Online and Virtual Opportunities for High School Students
Nichable lists 347 online opportunities for high school students right now: internships, research, programs, competitions and volunteering you can do from home. Each one is checked against the organization's own page.
- Online Competitions132
- Online Programs44
- Online Summer 2027 Programs13
- Free Online Programs173
- Online Research Programs13
- Virtual Volunteer Opportunities11
Not every strong opportunity needs you to live near a university or a big city. Virtual internships, remote research mentorships, online summer programs, competitions you enter from home and volunteer roles done on a laptop are open to students wherever they live, and they don't need a ride or a summer away.
Remote listings come in every category: some run for a few weeks in the summer, others ask for a few hours a week during the school year. Many are open nationwide, but some still limit who can apply by state, age or grade, so the eligibility line matters as much as it does for an in-person program.
What counts
- · Virtual internships and remote research projects with a real supervisor or mentor
- · Online summer programs and courses run by universities, nonprofits and companies
- · Competitions entered and judged online
- · Remote volunteer roles such as tutoring, writing or research support for a nonprofit
Real online opportunities right now
How to actually get one
- · Check where applicants must live. "Remote" describes where the work happens, not always who can apply; some programs only take students from one state or city.
- · Look at the time commitment. A school-year remote role that asks for five hours a week can fit around classes in a way a full-time summer program can't.
- · Treat it like an in-person commitment. Remote programs notice who shows up to calls on time and finishes work without reminders, and that's what turns into a strong recommendation letter.
- · Make sure there's a real person in charge. The worthwhile remote programs name a supervisor, mentor or instructor and say what you'll actually do.
Common questions
Are there virtual internships for high school students?
Yes. Some organizations run internships and research mentorships entirely online, often part-time during the school year or for a few weeks in the summer.
Do online programs count as much as in-person ones?
What counts is what you did and what you can show for it: a finished project, a result or a recommendation from someone who supervised your work. A remote program can give you all of those.
Can I do a remote opportunity from any state?
Often, but not always. Some remote programs are open nationwide, while others are funded for students in one state or city. Each listing's eligibility says which.
How does Nichable decide a listing is online?
A listing appears here when its own page says it runs remotely, and every listing is checked against the organization's official page. Hybrid programs, with some in-person days, aren't included.