8 Digital Marketing Internships for High School Students
Applying for internships during high school is a great way to gain practical experience and build a strong resume for your future academic and career endeavors. Internships allow you to explore different industries, sharpen your skills, and make connections that can guide your career choices.
For those interested in the dynamic world of digital marketing, getting an early start can be especially beneficial. Engaging with digital marketing through internships not only enhances your understanding of online strategies and consumer behavior but also boosts your college application by showcasing your proficiency in a rapidly growing and influential field.
Check out these 8 digital marketing internships tailored for high school students.
Spark SMP (formerly known as Spark SIP) is a selective summer internship program for high school students with an acceptance rate of less than 5%. The program offers internships across a variety of fields, including social media content generation.
As a Spark SMP intern, you’ll gain experience in a field of your choice while engaging with scholars and industry leaders. The social media internship in 2024 involved creating and monitoring content for TheySeeBlue.org, an organization dedicated to convincing South Asians to vote Democrat. Although 2025 internships haven’t been announced yet, Spark SMP may offer a similar digital marketing opportunity this year, so keep an eye on their website in March. For a more in-depth look at this program, check out our guide to getting a Spark SMP internship here.
Location: Various locations depending on the internship. Some may be remote
Program Dates: Vary according to internship (8–12 weeks in the summer)
Cost/Stipend: Some internships offer stipends
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently residing in the U.S.
Application Deadline: Applications for 2025 will open in March/April
Ladder Internships, founded by Harvard alumni, offers selective virtual internships with startups and nonprofits globally. You can intern in various fields, including business, marketing, finance, tech, healthcare, and media. Each intern works on a real-world project critical to the startup and presents their work at the end.
The program includes guidance from both a startup manager and a Ladder coach, providing dual mentorship. You'll also participate in professional skill development sessions, 1-on-1 meetings, and group training with peers.
This internship is an excellent opportunity to explore potential career paths and gain insights into professional opportunities. Past marketing interns have worked on projects such as building pitch decks, identifying target markets, strategic brand positioning, and fundraising.
Location: Remote
Program Dates: 8-week programs with multiple cohorts throughout the year
Cost: Starting $2,490. Financial aid is available.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. These internships are also open to undergraduates and gap-year students!
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year. November 24, 2024 for the upcoming winter cohort
The Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) offers a range of digital marketing internships. In the 2024 program, high school students could apply for the position of Global Goals Intern—Curriculum, Digital Media, and Communications division. The Smithsonian Science for Global Goals guides encourage young people to address the world’s current biggest issues. As an intern, you'll work closely with curriculum developers and communications teams to create educational resources, assist with research, and engage in digital marketing efforts.
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Flexible start time between May and July (8 weeks)
Stipend: None for high school students
Eligibility: High school students from around the world who are at least 16 years old
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
The PHC Group internship is a great opportunity for rising high school juniors and seniors. The PHC group is a consultancy that works in the public health management field. As a Mary Miller summer intern, you’ll work on social media projects, interact with online communities, and provide technical support. You’ll also be involved in social marketing research and improving remote collaboration.
Successful applicants typically have strong skills in Microsoft Office, are quick learners, and are adept at handling multiple projects efficiently. This role offers a chance to gain hands-on experience in social media management and technical support while contributing to meaningful research and collaboration efforts.
Note: As part of your application, you are required to send your resume to joinus@phcgconsulting.com
Location: Not specified, but the internship may be virtual or at the PHC office in Philadelphia, PA
Program Dates: TBA for 2025
Stipend: Paid internship, amount unspecified
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with unrestricted work authorization
Application Deadline: Not specified, but it’s best to apply as soon as possible
Interns4Good provides high school students in grades 9–12 with diverse internship opportunities at nonprofit organizations. The program offers roles in marketing and outreach, including positions in graphic design, social media management, and video editing, both in-house and through partner organizations.
As an intern, you will contribute by completing assignments and submitting weekly reports on the hours worked. Sample social media internships include a position at Her Term, a nonprofit that aims to help more women run for public office. Responsibilities include planning the organization’s social media strategy for targeted recruitment. Numerous internships are offered year-round, so make sure to check the latest offerings on their website.
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Variable based on the internship selected
Cost/Stipend: No cost, internships are unpaid
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: Open throughout the year
The Metropolitan Museum of Art provides fully-funded internships in art, design, and other creative fields for high school students. Offered both during the school year and summer, these internships allow you to learn from and work with museum professionals across various departments, including marketing, scientific research, social media, law, and educational programming.
You’ll be immersed in the world of art and creative professions, with opportunities to engage in marketing and social media initiatives. Additionally, you can participate in “Career Labs,” where you’ll receive guidance from professionals and gain insights into their careers.
Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Program Dates:
School-year: January 11 – June 13, 2025
Summer: June 22 – August 9, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Cost/Stipend: Interns are provided a stipend of $1,100
Eligibility:
School-year: Students in grade 10 or 11 who live or attend high school or home school in New York City
Summer: Students completing grade 10 or 11 who live or attend high school or home school in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut the spring before the internship
Application Deadline:
School-year: October 28, 2024
Summer: March 8, 2025 (tentative, based on the 2024 program)
Building-U is an organization that aims to set high school students up for success by informing them about their post-secondary options. They curate lists of opportunities like service activities, educational programs, and funding sources for high school students in the U.S. and Canada. Building-U offers several year-round internships in fields such as marketing, multi-media, and social media content and analytics.
As a social media intern, you’ll create content for the organization’s Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok, working with other teams like marketing and business development. The marketing internship gives you experience with Google Ads and Google Analytics, while the multi-media internship involves editing videos for their YouTube channel.
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Year-round (usually at least 3 months
Cost/Stipend: No cost or stipend
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: Rolling
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement offers high school internships at various locations across the country, providing hands-on experience on NASA projects under expert mentorship. Internships cover roles such as marketing, business, communications, graphic design, and public relations.
For their Social Media Internship, NASA seeks creative students with social media expertise and strong communication skills. As an intern, you'll collaborate with OSTEM contacts to develop a communications plan for agency internships. This is a full-time, remote opportunity. This internship was offered in the summer of 2024 and may be offered again. Although marketing internships for 2025 haven’t been announced yet, we’ve included NASA in this list because of its prestige and the many internship opportunities it offers every year.
Explore available positions and use the "Filter" option to find those for high school students. Interning with NASA can greatly enhance your profile, especially in marketing and related fields.
Location: Varies according to internship. Some may be virtual
Program Dates: Vary depending on the internship
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Interns may receive a stipend based on academic level and session length
Eligibility: U.S. citizens aged 16 and up with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Application Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Summer Internships)
One other option — the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also 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 4000 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.