10 Internships for High School Students in Ohio
Looking to gain professional experience while still in high school? Ohio offers many internship opportunities that allow you to explore potential careers, develop professional skills, and build valuable connections. From university research positions to hands-on experience with industry leaders, these programs provide unique learning experiences. Completing an internship in high school can also boost your college applications by showing admissions officers your commitment to learning beyond the classroom.
Here are 10 great internship opportunities for high school students in Ohio!
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Location: NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid internship; Interns are responsible for their own housing.
Program dates: 10 weeks between early June and August
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens, at least 16 years old, and have a minimum GPA of 3.0
The Glenn Research Center's Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Internship offers students learning experiences in technical and non-technical fields. You will collaborate with NASA professionals to develop space communication technologies and networking tools. The program allows interns to return multiple times and undertake increasingly sophisticated assignments. Mentors support each intern's career advancement. The experience concludes with a formal showcase where you will present your work to NASA staff and industry representatives. The program sponsors one participant's attendance at the Space Generation Advisory Council's yearly global conference, which rotates between different international venues.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,490
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have prior experience with AI/ML or have completed a Veritas AI program
The AI Internship Program by Veritas AI is founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the 8-week internship, students have the opportunity to work with VC-backed startups on real-world AI/ML projects. Students work directly with mentors from Harvard, Wharton, Google, Microsoft, McKinsey & Company, and more.
This program is a great opportunity for students who have prior experience with AI/ML and are looking to gain real-world exposure to a career in the field. Students get a chance to network with industry professionals, work closely with company leadership, and receive a letter of completion from the company at the end of the internship. You can learn more about the program here and apply here.
Location: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Cost/Stipend: Interns are paid $13/hour
Program Dates: 8 weeks starting June 4
Application Deadline: February 1; applications open in November
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors resident in the Cincinnati metropolitan area
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center provides a summer program for high school graduates exploring careers in biomedicine. You will participate in mentorship opportunities across various pediatric departments, including Critical Care, Human Genetics, and Endocrinology. This experience enables you to contribute to significant projects while discovering medical specialties. The curriculum features regular networking lunches, practice with pediatric patient simulations, and volunteer work in the community. You will showcase your learning through an end-of-program presentation.
Location: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Cost/Stipend: Interns are paid $15/hour
Program Dates: June 9 – July 25
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current high school students who are U.S. citizens and will be at least 15 years old by June 1
The CYCE High School Summer Internship Program gives local high school students professional experience across three tracks. You can focus on advanced technology paths, non-clinical healthcare operations, or clinical areas. In the non-clinical healthcare operations track, you will gain experience in finance and healthcare administration, participating in department operations and learning about healthcare management systems. Those in clinical areas like nursing, pharmacy, and respiratory care will work directly with healthcare professionals, observe patient care procedures, and learn about medical technologies and protocols. The program concludes with a graduation ceremony.
Location: Greater Cincinnati area, Cincinnati, Ohio
Cost/Stipend: Interns are paid $13/hour
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 23
Eligibility: Current high school students
The INTERalliance INTERnship Program connects high school students with leading technology companies in Greater Cincinnati for meaningful summer work experiences. Working alongside industry professionals at companies like P&G and GE, you will gain experience in information technology while learning about leadership in the tech industry. Students typically work 37-40 hours weekly, engaging in substantial projects and professional development opportunities rather than basic administrative tasks. Through this internship, you will build technical skills and professional connections to build a foundation for future academic and career opportunities.
Location: Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend is provided but amount has not been specified
Program Dates: June 2 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 10
Eligibility: Current high school students who are U.S. citizens and live in the Columbus area
The Manufacturing and Materials Joining Innovation Center (Mₐ²JIC) at Ohio State University offers high school students a research experience in Welding Engineering. Working alongside graduate student mentors, you will contribute to research projects that explore the science and engineering behind welding processes and materials. You will work on materials testing, data analysis, and computational modeling. You will develop professional skills and conclude the internship by presenting your findings through a capstone presentation and research poster. You will also have the opportunity to submit your work to the American Welding Society competition.
Location: Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend of $3,200 provided
Program Dates: To be announced
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Current high school students
This program collaborates with the Expanding Visions Foundation to provide meaningful professional experiences for students from underserved communities near the Ohio State University campus. You will engage in various activities, from conducting technical research projects to supporting library operations and participating in community outreach initiatives. You will benefit from weekly seminars, department meetings, and dedicated mentorship from non-supervisory staff. Each intern is matched with trained supervisors and mentors.
Location: Franklin area, OH
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend amount not specified
Program Dates: Varies based on internship
Application Deadline: Varies based on internship
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
HSIP offers rising high school seniors in Central Ohio an introduction to public service careers. Through this program, you can earn six Ohio State University credits while gaining practical experience in public sector organizations. You will participate in two complementary courses alongside your internship: Public Affairs 1191, which facilitates peer connections and professional development, and Public Affairs 2110, which explores U.S. public policy development and implementation. Internship placements span diverse public service organizations, including government offices, nonprofit organizations, and public health agencies. Past participants have worked with organizations such as the Ohio House of Representatives, League of Women Voters Ohio, and Franklin County Public Health.
Location: Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend amount not specified
Program Dates: June 8 – August 5
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Current high school students
The National Institute of Health supports this research opportunity that introduces students to advanced studies in neuroscience and biomedicine. You can specialize in one of three pathways: Neuroscience, Neurological Injury, or Neurodegeneration. Under the guidance of experienced researchers, you will engage in laboratory investigations, develop scientific communication skills, and share your findings through formal presentations. This paid program emphasizes practical research experience and professional relationship-building within the scientific community.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.