14 High School Internships in Business Development
If you’re thinking about a future in business, starting early with an internship can be the first step towards building your business career.
What do business development internships for high school students involve?
High school internships in business development show you how companies grow, manage clients, and build strategies. You will be a part of actual businesses, learn about their operations, and be mentored by industry professionals. You will apply what you learn in class to real projects, from market research and planning campaigns to analyzing data.
How are business development internships for high school students helpful?
These programs will help you understand how teamwork, communication, and leadership work outside the classroom. With hands-on experience and mentorship, you’ll gain a clearer sense of what a business career looks like. Pursuing these internships can boost your college applications and give you the skills and experience to build your own venture.
If you’re also interested in business analytics internships, check here, or go here to check out business plan competitions.
Here are 14 high school internships in business development for you to explore!
Disclaimer: Some of the items below are business development programs to help you develop the skills and experience for future business development opportunities.
14 Business Development Internships for High School Students
1. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Various locations including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, New Mexico, and many more across the US & Canada
Stipend: Paid
Cohort Size: 300
Dates: 8-week program + Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, July 21-26
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Currently a junior or senior in high school; legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship; permanently resides in one of the eligible locations & not be a Bank of America employee or immediate family member of a Bank of America employee
Through this summer high school internship in business development, you will work full-time at a nonprofit in your community, gaining business, service, and leadership skills. You will complete meaningful tasks like outreach, project planning, or fundraising while learning professional communication, teamwork, and civic responsibility. You will receive weekly guidance from mentors. You will join peers from across the country at a week-long leadership summit in Washington, DC, where you will meet nonprofit executives and business leaders, tour relevant sites, and present what you’ve achieved.
2. The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship Application
Location: Various partner companies in the US
Stipend: Paid
Cohort Size: 150
Dates: Generally start in May or June
Application Deadline: Early January
Eligibility: High school senior or an undergraduate college student with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0, & must be at least 18 years of age.
In this summer high school internship in business development, you will join the Emma Bowen Foundation (EBF) and work full-time in roles across business, media, or tech at leading companies. You will support teams in marketing, sales, operations, HR, or analytics, and learn how business functions within media and technology firms. You will also receive one-on-one mentoring and attend the annual conference and workshops where professionals share insights. You will also collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds, present your contributions, and build a network of industry contacts.
3. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote. You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost/Stipend: Some placements are paid; others are unpaid
Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
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 projects and present your work to the company. Here is the application form.
4. Young Founders Lab
Location: 100% remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies according to program type (Financial aid available)
Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: Various cohorts including Summer, Winter, Fall & Spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to program type; For the winter cohort, the deadline is November 1
Eligibility: High school students focused on launching a business or a non-profit organization
In this entrepreneurship program for high school students, you’ll spend the summer developing a startup or nonprofit from idea to launch under guided mentorship. You will conduct market research, design prototypes, and create business plans while learning core concepts in marketing, finance, and leadership. Daily workshops and mentor sessions connect you with founders and industry experts who offer feedback on your progress. You will be grouped in teams and present your ventures to judges during the final pitch events. This high school internship in business development encourages collaboration across global peers, helping you understand how innovation and teamwork drive real-world impact in business.
5. CLA High School Internship Program
Location: Select locations nationwide
Stipend: Paid
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 17 – July 19
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Must be 16 or older at the start of the experience and authorized to work in the United States without the need for an employment-based visa
At CLA, you will engage with real-world business, accounting, and consulting projects. You will assist teams with client service simulations, tax and audit tasks, social media or digital initiatives, and team presentations. You will receive mentorship from professionals and collaborate with peer interns in various locations. Mentors will guide you through professional tools and workplace skills while you explore career paths in business and finance. You will also visit offices, participate in case studies, and present your contributions at the program's end.
6. Meta Summer Academy
Location: Meta headquarters, Menlo Park, California
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided
Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: June 16 - July 25
Application Deadline: February 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores who are full-year residents of either East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, North Fair Oaks, or Redwood City with a minimum of 2.0 cumulative GPA
Through this business and technology program for high school students, you will spend six weeks at Meta working on projects that connect business strategy with community impact. You will assist teams with communication, marketing, and operations while learning financial literacy and digital skills. You will receive daily mentorship from Meta employees, helping you understand workplace culture and career paths in business and tech. Additionally, you will attend workshops, leadership sessions, and company events that expand your professional network. At the end of this high school internship in business development, you will present your project to the Meta staff.
7. Chicago Summer Business Institute
Location: Chicago Summer Business Institute, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Chicago high school sophomores and juniors with a “B” or 3.0 average and a family household income below $80,000/year
Through this high school internship in business development, you will spend six weeks working at firms in finance, law, engineering, or development across the city. You will assist with several tasks, including office support, research, and project work, while learning business operations, professional communication, and teamwork. You will meet mentors who will guide you and attend weekly seminars where industry leaders cover markets, the judicial system, and career pathways. Additionally, you will collaborate with peers and present your learning at the end of the program.
8. KP Launch Internship
Location: Varies; Based on the internship matched with your closest city
Stipend: $24 per hour
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 15th – July 31st
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: Current high school students and/or graduating seniors in the age group 16 – 19 by June 1st; eligible to legally work in the United States; permanent resident in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area
Through this summer internship, you will join Kaiser Permanente and work in departments like finance, marketing, human resources, or operations. You will assist with real tasks, including researching, presenting, and organizing, while building skills in professional communication, data handling, and teamwork. You will shadow staff, join site visits, and present your work at the program’s end. Priority is given to students from underrepresented or underserved communities.
9. Kelley Women's Leadership Institute
Location: Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, or participate virtually
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: November 5 & 12 (Virtual session)
Application Deadline: October 3 (virtual session)
Eligibility: High school rising juniors and seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
In this leadership program for young women, you will spend a day (or two online) on the campus of the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University exploring business careers. You will attend workshops led by business faculty, tackle a practical case study in teams, and build communication and leadership skills. You will connect with alumni and current students and hear from guest speakers about careers in business. Through this internship, you will explore which parts of business, marketing, finance, or entrepreneurship fit you appropriately.
10. Intern Columbia Internship Programs
Location: Across Colombia
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program
Cohort Size: Depends on your internship
Dates: Various - depending on your internship
Application Deadline: Applications are available all year round, but priority is given to candidates who apply early and confirm their place
Eligibility: Open to high school students, pre-graduates, graduates, professionals & career changers
In this internship abroad, you will live in Colombia and work with companies, NGOs, or startups across business, marketing, and communications. You will help manage projects, research markets, and collaborate with local professionals, gaining practical skills in business development and cross-cultural teamwork. You could intern in business, communications, marketing, international business, and more. Mentors will guide you while you join workshops, Spanish classes, and cultural events. You will attend site visits, join day trips, and network with an international peer group.
11. Leeds School of Business - Business Leadership Program
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Cost/Stipend: Free
Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: June 21 - June 27
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: High school juniors; Colorado resident or currently attending a Colorado high school
Through this one-week program, you will spend time on the Leeds School of Business campus exploring business ideas and leadership challenges. You will work in teams to solve a case study and learn business fundamentals, teamwork, and presentation skills. You will also meet industry professionals and faculty through workshops and networking events. At the end, you will have the opportunity to win a $1,000 scholarship to the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business. This high school internship in business development includes residential housing and gives you a chance to preview college life.
12. Jimerson Birr High School Internship
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Cohort Size: None
Dates: Four to six weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
In this summer high school internship in business development, you will join the team at the business law firm and work across departments like legal services, marketing, communications, accounting, and IT. You will assist with everyday tasks, including drafting documents, doing research, and supporting projects while still learning practical skills like communication, time management, and teamwork. You will be mentored by department heads and get exposure to how a firm serves business clients across industries. You will also observe how legal and business operations intersect and present your findings in team meetings.
13. Building-U High School Internship
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free
Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: Internships run year-round (3 months)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school (9th to 12th grade)
In this internship, you will join Building-U and help run real business teams for students, from resource development to marketing campaigns. You will work on roles like business & development, social media analytics, marketing, coding, or blog writing, each tackling actual problems the organization faces. During the business development internship, you will work on cultivating partnerships and organizing data for the teams’ current and prospective initiatives. You will be a part of determining, developing, and diversifying funding streams to align with their ethos. You will receive mentorship from team leads and join cross-team meetings that will help you build communication, teamwork, and project planning skills. You will also be part of a global student crew collaborating remotely with peers.
14. Kansas University Summer Venture in Business
Location: The University of Kansas School of Business, Capitol Federal Hall, Lawrence, Kansas
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: In 2 sessions: June 15–20 & July 13–18
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-grade students with a minimum high school GPA of 2.75+
In this summer academy, you will live on the KU campus and explore business majors and careers across consulting, marketing, finance, and supply chain. You will join team-based projects, attend lectures from business faculty, and produce a poster presentation at the end of your week. You will gain skills in communication, analysis, and leadership while connecting with professionals and peers who share your interests. You will also visit companies such as KPMG and Hallmark Cards, giving you a practical context.
Image Source - Ladder Internships logo