Top 15 Best High School Internships in Minnesota 2026

Statewide Excellence from Twin Cities to Greater Minnesota

Minnesota’s economy extends far beyond the Twin Cities metro, creating internships for high school students in Minnesota from Duluth’s port operations to Rochester’s Mayo Clinic, from Mankato’s manufacturing to Bemidji’s natural resources. This comprehensive statewide guide explores opportunities across urban centers, regional hubs, and Greater Minnesota communities—each offering unique career pathways shaped by local industries, educational institutions, and economic strengths. Minnesota’s commitment to education, workforce development, and civic engagement creates structured internship programs accessible throughout the state.

From world-renowned healthcare at Mayo Clinic Rochester to agricultural research at University of Minnesota research stations, state government service in St. Paul to environmental conservation across Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes, the state offers professional experiences spanning every major industry. Minnesota’s Fortune 500 concentration (18 companies, including Target, UnitedHealth Group, 3M, General Mills, U.S. Bank), major healthcare systems, strong manufacturing base, agricultural leadership, and thriving tourism economy create consistent internship demand. Students can explore opportunities similar to high school internships in Minneapolis while discovering regional options throughout the state.

This guide features 15 verified high school internship programs across Minnesota for 2026, representing opportunities from metropolitan centers to rural communities, from Fortune 500 headquarters to small-town businesses. Whether pursuing corporate careers comparable to high school internships in Kansas City, MO or exploring regional opportunities like high school internships in Milwaukee, WI, Minnesota’s statewide infrastructure provides exceptional foundation for professional growth.

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15 Outstanding High School Internships Across Minnesota 2026

1. Mayo Clinic Career Immersion Program – Rochester

• Organization: Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences – Rochester, MN
• Description: Summer healthcare career exploration for Minnesota high school juniors and seniors at world’s #1-ranked hospital. Program includes clinical shadowing, laboratory experiences, health sciences education, career panels, and residential housing at Mayo facilities.
• Eligibility: Minnesota high school juniors and seniors, strong academics, underrepresented students in healthcare prioritized
• Duration: 1-2 weeks summer (typically June or July)
• Compensation: Housing provided; verify stipend availability
• Deadline: Applications open winter; deadline early spring
• Apply: Mayo Clinic Career Immersion

2. University of Minnesota Biomedical Engineering High School Internship – Twin Cities

• Organization: University of Minnesota Department of Biomedical Engineering – Minneapolis
• Description: Award-winning six-week paid internship for rising seniors conducting hands-on research in BME laboratories. Projects span cardiovascular engineering, neural engineering, biomechanics, medical imaging, tissue engineering, or medical device development.
• Eligibility: Rising high school seniors, strong STEM academics (3.5+ GPA recommended)
• Duration: 6 weeks summer, full-time
• Compensation: Paid stipend
• Deadline: Winter; verify 2026 availability (not accepting summer 2025)
• Apply: UMN BME High School Internship

3. Minnesota State Government Internship Programs – Statewide

• Organization: State of Minnesota – Multiple Agencies
• Description: State government internships across executive agencies including DNR (environmental conservation), MnDOT (transportation), MDH/DHS (health/human services), education, agriculture, and technology. Available in St. Paul, Minneapolis metro, and Greater Minnesota locations throughout the state.
• Eligibility: High school students (primarily juniors and seniors), Minnesota residency typically required
• Duration: Summer primarily; some semester or year-round
• Compensation: Many paid positions; some unpaid for academic credit
• Deadline: Varies by agency; typically winter/spring for summer
• Apply: Minnesota State Jobs Portal

4. 3M Student Programs – St. Paul/Maplewood

• Organization: 3M Company – Minnesota Headquarters
• Description: Science, technology, and innovation internships at global diversified technology company (60,000+ products). Primarily college-level but exceptional high school seniors interested in materials science, engineering, chemistry, or product development may inquire.
• Eligibility: Primarily college students; exceptional high school seniors may inquire, strong STEM academics
• Duration: 10-12 weeks summer
• Compensation: Paid – competitive wages
• Deadline: Applications typically open fall/winter
• Apply: 3M Careers student programs

5. Hennepin County Government Internships – Metro Area

• Organization: Hennepin County (Minnesota’s largest county)
• Description: Year-round paid internships across 50+ departments including human services, public health, parks, libraries, transportation, IT, and administration. Students gain public sector experience serving 1.3 million residents across Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs.
• Eligibility: High school students (typically juniors and seniors), some positions require age 16+
• Duration: Summer, academic year, or year-round; flexible schedules
• Compensation: Paid hourly wages
• Deadline: Rolling recruitment; apply early for summer
• Apply: Hennepin County Internships

6. University of Minnesota Research Stations – Greater Minnesota

• Organization: University of Minnesota Research and Outreach Centers
• Description: Agricultural and environmental research internships at UMN stations throughout Minnesota including Crookston, Morris, Rochester, Grand Rapids, Lamberton, and Waseca. Research spans crop science, animal science, environmental studies, forestry, and agricultural technology.
• Eligibility: Minnesota high school students, strong science interest, physical capability for outdoor/farm work
• Duration: Summer primarily (8-12 weeks)
• Compensation: Many positions paid; some for academic credit
• Deadline: Winter/early spring for summer positions
• Apply: Contact individual UMN Research Centers or extension offices

7. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Youth Programs – Statewide

• Organization: Minnesota DNR
• Description: Environmental conservation, parks, forestry, fisheries, and wildlife management opportunities across Minnesota’s 66 state parks, forests, and wildlife management areas. Students support park operations, habitat restoration, visitor services, wildlife monitoring, and environmental education throughout Greater Minnesota.
• Eligibility: Minnesota high school students ages 15-18, outdoor work capability
• Duration: Summer primarily; some year-round positions
• Compensation: Many paid positions
• Deadline: Winter/spring for summer positions
• Apply: Minnesota DNR Employment or contact regional offices

8. Step Up Youth Employment Program – Minneapolis

• Organization: Achieve Twin Cities / City of Minneapolis Partnership
• Description: Comprehensive paid internship program connecting Minneapolis youth ages 14-21 with Twin Cities employers across 15 industries (34,000+ placements since 2003). Level 1 (ages 14-15) provides foundational experience; Level 2 (ages 16-21) offers professional internships with mentorship and career development.
• Eligibility: Minneapolis youth ages 14-21, city residency required
• Duration: Summer primarily (6-8 weeks); some year-round
• Compensation: Paid – Level 1 (city wages), Level 2 (employer wages)
• Deadline: Winter/early spring for summer
• Apply: Step Up Program

9. Children’s Minnesota Healthcare Programs – Minneapolis/St. Paul

• Organization: Children’s Minnesota (Children’s Hospitals and Clinics)
• Description: Pediatric healthcare volunteer and career exploration programs at leading children’s hospital system. Students gain exposure to pediatric medicine, nursing, child life services, and hospital operations through structured volunteer programs supporting patient care and family services.
• Eligibility: High school students ages 14-18, background checks and health screenings required
• Duration: Summer programs or school year volunteering
• Compensation: Volunteer (unpaid) providing clinical exposure
• Deadline: Winter/spring for summer programs
• Apply: Children’s Minnesota volunteer services

10. Duluth Seaway Port Authority Maritime Programs – Duluth

• Organization: Duluth Seaway Port Authority
• Description: Maritime industry, shipping operations, and port management exposure at westernmost freshwater seaport on St. Lawrence Seaway. Opportunities provide insight into Great Lakes shipping, international trade, maritime careers, and port operations through tours, shadowing, or short-term projects.
• Eligibility: Duluth-area high school students interested in maritime careers
• Duration: Flexible short-term observations or summer projects
• Compensation: Varies; primarily educational exposure
• Deadline: Contact port authority for scheduling
• Apply: Duluth Seaway Port Authority at 218-727-8525

11. Science Museum of Minnesota Teen Programs – St. Paul

• Organization: Science Museum of Minnesota
• Description: STEM education and museum operations internships supporting exhibits, programming, demonstrations, and visitor services. Includes STEM Justice internships addressing equity in science education and general museum operations roles.
• Eligibility: High school students ages 14-18, Twin Cities area
• Duration: Summer programs or school year, part-time
• Compensation: Mix of volunteer and paid internships
• Deadline: Spring for summer positions
• Apply: Science Museum of Minnesota volunteer/employment pages

12. Minnesota School District Career & Technical Education Internships – Statewide

• Organization: Multiple Minnesota School Districts Statewide
• Description: School-coordinated work-based learning internships placing students with local employers in healthcare, IT, business, engineering, trades, hospitality, and education. Programs coordinated through individual school districts’ CTE departments partnering with regional businesses throughout Minnesota.
• Eligibility: Students enrolled in participating school districts’ CTE programs
• Duration: Summer or semester placements, flexible schedules
• Compensation: Varies – some paid by employers, others for credit
• Deadline: Coordinate through school CTE coordinators (winter/spring)
• Apply: Contact your high school’s CTE coordinator or career counselor

13. Explore Minnesota Tourism Industry Programs – Statewide

• Organization: Various Tourism Businesses/Resorts
• Description: Hospitality, tourism management, and outdoor recreation opportunities at Minnesota’s resorts, attractions, state parks, and tourism businesses. Positions span customer service, recreation programming, facility operations, and visitor services throughout Minnesota’s tourism regions.
• Eligibility: High school students ages 15-18, varies by employer
• Duration: Summer primarily (tourism season)
• Compensation: Paid employment wages
• Deadline: Early spring for summer tourism season
• Apply: Direct contact with resorts, attractions, or Explore Minnesota tourism resources

14. Ladder Internship Program – Remote/Accessible Statewide

• Organization: Ladder Internships
• Description: Selective startup internship program connecting ambitious high school students with high-growth technology companies nationally through remote internships (5-10 hours weekly). Students work on real projects spanning technology, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, consulting, and fintech with YCombinator alumni and venture-backed startups.
• Eligibility: High school students globally, entrepreneurial mindset
• Duration: 8-12 weeks flexible, part-time (5-10 hours weekly)
• Compensation: Varies by company; some paid, some for experience
• Deadline: Rolling admissions with cohort deadlines year-round
• Apply: Ladder Internships

15. Regional Hospital Systems Volunteer Programs – Greater Minnesota

• Organization: Various Regional Healthcare Systems (Essentia Health, CentraCare, Sanford Health, etc.)
• Description: Healthcare volunteer and career exploration programs at regional hospital systems throughout Greater Minnesota including Duluth, St. Cloud, Mankato, Bemidji, and Rochester. Students gain clinical exposure, patient support experience, and healthcare career exploration in community hospital settings.
• Eligibility: Local high school students ages 14-18, varies by system
• Duration: Summer programs or school year volunteering
• Compensation: Volunteer (unpaid) providing healthcare experience
• Deadline: Winter/spring for summer programs
• Apply: Contact local hospital volunteer services departments directly

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How to Apply for Minnesota Internships

Understanding Minnesota’s Regional Diversity

Minnesota divides into distinct economic regions: Twin Cities Metro (Minneapolis/St. Paul) offers Fortune 500 headquarters, major healthcare systems, state government, cultural institutions, and corporate internships similar to high school internships in Minneapolis. Greater Minnesota includes Rochester (Mayo Clinic, healthcare), Duluth (maritime, tourism, natural resources), St. Cloud (manufacturing, education), Mankato (agriculture, education), Bemidji (forestry, tribal government), and smaller communities each with unique opportunities.

Application Timeline

Winter 2026: Mayo Clinic Career Immersion, UMN BME, state government, 3M, Hennepin County applications. Step Up opens. Begin researching regional opportunities.

Spring 2026: Peak season. Healthcare volunteers, DNR positions, UMN research stations, tourism businesses recruit. School CTE coordination. Museum programs finalize.

Summer 2026: Programs begin statewide.

Required Documents

Resume, cover letters, transcripts, 2-3 recommendations, work permits (Minnesota requires for under-18), background/health checks (healthcare).

Application Methods

Online for Mayo Clinic, UMN, state government, Hennepin County, Step Up, major corporate programs. Direct contact for DNR regional offices, research stations, hospitals, tourism businesses. Through schools for CTE programs.

Strengthening Applications

Emphasize Minnesota connection: Programs value state residents and regional commitment. Show Greater Minnesota awareness: Demonstrate understanding of regional economies beyond Twin Cities. Highlight relevant skills: STEM for research/healthcare, outdoor experience for DNR, customer service for tourism. Quantify achievements. Address geography: Transportation considerations for rural opportunities.

Interview Tips

Business professional for corporate (3M, Fortune 500). Business casual for healthcare, research, government. Appropriate outdoor attire for DNR positions. Demonstrate Minnesota values: Work ethic, reliability, community commitment. Research regional context. Follow up within 24 hours.

Transportation

Twin Cities has metro transit light rail and buses. Greater Minnesota requires personal vehicles for most positions. Regional internships may offer housing for distant students. School programs sometimes coordinate transportation.

Resources

• Individual school district CTE offices statewide
• Minnesota CareerForce Centers (regional locations)
• County workforce development offices
• University of Minnesota Extension offices
• Regional chambers of commerce

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are Minnesota high school internships paid?

Yes, many offer compensation including Step Up (city and employer wages), Hennepin County (hourly wages), UMN BME (stipend), state government (many paid), DNR positions (many paid), 3M (competitive wages), UMN research stations (many paid), tourism businesses (employment wages), while healthcare volunteers, museum positions, and some government internships provide unpaid experience with recommendations.

Where are internships located besides Twin Cities?

Mayo Clinic (Rochester), UMN research stations (Crookston, Morris, Rochester, Grand Rapids, Lamberton, Waseca), DNR facilities (statewide 66 state parks/forests), Duluth (port, Essentia Health), St. Cloud (CentraCare, manufacturing), Mankato (agriculture, Minnesota State University), Bemidji (forestry, tourism), and smaller communities throughout Greater Minnesota offer regional opportunities beyond high school internships in Minneapolis.

How do I access Mayo Clinic programs from Twin Cities?

Mayo Clinic Career Immersion provides residential housing in Rochester eliminating daily commute needs. Rochester located 90 minutes south of Twin Cities via I-35/US-52, accessible for occasional visits though program includes housing for duration.

What is Step Up and who qualifies?

Step Up is Minneapolis’s flagship youth employment program connecting 1,600+ youth annually with paid internships (34,000+ placements since 2003), offering Level 1 (ages 14-15) and Level 2 (ages 16-21), requiring Minneapolis residency.

Does Minnesota offer agricultural internships?

Yes, through UMN research stations throughout Greater Minnesota conducting crop science, animal science, environmental studies, forestry, and agricultural technology research, plus DNR programs, private farms/agribusinesses, and agricultural cooperatives particularly in southern and western Minnesota regions.

Can Greater Minnesota students access Twin Cities opportunities?

Yes—Mayo Career Immersion provides housing, UMN BME and other programs accept statewide applications, state government positions available in St. Paul, Hennepin County considers greater metro applicants, and Step Up specifically serves Minneapolis residents, though transportation or temporary housing may be needed.

What makes Minnesota unique for internships?

Minnesota combines 18 Fortune 500 headquarters (highest per capita outside NYC), world’s #1 hospital (Mayo Clinic), robust Step Up youth employment infrastructure, strong state government programs, extensive Greater Minnesota opportunities unlike purely metropolitan states, 10,000+ lakes creating tourism economy, agricultural leadership, and commitment to education/workforce development creating opportunities from high school internships in Kansas City, MO scale to small-town accessibility.

Are remote internships available for rural Minnesota students?

Yes, Ladder Internships offers remote startup positions accessible statewide (5-10 hours weekly), some state government positions allow remote work, and corporate programs occasionally offer virtual internships, though most hands-on opportunities (healthcare, DNR, research) require in-person participation.

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Explore More Internship Opportunities

Minnesota Metro:

• High School Internships in Minneapolis – Fortune 500 and urban opportunities

Midwest Excellence:

• High School Internships in Kansas City, MO – Regional business hub
• High School Internships in Milwaukee, WI – Manufacturing innovation

Major Metro Areas:

• High School Internships in Denver – Aerospace and energy
• High School Internships in Washington, DC – Federal government
• High School Internships in NYC – Finance and media
• High School Internships in Los Angeles – Entertainment

Growing Regions:

• High School Internships in Alpharetta, GA – Technology corridor
• High School Internships in Augusta, GA – Cybersecurity center

Mid-Atlantic:

• High School Internships in Jersey City, NJ – NYC metro access
• High School Internships in Delaware – Corporate headquarters
• High School Internships in Maryland – Federal research

Southeast:

• High School Internships in Florida – Space and marine science
• High School Internships in Miami – International business

Statewide:

• High School Internships in Texas – Energy and aerospace
• High School Internships in Massachusetts – Biotech excellence

Specialty:

• High School Internships in Katy, TX – Houston area

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Final Thoughts

Internships for high school students in Minnesota span from Twin Cities Fortune 500 excellence to Mayo Clinic world leadership to Greater Minnesota regional opportunities creating accessible statewide pathways. Explore opportunities matching your location and interests—from high school internships in Minneapolis corporate density to Rochester healthcare to northern Minnesota conservation—applying to 8-12 programs for transformative professional growth across Minnesota’s diverse economy.

Questions? Contact program coordinators or your school’s career counselor for Minnesota-specific internship guidance.