10 Public Policy & Economics Internships for High Schoolers
Discover 10 exciting public policy and economics internships tailored for high school students. Gain valuable experience and kickstart your career today!
For high school students interested in shaping the world through public policy or analyzing it through the lens of economics, getting started early can be a good step for their future careers. Public policy and economics internships for high schoolers offer a rare chance to go beyond textbooks and engage with how governments function, nonprofits tackle social issues, or market dynamics influence decision-making. Whether it’s drafting a policy memo, analyzing legislative bills, or interning at a nonprofit that works on sustainability, these experiences can give you clarity about your future academic and professional directions.
Moreover, internships in these fields strengthen your research, writing, and communication skills while connecting you to mentors, government leaders, and policy practitioners. They offer exposure to how institutions address some of today’s most pressing challenges, from climate change to economic inequality. Some programs listed below also offer a work-learn component at mission-driven startups, giving you insight into the intersection of innovation and civic impact.
Here’s our curated list of the top 10 public policy & economics internships for high schoolers.
1. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote. You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost: Unpaid internship
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
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. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, you work closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on practical projects and present your work to the company. Here is the application form. You are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills and you will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in your cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s Lab is a start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses practical problems. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. Bank of America Student Leaders® Program
Location: Available across the USA; placement with local nonprofit organizations
Cost: Free; includes a paid 8-week internship and funded travel to D.C.
Application Deadline: January 15
Program Dates: 8-week program during Summer; Summit: July 21–26
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors and seniors; must be able to work legally in the U.S.; strong commitment to community service
This highly competitive program allows high schoolers to gain experience in nonprofit and community impact work through paid internships and national leadership exposure. Over eight weeks, selected Student Leaders are placed at nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity and Boys & Girls Clubs, where they contribute to community projects, develop leadership skills, and gain insight into how nonprofits, government, and business intersect. A highlight of the program is the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you connect with peers from across the country, participate in workshops on civic engagement and economic opportunity, and hear from policymakers and national leaders. The program is an early stepping stone if you’re interested in public policy, economics, or community leadership.
4. U.S. Department of the Treasury – Headquarters Student Internship Program
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free; unpaid internship; students must fund their own housing and travel
Application Deadline: Typically December for summer roles (via USAJobs.gov)
Program Dates: Varies; all the internships are announced here.
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in high school, undergraduate, or graduate programs; must maintain student status through internship
This unpaid internship offers high school students a chance to work inside a cabinet-level federal agency and contribute to economic and financial policymaking. You will be placed in one of several offices, including Domestic Finance, Tax Policy, Economic Policy, and International Affairs, depending on interest and mission needs. Typical responsibilities include collecting and analyzing data, preparing briefing materials, attending policy meetings, and conducting research on economic topics relevant to national security and fiscal management. You will also gain first-hand exposure to federal operations and public sector career pathways. This is one of the few federal internships open to high school students with interests in public policy and economics.
5. KP LAUNCH High School Internship Program
Location in California: Multiple Kaiser Permanente sites across Northern California
Cost: Free; paid at $23/hour
Application Deadline: January 6
Program Dates: June 16 – August 1
Eligibility: Ages 16–19 by June 1, 2025; current high school students or graduating seniors residing in Northern California KP service areas
This full-time, paid internship provides high schoolers with exposure to healthcare administration, nonprofit operations, and community-based leadership roles. Over seven weeks, you will be placed in hospital departments or business offices where you’ll gain professional skills through workshops, mentorship, and project-based work. You’ll also attend networking events with senior leaders and collaborate on service projects, building a strong foundation in both professional and civic development. The program emphasizes systemic thinking, organizational insight, and service leadership, making it an ideal early exposure to public service, policy, and economic systems in healthcare.
6. U.S. Department of State – Pathways Internship Programs
Location: U.S. Department of State offices across the U.S. and abroad
Cost: Free; paid federal internship
Application Deadline: Varies by position; internships posted on USAJobs.gov
Program Dates: Varies by role; typically offered in spring, summer, and fall
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in high school, college, or graduate school; must maintain student status
The Pathways Internship Program offers high school students a rare opportunity to work within the U.S. Department of State and explore careers in diplomacy, policy, public administration, and international affairs. You may be placed in offices focused on economic policy, consular affairs, communications, or technology, depending on the department’s needs. All internships are paid and provide hands-on experience, mentorship, and a strong foundation in federal public service careers. This is a compelling early gateway into foreign policy, economic diplomacy, and public-sector governance.
7. TFAS Public Policy + Economics Academic Internship Program
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: 3-credit option: $8,725; 6-credit option: $9,925; financial aid and scholarships are available
Application Deadline: March 5
Program Dates: May 31 – July 26
Eligibility: Open to U.S. and international students; priority given to rising college freshmen and undergraduates
This 8-week academic internship program offers students a rare opportunity to explore public policy and economics at the heart of the U.S. government. You will be placed at think tanks, nonprofits, or government offices, while taking credit-bearing courses in economics and government. The program includes policy briefings at institutions like the Federal Reserve and Capitol Hill, professional development workshops, and guest lectures by top experts from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, HUD, and American Enterprise Institute. You’ll be paired with mentors and join a 19,000+ alumni network.
8. Economics for Leaders (EFL) – Foundation for Teaching Economics
Location: College campuses across the U.S. (e.g., Yale, UC Berkeley, Duke, Emory)
Cost: $2,000–$2,600 depending on site; scholarships available up to $1,800
Application Deadline: Rolling; apply early for site preference
Program Dates: Multiple 1-week sessions from June to August
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors; U.S. and international students
EFL is a selective summer program that combines economics instruction with leadership training for high school students. You’ll attend lectures led by university faculty and work through simulations where they evaluate trade-offs, make policy decisions, and apply core economic concepts to practical challenges. The curriculum emphasizes how economic reasoning can be used to analyze public policy, and you engage in discussions, team-based activities, and leadership exercises throughout the week. The program boasts strong alumni outcomes, a competitive admissions process, and recognition by college admissions officers nationwide.
9. USC Center for the Political Future High School Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free of cost
Application Deadline: May 19
Program Dates: June 1 – August 1
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (grades 9–11); graduating seniors are not eligible; minimum GPA 3.5
Hosted by USC’s Center for the Political Future in collaboration with the Wrigley Institute, this remote internship trains high school students in legislative analysis with a focus on environmental policy. You will select a local, state, or federal bill related to sustainability and complete two major writing assignments: a policy memo and a legislative process analysis. You’ll receive structured feedback, attend cohort check-ins, and be mentored by CPF staff. Top submissions are published online, and interns earn official recognition from USC. The program emphasizes research, political literacy, and bipartisan collaboration.
10. NSA High School Work Study Program
Location: Various NSA sites (must apply to openings at your local site)
Cost: Free; paid part-time employment
Application Deadline: September 1 – October 31
Program Dates: September – August (during senior year of high school)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who are high school juniors (age 16+), enrolled in a school-sponsored work experience program
This year-long paid internship lets high school students work part-time at the NSA while completing their senior year of school. You will be placed in administrative, technical, or vocational roles based on your skills and interests, from office support and computer aid to 3D printing, industrial design, and even Mandarin or Russian language support. You will gain valuable exposure to federal systems, intelligence operations, and classified environments, while developing practical workplace skills in areas like cybersecurity, graphic design, logistics, and translation. Many interns go on to pursue federal careers or further opportunities with the intelligence community after graduation.