10 Summer Internships for High School Students in Delaware
If you’re a high school student looking to explore career options and gain practical experience, a summer internship can be a great place to start. These opportunities help you develop practical skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving while giving you a closer look at what different professions actually involve. They also let you connect with mentors and peers who can offer guidance, advice, and valuable connections for the future.
Why should you attend an internship in Delaware?
Delaware offers a range of summer internships for motivated students across fields like business, healthcare, engineering, government, and environmental science. You might assist with research, contribute to community projects, or work alongside professionals who mentor you throughout the experience. Whether you live in Delaware or are visiting from nearby states, these internships can help you grow your skills, expand your network, and explore future career paths.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 10 summer internships for high school students in Delaware.
If you are looking for programs in Delaware, check out our blog here.
1. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Multiple locations, including Delaware
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend is provided
Dates: Exact dates vary by placement, typically June – August
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors residing in one of the eligible locations. More information here
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program connects high school students with paid summer internships at local nonprofit organizations, helping them develop leadership and workplace skills while contributing to their communities. Over the course of eight weeks, you’ll gain practical experience in the nonprofit sector, learn how organizations address social challenges, and explore the role of civic engagement in driving change. The program also includes a weeklong trip to Washington, D.C., where you’ll attend the national Student Leaders Summit to engage with peers, business leaders, and policymakers on topics related to community leadership and social impact.
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers work-learn programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. HighRise — University of Delaware (Materials Science & Engineering Program)
Location: University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Cost: No cost; $1,500 stipend
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors (rising juniors or seniors for Summer) who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents.
HighRise is a one‑month immersive research program in materials science and engineering at UD, where you rotate through lab modules focused on polymer science, semiconductors, nanomaterials, and other advanced topics. You’ll work under faculty and graduate student supervision in college‑level labs, engaging in hands‑on experiments and collaborative problem‑solving. The stipend supports your participation and helps make the program accessible. By participating, you’ll clarify whether you’re drawn to engineering or advanced science as a career path and build connections with professors and peers in the field.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
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. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
5. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Students are placed within a 45-minute commute of their home
Cost: $3,000 stipend
Dates: Internship dates are flexible and determined between the mentor and student.
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16; must be residents of the US, Canada, Mexico, or Puerto Rico.
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight-week paid summer internship sponsored by the American Fisheries Society (AFS) for high school students interested in aquatic sciences and conservation. Participants are matched with a professional mentor and gain experience in settings such as labs, fields, or offices, assisting with tasks like water quality testing, fish population surveys, and habitat assessments. The program provides a stipend and includes an all-expenses-paid Hutton Scholars Summit, where students connect with peers and mentors from across the country. It also aims to increase diversity in fisheries and aquatic sciences by encouraging participation from underrepresented groups.
6. US District Court for the District of Delaware High School Fellowship Program
Location: US District Court for the District of Delaware, Wilmington, DE
Cost/Stipend: Free; $1,600 stipend
Dates: July 6 – July 31
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in New Castle County who are U.S. citizens or Green Card holders
Through the High School Summer Fellowship Program, you’ll spend four weeks immersed in Delaware’s federal court system. Working alongside judges and federal employees, you’ll gain insight into how the judicial process operates and see firsthand how cases are managed and decided. You’ll also get the chance to observe court proceedings and meet leaders in the state’s legal community. The program provides a weekly stipend, allowing you to earn while you learn. This is a great opportunity to explore law and public service, build professional connections, and experience the workings of the justice system up close.
7. Future Leaders Internship Initiative (FLii)
Location: Various state government agencies in Delaware (e.g., Departments of Technology & Information, Agriculture, Labor, Transportation, and Public Health)
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided (exact amount not specified)
Dates: Summer program (duration varies)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in Delaware who are currently in their freshman, sophomore, or junior year (usually ages 15–17). Applicants are generally participants in the LYTE (Leading Youth Through Empowerment) program.
In this program, you’ll join a state-level internship that places you in a real government agency or partner organization in Delaware. This program allows you to engage in significant projects, developing your analytical, technical, and interpersonal abilities. You will frequently work alongside mentors from both the public and private sectors. The experience provides insight into government operations and STEAM careers, complemented by professional development via workshops and case studies. You can cultivate essential workplace habits, practice teamwork, and understand the connection between policy, technology, and public service within a government framework.
8. HEIDE STEPS (Summer Training in Equity Program for Secondary Students)
Location: Primarily Virtual sessions, with required in-person site visits (e.g., water treatment plants, restaurants) to observe public health work.
Cost: Free
Dates: 4 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12 in the fall
In this internship, you’ll learn how social factors like education, neighborhoods, and access to healthcare affect people’s health. You’ll participate in virtual sessions with public health professionals and visit sites such as treatment plants or food service venues to see how public health programs work on the ground. You’ll also complete at least 20 hours of service, such as assisting food pantries or participating in clean-ups, and present your project at the end of the program. This experience gives you insight into public-health careers, helps you develop communication and analytical skills, and lets you contribute meaningfully to your community.
9. Office of Management and Budget (Delaware) Internship Program
Location: Dover, DE
Cost: No cost; hourly rate varies based on experience
Dates: School‑year students may work 10–15 hrs/week; full‑time hours may apply in summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions, you can apply here!
Eligibility: High school seniors, college students, or recent graduates pursuing a finance/accounting-related field; minimum GPA 2.5.
In this paid internship, you’ll join the Delaware OMB team to assist with state‑level financial operations like purchase orders, accounts payable/receivable, and budget reporting. You’ll actively support the workflow of government finance, gaining exposure to policy, procurement, and accounting systems. Your supervisor will guide your work and provide feedback, helping you build professional communication, analytical, and organizational skills. By the end of your term, you’ll leave with tangible experience in government budgeting and enhanced résumé credentials.
10. Delaware Academy of Medicine / Delaware Public Health Association – Student Internship Program
Location: Delaware (various sites)
Cost: No cost
Dates: Summer: May 15 – August 15
Application Deadline: Varies depending on cohort
Eligibility: High school students (and others) of any academic institution
This internship places you in a public‑health setting where you’ll assist in data collection, health outreach, and program implementation for community health initiatives. You’ll learn how health systems function in practice, how initiatives are designed and evaluated, and how communication plays a role in public health. The program emphasizes project planning, analytical thinking, and cross‑disciplinary collaboration. This position is well-suited if you’re interested in how health, policy, and community services connect and want to strengthen your résumé before college.
Image source - Bank of America Logo