Horry County families plan across a fast-growing region that adds 8,000+ new residents each year. For high school students in Horry County, the math on paid internships in 2026 bends in their favor when they line their applications up with the local economy — tourism, hospitality, retail, construction, healthcare, agriculture (tobacco-tradition farms). The ten programs below are the ones we’ve watched students from Horry County ride into strong college outcomes year after year.
1. Coastal Carolina University Marine Science Programs
Coastal Carolina University Marine Science Programs — Coastal Carolina University runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.
Eligibility: Marine science and environmental undergraduates.
Compensation: $5,000+ stipend for select programs.
Duration: 10 weeks summer.
Where to apply: From the homepage, navigate to Academics → Marine Science → Research Opportunities.
For students rooted across Horry County's 1,134 square miles, from Myrtle Beach to Aynor, Coastal Carolina University sits high on the list because tourism and the local economy reward students who connect early with employers like this.
2. South Carolina State Government Internships
South Carolina State Government Internships — State of South Carolina runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.
Eligibility: College students; HS juniors and seniors for specific programs.
Compensation: Paid (varies by agency).
Duration: 10–12 weeks summer; semester options.
Where to apply: From the homepage, search "internships" or navigate to Employment → Internships.
Within driving distance — or accessible online — for any Horry County family, this opportunity stretches what a high schooler thinks is possible without uprooting the rest of their summer. 390,000+ residents and growing — the fastest-growing county in the state means the applicant pool isn't always as big as parents fear.
3. South Carolina Ports Authority Internship
South Carolina Ports Authority Internship — SC Ports Authority runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.
Eligibility: College students in logistics, business, engineering.
Compensation: Paid hourly.
Duration: Semester + summer.
Where to apply: From the homepage, navigate to About → Careers → Internships.
Horry County 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.
4. Duke Energy Carolinas Internship
Duke Energy Carolinas Internship — Duke Energy runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.
Eligibility: Engineering, business, IT undergraduates.
Compensation: Paid hourly + housing assistance.
Duration: 10–12 weeks summer.
Where to apply: From the homepage, navigate to Our Company → Careers → Internships and Student Programs.
If you're rooted across Horry County's 1,134 square miles, from Myrtle Beach to Aynor and looking for something that actually counts on a college application, this one threads the needle between resume polish and genuine experience. Coastal Carolina vs. four-year out-of-state recruiting families tell us it shows up in admissions interviews.
5. SC Department of Transportation Internships
SC Department of Transportation Internships — SCDOT runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.
Eligibility: Engineering, planning, construction management students.
Compensation: Paid hourly.
Duration: Summer + co-op.
Where to apply: From the homepage, navigate to Inside SCDOT → Careers → Internships.
Horry County families weighing the math should pencil this in early — the deadline and eligibility don't budge once announced, and more than 3,500 hcs seniors graduate each year means application volume picks up fast.
6. Wells Fargo Student Programs
Wells Fargo Student Programs — Wells Fargo runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.
Eligibility: College undergraduates in finance, business, IT.
Compensation: Competitive paid.
Duration: 10 weeks summer.
Where to apply: Navigate to Careers → Students and recent graduates → Internships.
For a Horry County student already volunteering, this is the bridge from one-off service to the multi-year commitment admissions officers actually remember. from the Grand Strand beaches to inland farming communities kids tend to find their community here naturally.
7. Bank of America Student Leaders
Bank of America Student Leaders — Bank of America runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.
Eligibility: HS juniors and seniors with leadership experience.
Compensation: Paid summer internship + DC week.
Duration: 8 weeks summer.
Where to apply: Navigate to About → Community → Bank of America Student Leaders.
Horry County'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.
8. MUSC Summer Undergraduate Research
MUSC Summer Undergraduate Research — Medical University of South Carolina runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.
Eligibility: Rising college sophomores–seniors; pre-med focus.
Compensation: Stipend + housing.
Duration: 10 weeks summer.
Where to apply: From the homepage, go to Education → Undergraduate Research → Summer Programs.
Cost-of-attendance math for Horry County families can swing $8,000 a year on financial aid alone; building toward this opportunity changes the affordability conversation entirely. Where Coastal Carolina University and Horry-Georgetown Technical College anchor a workforce-pipeline model doesn't hurt either.
9. Clemson University Undergraduate Research
Clemson University Undergraduate Research — Clemson University runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.
Eligibility: Clemson students; HS juniors/seniors for summer programs.
Compensation: Paid project stipends.
Duration: Semester or summer.
Where to apply: From the homepage, search "Creative Inquiry" or "undergraduate research" to find current opportunities.
Even Horry County 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 390,000+ residents and growing — the fastest-growing county in the state works in candidates' favor.
10. USC Magellan Undergraduate Research
USC Magellan Undergraduate Research — University of South Carolina runs this program for high school students pursuing a clear interest in the field.
Eligibility: USC freshmen and sophomores.
Compensation: $500–$3,000 per project.
Duration: 1–2 semesters.
Where to apply: From the homepage, navigate to Academics → Research → Magellan Apprentice or Magellan Scholar.
Horry County 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.
The hardest part of these paid internships for any Horry County family isn’t qualifying — it’s sequencing them around the rest of senior year so nothing falls through the cracks. The College Planning Center sits down with families rooted across Horry County’s 1,134 square miles, from Myrtle Beach to Aynor and maps a quarter-by-quarter plan from August through May, weaving in deadlines like the ones above without losing sight of college essays, recommendation letters, and the FAFSA. Start with a free call.
Frequently asked questions
Will community service help with scholarships specifically?
Yes — many SC state and private scholarships explicitly weight community involvement. The Horatio Alger application, for example, walks through a candidate’s service record in detail. For Horry County families targeting state programs (LIFE, HOPE, Palmetto Fellows), a sustained service record at one of the organizations above strengthens the broader application portfolio.
How do Horry County students get hours formally documented?
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.
What's the next step?
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, book a free conversation with us. We work with families rooted across Horry County’s 1,134 square miles, from Myrtle Beach to Aynor and know what gets results here specifically.
Should Horry County students volunteer with family members or solo?
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. from the Grand Strand beaches to inland farming communities has plenty of options where this is feasible.
What if a Horry County family can't commit to weekly shifts?
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.
