14 Business Internships for High School Students in Pennsylvania
If you’re a high school student in Pennsylvania thinking about a future in business, an internship can be a strong way to explore how the field works beyond the classroom. Pennsylvania is home to major company headquarters and regional offices, making it a good place to look for internships if you want to understand how business operates on a local or national level.
Business internships can help you see what jobs in areas like marketing, finance, operations, or entrepreneurship involve. You’ll take part in work like helping with research, tracking budgets, supporting communication teams, or assisting with event planning, and build skills in organization, teamwork, and problem-solving.
All of these internships are online or local, so you don’t need to travel far or leave home. If you live in Pennsylvania, staying close by can also help you build local networks and learn more about nearby industries. Whether you already have a career path in mind or are just exploring your options, these internships can help you apply what you’re learning in school to real-world settings.
With that, here are 14 business internships for high school students in Pennsylvania!
14 Business Internships for High School Students in Pennsylvania
1. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines by cohort
Eligibility: Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students able to commit 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a remote, project-based internship program that matches ambitious high school students with high-growth startups across fields like health tech, consulting, marketing, AI/ML, journalism, and more. As an intern, you'll work closely with a company manager and receive weekly one-on-one guidance from a dedicated Ladder coach. You’ll contribute to real-world projects, whether that’s launching a social media campaign, conducting competitor research, or analyzing product-market fit. You will present your work at the end of the internship. The program also offers cohort-wide training sessions focused on soft skills such as communication, time management, and teamwork.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,900, Need-based financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (summer, fall, winter, spring)
Application Deadline: Rolling, varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founders Lab is a four-week virtual startup incubator led by Harvard entrepreneurs, designed to help high school students launch a business that addresses a real-world problem. During the program, you’ll attend live online classes on entrepreneurship fundamentals, engage in hands-on product development, and receive one-on-one mentorship from experienced startup founders. You'll also get a chance to pitch your venture and receive feedback from professionals at major companies like Google and Microsoft. The goal is to guide you from idea to execution, helping you build a revenue-generating product while developing real business skills and investor-ready presentations.
3. Home Office Internships – URBN (Urban Outfitters, Inc.)
Location: Philadelphia, PA (URBN Headquarters at the Navy Yard)
Cost: Free. Pays a stipend (competitive hourly rate)
Dates: June 1–August 7
Application Deadline: November 3
Eligibility: High school students may apply, though preference is typically given to rising seniors and recent graduates with strong portfolios or business interests
URBN’s Home Office Internship Program offers a 10-week immersive experience at their Philadelphia Navy Yard headquarters, placing you in departments aligned with your interests, from merchandising and buying to business analytics and marketing. You’ll gain hands-on experience in the fast-paced world of retail and lifestyle brands while working alongside professionals at Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, and more. The program features networking events, field trips, executive Q&As, and opportunities to participate in real-world projects that impact company operations. With strong performance, you may even be considered for future full-time opportunities.
4. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania High School Internship Program
Location: Various Commonwealth agencies across Pennsylvania
Cost: Free. Pays a stipend (XH28 pay scale; exact rate varies by agency)
Dates: Throughout the academic year (July 1–June 30), not limited to summer only
Application Deadline: Varies by department and school calendar
Eligibility: Pennsylvania high school juniors or seniors, age 16+, with a school-issued letter of recommendation
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania High School Internship Program offers high school students the opportunity to work directly within Pennsylvania’s government agencies. As a High School Intern (HSI), you will be paired with a professional supervisor who will mentor you through a variety of administrative, research, and operational tasks depending on your placement. The experience is designed to align with your career interests and provide hands-on learning in fields such as business administration, communications, HR, public policy, and more. You’ll gain exposure to state operations, develop workplace skills, and explore potential future roles in the public sector.
5. CLA High School Internship Program
Location: CLA offices in Philadelphia and select locations across Pennsylvania
Cost: Free. Pays a stipend
Dates: Begins in June
Application Deadline: Open in winter
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–18
CLA’s High School Internship Program is a paid summer opportunity for students aged 16 to 18. You’ll work on real client projects in accounting, tax, wealth management, digital, and consulting services. The program helps you build workplace and communication skills, explore career paths in professional services, and gain hands-on experience before college. You’ll work with other students, receive mentorship from CLA staff, and take part in presentations and competitions.
6. WorkReady Summer Internship Program
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Free. Pays a stipend
Dates: July 7 – August 15
Application Deadline: Varies; applications managed by Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN)
Eligibility: Rising sophomores through graduating seniors, with preference given to students in West Philadelphia
WorkReady at Drexel University is a paid summer internship designed to give you hands-on experience in a collegiate environment. You’ll work 20 hours per week in academic or administrative departments, gaining exposure to workplace operations and building skills in communication, professionalism, and project support. On Fridays, you’ll attend off-campus career development seminars hosted by the Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN), which help you grow your confidence and civic awareness. You’ll be matched with a mentor from Drexel faculty or staff and supported by PYN throughout the program.
7. Wilson High School Internship Program
Location: Wilson High School, West Lawn, PA
Cost: Varies (may be paid or unpaid)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Based on placement availability, open to all eligible students
Dates: Academic year (flexible based on student schedule)
Application Deadline: March 27 (interest form); final placement timeline follows
Eligibility: Open to Wilson High School students; typically juniors and seniors
Wilson High School Internship Program is a for-credit course that gives you hands-on experience in a business setting based on your interests. You’ll be paired with a mentor in the local community and complete 80 to 160 hours of work, depending on how many credits you’re earning. Internships can focus on areas like marketing, finance, communications, or administration, and may also count as a Capstone project within Wilson’s career academies. Alongside the internship, you’ll attend regular meetings with a teacher, prepare a semester presentation, and get support with resume writing and interview preparation. Honors credit is available.
8. SMART Start Internship Program
Location: Pittsburgh/Washington, PA, and Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
Cost: Free. Pays a stipend
Dates: Academic year, typically 10–20 hours/week
Application Deadline: Not specified; applications typically open in the spring
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors (16+) in eligible locations with a GPA of 3.0+
The SMART Start Internship Program gives you a paid, part-time role during the school year where you’ll work 10–20 hours a week in real business departments at Range Resources. You could be placed in Finance, Gas Marketing, IT, Supply Chain, or Communications, depending on your interests. You’re matched with both a mentor and a supervisor to help guide your experience, and you’ll attend career prep events to build your professional skills.
9. Cumberland Valley High School Internship Program
Location: Cumberland Valley School District, PA
Cost: Free
Dates: Semester, school year, or summer (flexible)
Application Deadline: Varies; generally 4+ weeks before internship start
Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Cumberland Valley High School
The Cumberland Valley Internship Program offers high school students structured, real-world experience in industries like accounting, finance, IT, engineering, education, and public service. You can choose from established partnerships or secure your host site, working with a Career Coordinator to customize your schedule and learning goals. Internships may be hosted by organizations such as Deloitte, PennDOT, and CV’s internal tech teams, and are eligible for high school credit based on hours completed. You’ll participate in performance assessments, submit reflections and supervisor evaluations, and meet requirements like resumes, interviews, and teacher recommendations.
10. Tech & Innovation Internship – Coded By
Location: Philadelphia, PA (hybrid: in-person + virtual)
Cost: Free. Pays a stipend of $500 per week
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Application Deadline: Varies annually
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-graders living in the Philadelphia area
The Tech & Innovation Internship is a paid hybrid program for rising 11th and 12th-graders in the Philadelphia area, offering $500 per week. You will gain hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, product management, UI/UX design, and software development. Over eight weeks, you’ll work in team-based startup simulations, build and pitch a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), and work with industry mentors and tech partners through site visits and virtual workshops.
11. Bank of America Student Leader Program
Location: Multiple locations, including the Philadelphia area.
Cost: Free. Pays a stipend
Dates: 8-week summer internship; includes a fully funded week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, DC
Application Deadline: January 15 (tentative)
Eligibility: Open to current high school juniors and seniors
The Bank of America Student Leader Program is a paid internship that places high school students with leading nonprofit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and the Boys and Girls Club. You’ll gain firsthand experience in community engagement, nonprofit management, and business administration while contributing to meaningful local initiatives. Beyond the day-to-day internship, you'll attend the Student Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, where you'll connect with peers from across the country, engage in leadership workshops, and learn about civic engagement and public policy.
12. Building-U High School Internship
Location: Remote
Cost: Free
Dates: Varies; summer (3-month) and year-long options available
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to current high school students
The Building-U Internship gives you a flexible, remote experience in the business and administrative operations of a nonprofit that helps students with postsecondary planning. Depending on what you’re interested in, you could work on business development, marketing, multimedia production, blog writing, or web development. You’ll build communication, collaboration, and content creation skills while contributing to a student-focused mission. Internships are available year-round and run for at least three months, so you can grow your resume and gain real remote work experience at your own pace.
13. Interns 4-Good
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (Volunteer hours awarded)
Dates: Varies
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Open to current high school students
Interns 4-Good connects you with nonprofits that need virtual support in business-related areas like marketing strategy, web development, research, and outreach. You can filter opportunities based on your skills and schedule, making it ideal if you’re balancing school or other commitments. These internships count toward community service hours and give you real-world experience working with mission-driven teams. You’ll build skills in communication, project coordination, and digital tools while strengthening your resume and contributing to meaningful causes.
14. Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship
Location: Multiple U.S. cities
Cost: Free. Pays a stipend
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive, 150 fellows selected annually
Dates: May–August
Application Deadline: Most placements finalized by May 1; rolling database entry for future opportunities
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; must be high school seniors or undergraduates graduating Spring or later; 3.0+ GPA; age 18+ by internship start.
The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship is a paid opportunity for graduating high school seniors and college undergrads with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. You’ll work 35–40 hours per week at a partner company in areas like business operations, marketing, software development, journalism, or production. You’re matched with a mentor, attend professional development events, and gain hands-on experience in media, entertainment, and tech. Most placements are finalized by May 1, but you can still join the EBF applicant database to be considered for future roles and opportunities.
Krishnapriya, or KP, is the Head of Partnerships at the YFL and an LSE graduate. She is super passionate about the environment (especially nonhumans with 3+ limbs) and considers walking her dogs as the most important part of her day!