Top 12 Paid Medical Internships for High School Students
Exploring medical career interests as a high school student can be expensive, but medical internships for high school students offer an affordable way to gain hands-on experience. They provide exposure to real-world skills, professional networks, and industry insights, making them a great alternative to costly programs. Many renowned universities, hospitals, and research institutions offer medical internships for high school students where students work with experts, strengthening their understanding of different career paths.
Paid medical internships for high school students add an extra advantage by allowing you to earn money while you learn. To simplify your search, we’ve compiled a list of the top 12 paid medical internships for high school students eager to explore the realities of healthcare and medical research.
1. Fred Hutch Cancer Center Summer High School Internship (SHIP)
Location: Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: February 1 – March 31
Dates: June 23 – August 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 11 and 12 from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical science
The Fred Hutch Cancer Center Summer High School Internship (SHIP) is one of the top-paid medical internships for high school students. It is an eight-week, full-time paid internship designed for rising 12th graders from backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical science. The program begins with two weeks of hands-on training in lab safety, pipetting, DNA isolation, and other essential lab techniques. In the following weeks, you’ll join a research group, working alongside experienced mentors on real projects.
You’ll also attend weekly research seminars, professional development workshops, and interactive presentations on ethics, biostatistics, and career pathways. The program culminates with a final presentation where you’ll share your research experience with peers, mentors, and the Fred Hutch community. No prior experience in science is required.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 – $6,900. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. April 27 for the regular summer application deadline
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year. The summer cohort starts in May
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or be experienced with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI, founded and led by Harvard graduate students, offers specialized programs for high school students with a strong interest in artificial intelligence. Those looking to build a foundation in AI, machine learning, and data science can benefit from the AI Scholars program, a 10-session boot camp that covers key concepts and provides hands-on experience through real-world projects.
For more advanced students, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase offers an opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities on a unique research project. Additionally, you’ll gain support from an in-house publication team to help you publish your work in high school research journals. You can also explore past student projects here.
3. Harvard Medical School Project Success
Location: Harvard Medical School, Boston
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: February 3
Dates: June 30 – August 15
Eligibility: Boston and Cambridge high school students; ages 16 and above by the program start date; a minimum GPA of 2.70
The Harvard Medical School Project Success program offers a seven-week, paid research internship exclusively for Boston and Cambridge high school students from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds. During the program, you’ll be placed in a Harvard Medical School or affiliated research lab, where you’ll work closely with experienced scientists and physicians.
As one of the top medical internships for high school students, the program features mentored research, career guidance, and site visits to hospitals and biotech companies. You’ll also participate in seminars on biomedical careers, public speaking, and technical skills. Beyond summer, you’ll have access to year-round academic seminars and networking opportunities. This program is designed to help you develop technical expertise, scientific knowledge, and professional connections in biomedical research.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. April 13 is the deadline for the summer cohort regular admission
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. The summer cohort starts on June 2
Eligibility: High school students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a competitive program designed for ambitious high school students seeking hands-on experience with fast-growing start-ups. This selective program offers you the opportunity to work with companies across various industries, including technology, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. The start-ups partnering with Ladder typically have significant growth potential, with many securing over a million dollars in funding.
During the 8-week virtual internship, you will collaborate closely with your managers and a dedicated Ladder Coach on meaningful projects. As an intern, you’ll gain real-world experience and have the opportunity to present your work directly to the company. If you're interested, you can explore available opportunities through the application form.
5. Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS)
Location: Johns Hopkins, Baltimore + Virtual
Stipend: $15/hour (in-person only)
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: December 1 – March 1
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors living in Baltimore City
If you’re a high school junior or senior from a Baltimore City public school, the Johns Hopkins Internship in Brain Sciences (JHIBS) is one of the best paid medical internships for high school students. It offers an eight-week, paid summer research internship in neurology and neuroscience, during which you’ll get to conduct mentored research at the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology, participate in clinical rotations, and engage in scientific seminars and professional development sessions. Weekly mentor meetings are organized to help guide your academic and career goals. The program concludes with a final presentation of your research. It is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience and mentorship in the neurological sciences.
6. The Wistar Institute High School Program in Biomedical Research
Location: Wistar Institute, Philadelphia
Stipend: $1,500
Cohort Size: 15 students
Application Deadline: March 31
Dates: July 7 – July 31
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years of age by the program start date; should have completed at least one high school science course; applications from Philadelphia high school students are strongly encouraged
The Wistar High School Fellowship in Biomedical Research is a four-week, immersive summer program designed for high school students interested in biomedical research. As a participant, you’ll receive hands-on laboratory training in Wistar’s state-of-the-science Training Lab, learning best practices in biomedical techniques. In addition to conducting research, you’ll explore career opportunities in biomedical science, gain experience analyzing scientific literature, and present your work at the program’s conclusion.
No prior research experience is required. As one of the top medical internships for high school students, this program provides a valuable opportunity to develop research skills and scientific knowledge while contributing to active projects in the field.
7. Scripps Research Summer High School Internship Program
Location: Scripps Research Institute, California
Stipend: $4,830
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: April 4
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Eligibility:
San Diego County residents
High school students enrolled in one of the following schools: Barrio Logan College Institute, Crawford High School, Hilltop High School, Hoover High School, Lincoln High School, and Morse High School
Should have completed at least one year each of high school-level chemistry and biology
Should have a minimum grade point average of 3.0
The Scripps Research High School Student Research Education Program provides a seven-week, full-time biomedical research internship for students interested in biological and chemical sciences. Before the internship, you’ll complete a three-day boot camp to learn essential lab techniques. You’ll then be matched with a research laboratory, where you’ll work alongside scientists and mentors, gaining hands-on experience in a professional lab setting. This program is one of the top paid medical internships for high school students and also offers one-on-one mentorship with graduate students, providing guidance on college applications and scientific career paths.
8. Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences
Location: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas
Stipend: $6,800
Cohort Size: Up to 12 students
Application Deadline: November 18 – January 20
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Eligibility: Current Texas high school seniors; aged 18+ by program start
The Carl B. & Florence E. King Foundation High School Summer Program in Biomedical Sciences offers a 10-week, full-time research internship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Open to 12 qualified Texas high school students, the program provides hands-on research experience in biomedical sciences under the mentorship of MD Anderson faculty.
As an intern, you’ll work Monday through Friday, engaging in lab research, faculty-led seminars, and professional development activities. The program includes poster and abstract competitions, culminating in a final presentation and celebration luncheon. This experience prepares students for college and future careers in allied health and biomedical research.
9. Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (CURE)
Location: Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, Massachusetts
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
Application Deadline: February 3
Dates: 7-11 weeks starting June 18
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors; 16 years old at the start of the program; reside in and/or attend school in Massachusetts
The CURE – Summer Only Program is a full-time, paid summer research internship lasting 7-11 weeks for students interested in scientific research in medical sciences. As a participant, you will engage in mentored cancer research projects, gaining hands-on experience, technical skills, and exposure to real-world biomedical research.
The program offers mentorship from leading scientists, scientific seminars, journal clubs, and networking opportunities. You will also participate in career development workshops, professional training, and social events. By the end of the summer, you will write an abstract and present your research findings. This program equips you with practical research experience, scientific knowledge, and professional skills essential for a future in biomedical sciences.
10. Magee-Women’s Research Institute (MWRI) High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Magee-Women’s Research Institute, Pittsburgh
Stipend: $1,800 stipend (only if you qualify for the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program for Pennsylvania)
Acceptance Rate: Less than 8%
Application Deadline: December 2 – February 7
Dates: 6 weeks starting June 16
Eligibility: High school students currently in their sophomore or junior year of high school; over 16 years by program start; reside in the local southwest Pennsylvania region
The MWRI High School Summer Internship Program is one of the top medical internships for high school students and is a 6-week, 240-hour opportunity for students interested in biomedical research. As a participant, you will be paired with an investigator at Magee-Womens Research Institute or Magee-Womens Hospital, working on a research project in reproductive biology, women’s health, or infant health. You will also attend Lunch & Learn sessions, gaining insight into careers in biomedical science. The program concludes with a formal presentation of your research findings.
Past projects have focused on gene analysis, ovarian cancer, fertility preservation, and maternal health disparities. The research projects can be in basic, translational, or clinical science, depending on student placement.
11. MD Anderson’s Therapeutics Discovery and Development Internship
Location: The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Stipend:
$6,800: 10-week program
$27,000: 26-week program
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Application Deadline: January (tentatively); details for the upcoming session will be available in October
Dates: June 2 – August 8
Eligibility: High school graduates who have been accepted to an undergraduate program, with intentions to attend in the upcoming Fall semester; 18 years or older by program start
The Therapeutics Discovery & Development (TDD) Internship at MD Anderson offers a research experience where you will explore drug discovery and development. This program bridges academic biology expertise and industry drug development to create novel cancer therapeutics. You will contribute to research in small molecule, protein, and cellular therapeutics, gaining hands-on experience in in vitro pharmacology, biomarker discovery, translational biology, and more.
The program exposes you to clinical insights from top physicians treating over 100,000 cancer patients annually. As an intern, you will engage in biological assays, disease modeling, and innovative imaging techniques. You will collaborate with leading scientists to develop and characterize therapeutics using cutting-edge approaches in computational biology, pharmacology, and translational research.
12. Children's Hospital Colorado Child Health Research Internship
Location: Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado
Stipend: $4,400
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
Application Deadline: Application information will be available in December
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Eligibility: High school seniors over the age of 18; reside in Colorado
The Children’s Hospital Colorado Child Health Research Internship introduces you to the fundamentals of pediatric research at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Throughout the summer, you will work with faculty mentors on innovative child health studies. The program includes a weekly research seminar series, where you will gain insights from experts in pediatric medicine and research methodologies.
At the end of the internship, you will summarize your findings through a written report and an oral or poster presentation. If your research is accepted for a scientific conference, you will receive financial support to attend. This program provides real-world research experience and exposure to the academic and clinical research environment.