10 Internships for High School Students in Rhode Island
If you're a high school student in Rhode Island, internships can be a great way to gain real-world experience and develop useful skills for the future. By participating in an internship, you’ll have the chance to work alongside professionals, see how industries operate, and apply what you’ve learned in school to practical situations. This hands-on experience can be invaluable in helping you commit to a major in college.
An internship also gives you a unique edge in college applications. Internships show college admissions officers that you’re curious and willing to take the initiative to explore your interests. Beyond that, internships allow you to form valuable connections with professionals who can mentor you as you plan your next steps. If you’re ready to start thinking about your future, internships are a great way to bridge the gap between school and your career goals.
Here are the 10 best internships for high school students in Rhode Island!
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: Various locations across Rhode Island, depending on internship placement.
Cost: Free; participants are paid $15/hour.
Program Dates: July 7 – August 15
Application Deadline: Applications open November 4
Eligibility: Open to current high school juniors who attend a Rhode Island public or charter school or are home-schooled with a local LEA, are Rhode Island residents, and will be at least 16 years old by March 30.
The PrepareRI High School Internship Program offers Rhode Island public high school juniors a structured 7-week work experience. Participants earn $15 per hour and can make up to $4,200 over the summer. This program accommodates students of all abilities, providing opportunities in diverse fields like business, arts, and public service. You’ll also receive coaching from SkillsRI to help you apply and get matched with an internship from over 200 partner organizations across the state.
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: Newport, RI
Cost: Unpaid; students can seek academic credit or funding through their schools.
Program Dates: January through May
Application Deadline: January 3
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+ can apply for Aquarist and Aquarium Education programs; all others are 18+.
Save the Bay offers hands-on internship opportunities for those interested in environmental conservation and stewardship. As part of this Rhode Island-based non-profit, you’ll work alongside the Save the Bay team, contributing to projects that protect and improve Narragansett Bay. While many internships are designed for college students and above, responsible high school students aged 16+ can apply for Aquarist and Aquarium Education roles. Internship commitments vary by program, with opportunities ranging from volunteer management to habitat restoration.
Location: Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Providence, RI
Cost: $12 uniform fee
Program Dates: Ongoing; check back for future openings.
Application Deadline: Applications are currently closed; monitor the program website for updates.
Eligibility: Open to students 14+; high school students must commit to 50 hours of service (100 hours for others).
If you're interested in exploring healthcare careers while giving back to your community, volunteering at Rhode Island Hospital can be a valuable experience. You'll assist patients, families, and staff in various roles, from greeting visitors as a hospital ambassador to engaging in activities like art, music, and patient support. The program requires time and dedication, making it ideal for students who want to gain hospital experience while serving their community.
Location: Pawtucket, RI, and other children’s education sites throughout Rhode Island.
Cost: Unpaid; eligible for school credit or work-study opportunities.
Program Dates: Minimum of 10 hours per week; flexible scheduling available Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.
Application Deadline: Rolling.
Eligibility: Open to high school students age 16 and above and those with relevant experience—reliable transportation required for on-site work and events.
Books Are Wings is a non-profit organization promoting literacy by providing free books to children across Rhode Island. As an intern, you’ll contribute to projects that support children in building their home libraries. You will manage and sort book donations by interest and reading level, plan and pack literacy activity sets for community programs, and lead book readings. You will also assist with arts and crafts activities, collect and analyze data on book inventory and program participation, and support program events by managing book distribution tables and engaging with families. This internship offers a unique chance to make a meaningful impact while gaining community outreach and literacy advocacy skills.
Location: WaterFire Arts Center, Providence, RI.
Cost: Unpaid; eligible for academic credit or service learning.
Program Dates: Full-time and part-time internships are available; the schedule is flexible.
Application Deadline: Rolling basis; apply anytime.
Eligibility: High school students with proficiency in Google Docs/Sheets, Microsoft Office Suite, and social media platforms.
This internship offers an opportunity to explore the nonprofit arts and culture industry. You’ll work alongside staff and community members to create an event that combines art, music, water, and fire to inspire renewal and connection. Whether your interests lie in nonprofit administration, event planning, arts, or community engagement, this internship offers a unique chance to develop skills across these areas. You will gain hands-on experience in public arts administration and fundraising while contributing to an established Rhode Island cultural event.
Location: Various healthcare partner practice sites, including hospitals, clinics, and care facilities throughout Rhode Island.
Cost: No cost for participation.
Program Dates: Integrated into your school curriculum; additional after-school, weekend, or summer opportunities available.
Eligibility: Open to RINI Middle College high school students.
RINI Middle College allows aspiring healthcare professionals to combine rigorous academics with real-world clinical training. You’ll gain hands-on experience in nursing and advanced healthcare roles through internships at healthcare organizations. These internships fulfill graduation requirements and prepare you for future leadership roles in the healthcare industry by providing exposure to various specialties. Healthcare partners include hospitals such as Kent Hospital, long-term care facilities like Hattie Ide Chaffee Home, specialty practices including Dr. DayCare, and community organizations such as the RI Food Bank and various social service agencies.
Location: RISD Museum, Providence, RI
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Varies by partnership and program
Application Deadline: Determined by school or organization timelines
Eligibility: Open to high school students through partner schools and organizations. Current partnerships include PCTA (Providence Career and Technical Academy) and Hope High School.
The RISD Museum allows high school students to explore museum careers through work-based learning experiences. These internships are developed in collaboration with local high schools and community organizations. Past collaborators include PrepareRI, the Met High School, and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs in Providence Public Schools. You will work closely with museum staff on projects that provide insight into museum operations, curation, and art education. If interested, you must connect through your school or a participating local organization.
Location: Providence, RI
Cost: Free.
Program Dates: Integrated into The Met’s academic calendar.
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Open to students enrolled at The Met School.
The Learning Through Internship (LTI) program at The Met will pair you with a mentor at a worksite, where you will take on meaningful projects. At school, your advisor will guide you in building the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in your projects. With your mentor, your advisor will support your growth and ensure your work aligns with your personal learning goals. You’ll connect with professionals in fields that match your interests, explore opportunities through shadow days and informational interviews, and spend two days a week at an internship site.
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.