like an executive. You’ll learn how to analyze internal and external business environments, use management frameworks, and build structured arguments. Your final challenge is a capstone case competition where your team develops and pitches a strategy for a real business scenario.

To get in, you need to be a current 11th-grader with strong academics (3.5+ unweighted GPA), proven leadership experience, and a clear interest in growing those skills. Admission is competitive, with roughly 120 students per session.

You can read our complete breakdown of LBW here.

3. UPenn Management & Technology Summer Institute (M&TSI)

• Dates: July 5–25, 2026
• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (on campus at Penn)
• Cost: $9,000

M&TSI is built for you if you love engineering and business and want a summer where you’ll experience a college-level course at UPenn. It’s a three-week, fully immersive, fast-paced program taught by real Wharton and Penn Engineering faculty.

The heart of M&TSI is the venture project. You team up, design a high-tech product, build a functional prototype, and develop a full go-to-market plan. Along the way, you’ll experience simulations from industry partners like Google, attend guest lectures from top professors, and wrap up with a final pitch evaluated by faculty, entrepreneurs, and investors. If you complete the course successfully, you also earn one full Penn college credit.

To apply, you’ll need strong academics and meaningful involvement in clubs, leadership roles, or community work. M&TSI admits only about 75 students each summer, making it highly selective. You must submit your high school transcript and two recommendation letters (at least one from a STEM teacher), and standardized test scores are optional.

Want the specifics on M&TSI? We organized everything in one place.

4. National Youth Leadership Forum: Business Innovation

• Dates: Varies by location (typically 8-day sessions throughout summer)
• Locations: Atlanta, GA | Berkeley, CA | New Haven, CT
• Cost: $3,999 – $4,599

NYLF Business Innovation is for high school students who want an introduction to how modern businesses operate and scale. Across eight days, you discuss essential business concepts such as customer acquisition, strategic thinking, financial management, and product development, and see how these ideas shape the companies we interact with every day.

A major highlight of this business internship for high school students is the Innovation Challenge, a multi-day experience where you and your team take on a real-world business problem. You’ll map customer journeys, evaluate market needs, build a prototype strategy, refine your pitch, and apply the same decision-making frameworks used by entrepreneurs and industry leaders.

To join, you must be a current high school student interested in business, entrepreneurship, leadership, or innovation. There are no strict GPA requirements. Cohort sizes vary by campus, and both residential and commuter options are available.

Participants may also apply for college credit through George Mason University upon completion of the program.

5. Bank of America Student Leaders

• Dates: 8-week internship + National Student Leaders Summit (July 21–26, 2025)
• Location: Local nonprofit placement in your community + Washington, D.C.
• Benefits: Completely free and paid internship plus all Summit expenses covered

Bank of America Student Leaders is one of the strongest options if you want real work experience and leadership training. Over eight weeks, you intern 35 hours a week at a local nonprofit like the Boys and Girls Clubs or Habitat for Humanity. It’s worth noting that this is a paid internship, not volunteer work, so you earn money while building real workforce skills.

A major part of the experience is the week-long Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. During this event, you join other high school leaders from nearly 100 communities across the country to explore how nonprofits, government agencies, and businesses collaborate to solve local challenges.

To be eligible, you must be a current high school junior or senior, legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship through September 2025, and able to commit to the full eight-week internship. The program selects more than 300 students each year.

Check out our full overview of the Bank of America Student Leaders to get the complete picture.

6. JP Morgan Chase High School Programs

• Dates: Varies by track (apprenticeships: 1–4 years | internships: 6–12 weeks)
• Location: Select U.S. locations depending on role and availability
• Benefits: Paid work experiences

JPMorgan Chase offers a few strong entry points if you’re in high school and want real industry experience. Their Apprenticeships are the most accessible for high school and community college students. These last anywhere from one to four years and give you a paid role at the bank while you continue your studies.

Meanwhile, their Internships are shorter, usually 6–12 weeks, and some locations open spots for current high schoolers as well. Some internships fall under their Emerging Talent Programs, which run year-round and offer additional mentorship and development.

Eligibility depends on the specific opening, but in general you need to be a current high school student or recent graduate for apprenticeships. Some internship tracks also accept high school applicants, especially those exploring business internships for high school students.

7. Meta Summer Academy

• Dates: June 16–July 25, 2025 (6 weeks, 30 hours/week)
• Location: Meta offices in the Bay Area (for eligible local communities only)
• Benefits: Paid summer experience

Meta Summer Academy is an opportunity to step inside one of the world’s biggest tech companies. Over six weeks, you learn coding fundamentals and explore different tech career paths.

The program runs like an early-career immersion. You spend the summer working with Meta employees, attending skill-building workshops, and completing projects that push you to think like a real contributor. You’ll take on business-focused tasks, participate in career sessions, and learn firsthand how areas like marketing, strategy, finance, and operations work together behind the scenes.

To apply, you must be a high school sophomore during the 2024–2025 school year and a full-year resident of East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City. You’ll submit two short-answer essays, a transcript with your 10th-grade first-semester grades, and a recommendation form. No experience is required, and a minimum 2.0 GPA is enough to qualify.

We put together a simple breakdown of Meta Summer Academy—feel free to explore it.

8. Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI)

• Dates: Runs during summer (exact weekly schedule varies by placement)
• Location: Chicago, Illinois (paid internships at local businesses and organizations)
• Benefits: Completely free and paid

The Chicago Summer Business Institute is built for you if you want a paid internship in Chicago. Over several weeks, you’re placed with a local company or organization where you get exposure to careers in business, finance, tech, engineering support roles, and more.

On top of the internship, CSBI provides workshops on communication, financial literacy, workplace professionalism, and college readiness. You get mentorship, job-shadowing opportunities, and a chance to build connections you can carry into future internships or part-time work.

To apply to this business internship for high school students, you must live in the City of Chicago, be a rising sophomore or junior for the 2025–2026 school year, have at least a 3.0 GPA, and come from a household earning below $80,000 per year. The application requires an official transcript, resume, essay, income verification form, and two recommendation letters.

9. The Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI)

• Dates: summer sessions typically run for 2 weeks
• Location: New York City (primarily at Hunter College and NYC public-school sites)
• Benefits: Completely free, as all programs are fully funded

The Bella Abzug Leadership Institute is focused on helping you build real leadership skills through hands-on practice, debate, civic engagement, and confidence-building workshops. Their programs are for teens and young adults (ages 13–21), especially those from underserved communities.

BALI offers several tracks you can choose from. Their Summer Leadership & Debate Intensives are two-week programs where you spend full days in workshops, debate labs, and speaker sessions. Their in-school and after-school programs run during the year and focus on public speaking, argumentation, and leadership development.

They also offer entrepreneurship and social-impact programs, where you explore how to build a project or initiative that helps your community. For returning students, the BALI Mentorship Program pairs you with professionals who can help you with career exploration, college prep, and goal-setting.

There’s no strict GPA requirement to apply, but you do need to show motivation, reliability, and a genuine interest in leadership or advocacy. Cohort sizes are small, usually around 60 students in summer programs.

10. DOROT Summer Teen Internship

• Dates: July 21–August 13, 2026 (4 weeks)
• Location: New York City (Manhattan and select nearby neighborhoods)
• Benefits: interns earn 100+ service hours

The DOROT Summer Teen Internship is a four-week, community-focused program where you build leadership skills by working directly with older adults. 

Your day-to-day schedule mixes workshops with individual visits to older adults. You might teach someone how to use their phone or laptop, help with art or music projects, lead a small-group discussion, or spend time playing games like chess or Scrabble.

These activities are designed to bridge the generational gap and help you understand what community leadership looks like in practice. You’ll also participate in creative arts sessions, technology support shifts, and reflection groups with your fellow interns.

To apply to this business internship for high school students, you need to be a rising 10th, 11th, or 12th grader and able to commit to the full four-week session, plus at least 15 volunteer hours during the following school year. The program is selective, and each intern receives an individualized schedule of workshops and visits.

11. Interns4Good

• Dates: Rolling start dates; timing depends on the internship you choose
• Location: Fully virtual
• Benefits: All internships are volunteer-based and flexible

Interns4Good is a great option if you want a flexible, fully virtual internship. They partner with nonprofits across the country and offer roles in areas like graphic design, social media management, video editing, curriculum development, blogging, and tutoring. 

You can even intern directly with Interns4Good by helping create classroom resources or supporting students through their tutor hotline.

The program is service-oriented, skill-based, and designed to help you grow. You choose the internship that matches your interests, then work on real projects that nonprofits actually use.

Each week, you log your hours through a simple form, and Interns4Good keeps official records you can submit for school, awards, or college applications.

Any high school student (grades 9–12) can apply, and there are no GPA requirements or strict prerequisites. You just need to show interest, reliability, and the willingness to contribute.

12. Ladders for Leaders

• Dates: June 15–July 24, 2026 (6 weeks, with optional extension)
• Location: Austin, Texas and surrounding areas
• Benefits: Paid internship (~$12/hour)

If you want to intern at Ladders for Leaders, you’ll first need to  complete Ladders for Leaders University—an 8-hour mix of webinars and in-person sessions that teaches you job readiness skills like communication, time management, money management, and professional etiquette. 

Once the program starts, you’re matched with a local employer in industries like business, tech, marketing, hospitality, healthcare, and more. You work at least 20 hours a week and earn about $12/hour. If things go well, you and your employer can even choose to continue the internship beyond the six weeks.

To apply, you must be 16–18 years old, currently enrolled in high school, have a competitive GPA, and live in Austin or nearby areas. You also need to attend orientation, complete at least 80% of Ladders for Leaders University, participate in a fundraiser, and be responsible for your own transportation to the worksite. Graduating seniors are welcome to apply.

13. KP LAUNCH (Kaiser Permanente)

• Dates: 8-week paid summer internship (exact dates vary by site)
• Location: Oakland, CA headquarters + Kaiser Permanente medical offices across Northern California
• Benefits: Paid internship

KP LAUNCH is a paid internship where you work alongside professionals in fields like IT, engineering support, business operations, data analytics, public health, and clinical services. 

Over the eight weeks, you’ll get direct work experience through assigned projects that matter to your department. You can expect mentorship, networking opportunities, professional development workshops, and exposure to leaders across different specialties. Interns also learn about the cultural and community-centered side of health care.

Eligibility varies slightly by track, but generally you need to be attending or planning to attend a community college or four-year university. Many positions are aimed at students from underrepresented backgrounds who want to explore health care careers, whether that’s clinical, administrative, technical, or analytical.

14. NASA Internship Programs (OSTEM & Pathways Internships)

• Dates: Vary by session (fall, spring, and summer options)
• Location: NASA centers and facilities across the U.S. (some roles may be hybrid/remote)
• Cost: Paid internships

NASA’s internship programs let you work directly with engineers, scientists, and mission teams. The OSTEM Internship Program is the most accessible track for college-bound students. You can join full time or part time and work on real projects related to engineering, space science, software development, robotics, data analysis, Earth science, aeronautics, and more.

The NASA Pathways Internship Program is a more advanced, multi-semester experience designed to lead directly into a full-time job at NASA after graduation. Pathways interns rotate through different assignments, build long-term relationships with mentors, and work on projects that match NASA’s future workforce needs.

Eligibility is strict. For OSTEM, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years old at the time of application, enrolled full time (or part time with at least 6 credits), and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. For Pathways, you must also be a U.S. citizen, maintain at least a 2.9 GPA, and be enrolled in a degree-seeking program with at least 15 semester hours completed.

We laid out the full NASA internships experience; take a look for more details.

15. Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship

• Dates: 8+ weeks (full-time, 35–40 hours/week; start dates vary by partner company, usually May or June)
• Location: Nationwide placements with media, entertainment, and tech companies
• Cost: full-time paid internship

The Emma Bowen Foundation (EBF) Summer Internship lets you explore media, entertainment, journalism, tech, engineering, PR, production, or business roles within the industry. Each summer, about 150 new and returning EBF Fellows intern with partner companies ranging from major news networks to tech firms, studios, and digital media brands.

As an EBF Fellow, you join a long-term career development pipeline that includes industry mentorship, exposure to top executives, professional workshops, one-on-one career coaching, and an annual conference. You also become part of a nationwide community of peers and alumni who now work across media and technology.

To apply, you must be a current high school senior or a college student graduating in spring 2026 or later. You also need a minimum 3.0 GPA, plans to attend (or continue attending) a four-year U.S. college, and a genuine interest in a media, entertainment, or tech career. The internship lasts at least eight continuous weeks, and most partners require a longer commitment.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the most prestigious business internships for high school students?

Programs like Wharton’s Future of the Business World, LaunchX (in its entrepreneurship-focused track), and competitive corporate business programs are often viewed as some of the most prestigious business internships for high school students. They’re structured, competitive, and offer real project experience in business and innovation.

2. Do business internships require previous business experience?

Not always. Some programs expect basic knowledge of business concepts, but many focus more on curiosity, teamwork, leadership potential, and a willingness to learn than on prior experience.

3. Are there virtual business internships available in 2026?

Yes. Programs like Interns4Good, remote corporate internships, and select university-run business experiences offer fully virtual or hybrid opportunities.

4. How competitive are business internships for high school students?

Highly competitive programs can admit fewer than 10–20% of applicants, especially those connected to major universities or top business organizations. Community-based, entrepreneurial, or virtual programs tend to be more accessible.

5. Can business internships improve my college application?

Absolutely. Business internships show initiative, leadership, and interest in fields like finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, or management. They help you build real skills and experiences that strengthen your essays, extracurricular profile, and overall application.

Takeaways

• Business-focused programs give you direct, hands-on experience, such as LaunchX and NYLF Business Innovation and help you understand what working in business actually feels like in practice.
• Paid opportunities like Bank of America Student Leaders, Ladders for Leaders, KP LAUNCH, and the Emma Bowen Foundation show that you can earn money while developing strong professional skills and learning how real organizations operate.
• Selective, college-level experiences such as Wharton LBW, Wharton’s Future of the Business World, and M&TSI reward strong academics, leadership, and initiative, making them standout résumé builders.
• Community-centered programs like DOROT, Interns4Good, and the BALI Fellowship help you develop communication, empathy, and leadership, traits that business schools value just as much as analytical or technical ability.
• Working with a college admissions expert can help you choose programs that truly match your strengths and future major.