25 Fashion Internships + Programs for High Schoolers in 2024
What’s Covered:
- 10 Fashion Internships for High School Students
- 15 Fashion Programs for High School Students
- How Much Do Internships Impact Your College Chances?
From the offices of New York City and London designers to runways in fashion capitals like Milan to Paris, it’s easy to see the appeal of a career in fashion. An internship in the fashion industry can provide insight into what a career in the field looks like, bolster your resume, build an industry network, and put fashion forward in your career.
10 Fashion Internships for High School Students
1. URBN Internships
Application Deadline: November 3rd
Duration: 10 weeks (June 3 – August 9)
URBN, the umbrella under which brands like Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People fall, is home to a 10-week, paid internship. URBN internships are primarily located at the company’s office in the historic Philadelphia Navy Yard, however, there is the possibility of some remote offerings. Participants receive hands-on experience in a specific area of interest while earning a competitive hourly rate. Over the course of the program, URBN interns will develop the leadership and skills necessary to succeed in a fast-paced retail environment.
2. Gap Inc. This Way ONward
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
This Way ONward is a program that provides high school students with their first jobs, and mentorship to make their dreams a reality by partnering with their local Old Navy stores with a focus on serving Black and Latinx communities. This Way ONward provides teens 16+ with exposure to retail careers, job readiness preparation, opportunities to apply and interview for part-time and seasonal jobs, and coaching and support through the entire hiring process.
3. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Freshman Forum
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: One week
Recent high school graduates will want to put this awesome internship with A&F on their lists. This week-long virtual event brings college freshmen from across the country together to get hands-on experience with customer insight case studies and learn how to generate data, insights, and actionable business solutions from them. Hit the books, because a 3.0 GPA is required to participate in this program.
4. Design Hive
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Seven months
This program for high school juniors and seniors from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum aims to show students how designers move an idea to a final design. Students build techniques, hone skills, explore careers in design, and meet professionals working in fashion through this excellent opportunity.
Students receive a $2,000 stipend for their participation in the program.
5. Land’s End Summer Internships
Application Deadline: Varies
Duration: 12 weeks
Land’s End, the clothing and home decor retailer, offers 12-week summer internships in a variety of fields. Interns immerse themselves in the company’s culture and receive mentorship while working on group projects, participating in leadership workshops, and taking part in networking events. Interns are compensated for their time and receive a generous discount at Land’s End and its partner organizations.
6. Terry Costa Internship
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: N/A
Terry Costa, a leader in bridal and formal wear, provides internships for students interested in fashion and retail. Interns gain experience in a variety of topics, including business operations, interview etiquette, customer service, retail operations, social media, sales, and marketing. This internship is paid!
7. Nordstrom Ambassador Program
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Eight months
This virtual internship program connects young people between the ages of 14 and 22 with mentors and organizations in merchandising. Participants get a behind-the-scenes look at the retail industry while building skills in fields like social media, marketing, and design.
Although this is an unpaid opportunity, participants are eligible to receive a $1,000 scholarship to the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising that’s renewable for up to four years.
8. MAD Artslife Interns
Application Deadline: April 7
Duration: Six weeks (July 9 – August 16)
While not a fashion internship per se, rising sophomores and juniors will want to look into this program offered by New York City’s Museum of Art and Design. Interns learn about art, design, leadership, music studies, and community engagement while working with museum staff, local designers, and professional artists.
Program participants build valuable soft skills like presentation, communication, and public speaking—all of which are beneficial to a career in fashion—visit cultural institutions in New York City, and get paid $16 an hour.
9. Brooklyn Museum Creative Practice
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Eight months
This internship is aimed at New York City teens with an interest in art, fashion, design, and social justice. Participants work side-by-side with like-minded peers to explore how artistic practice can promote social justice and collaborate on creative projects relating to museum exhibitions.
Participants can expect to work up to 120 hours over the course of the program and are paid a rate of $15 per hour.
10. The Met Summer High School Internships
Application Deadline: February 1
Duration: N/A
Current sophomores and juniors from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will want to check out this internship opportunity that connects them with creative professionals. While not exactly a fashion internship, participants are encouraged to pursue fields of interest while immersed in the world of art while also developing professional skills, building a professional network, and gaining work experience.
15 Fashion Programs for High School Students
11. LIM Fashion Workshops
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Four days
LIM College offers a variety of four-day, non-credit workshops for students with an interest in the fashion industry. Workshops are available in a variety of fields, including fashion merchandising, fashion styling, and career boot camp. Workshops are offered both in person and virtually and cost a few hundred dollars to attend.
12. Parsons Online Summer Intensive Studies
Application Deadline:
- Session 1: May 15
- Session 2: June 8
Duration: Three weeks
- Session 1: June 10 – 28
- Session 2: July 8 – 26
This three-week summer program offered by Lower Manhattan’s Parsons School of Design/The New School—one of the top design schools in the world—is a fantastic opportunity for high schoolers interested in a career in fashion. Specific programs are available in a variety of fashion-focused fields, including fashion design, fashion styling, and product design. In addition to coursework, participants will hear from guest speakers from the fashion industry and go on virtual field trips. This is a paid program, not a traditional internship, and costs $5,145.
13. Drexel University’s Merchandising: Re-imagined: Curating a Creative Approach
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: One week (July 14 – 20)
This week-long course isn’t exactly an internship, but it is an amazing opportunity for high schoolers to immerse themselves in the world of fashion and learn about fashion design. Participants tackle a variety of projects in areas like fashion illustration, technical sketching, draping, print design, natural silk dyeing, and digital applications for machine knitting and CLO 3D design—bolstering their skills and portfolios. They’ll also visit boutiques, design studios, and art museums.
This competitive residential program—it’s limited to just 18 students—is open to high schoolers over the age of 16 who’ve completed their sophomore year. The program costs $2,250 but provides invaluable insight into a career in fashion.
14. Banson NYC Fashion Summer Camps
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: One week
- Session A: June 23 – 28
- Session B: July 14 – 19
Banson NYC was founded to provide students with a “real life” tour experience of the fashion industry in New York City. Banson NYC Fashion Summer Camp allows you to learn how buyers select merchandise for their stores and what goes on behind the scenes in a showroom or design studio in NYC. Each week of the fashion camp is packed with visits to key players in the fashion industry, fun educational shopping trips, and the opportunity to stay in dorm rooms with another Banson NYC student. The course is designed specifically for students in grades 9 through 12 and space is limited—a maximum of 20 participants are accepted.
15. Rhode Island School of Design’s Pre-College Program
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Five weeks (June 29 – August 3)
Rhode Island School of Design’s Pre-College Program isn’t a traditional fashion internship for high school students, but an excellent opportunity nonetheless. This residential program introduces students interested in studying art and design in college to a network of like-minded creative high schoolers, challenges them with collegiate-level coursework, and helps them produce portfolio-level work. However, unlike paid internships, participants pay to take part in this program. The cost of RISD’s Residential Pre-College Program is $11,350.
16. Fashion Institute of Technology’s High School 10-Day Classes
Application Deadline: June 10
Duration: 10 Days
This program might not fit the bill as a traditional internship, but it is a great way for high schoolers with an interest in fashion to build their portfolios, explore different fields in fashion, and get a feel for college-level coursework at one of the most prestigious institutions. Courses range from Drawing for Designers to Fashion Business and are taught by FIT instructors. Many classes are available both in-person and virtually. This is a paid program, and each course costs $550.
17. Pratt’s Summer Pre-College Program
Application Deadline: May 1
Duration: Four weeks
This rigorous four-week, full-time program at the Pratt Institute—one of the country’s top art and design schools—is an excellent opportunity for high schoolers aspiring to a career in fashion. Over the course of the program, students take two intensive studio courses, in disciplines such as fashion design, industrial design, and jewelry, while also participating in workshops and visiting local cultural institutions. By the end of the program, students will bolster their portfolios and have the opportunity to earn college credit.
The cost of Pratt’s Summer Pre-College Program is approximately $7,170
18. The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Rising Star Program
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Five weeks (June 16 July 19)
The SCAD Rising Star Program is a five-week summer program that awards college credit to rising high school seniors. This residential program allows participants to get a feel for college life while building their portfolios and creating a network of like-minded peers. SCAD Rising Stars participate in two college-level classes and can choose from courses like Fashion Technology, Fashion Aesthetics and Style, Introduction to Fibers, and Sewing Technology for Accessory Design. This is a paid program; tuition is $6,334 and includes housing and meals.
19. Kent Summer Fashion Academy
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: One week
This week-long program introduces students to fashion design and merchandising. Participants will learn about the history of fashion and its role in society, take a design from idea to finished garment, and meet a network of fashion-minded peers. This is a residential program that allows students to sample a slice of college life—living in Kent State’s residence halls, eating in its dining halls, and exploring its campus.
The program is open to students between the ages of 16 and 18 who have completed their sophomore year of high school and costs $1,800.
20. Academy of Art University Pre-College Art & Design Experience
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Four weeks (June 22 – July 20)
Students interested in deep-diving into fields like fashion, fine art, and design will want to look into this summer program. Participants take college-level classes, build their skills, and meet artistically inclined peers. Courses are available in person and online.
21. School of Art Institute of Chicago Summer Institutes
Application Deadline: N/A
Duration: Varies
Students in this summer program will create portfolio-quality work, connect with talented peers, and earn credit while having a college experience. Participants are encouraged to bring their ideas to life and think outside of the box while taking college-level classes, working in studios, engaging in workshops, and displaying their work at a final exhibition. There are a number of courses sure to interest fashion-minded students, including Fashion Construction, Fashion Design, and Material Manipulation: Introduction to Fibers.
22. Marist College Fashion Merchandising A to Z
Application Deadline: Rolling
Duration: Two weeks
- Session 1: June 30 – July 13
- Session 2: July 14 – July 27
This pre-college program from Marist College is ideal for students interested in majoring in fashion merchandising and careers in the fashion industry. Participants build industry knowledge, are introduced to influential people and businesses, and develop a network of similarly interested peers.
This program covers multiple aspects of the fashion industry, including retailing, buying, marketing, e-commerce, social media, and product development. The program is geared to high school sophomores and juniors and three college credits are awarded upon its successful completion.
It costs $3,500 to attend Marist College Fashion Merchandising A to Z.
23. Otis College of Art and Design Summer of Art
Application Deadline: June 24
Duration: Four weeks (July 5 -31)
Students can develop their artistic skills and explore certain pathways at one of the nation’s top design colleges during this summer program. Participants develop their drawing skills in drawing studios—a fundamental skill for all art and design disciplines, including fashion. They’ll also explore specific fields in depth, such as Fashion Design, Illustration, and Product and Toy Design.
24. Idyllwild Arts Fashion Design Intensive
Application Deadline: June 24
Duration: Two weeks
- Session 1: June 30 – July 13
- Session 2: July 14 – July 27
This intensive summer art camp introduces students to the field of fashion design. Participants will design collections and create projects reflecting their style and learn about everything from textiles to fashion history. A wide range of activities are offered to students, including creating concept boards, building color palettes, selecting fabrics, sketching live models, and staging a fashion show.
The Idyllwild Arts Fashion Design Intensive is available as both a residential and commuter program. The residential program costs $3,730 while the cost is $2,180 for commuters.
25. Columbus College of Art & Design College Preview: Fashion Design
Application Deadline: May 28
Duration: Three weeks (July 7 – 27)
Explore the field of fashion design at one of the country’s oldest private art and design schools in this three-week summer program. Students live and learn on campus, gaining a firsthand college experience. Participants pursue their field of interest through college-level classes, take part in workshops, and receive professional development training.
This program is aimed at rising 10th through 12th graders and costs $3,600.
How Much Do Internships Impact Your College Chances?
Activities such as Internships and programs are an important part of admissions decisions. Extracurricular activities are valued as much as 25% in decision making. An eye-catching internship at a well-known brand or participation in a prestigious program can set you apart from other candidates. Even an unpaid internship demonstrates your interest in the field and shows your commitment.
Extracurricular activities like internships are commonly categorized into four tiers. Tier 1 and Tier 2 are reserved for the most impressive and rare internships and can significantly influence your college odds. Tier 3 and Tier 4 are reserved for less prestigious and more common activities that have less impact on your chances of college admission.
If you’re interested in finding out your odds of acceptance at a particular school, CollegeVine can help. Our free admissions calculator considers factors like GPA, standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities (like internships) to predict your odds of acceptance at more than 1,600 colleges and universities. More than just informing you of your chances, our chancing calculator also provides insight into how to improve your profile to better your chances of gaining acceptance to your dream school.
