📅Apply early for 2027 programs. Most competitive programs (NASA, NIH, Bank of America) open applications in October–January and fill quickly. Set a reminder now — waiting until March means most deadlines are already passed.
1
NASA OSTEM Internship
NASA
$6,000–$11,000 stipend
STEMMin age 16+GPA 3.0+📅 Opens October, deadline March
Work at NASA centers nationwide. One of the most prestigious HS internships. Paid by NSPIRES system. Must be US citizen.
2
NIH Summer Internship Program
National Institutes of Health
~$17/hr
STEM / HealthcareMin age 16+📅 January–March
8–10 week research program at NIH campus in Bethesda, MD. Highly competitive. Strong STEM background required.
3
Bank of America Student Leaders
Bank of America
Paid + DC Leadership Summit
Community / FinanceMin age 16–18📅 ~January 15
8-week paid internship at local nonprofits + all-expenses-paid Leadership Summit in Washington DC. Community service focus.
4
Department of Navy SEAP
US Dept. of Navy
$4,000–$4,500 stipend
STEM / GovernmentMin age 10th grade+GPA 3.0+📅 October–December
Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program. Work at one of 38+ Navy labs. Must be US citizen.
5
NYC Summer Youth Employment Program
NYC Department of Youth
$15.00+/hr (NYC min wage)
AnyMin age 14–24📅 January–March (lottery)
100,000+ youth placed annually. No GPA or experience required. NYC residents only. Wide variety of job placements.
6
Goldman Sachs Summer Analyst
Goldman Sachs
Paid (competitive)
FinanceMin age Rising junior/seniorGPA 3.5+📅 October–November
10-week program for exceptional HS students in the 'Possibilities Summit' pre-program. Extremely competitive. NYC primarily.
7
Youth Conservation Corps
National Park Service
Paid (varies by project)
EnvironmentMin age 15–18📅 February–March
Work on conservation projects in national parks. Housing often provided for residential programs. Strong college app credential.
8
STEM@GTRI (Georgia Only)
Georgia Tech Research Institute
Paid stipend
STEM / GeorgiaMin age 16+, GA residentGPA 3.0+📅 February–March
5-week paid STEM research program for Georgia high school students. Work alongside GTRI researchers.
What are the best paid internships for high school students?
NASA OSTEM ($6K–$11K stipend), NIH Summer Internship (~$17/hr), Department of Navy SEAP ($4,000–$4,500), Bank of America Student Leaders (paid + DC summit), and city SYEP programs (no GPA req, open to ages 14+) are the top paid programs in 2026.
When do summer internship applications open?
Most competitive programs open October–January. NASA opens in October. NIH opens January–March. Bank of America Student Leaders closes around January 15. City SYEP programs open January–March. Set calendar reminders now for 2027 applications.
Are there paid internships with no GPA requirement?
Yes — NYC SYEP, Boston SYEP, Chicago ONE Summer Chicago, and Youth Conservation Corps have no GPA requirements and are open to all eligible youth. These are excellent options for 14–24 year olds who haven't qualified for selective research programs.