12 Economics Internships for High School Students in Washington, D.C.
Explore 12 top economics internships for high school students in Washington, D.C. Enhance your skills and make connections in the heart of the nation's capital.
If you’re a high school student in Washington, D.C. interested in economics, an internship can give you early experience in the field. Washington, D.C., is home to major economic institutions, think tanks, government agencies, and nonprofits that influence policy and economic decisions nationwide. Interning at one of these places lets you see how economic theories from the classroom work in professional settings. You might work on research projects, help with policy analysis, or assist in finance-related tasks, giving you a clear view of the different career paths economics can lead to.
If you live in or near D.C., staying local for an internship can make it easier to manage your time and costs. You can also start building connections with professionals and organizations in your area, which can be useful later in your studies or career. To help you begin your search, here’s a list of 12 economics internships and work-learn programs for high school students in Washington, D.C.!
12 Economics Internships for High School Students in Washington, D.C.
1. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, typically 8 weeks long
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective startup internship program designed for ambitious high school students eager to gain hands-on experience in fast-growing companies. You’ll work directly with startups across diverse industries, including tech, deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. Many Ladder startups have raised over a million dollars, with founders from Y Combinator and backgrounds at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. During the internship, you collaborate closely with your manager and a Ladder Coach on meaningful projects, culminating in presenting your work to company leadership.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; need-based financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (summer, fall, winter, spring)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Young Founders Lab Work-Learn Program is a virtual startup incubator for high school students. You build a revenue-generating business that solves a real problem while working in teams and receiving mentorship from entrepreneurs and professionals at companies like Google and Microsoft. The program includes 30 hours of live, interactive workshops on business strategy, product development, and leadership. You participate in case studies, panel discussions, and collaborative projects, and present your startup at a final Demo Day. Founded by Harvard entrepreneurs, the program is open to students worldwide.
3. Bank of America Student Leaders® Program
Location: Various U.S. locations with a national leadership summit in Washington, D.C.
Cost: Paid 8-week internship; all expenses covered for the leadership summit in D.C.
Dates: Summer; Leadership Summit July 21–26
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. who reside in eligible locations
The Bank of America Student Leaders® program connects community-minded high school juniors and seniors to paid internships at local nonprofits, paired with leadership training and a national summit in Washington, D.C. Over 8 weeks, including a fully-funded week-long Student Leaders Summit, you’ll gain hands-on work experience while developing leadership, communication, and civic engagement skills. The program focuses on preparing students for workforce success and economic mobility through paid work, professional development, and networking opportunities with peers and community leaders.
4. U.S. Department of the Treasury Student Internship Program
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: Unpaid internship
Dates: Spring (January–May), Summer (May–August), Fall (September–December)
Application Deadlines: Spring: Apply by October, Summer: Apply by December, Fall: Apply by June
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled or accepted at an accredited institution (high school through graduate students); must maintain enrollment throughout internship
The U.S. Department of the Treasury offers unpaid student internships that provide an opportunity to gain firsthand experience in promoting economic prosperity and ensuring financial security for the United States. As an intern in Treasury’s Departmental Offices, you will support key functions by collecting and analyzing data, researching policy, drafting briefing materials, attending congressional hearings, and assisting with high-level meetings. Internships span a wide range of offices focused on economic growth, financial stability, national security, and government-wide financial management.
5. Caminos al Futuro
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
Dates: July 3–19
Application Deadline: Decisions by April 15
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in the U.S. with strong academics and demonstrated leadership commitment to the Latino/Hispanic community
Caminos al Futuro is a fully funded, pre-college, residential summer program hosted by George Washington University’s Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute. Over three intensive weeks, you will live on campus and explore the social, economic, and political issues impacting the Latino/Hispanic community. The program offers a college-like environment featuring university-style lectures, writing labs, and community action projects. You will gain firsthand exposure to policymaking in Washington, D.C., through visits to Congress, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
6. Urban Alliance High School Internship Program
Location: Washington, D.C., Montgomery County, MD, Prince George’s County, MD, and Northern Virginia
Cost: Paid internship
Dates: During the school year (typically part-time, 8–12 hours/week)
Application Deadline: Varies; check Urban Alliance website for current deadlines
Eligibility: High school seniors attending Title I or CEP schools, or qualifying for Free and Reduced Lunch; minimum 2.0 GPA
Urban Alliance’s High School Internship Program connects economically marginalized seniors from the Greater Washington, D.C. area to paid internships with over 100 partner businesses in sectors including arts, culture, finance, economics, and technology. You will work 8–12 hours per week during the school year while receiving career readiness training focused on professional skills, workplace expectations, and leadership development. The program also includes special initiatives such as the Andrew Plepler Internship Program, supporting youth employment in arts and culture organizations.
7. Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP)
Location: Washington, D.C. metropolitan area
Cost: Paid summer employment
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Youth ages 14 to 24 who reside in Washington, D.C.
MBSYEP gives you a paid summer internship in government or private sector roles, including placements in finance, economics, and public administration. You work for six weeks, earn hourly wages, and build real experience in budgeting, data entry, customer service, and workplace operations. You also attend orientation and weekly professional development workshops to strengthen your business and communication skills. Employers across D.C. volunteer as host sites and provide structured work opportunities.
8. TFAS D.C. Summer Programs – The Fund for American Studies
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: Tuition-based with scholarships available
Dates: Eight-week summer session (specific dates vary yearly)
Application Deadline: Check www.DCinternships.org for current deadlines
Eligibility: Rising college and high school students
The TFAS D.C. Summer Programs give you an eight-week academic internship experience in Washington, D.C. You earn credit through a required economics course taught by faculty affiliated with George Mason University, and you complete a 30-hour-per-week internship at a public policy, government, business, or nonprofit organization. You build skills in economic analysis, policy research, and professional communication. The program includes guest lectures by economists and policymakers, site briefings at institutions like the World Bank and Capitol Hill, and career development seminars.
9. CLA High School Internship Program
Location: Multiple CLA office locations across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Dates: June 17 – July 19
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students age 16+ authorized to work in the U.S.
The CLA High School Internship Program gives you a paid five-week summer internship in finance, accounting, consulting, and professional services. You work on projects, shadow professionals, and participate in case studies that show how businesses solve financial and operational problems. You build skills in auditing, tax preparation, budgeting, and business analysis. The program also strengthens your communication and teamwork through group projects and workplace exposure.
10. Pentacle Arts Administration Internship Program
Location: Remote and in-person in Brooklyn, NY
Stipend: $1,000
Dates: 12-week program: 4 weeks of weekly professional development seminars followed by 8 weeks of internship (10 hours/week)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school and college students who are 18+, including graduating seniors.
Pentacle Arts Administration Internship Program gives you a paid five-week internship with a performing arts organization. You start with four weeks of in-person seminars in Brooklyn focused on nonprofit business operations, budgeting, marketing, and leadership. After the seminar phase, you work 10 hours per week for eight weeks with an arts organization matched to your interests. You gain experience in arts management, organizational strategy, and professional communication. The program includes mentorship, networking, and the option to extend your internship after the program ends. You receive a $1,000 stipend and may arrange for college credit.
11. Economics for Leaders – Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE)
Location: Various U.S. universities (in-person and virtual options)
Cost: $2,300 for residential programs; $800 for virtual programs. Typically $100–$1,500 for residential; $100–$400 for virtual programs; scholarships available
Dates: Multiple summer sessions available
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
Economics for Leaders (EFL) is a one-week academic summer program that teaches you how to apply economic reasoning to public policy and leadership decisions. You take a college-level economics course taught by university faculty and participate in leadership workshops led by certified instructors. You learn core concepts in microeconomics, opportunity cost, market dynamics, and decision-making. You also work in teams to solve policy challenges using economic analysis and leadership theory.
12. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) High School Business Internship
Location: Varies by internship position; includes virtual options
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: August–May (during the school year)
Application Deadline: Opens early February; deadlines vary by position
Eligibility: High school students
PNNL High School Business Internship Program gives you a paid academic-year internship at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy facility. You attend school half-day and work up to four hours daily, five days a week, in departments such as Finance and Business Services, Facilities and Operations, and Communications. You gain experience in budgeting, data analysis, organizational strategy, and business operations. The program includes lab tours, communications training, career workshops, and leadership development activities.