15 Marketing Internships for High School Students in New York City

If you’re a high school student interested in marketing, internships are a great way to build exposure in the field by gaining practical experience, working with professionals, and building your resume. 

What are marketing internships for high school students in New York City?

New York City is home to many organizations and institutes that offer marketing opportunities to high school students. You’ll access opportunities across non-profits, businesses, art galleries, media institutions, and much more. Many internships offer professional development activities and career exploration opportunities. 

Why pursue marketing internships for high school students in New York City?

As a marketing intern, you’ll work on hands-on projects and gain experience in outreach, design, social media marketing, public relations, and more. These skills can be useful in scaling up and developing your own business ventures. Participating can demonstrate initiative and help with future career and college admission goals.

We’ve created a list of the top 15 Marketing Internships for High School Students in New York City.

Disclaimer: Some items below are business & marketing programs that will help you develop the skills for pursuing marketing internships in the future.

15 Marketing Internships for High School Students in New York City

1. FutureReadyNYC (FRNYC)

Location: New York City, NY

Stipend: Paid internships funded by NYC Public Schools

Acceptance rate: Selective

Dates: Dates in fall, spring, and summer

Application Deadline: Not specified

Eligibility: NYC public high school students

The FutureReadyNYC program offers a Business & Finance Pathway for students interested in exploring career pathways in business. The program focuses on marketing specialists and business management roles, including operations, business analysts, sales, and digital marketing. Although not an internship, you’ll learn about a wide variety of roles and gain insight into different concepts in business through case studies, collaborative projects, and working on assignments.

2. CITYarts PR and Marketing Internship

Location: CITYarts Inc., New York, NY

Stipend: Unpaid

Acceptance rate: Selective

Dates: Flexible schedule (internships offered year-round)

Application Deadline: Not specified

Eligibility: High school students

CITYarts offers a PR and Marketing Internship for students based in New York City. As an intern, you’ll work on tasks such as designing promotional material, updating social media accounts, outreach, and developing promotional videos. You’ll work alongside professionals, learn how to use tools such as Trello and Photoshop, and develop skills in communication, collaboration, and coordination.

3. Young Founders Lab 

Cost: The total cost to attend the 4-week program is $2900. There is need-based financial aid.
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
Program Dates: The 2024 edition of the program starts on June 5th and spans over 4 weeks.
Application Deadline: There are 3 application deadlines that you can choose between: Early Decision Deadline: March | Regular Admission Deadline 1: April | Regular Admission Deadline 2: May.

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 a practical problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. You will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.

4. Ladder Internship Program

Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)

Location:  Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Acceptance rate: Competitive 

Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). 

Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

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 marketing, tech/deep tech, and AI/ML to health tech, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. In the program, you work closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long, and you can apply here.

5. NYC Ladders for Leaders

Location: Various organizations across New York City, NY

Stipend: Paid 

Acceptance rate: Competitive 

Dates: 6 weeks in summer (dates vary based on specific internships)

Application Deadline: February 3

Eligibility: Ages 16–24, high school or college students, prior work experience (paid or volunteer); NYC resident; legally allowed to work

Ladders for Leaders is a New York City-based program that pairs high school students with leading non-profits, organizations, and government agencies to participate in paid summer internships. During the program, you’ll go through a competitive application process and get matched in a role of your choice, including administration, finance, public initiatives, and marketing. You’ll also go through pre-internship training, which includes resume and cover letter writing, interviewing, and developing professional skills. Previous interns have reported that their roles were multidisciplinary, which allowed them to explore various roles and develop complementary skills. 

6. Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)

Location: Various organizations across New York City, NY

Stipend: Paid

Acceptance rate: Lottery‑based selection

Dates: Six weeks in July–August (exact dates vary based on internship)

Application Deadline: March 14

Eligibility: NYC residents who are between the ages of 14‑24; legally allowed to work

The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is an employment and career exploration program for youth living in New York City. Through the program, you’ll explore various career pathways, learn workplace etiquette, gain financial literacy, and develop teamwork, communication, and leadership skills. Previous interns have worked in diverse work sites in areas such as advertising, marketing, business, finance, real estate, media, and entertainment. 

7. Futures and Options Internship Program

Location: Various organizations across New York City, NY

Stipend: Paid

Acceptance rate: Selective

Dates: Summer 

Application Deadline: Application opens Jan 5

Eligibility: NYC high school students between the ages of 16 to 19, legally allowed to work

Futures and Options offers a mentored internship experience to high school juniors and seniors based in New York City. You’ll gain practical experience through internships across small businesses, non-profits, multinational corporations, and government agencies. As an intern, you can work across various sectors, including business, communications, technology, retail, education, and much more. You’ll go through an interview process, after which you will be matched to an internship based on your interests and goals. You’ll attend career readiness workshops, explore career pathways through field trips, and be paired with a mentor who’ll guide you through the entire application process.

8. PENCIL Internship Programs

Location: Various organizations across New York City, NY

Stipend: Paid

Acceptance rate: Selective

Dates: July – August

Application Deadline: January 9

Eligibility: NYC residents who are between the ages of 16–24; pre‑employment training required; legally allowed to work

The PENCIL Internship Program is a New York City program that offers paid summer internships to high school students. During the program, you’ll undergo pre-employment training, and you will gain access to both remote and in-person internship opportunities in NYC in marketing, advertising, finance, hospitality, and much more. You’ll also gain access to career readiness workshops, guidance by mentors, and career exploration opportunities. Past interns have had the opportunity to work at Microsoft, Gotshal & Manges LLP, and NYU Langone Health & Bloomberg LP. 

9. The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) High School Internship

Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Stipend: $1,100

Acceptance rate: Selective

Dates: 10 weeks in the summer 

Application Deadline: Spring (exact dates not specified)

Eligibility: Students completing grade 10 or 11 who live in or attend school in NY, NJ, or CT; no prior Met internship; available full-term; parental consent required

The Met High School Internship Program offers students the opportunity to gain practical experience while exploring career pathways in art, museum, and public education aligned fields. The program will give you an understanding of museum operations, and you’ll work and interact with professionals in fields including social media, education, curatorial, design, imaging, and more. You’ll work with creative professionals, work on tasks in the areas of your interest, explore various opportunities, and build professional skills in communication, art education, and coordination. 

10. Artslife Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) Internship

Location: Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY

Stipend: Paid

Acceptance rate: 10 interns per term

Dates: 6 weeks in the summer

Application Deadline: April 21

Eligibility: Rising sophomores and juniors in NYC public or charter high schools

The Museum of Arts and Design offers Artslife as a paid summer internship program for students based in New York City. During the internship, you’ll learn about a career in the arts and explore various pathways in museum studies and community engagement. You’ll be introduced to museum operations in all areas, such as communications and marketing, registrar, visitor services, development, education, security, and curatorial. Your tasks include working collaboratively with museum staff, local artists, and art professionals. You’ll also visit cultural institutions and build your presentation, communication, and public speaking skills.

11. CondéFuture | Condé Nast Program

Location: Condé Nast office, 1 World Trade Center, and various other locations in New York City, NY

Stipend: Stipend every four months during the two‑year program

Acceptance rate: 12 students selected

Dates: October to June over two academic years

Application Deadline: Early September

Eligibility: 10th‑grade NYC public high‑school students interested in arts, media, design, and journalism

Condé Nast offers CondéFuture, which is a multi-media-based enrichment program for high school students from underrepresented communities in New York City. Throughout the program, you’ll explore various media pathways in areas such as photography, video, social media, fashion, and digital design. You’ll be working with professionals from leading media brands who’ll guide you in various career pathways and provide direction for college aspirations. 

12. City Parks Foundation Intern

Location: Various park sites in New York City, NY

Stipend: Paid

Acceptance rate: Selective

Dates: June–August (exact dates vary based on availability)

Application Deadline: Varies based on availability 

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors; based in New York City

The City Parks Foundation offers internship opportunities to high school students across different programs. As an intern, you’ll develop collaboration and communication skills by working on public education, outreach, support programs, and providing logistical support. Internships are posted based on availability, and you can intern with the City Parks Foundation’s Marketing and Partnerships department, which includes social media, public relations, and event marketing. 

13. Arete’s Internship Program for Aspiring Artist Entrepreneurs

Location: Areté Education, New York City, NY

Stipend: Paid

Acceptance rate: Selective

Dates: Internships run during the school year

Application Deadline: Not specified 

Eligibility: Students in grades 8 to 12, including recent high school graduates 

The Arete Internship Program for Aspiring Artist Entrepreneurs is offered to students who want to explore career pathways in art and aligned fields. You’ll explore various pathways in visual and performing arts, music production, dance, and theater through the first-hand experience of mentors who work professionally in the field. You’ll also gain insight into the business side of being an artist with training in sales, marketing, and product distribution. The program follows a project-based learning model where you get to apply the things that you’re learning. 

14. ArtWestchester Internship

Location: White Plains, New York City, NY

Stipend: Unpaid

Acceptance rate: Selective

Dates: Varies based on the internship track

Application Deadline: Applications processed on a rolling basis

Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors

The ArtsWestchester offers internship opportunities to high school students in various fields. During the internship, you’ll gain insight into the operations of an art gallery and explore areas such as public relations, project management, and professional writing. As a communications intern, you’ll delve into public relations, social media, marketing, and promotions. You’ll work on various projects, participate in professional development activities, and build skills in communication, team collaboration, and leadership.  

15. Athena Summer Innovation Institute

Location: Broadway, New York, NY

Cost: $10,771 (residential); $8,160 (commuter)

Acceptance rate: approximately 30 students 

Dates: June 29 – July 17

Application Deadline: Applications processed on a rolling basis

Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, and gap‑year students who are at least 14 years old

The Athena Summer Innovation Institute offers an entrepreneurship and business-focused program for high school students. Although not an internship, you’ll learn about the fundamentals of operating a business and marketing, such as branding, customer research, and market research. You’ll gain practical experience by working on your idea and making a marketing plan to distribute the product. At the end of the program, you will pitch your idea and get feedback on it.

Image Source - NYC ladders for leaders logo

Luke Taylor

Luke is a two-time founder, a graduate of Stanford University, and the Managing Director at the Young Founders Lab

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