15 Business Internships for High School Students in New York City
Explore 15 top business internships in NYC for high school students. Enhance your skills, build your resume, and prepare for future success!
If business is something you want to study or pursue as a career, an internship in the field during high school can give you an early start. A business internship will allow you to explore areas like economics, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, investing, and leadership. Several universities and organizations in NYC offer internships where you can gain practical experience, connect with professionals, and work with a mentor.
There are many financial organizations, companies, and universities that offer business internships for high schoolers in New York City. By joining these internships, you will learn how business operates and develop skills you’ll need for college and beyond. The experience also shows you whether you fit better as an entrepreneur or as part of a company while improving your college admissions profile.
With that, here are 15 business internships in New York City for high school students!
15 Business Internships for High School Students in New York City
1. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on the program; financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate: Around 19%, which can vary depending on the internship and cohort
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort; the next deadline for the fall cohort is August 24
Dates: Programs run year-round in 8–12 week sessions during spring, summer, fall, and winter; the upcoming fall cohort starts on September 15
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, or gap year students who can work 5–10 hours a week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a remote program for high school students, founded by Harvard graduates. It connects students with startups and nonprofits around the world, many of which are backed by Y Combinator and led by people who’ve worked at companies like Google, Microsoft, and McKinsey. Internships are available in a wide range of fields, including health tech, mental health, nonprofits, environmental science, software engineering, AI, finance, consulting, and journalism. As an intern, you’ll work on real projects for your assigned organization and share your results at the end. You can check out the application form to see which internships are currently open.
2. NYC Ladders for Leaders
Location: Corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies in New York City, NY
Cost: Free; Interns earn at least $16.50 per hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive; the program usually places more than 450 students at over 200 companies across New York City.
Dates: 6 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Students aged 16–24 who live in any of NYC’s five boroughs, are currently in high school or college, have some work or volunteer experience, and are legally allowed to work in the U.S.
Ladders for Leaders offers paid summer internships for high school and college students in New York City. If you're interested in business, you can be matched with companies in finance, marketing, consulting, or management. You’ll work 25 to 40 hours per week for six weeks. Before you start, you’ll complete up to 30 hours of training through a Ladders Community Partner. You’ll get help with your resume, cover letter, and interview prep. You’ll also learn workplace skills like business etiquette and financial literacy. The program is part of NYC’s Summer Youth Employment Program.
3. Young Founders Lab
Location: Virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies according to program; need-based financial aid is available
Cohort Size: 6–12 students for the summer group program
Dates: Varies by the cohort
Application Deadline: Varies based on the cohort; the next deadline for the fall cohort is August 24
Eligibility: All high school students can apply
The Young Founder’s Lab is a startup boot camp created by Harvard entrepreneurs for high school students who want to turn ideas into real businesses. You’ll work on building an actual startup that tackles a real-world problem, guided by mentors from companies like Microsoft, Google, and X. You’ll participate in interactive sessions on brainstorming and refining ideas, business fundamentals, researching your market, developing prototypes, and launching your product. It all wraps up with a demo day where you’ll pitch your startup to potential investors. You can choose between two formats: a 30-hour, team-based online program or a flexible individual track that includes 12 hours of personalized, one-on-one coaching. You can check out the full program brochure here.
4. CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) High School Internship Program
Location: Several locations across the US, including Garden City and One Grand Central Place in New York
Cost: Free; A stipend is paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: 4 weeks in June and July
Application Deadline: March – April
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–18 who are authorized to work in the U.S. without requiring a work visa
The CLA High School Internship is a 4-week program that offers an opportunity for students interested in learning about careers in accounting, business, or professional services. You’ll get to take what you’ve learned in class and apply it to real financial and business scenarios while working on real projects at CLA locations across the U.S., with support from experienced professionals. During the internship, you’ll review case studies, work on group projects, and shadow professionals to build your analytical and problem-solving skills. You'll also receive mentorship and practical training to understand fields like auditing, accounting, and business consulting.
5. Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive
Dates: July 7 – August 8
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Current 9th to 12th graders who live in NYC and are over 15 years old
NYU’s ieSoSC program is for high school students interested in using tech and entrepreneurship to shape the future of cities. You’ll get to learn the basics of coding, sensors, circuits, and microcontrollers, and study how these tools are used in real smart city projects. On the business side, you’ll explore economics, planning, branding, and how to pitch your ideas. You’ll also get an introduction to legal concepts such as patents and copyrights. Throughout the program, you’ll work on tech projects, brainstorming, prototyping, and testing your product or service. Communication workshops using theater-based techniques will help you speak more clearly and pitch with confidence.
6. New York City School Construction Authority’s (SCA) High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Various locations across New York City, NY
Cost: Free; Interns earn $16.50 per hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: The internship runs for six weeks between June and August, with timing based on your placement and assignment
Application Deadline: March 7
Eligibility: New York City public high school students in good academic standing and eligible to work in the U.S.
The SCA Summer Internship Program (SIP) offers paid internships for NYC public high school students interested in the business side of the construction industry. You’ll be placed with SCA departments or business partners across the city and get to explore careers in construction management, business, architecture, urban planning, engineering, IT, and public administration. You’ll work with your host organization and attend workshops, panel talks, and a design challenge. Tasks vary depending on your placement and skills, but could include organizing documents, updating spreadsheets, doing online research, joining staff/client meetings, and possibly visiting construction sites.
7. Interns 4-Good
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free | Information about a stipend is not provided
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: High acceptance rate
Dates: Year-round opportunities are available; flexible hours
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
Interns 4-Good connects high school students with year-round remote internships at nonprofits across the U.S. You can select opportunities according to your interests, schedule, and skills, while earning certified volunteer hours. After completing a short online application, you’ll get access to a regularly updated list of internships in fields like education, business, finance, graphic design, music, HR, social media marketing, website design, and more.
If you're interested in business or management, you could work on tasks like conflict resolution, recruitment, and improving workplace policies. Some internships may include tasks like applying for grants, budgeting, planning finances, or creating content such as infographics and blog posts. You could also support nonprofit marketing campaigns, which is great if you’re interested in business, economics, or social impact.
8. The Emma Bowen Foundation (EBF) Summer Internship
Location: Multiple locations, including New York City, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; around 150 students
Dates: May – June (minimum 8 weeks), with exact start and end dates set by the partner company
Application Deadline: September – April
Eligibility: High school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, plan to attend a four-year accredited U.S. university or college, and will be 18 or older before the internship begins
The Emma Bowen Foundation Internship offers an opportunity to explore careers in media and tech. Each summer, new and returning fellows work full-time (35–40 hours a week) for at least 8 weeks with one of EBF’s partner companies. You’ll intern with top names in media, entertainment, and tech, like Discovery, Comcast, Hearst, Spectrum, Forbes, and TVB-Local Media Marketing Solutions. If you're interested in business, your placement might focus on how companies grow, operate, and market themselves. You'll hear directly from executives about how different departments function. You’ll also get to attend the EBF Summer Conference for networking and career sessions.
9. Futures and Options Internship Program
Location: Remote, hybrid, or in-person at various locations across New York City, NY
Cost: Free; A stipend is paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: This year, more than 190 students interned at almost 100 organizations
Dates: 6 weeks in July and August
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February
Eligibility: NYC high school juniors and seniors with a valid work card and legal U.S. work eligibility can apply
The Futures and Options Internship Program matches NYC high school students with paid, mentored internships that match their skills and interests. You could get placed at a small business, nonprofit, government agency, or even a big multinational company, working in areas like finance, marketing, or business operations. Tasks may include data analysis, client support, marketing help, or administrative work. You’ll work 20–30 hours a week (100–150 hours total) and must attend two orientations before starting.
The program also requires six weekly Career Development Workshops in July and August on topics like communication, interviewing, resume writing, and financial literacy, plus a post-internship survey. You’ll also join Career Exploration field trips to companies like BlackRock, Infor, and UpSlide to learn about careers in business, finance, and marketing while building skills and expanding your network. You can check out more details here.
10. JPMorgan Chase Internships
Location: Several locations, including New York, NY
Cost: Free; Pays a stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Dates: Dates vary by opportunity, but all internships run for 6–12 weeks
Application Deadline: Varies based on the opportunity
Eligibility: Current high school, community college, and undergraduate students in select locations
JPMorgan Chase offers internships, apprenticeships, and student programs for high school students, depending on availability. These opportunities place you in finance-related roles at one of the world’s largest financial institutions, headquartered in NYC’s financial district. You’ll work alongside experienced professionals who will guide you through business communication, financial analysis, and team collaboration in a large corporate setting. Your tasks may include preparing financial reports, organizing client meetings, and observing how major business decisions are made on a global scale. In addition, select Emerging Talent Program Internships are available year-round. You can check the current opportunities here.
11. New York Institute of Technology’s High School Business Bootcamp
Location: Virtual or in person at New York Institute of Technology – New York City, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: Upcoming sessions are available from August 20 to December 17
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students
New York Tech School of Management offers a free boot camp to help high school students prepare for college and the workplace. The program covers topics like creating a personal marketing plan with social media and digital tools, developing strategic plans, and building financial literacy. You’ll learn about budgeting, financial planning, credit scores, loans, wages, and taxes, as well as how to invest in real estate or the stock market. This includes understanding how properties are valued, bought, and sold, covering key elements like deeds and mortgages, and gaining an introduction to stocks, bonds, and how the markets work. You can attend just one workshop or all six, and you’ll earn a certificate of completion for each session you join.
12. Brooklyn Navy Yard Internship Program
Location: Various locations within the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free; Interns earn $16–$16.50 per hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: Summer: June 2 – July 25 | June 23 – August 15; Fall: October 6 – November 28
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the opportunity; February 28 (summer session); August 8 (fall session)
Eligibility: College-bound high school seniors who live or attend school in Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Navy Yard Internship Program offers paid opportunities for college-bound high school seniors to work with businesses in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, including manufacturing companies, tech startups, and creative agencies. Opportunities span areas like business administration, management, IT, computer science, communications, culinary arts, engineering, graphic design, green energy, marketing, social media marketing, and more. Internships run for 8 weeks in the spring, summer, and fall, with placements based on your career interests, skills, and educational background. You will work for 35 hours per week. Depending on your role, you might help with marketing, inventory management, administrative work, or other tasks based on your field of interest.
13. Mercy University’s Summer Leadership Academy
Location: Mercy University Westchester Campus, Dobbs Ferry, NY
Cost: Tuition-free, but there’s a $695 fee for food and activities
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: July 6 – July 12 | July 13 – July 19 | July 20 – July 26
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with a weighted GPA over 90, strong leadership skills, and public speaking skills
Mercy University’s Business Leadership Academy is a week-long program for students interested in building business knowledge and leadership skills. It combines classroom learning with real-world experiences, including visits to Fortune 500 companies and sessions led by Executive Faculty who have worked at top global organizations. You’ll take part in lessons on topics like Career Mindset, Personal Branding, the Four Leadership Archetypes, and careers in finance, accounting, and marketing. The program also includes a Career Panel with Q&A, student presentations, and a graduation ceremony. Past participants have visited companies like LinkedIn, Google, The Walt Disney Company, ESPN, MTV, PWC, Viacom, and Microsoft.
14. Millie King Entrepreneurship Program (MKEP) at BALI
Location: Bella Abzug Leadership Institute, Hunter College, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited cohort size
Dates: Last week of July or first week of August (3-day program)
Application Deadline: Applications usually open in March
Eligibility: BALI alumni who are high school seniors (current or upcoming) or already in college
The Millie King Entrepreneurship Program (MKEP) at BALI is a free, three-day summer training program for BALI alumni who are passionate about entrepreneurship and want to launch their own business or nonprofit. The program includes workshops on social entrepreneurship, small business strategy, financial structuring, brand marketing with a focus on digital and social media, and “one for one” company models. It also features lectures and seminars led by experienced entrepreneurs and professionals in small business, nonprofits, and corporate social responsibility.
15. Bossgirls Summer Program
Location: The City College of New York, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 39 students participated in last year's program
Dates: June 30 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 31; rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school girls and nonbinary students in grades 9–12 who live in the tri-state area and can commute to the CCNY campus
The Bossgirls Summer Program, run by the Zahn Innovation Center at The City College of New York, is a 5-week entrepreneurship experience for high school girls and nonbinary students. It’s for those interested in starting a business or creating something new. Working in teams, you’ll identify a problem, develop an innovative solution, research the market, study competitors, set pricing, prototype your product, and build a brand. The program wraps up with pitching your idea to an audience. Along the way, you’ll connect with entrepreneurs and receive guidance from expert mentors at Standard Chartered. You’ll explore entrepreneurship both as a career option and as a problem-solving mindset that can apply to any field.