Top Online Internships for High School Students in 2025–2026

Finding meaningful experience before college doesn’t have to involve traveling or spending your summer on-site. Today, online internships for high school students offer flexible, accessible, and impactful ways to explore career paths and improve college applications from home. In this guide, you’ll discover the top online internships worth considering—and how each one can help you stand out.

• What Are the Best Online Internships for High School Students?
• NASA Internship
• NIH High School Summer Internship Program
• Smithsonian Virtual High School Internships
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum High School Internship
• Smithsonian Science Education Center Internship Program
• National Geographic Student Expeditions
• Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences
• George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program
• Foreign Policy Research Institute Internships
• Ladder Internships
• American Psychological Association Remote Internships
• AEOP High School Apprenticeship Program
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Are the Best Online Internships for High School Students?

Online internships for high school students show colleges that you still made time for hands-on experiences that explore your passions and interests. These can help you stand out to colleges since they value students who keep learning outside the classroom.

Here’s a quick overview of the best online internships for high school students  that offer strong mentorship, real-world experience, and flexible learning, including each program’s location and dates:

Let’s discuss each online internship one by one.

1. NASA Internship

• Dates: Late May – early August 2026 (10-week summer program)
• Location: NASA centers nationwide (various facilities across the U.S.; some virtual options)
• Cost: Free (paid internship; interns receive a stipend)

The NASA Internship (via the Office of STEM Engagement) offers juniors and seniors a hands-on summer research experience. These online internships for high school students offer remote projects where interns work on real aerospace and STEM projects with NASA engineers and scientists over 10 weeks. This gives them experience in fields like space engineering, robotics, or data analysis.

Participants collaborate on mission-driven tasks (e.g. satellite experiments or coding for space missions) and receive professional mentorship and a stipend. This program’s prestige and direct NASA research involvement set it apart as a unique summer opportunity.

If you’re curious about one of the most prestigious STEM opportunities for high school students, check out our comprehensive guide to NASA internships and explore how you can work alongside scientists and engineers on real space-focused projects.

2. NIH High School Summer Internship Program

• Dates: Summer 2026 (approx. June – August, 8-week program)
• Location: NIH campuses (Bethesda, MD and other U.S. sites)
• Cost: Free (full-time internship; stipend provided ~$2,300–$2,840)

NIH’s HS-SIP places high school juniors and seniors in biomedical research labs across the NIH system (notably Bethesda) for an 8-week intensive summer. Interns engage in authentic lab research, such as analyzing genomic data or assisting in clinical studies, under NIH scientists. It is a paid program, with a stipend for all full-time participants.

As one of the most competitive online internships for high school students in medicine, it provides career-building workshops and networking events in addition to lab work. Its unique appeal lies in offering teenagers a direct window into NIH’s cutting-edge research environment.

3. Smithsonian Virtual High School Internships

• Dates: Summer 2026 (8-week remote internships, typically in July–August)
• Location: Virtual (remote with Smithsonian museums and research centers)
• Cost: Free (no program fee)

The Smithsonian Virtual High School Internships allow students to intern remotely with various Smithsonian units (libraries, archives, research centers, etc.). Over 8 weeks, interns work on projects in fields like history, science, or art—for example, digitizing museum collections or supporting education outreach.

These online internships for high school students are unpaid, but offer mentorship from Smithsonian professionals and real contributions (such as creating educational content or conducting archival research).

The program stands out for its breadth: projects can range from social media communications to scientific data curation. Participants gain a behind-the-scenes view of the Smithsonian’s mission to preserve heritage and advance knowledge.

4. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum High School Internship

• Dates: Summer 2026 (10-week program)
• Location: Washington, D.C. (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum)
• Cost: Free (interns receive a $7,000 stipend)

The NASM High School Internship offers in-person and hybrid internships at the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum. Interns spend 10 weeks working on aviation and STEM projects: they might assist with the museum’s STEAM camps, research topics for educational videos, or help plan outreach programs. Although partly onsite, it also includes virtual components, making it relevant for online internships for high school students interested in space science and museum studies.

Students gain hands-on museum experience and attend educational programs, while earning a $7,000 stipend. This internship is notable for blending technical aerospace topics with museum education, giving interns a unique applied-learning environment.

5. Smithsonian Science Education Center Internship Program

• Dates: Summer 2026 (May – August, ~8–10 weeks)
• Location: Virtual (Smithsonian SSEC headquarters)
• Cost: Free (paid internship; stipend provided)

Smithsonian’s Science Education Center offers fully online internships for high school students focusing on digital media, curriculum development, and science communication. Interns (typically age 16+) choose between Communications or Global Goals projects and spend the summer creating educational materials, social media content, or multimedia curricula.

Over 8–10 weeks, interns learn to apply science education in real programs—for example, assisting with SSEC marketing strategies or developing global science lesson plans. The internship is paid and runs May–August. It’s unique in training students to translate STEM concepts into teaching tools, and interns gain exposure to both educational design and museum-level outreach.

6. National Geographic Student Expeditions

• Dates: Summer 2026 (late June–early August, with trips ~9–22 days)
• Location: Various international destinations (global field programs, some virtual prep)
• Cost: $6,500–$8,990 program fee (plus airfare)

National Geographic Student Expeditions runs immersive field programs (with some virtual project components) for high schoolers. Students join guided trips around the world (e.g. wildlife reserves, engineering workshops, or scientific labs).

Led by National Geographic Explorers, participants undertake projects in areas like conservation, photography, robotics, or climate science, collaborating with mentors and peers. Although these are travel programs, they’re included here as broad online internships for high school students because of NatGeo’s online learning resources and global STEM focus.

The expeditions are short (9–22 days) and held June–August. They are expensive, costing roughly $6,500–$9,000 tuition plus travel expenditures, but they offer unparalleled hands-on learning and mentorship. Students gain a global perspective, field-research experience, and portfolio projects with National Geographic’s backing.

7. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences

• Dates: Summer 2026 (In-person: June – Aug, 8 weeks; Virtual: July – Aug, 5 weeks)
• Location: Baltimore, MD (JHU School of Medicine) and Remote
• Cost: Free (virtual interns get a $500 stipend; in-person interns are paid hourly)

Johns Hopkins’s Brain Sciences internship offers two tracks for high schoolers: an on-campus research program and a shorter virtual program. Baltimore-area students work 8 weeks full-time in neurology labs, while a 5-week remote track is open to students nationwide. Both tracks include hands-on neuroscience projects under the guidance of JHU faculty.

The online internship for high school students is designed to engage participants in cutting-edge brain science. Virtual interns receive a $500 stipend, and in-person interns earn an hourly wage. Unique to this internship is its focus on brain research and its mentorship of underrepresented students in STEM. Interns conduct experiments and participate in seminars and professional development, providing a comprehensive introduction to neuroscience.

8. George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program

• Dates: June 18 – August 12, 2026 (8-week program)
• Location: Fairfax, Virginia (George Mason University campus)
• Cost: $25 application fee; $1,299 program tuition (waivers available for those who need them)

GMU’s ASSIP is a highly competitive summer research program. Accepted high schoolers spend 8 weeks doing original research under faculty mentors at Mason’s campus. Interns use advanced lab equipment and even earn 3 college credits for their work. This is effectively a college-level research course: participants pay a $1,299 tuition (plus a $25 application fee), though scholarships and waivers can reduce the cost.

ASSIP is notable among online internships for high school students because it offers hybrid (virtual/in-person) options and culminates in a formal research symposium. It stands out by providing dedicated mentorship in a wide range of STEM fields, giving interns both academic rigor and practical lab experience.

9. Foreign Policy Research Institute Internships

• Dates: Summer 2026 (June – August)
• Location: Virtual or Philadelphia, PA (FPRI headquarters)
• Cost: Free (unpaid or stipend-based; some positions are paid)

The FPRI Internship Program offers high school students experience in international affairs and policy research. Interns are paired with FPRI scholars and staff to assist with research, communications, and event planning.

Interns can produce policy briefs, contribute to FPRI’s “Intern Corner” publications, and participate in weekly foreign policy seminars. While most roles are unpaid, some positions include small stipends. FPRI internships are unique for their seminar series and direct access to policy experts, preparing students for careers in international relations.

10. Ladder Internships

• Dates: Year-round (multiple 8–12 week cohorts, including Summer 2026)
• Location: Virtual (participants work remotely from anywhere)
• Cost: Starting at $2,490 (tuition; financial aid available)

Ladder is a large-scale program that matches high schoolers with virtual internships at startups and NGOs. Students choose projects based on their interests (e.g. tech, AI, finance) and spend around 8–12 weeks working 10–15 hours a week under a company supervisor and a Ladder coach. All Ladder opportunities are fully online. This online internship for high school students offers professional development workshops and requires interns to present their work.

Unlike free internships, Ladder charges tuition (about $2,490 starting cost), but it’s one of the few structured programs that guarantee a virtual placement anywhere in the world. Its emphasis on real startup projects and soft-skill training sets it apart as a unique, at-home internship experience.

11. American Psychological Association Remote Internships

• Dates: Year-round (internships available throughout 2026)
• Location: Virtual (remote from home)
• Cost: Free (unpaid; some internships may offer stipends)

APA’s Internship Program provides remote opportunities for teens interested in psychology and related fields. High schoolers can intern with APA staff on projects ranging from research to policy to communications. These online internships for high school students are flexible in timing and are offered throughout the year. Interns participate in professional training and workshops and may even earn a stipend in some roles.

This program is notable for exposing students to how psychological research and policy work in a major organization, including attending APA events and developing practical skills. It stands out by connecting young learners with experts in mental health and advocacy.

12. AEOP High School Apprenticeship Program

• Dates: Summer 2026 (8-week program)
• Location: U.S. Army research labs (e.g. Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD)
• Cost: Free (includes an educational stipend)

The Army Educational Outreach Program’s High School Apprenticeship (HSAP) offers juniors and seniors an 8-week laboratory internship in Army STEM research. Selected students will work in professional labs (such as the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense) alongside scientists and engineers. Interns act as research assistants on real projects in fields like chemistry or engineering.

The program is fully funded, and all participants receive a stipend for the duration. As a highly hands-on online internship for high school students (with some programs offering hybrid formats), HSAP is unique for giving teenagers a deep immersion in defense-related research. It provides mentorship by Army scientists and a clear path into STEM careers, distinguishing it from more general internships.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is considered the most prestigious online internship for high school students?

The NASA High School Internship is widely regarded as the most prestigious online internship for high school students. It offers access to real NASA research projects, mentorship from scientists and engineers, and opportunities that can significantly strengthen a college application—especially for students interested in STEM fields.

2. What makes an online internship good for high school students?

A strong online internship offers structured mentorship, hands-on tasks, clear learning goals, and opportunities to build real-world skills. The best programs also provide feedback, networking opportunities, and project-based work you can showcase on college applications.

3. How competitive are online internships for high school students?

Competitiveness varies. Programs like research or tech-focused internships may require strong grades, essays, or recommendations, while nonprofit or community-based internships tend to be more accessible.

4. Can online internships improve my college application?

Yes. They show admissions officers that you’re proactive, responsible, and genuinely curious about exploring your interests. Internships also help you build real skills, complete meaningful projects, and gain experiences you can highlight in your essays, resume, and interviews.

5. Are online internships recognized by colleges?

Yes. Colleges value online internships because they show initiative, time management, and genuine interest in a field. As long as the internship involves meaningful work—such as research, coding, writing, or community service—it can strengthen both your resume and your application.

Takeaways

• Finding the right online internship can open doors long before you step onto a college campus.
• The top online internships for high school students in 2025–2026 give you the chance to gain real experience, work with professionals, and explore careers from the comfort of your home.
• Whether you choose a research program, a corporate internship, or a nonprofit opportunity, each experience helps you build confidence, sharpen your skills, and strengthen your applications.
• If you want personalized guidance on which online internship matches your goals, check out our Academic & Extracurricular Profile Evaluation to make your experience stand out on college applications.