Myrtle Beach Paid Internships 2026: A Practical Guide for High School Students
June 18, 2026 · College Planning Center Team
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<p class="tl-myrb-in-app-byline">By the College Planning Center Team · June 18, 2026</p>
<p>Every June we have the same conversation with Myrtle Beach families: which paid internships are actually worth a high school students's time, and which ones look bigger on paper than they pay in practice? In a region where tourism, hospitality, retail, healthcare (Grand Strand Medical, McLeod), real estate drive hiring and Horry County Schools (HCS), the third-largest district in SC, the answer is usually narrower than parents expect. Below are the ten programs we point families toward first for the 2026 cycle.</p>
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<h2 id="coastal-carolina-university-marine-science-programs">1. Coastal Carolina University Marine Science Programs</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.coastal.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Coastal Carolina University Marine Science Programs</a> — Coastal Carolina University runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.</p>
<p><strong>Eligibility:</strong> Marine science and environmental undergraduates.<br><strong>Compensation:</strong> $5,000+ stipend for select programs.<br><strong>Duration:</strong> 10 weeks summer.</p>
<p><strong>Where to apply:</strong> From the homepage, navigate to Academics → Marine Science → Research Opportunities.</p>
<p><em>For students rooted in the Grand Strand, from North Myrtle to Surfside and Conway, Coastal Carolina University sits high on the list because tourism and the local economy reward students who connect early with employers like this.</em></p>
<h2 id="south-carolina-state-government-internships">2. South Carolina State Government Internships</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.sc.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">South Carolina State Government Internships</a> — State of South Carolina runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.</p>
<p><strong>Eligibility:</strong> College students; HS juniors and seniors for specific programs.<br><strong>Compensation:</strong> Paid (varies by agency).<br><strong>Duration:</strong> 10–12 weeks summer; semester options.</p>
<p><strong>Where to apply:</strong> From the homepage, search "internships" or navigate to Employment → Internships.</p>
<p><em>Within driving distance — or accessible online — for any Myrtle Beach family, this opportunity stretches what a high schooler thinks is possible without uprooting the rest of their summer. 35,000 residents; 480,000+ in the grand strand metro means the applicant pool isn't always as big as parents fear.</em></p>
<h2 id="south-carolina-ports-authority-internship">3. South Carolina Ports Authority Internship</h2>
<p><a href="https://scspa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">South Carolina Ports Authority Internship</a> — SC Ports Authority runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.</p>
<p><strong>Eligibility:</strong> College students in logistics, business, engineering.<br><strong>Compensation:</strong> Paid hourly.<br><strong>Duration:</strong> Semester + summer.</p>
<p><strong>Where to apply:</strong> From the homepage, navigate to About → Careers → Internships.</p>
<p><em>Myrtle Beach students consistently tell us the hardest part of applying is finding the time; SC Ports Authority keeps the lift manageable by spelling out exactly what they want from candidates. Horry County Schools (HCS) guidance counselors recognize this one.</em></p>
<h2 id="duke-energy-carolinas-internship">4. Duke Energy Carolinas Internship</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.duke-energy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Duke Energy Carolinas Internship</a> — Duke Energy runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.</p>
<p><strong>Eligibility:</strong> Engineering, business, IT undergraduates.<br><strong>Compensation:</strong> Paid hourly + housing assistance.<br><strong>Duration:</strong> 10–12 weeks summer.</p>
<p><strong>Where to apply:</strong> From the homepage, navigate to Our Company → Careers → Internships and Student Programs.</p>
<p><em>If you're rooted in the Grand Strand, from North Myrtle to Surfside and Conway and looking for something that actually counts on a college application, this one threads the needle between resume polish and genuine experience. Coastal Carolina recruits heavily families tell us it shows up in admissions interviews.</em></p>
<h2 id="sc-department-of-transportation-internships">5. SC Department of Transportation Internships</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.scdot.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">SC Department of Transportation Internships</a> — SCDOT runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.</p>
<p><strong>Eligibility:</strong> Engineering, planning, construction management students.<br><strong>Compensation:</strong> Paid hourly.<br><strong>Duration:</strong> Summer + co-op.</p>
<p><strong>Where to apply:</strong> From the homepage, navigate to Inside SCDOT → Careers → Internships.</p>
<p><em>Myrtle Beach families weighing the math should pencil this in early — the deadline and eligibility don't budge once announced, and hcs graduates about 3,500 seniors a year across multiple high schools means application volume picks up fast.</em></p>
<h2 id="wells-fargo-student-programs">6. Wells Fargo Student Programs</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.wellsfargo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Wells Fargo Student Programs</a> — Wells Fargo runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.</p>
<p><strong>Eligibility:</strong> College undergraduates in finance, business, IT.<br><strong>Compensation:</strong> Competitive paid.<br><strong>Duration:</strong> 10 weeks summer.</p>
<p><strong>Where to apply:</strong> Navigate to Careers → Students and recent graduates → Internships.</p>
<p><em>For a Myrtle Beach student already volunteering, this is the bridge from one-off service to the multi-year commitment admissions officers actually remember. the Boardwalk kids tend to find their community here naturally.</em></p>
<h2 id="bank-of-america-student-leaders">7. Bank of America Student Leaders</h2>
<p><a href="https://about.bankofamerica.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Bank of America Student Leaders</a> — Bank of America runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.</p>
<p><strong>Eligibility:</strong> HS juniors and seniors with leadership experience.<br><strong>Compensation:</strong> Paid summer internship + DC week.<br><strong>Duration:</strong> 8 weeks summer.</p>
<p><strong>Where to apply:</strong> Navigate to About → Community → Bank of America Student Leaders.</p>
<p><em>Myrtle Beach's tourism sector means a student who shows up consistently at Bank of America gets noticed quickly — that compounds into recommendation letters when it counts.</em></p>
<h2 id="musc-summer-undergraduate-research">8. MUSC Summer Undergraduate Research</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.musc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">MUSC Summer Undergraduate Research</a> — Medical University of South Carolina runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.</p>
<p><strong>Eligibility:</strong> Rising college sophomores–seniors; pre-med focus.<br><strong>Compensation:</strong> Stipend + housing.<br><strong>Duration:</strong> 10 weeks summer.</p>
<p><strong>Where to apply:</strong> From the homepage, go to Education → Undergraduate Research → Summer Programs.</p>
<p><em>Cost-of-attendance math for Myrtle Beach families can swing $8,000 a year on financial aid alone; building toward this opportunity changes the affordability conversation entirely. Where Coastal Carolina University, year-round tourism employment, and HGTC's two-year programs interlock doesn't hurt either.</em></p>
<h2 id="clemson-university-undergraduate-research">9. Clemson University Undergraduate Research</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.clemson.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Clemson University Undergraduate Research</a> — Clemson University runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.</p>
<p><strong>Eligibility:</strong> Clemson students; HS juniors/seniors for summer programs.<br><strong>Compensation:</strong> Paid project stipends.<br><strong>Duration:</strong> Semester or summer.</p>
<p><strong>Where to apply:</strong> From the homepage, search "Creative Inquiry" or "undergraduate research" to find current opportunities.</p>
<p><em>Even Myrtle Beach students who think they're "not the type" for a program like this end up surprised — Clemson University isn't as gated as the name suggests, and 35,000 residents; 480,000+ in the grand strand metro works in candidates' favor.</em></p>
<h2 id="usc-magellan-undergraduate-research">10. USC Magellan Undergraduate Research</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.sc.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">USC Magellan Undergraduate Research</a> — University of South Carolina runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.</p>
<p><strong>Eligibility:</strong> USC freshmen and sophomores.<br><strong>Compensation:</strong> $500–$3,000 per project.<br><strong>Duration:</strong> 1–2 semesters.</p>
<p><strong>Where to apply:</strong> From the homepage, navigate to Academics → Research → Magellan Apprentice or Magellan Scholar.</p>
<p><em>Myrtle Beach parents we work with frequently misjudge how competitive this one really is; the real bar is consistent follow-through, not perfect grades. Horry County Schools (HCS) students who lean in early do best.</em></p>
<p>Families rooted in the Grand Strand, from North Myrtle to Surfside and Conway sometimes come to us asking which one of these paid internships matters most — and the honest answer is "the one your kid will actually finish." The <a href="https://collegeplanningcenters.com/get-started-with-college-planning-center/">College Planning Center</a> helps narrow the list to two or three real targets per student, then builds the application timeline around them. The free consultation is the right first step; we'll know within thirty minutes which programs fit Myrtle Beach kids best.</p>
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<section class="tl-myrb-in-app-faq" id="faq">
<h2>Frequently asked questions</h2>
<p class="tl-myrb-in-app-faq-q" id="tl-myrb-in-app-faq-1">How do Myrtle Beach students get hours formally documented?</p>
<p class="tl-myrb-in-app-faq-a">Every organization on the list above issues a signed verification letter on request. The earlier you set up a tracking habit (a one-page log with hours, date, supervisor name and signature) the easier senior year becomes when applications start asking. Horry County Schools (HCS) also tracks service hours through the senior counseling office — coordinate both systems so nothing falls through.</p>
<p class="tl-myrb-in-app-faq-q" id="tl-myrb-in-app-faq-2">What's the next step?</p>
<p class="tl-myrb-in-app-faq-a">Pick a single organization from this list, sign up for one shift this month, and use that momentum. If you want help building the rest of your service plan around your college list, <a href="https://collegeplanningcenters.com/services/schedule-now/">book a free conversation</a> with us. We work with families rooted in the Grand Strand, from North Myrtle to Surfside and Conway and know what gets results here specifically.</p>
<p class="tl-myrb-in-app-faq-q" id="tl-myrb-in-app-faq-3">Should Myrtle Beach students volunteer with family members or solo?</p>
<p class="tl-myrb-in-app-faq-a">Both work — but solo placements signal independence and grit, which admissions readers value. For high school students reading this, we usually recommend at least one organization where you're the only family member involved. the Boardwalk has plenty of options where this is feasible.</p>
<p class="tl-myrb-in-app-faq-q" id="tl-myrb-in-app-faq-4">What if a Myrtle Beach family can't commit to weekly shifts?</p>
<p class="tl-myrb-in-app-faq-a">Several organizations on this list (Habitat builds, Red Cross blood drives, Meals on Wheels routes) are explicitly designed for sporadic volunteers. Just be honest in applications — eight Saturdays a year at Habitat reads better than a fake "weekly" commitment that nobody can actually confirm.</p>
<p class="tl-myrb-in-app-faq-q" id="tl-myrb-in-app-faq-5">Do these volunteer roles connect Myrtle Beach students to job opportunities?</p>
<p class="tl-myrb-in-app-faq-a">Often yes. The Aquarium, the food banks, and the literacy programs frequently hire young volunteers into paid roles after age 16 or 18, which gives students a continuous résumé arc. tourism executives also sit on the boards of many of these organizations — a reference letter from a board member carries weight in Myrtle Beach.</p>
</section>
<p class="tl-myrb-in-app-footer-meta">Last reviewed: 2026-06-18</p>
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