If you’re a high school student in NYC, high school summer internships in 2026 can connect you with opportunities most students only read about. From global companies and research institutions to media organisations, nonprofits, startups, and cultural centres, the city offers access to professional experiences across nearly every field imaginable.

A strong summer internship can give you far more than a line on your resume. Imagine spending your summer assisting researchers in a university lab, helping plan marketing campaigns at a startup, supporting legal teams, or learning directly from professionals in finance, healthcare, journalism, technology, or the arts. These experiences allow you to step into real workplace environments and understand how professionals collaborate, solve problems, and make decisions every day.

How do you choose the right NYC summer internship in 2026 for high school students?

For high school students, internships can also be a valuable way to explore future career paths before college. Some programs are specialized and skill-focused, while others are designed to help build workplace experience through mentorship, networking, and project-based learning. Along the way, you develop communication, leadership, and time-management skills that are difficult to gain in a traditional classroom setting.

But not all internships provide the same level of mentorship or meaningful work. Some offer hands-on responsibilities and direct interaction with professionals, while others involve limited engagement or observation-based experiences. That’s why choosing the right opportunity matters, especially in a city with so many options available.

Across New York City, universities, corporations, nonprofits, museums, hospitals, and educational organizations offer exceptional summer internships designed specifically for high school students. Whether you’re interested in STEM, business, medicine, public policy, media, or the arts, there are opportunities that can help you gain practical experience while building confidence and professional direction.

To help you navigate the options, we’ve compiled a list of 15 NYC High School Summer Internships in 2026.

For more opportunities, consider internships in San Francisco. 

15 NYC High School Summer Internships in 2026

1. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center – Summer Student Program

Location: New York City, USA (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $1,200 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 20 students
Dates: June 29th – August 21st
Application Deadline: February 6th
Eligibility: High school juniors aged 14+ with a strong academic record in science; 3.5 GPA; must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. and reside in NY, NJ, or CT within commuting distance; not open to international students

During this program, one of the most selective NYC high school summer internships in 2026, you will spend several weeks working alongside researchers and learning about topics like tumor biology, genetics, and immunology in real-world lab settings. The program consists of observing experiments, assisting with data-related tasks, and attending seminars that link individual projects to larger research goals. Mentors help you learn how to read scientific literature, understand research questions, and effectively communicate findings.

You also learn how laboratory research is structured and how scientific discoveries evolve over time. By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of biomedical research pathways and whether careers in oncology or life sciences are a good fit for you.

Why it stands out: It immerses you in cancer research under active faculty mentorship, helping you gain lab skills rarely available to high schoolers.

2. Immerse Education’s New York Career Insights Summer School

Location: Barnard College, Columbia University, New York
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts with rolling admissions
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 15-18

The Career Insights Program lets high school students explore careers in major global industry hubs. The NYC High School Summer track is designed to give students direct exposure to real-world NYC High School Summer workflows and professional environments. Participants engage in project-based learning with established companies, attend interactive workshops, and visit offices, factories, and headquarters.

The program also includes weekly 1:1 career coaching sessions and personalized feedback on your resume and overall profile. You’ll present your findings to industry experts at the end of the program. You can find more details about the application here.

Why it stands out: You’ll gain direct industry exposure, build a professional network, and receive a certificate you can include in your college applications and work profile.

3. Rockefeller University Summer Science Research Program (SSRP)

Location: New York City, USA (The Rockefeller University)
Cost/Stipend: No cost / Need-based travel stipends available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; 32 students per summer
Dates: June 22nd – August 6th
Application Deadline: January 2nd
Eligibility: High school students in grades 11-12 who are at least 16 by the start of the program; open to international students

Rockefeller’s SSRP provides a full-time, lab-based research opportunity at a leading biomedical research institution. You are assigned to a working laboratory where you will work with PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty mentors on ongoing scientific projects. You participate in ongoing research in areas such as neuroscience, cell biology, and genetics, gaining insight into how scientific questions are developed and investigated.

The program teaches you basic laboratory techniques, data collection, and the process of documenting research results. You also learn how to interpret results and present your work in a scientific setting. The experience culminates with a poster presentation.

Why it stands out: It focuses on independent research, mentorship from eminent researchers, and a final poster presentation, providing you with valuable experience for STEM applications.

4. NYU Tandon Applied Research Innovations in Science & Engineering (ARISE)

Location: Brooklyn, New York City, USA (NYU Tandon School of Engineering)
Cost/Stipend: No cost / $2,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; around 60 students
Dates: Remote workshops: June 1-25; In-person lab sessions: July 6th – August 14th
Application Deadline: February 27th
Eligibility: Current 10th and 11th-grade students residing in New York City; not open to international students

NYU Tandon’s ARISE program brings an engineering and applied research route into the many NYC high school summer internships in 2026, beginning with remote workshops before moving into an in-person research internship. You are paired with faculty and graduate mentors to work on ongoing, real-world research projects in interdisciplinary STEM fields.

The program prioritizes hands-on learning, allowing you to participate in active research rather than simulated exercises, which helps you understand how complex scientific problems are investigated. Throughout the experience, you will gain skills in data analysis, experimentation, and critical thinking in a university lab setting. You also write a formal research paper and present your findings, which improves both your analytical and communication skills.

Why it stands out: You’ll get access to NYU’s alumni network with jobs, internships, and research opportunities.

5. Columbia University – BRAINYAC (Brain Research Apprenticeships in New York at Columbia)

Location: Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
Cost: No cost; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; limited cohort (exact acceptance rate not publicly available)
Dates: Multi-week summer program (typically July – August; exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort (Typically late October for summer)
Eligibility: High school students (primarily from New York City public schools); not open to international students

BRAINYAC is a neuroscience-focused research program in which you collaborate directly with Columbia faculty and researchers on projects related to brain science, neurology, and mental health. The program begins with a seminar series that covers fundamental concepts in neuroscience, such as brain structure, cognition, and neurological disorders. You are then assigned to a research lab, where you will work on ongoing projects while learning about experimental methods, data collection, and analysis.

You engage in real lab-based work within a medical research setting, which allows you to see how neuroscience research is conducted in clinical and academic environments. The experience concludes with a research presentation in which you discuss your findings and reflect on your work.

Why it stands out: You’ll be placed in a medical research lab and work on neuroscience projects with mentorship, helping you understand how research is conducted in both academic and clinical environments.

6. High School Summer Live – Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT)

Location: Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Tuition varies by course; students also pay a non-refundable registration fee. Scholarships may be available for eligible students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open-enrollment programme; class sizes vary by subject
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout June, July, and August
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until classes fill
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12; open to U.S. and international students who meet participation requirements

FIT’s High School Summer Live programme gives students hands-on exposure to creative industries through pre-college classes taught on FIT’s Manhattan campus. Depending on the course you choose, you may study journalism, fashion business, photography, marketing, graphic design, illustration, advertising, styling, or digital media while working on practical assignments and portfolio projects.

This is especially useful if you want to explore creative careers in NYC while experiencing university life at a specialized college connected to the fashion, media, and design industries. Students also gain exposure to FIT’s campus environment, studios, and peer network while building portfolio-ready work.

Why it stands out: It combines industry-focused creative coursework with hands-on projects and exposure to New York’s fashion, media, and design sectors through FIT’s specialized pre-college environment.

7. New York City School Construction Authority Internship Program

Location: New York City School Construction Authority (NYCSCA), Queens, NY and project sites across New York City
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; compensation varies by role and academic level
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies annually based on departmental openings
Dates: Summer internships typically run from June through August
Application Deadline: Applications generally open during the spring hiring cycle
Eligibility: High school, college, and graduate students who meet NYCSCA employment requirements; applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States

The NYCSCA Internship Program gives students direct exposure to public-sector infrastructure, construction, architecture, engineering, and administrative operations through placements within the New York City School Construction Authority. Depending on your department, you may assist with project coordination, design review, engineering support, budgeting, facilities planning, architecture documentation, or operational workflows.

This is especially useful if you are interested in architecture, urban planning, engineering, construction management, or public infrastructure careers and want experience inside a major New York government agency. Students also gain insight into how technical, financial, and logistical teams collaborate on city-wide development initiatives.

Why it stands out: It combines paid public-sector internship experience with exposure to real NYC construction and infrastructure projects involving architecture, engineering, and urban development.

8. Summer High School Internship Program – The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; interns receive an hourly wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohort size varies annually
Dates: July 8th – August 16th
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March
Eligibility: New York City high school students entering grades 10-12; applicants must be authorized to work in the United States

The Met’s Summer High School Internship Program adds a creative pathway to the various NYC high school summer internships in 2026, giving students the opportunity to work closely with museum staff while exploring careers in art, education, conservation, archives, digital media, and museum operations. Interns are placed within departments across the museum and contribute to projects such as research, public programming, visitor engagement, content development, and collection-related work.

Alongside departmental assignments, students participate in professional development workshops, gallery discussions, and career exploration sessions led by museum professionals. By the end of the internship, students gain both practical workplace exposure and a stronger understanding of careers connected to the arts and humanities.

Why it stands out: It combines paid museum work experience with mentorship, professional workshops, and project-based learning inside one of the world’s largest art museums.

9. BioBus Junior Scientist Internship – Student Research NYC / BioBus

Location: New York City, NY (BioBus laboratories and partner locations across NYC)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; interns receive a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies annually
Dates: Summer session typically runs from July through August
Application Deadline: Applications generally close in the spring
Eligibility: New York City high school students; applicants must meet grade and residency requirements specified in each cycle

The BioBus Junior Scientist Internship gives New York City high school students hands-on laboratory and research experience in biology and related STEM fields. Interns work alongside scientists and educators while learning laboratory techniques such as microscopy, sample preparation, experimental design, data collection, and scientific communication. The programme emphasizes mentorship and inquiry-based learning, encouraging students to ask research questions and engage directly with scientific tools and methods.

This is especially useful if you are interested in biology, public health, neuroscience, environmental science, or biomedical research and want early exposure to laboratory work in NYC. By the end of the internship, students gain practical research experience and a stronger understanding of STEM pathways in higher education and industry.

Why it stands out: It combines paid laboratory experience, scientist mentorship, microscopy training, and research-based learning through one of NYC’s most accessible student-focused science organizations.

10. Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) – American Museum of Natural History

Location: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; students receive a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 60 students are accepted annually
Dates: October – May, with additional summer research opportunities for some participants
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in June
Eligibility: New York City high school students entering grades 10 or 11 who attend NYC public or charter schools and are authorized to work in the United States

The American Museum of Natural History’s Science Research Mentoring Program (SRMP) pairs high school students with museum scientists for long-term research mentorship across fields such as biology, anthropology, astrophysics, computer science, environmental science, and paleontology. The programme includes weekly meetings, workshops, and mentorship sessions that mirror the structure of early undergraduate research experiences.

This is especially useful if you want sustained research experience and direct mentorship from working scientists before applying to STEM-focused university programmes. Because the programme runs over several months, students gain a deeper understanding of how scientific research develops over time rather than only through short-term activities.

Why it stands out: It combines paid long-term research mentorship with direct access to museum scientists, laboratories, collections, and university-style scientific research experiences.

11. The Children’s Law Center (CLC) Administrative Internship

Location: Brooklyn, New York
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 5-10 students
Dates: Summer cohort (June to August), Fall cohort (September to December), and Spring cohort (January to May)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Currently high school students; basic understanding of office software and administrative tasks; able to reliably commute to the Brooklyn, New York office; open to international students

As an intern at The Children’s Law Center, you will gain firsthand experience with the operations of a non-profit law firm that represents minors in family court. You look at topics like child advocacy and legal administration from a hands-on perspective.

During your term, you will manage case files, archive records, and assist with office tasks while shadowing attorneys and social workers. The ability to observe actual court proceedings involving children is a unique feature of this program. You gain valuable skills in professional communication and organizational management while learning how legal documentation affects a child’s welfare.

Why it stands out: It allows you to observe the unique collaboration between attorneys and social workers as they navigate the legal complexities of child representation.

12. Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) – Coro New York Leadership Center

Location: Coro New York Leadership Center, New York City, NY
Cost: Participants receive a stipend
Dates: Begins with a two-week summer intensive followed by five YLA Days during the academic year
Application Deadline: Varies annually
Eligibility: Students entering 10th, 11th, or 12th grade at a New York City public high school (primarily for NYC students; not open to international applicants)

The Youth Leadership Academy at Coro New York teaches you about leadership through the lens of civic engagement and education policy in New York City’s public school system. You start with a two-week summer intensive focusing on self-reflection, collaboration, systems thinking, and understanding how large public institutions work. YLA sessions continue throughout the school year, allowing you to put these skills to use through public speaking exercises, group facilitation, and real-world policy conversations with the NYC Department of Education.

The program emphasizes experiential learning, encouraging you to evaluate problems affecting students and design solutions based on leadership practice. Participating exposes you to civic leadership pathways and provides a better understanding of how leadership and public policy studies can be applied to future college majors or careers.

Why it stands out: It combines a funded summer leadership intensive with year-long mentorship and direct engagement in real education policy discussions.

13. High School Internship – Manhattan District Attorney’s Office

Location: New York, NY
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically ~25-30 students
Dates: June 29th – July 31st
Application Deadline: Mid-March
Eligibility: Current sophomores, juniors, or seniors (10th, 11th, or 12th grade); reside in Manhattan and possess valid U.S. work authorization; not open to international students

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office High School Internship provides students with hands-on experience in public-sector legal work within one of the nation’s most prominent prosecutors’ offices. You can help with administrative projects, observe office operations, assist with research tasks, and learn how attorneys, investigators, and professional staff collaborate on criminal cases.

You also learn about ethics, justice systems, and the responsibilities involved in public prosecution. Because the office handles a wide range of complex cases, the internship will allow you to learn how legal work intersects with public safety and civic institutions. Working in a professional government setting also improves communication skills, organization, and workplace confidence.

Why it stands out: It places students inside a major district attorney’s office, offering firsthand insight into criminal justice and the day-to-day realities of public legal work

14. Simons Summer Research Program – Stony Brook University

Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; participants receive a stipend of approximately $1,000 upon successful completion of the program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 40 students are accepted each year
Dates: June 30th – August 8th
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old at the start of the program and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Applicants must live within commuting distance of Stony Brook University because housing is not provided

The Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University gives students the opportunity to work alongside faculty researchers in fields such as biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geosciences, mathematics, neurobiology, and physics. The programme also includes faculty lectures, workshops, tours, and professional development sessions that introduce students to university research culture and STEM career pathways.

Throughout the summer, participants develop technical skills such as data analysis, laboratory methods, coding, scientific reading, and research communication. This is especially useful if you want sustained university-level research experience before applying to STEM-focused colleges or competitive science programmes. 

Why it stands out: It combines funded faculty-mentored research with laboratory or computational project work and a final symposium at one of New York’s major public research universities.

15. Montefiore Einstein High School Research Program in Cancer (BEYOND ALBERT)

Location: Albert Einstein College of Medicine / Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bronx, NY
Cost: Free to apply and participate. Participants receive a stipend (e.g., $2,500), a MetroCard for transportation, and often a daily meal voucher
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Full-time, 8-week summer session
Application Deadline: January 12th
Eligibility: High-school students aged 16 or older, rising juniors or seniors, residing in the Bronx and attending a Bronx high school

The BEYOND ALBERT program allows you to gain hands-on experience in cancer biology and related biomedical sciences by working in biomedical research labs. Under the supervision of faculty members, you will work with experienced researchers on lab experiments, data collection, and group projects. The program also provides professional development workshops, seminars, and mentoring sessions to help students improve their scientific literacy, research skills, and long-term academic planning.

Following completion, you will receive a stipend, transportation assistance, meal support, and, if eligible, college credits through the Lehman College Now Program. You can enhance your preparation for biomedical studies by participating in weekly seminars and ongoing mentoring throughout the academic year. 

Why it stands out: You could build a foundation for pre-med and biomedical research pathways because of the mentorship by Einstein faculty, and by creating research presentations.

From NYC Internships to Career Direction

A summer in New York can feel like opening several doors at once: labs, courtrooms, studios, museums, offices, and research centres.

With NYC high school summer internships in 2026, you can see how professionals think, communicate, solve problems, and build careers in real environments.

That kind of exposure helps you make better choices, because you are not only reading about industries; you are noticing where your strengths fit.

For your next move, visit our Career Exploration blogs for clear guidance on career routes, essential skills, industry insights, and study options.