If you’re looking for an internship in college, then look no further. Finding internship programs for college students can be tough because there is a lot to choose from, but fortunately, we’ve put together a list of the top 20 internship programs for college students in USA.
An internship is an important part of a college student’s educational career. The opportunity to gain hands-on experience and learn from the best people in your field is worth the time and effort. Additionally, exploring specialized areas like photo editing during your internship can provide valuable insights and practical skills.
Many benefits can be gained by taking an internship program in a college rather than just doing regular coursework. Some of these benefits are mentioned below.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Reasons to Get an Internship in College
Below are the top 5 reasons college students should get an internship:
- Earn Money
- Gain valuable work experience
- Best entry route to employment after College
- Make valuable connections and friends
- Boost Confidence
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Earn Money
With paid internships, students can not only gain hands-on experience but also earn a significant amount of money. Some internships also offer housing and living allowances.
Many students can pay for tuition, accommodation, transportation, and other fees associated with higher education with paid internships. This way you won’t have to be paying debt after graduating.
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Gain valuable work experience
An internship provides students with hands-on knowledge in their career field. Students will be able to apply classroom knowledge and skills to real-world situations. You may learn new things, become acquainted with the office environment, and explore the career path that you have chosen to pursue.
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Best entry route to employment after College
Most companies that offer internship programs usually consider interns for full-time positions if their performance is satisfactory. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reports that in 2018, 59% of students were offered employment after completing their internships. This research confirms that internships are the best entry route to employment.
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Make valuable connections and friends
During an internship program, you will meet people (fellow interns and/or full-time employees) with similar interests to yours and learn from their experiences as you collaborate with them. This way, you can make connections with professionals even before you graduate.
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Boost Confidence
Internship programs boost confidence and help students feel prepared to enter the professional world. As an intern, you can practice your new skills/knowledge in a less stressful environment than a permanent job. Companies expect you to learn during your internship, so you can perform well without pressure. This relieves stress and gives you confidence in your abilities.
20 Best Internship Programs for College Students in the USA
Below are the top 20 internship programs for College Students in the United States:
- NASA JPL Summer Internship Program
- Apple Machine Learning/AI Internship
- Goldman Sachs Summer Analyst Intern Program
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Undergraduate Internship Programs
- Deloitte Discovery Internship
- Walt Disney Animation Studios Talent Development Internship Program
- Bank of America Summer Internship
- NIH Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research (SIP)
- Health Care Connection (HCC) Summer Internship
- Explore Microsoft
- World Bank Legal Internship Program (LIP)
- SpaceX Intern Program
- Wall Street Journal Internship Program
- Los Angeles Times Internship
- Meta University
- U.S. Department of Justice Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP)
- International Bar Association (IBA) Legal Internship Program
- Disney College Program
- Atlantic Records Internship Program
- The Recording Academy Internship.
Top 20 Internship Programs for College Students in the USA
1. NASA JPL Summer Internship Program
Recommended for: STEM Students
About the Internship:
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) offers 10-week, full-time, paid internship opportunities at JPL to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing science, technology, engineering, or mathematics degrees.
Summer internships begin in May and June, on the first business day of each week. Students must be available full-time (40 hours per week) for at least 10 weeks in the summer.
Eligibility/Requirements:
- Currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students pursuing STEM degrees at accredited US universities.
- Minimum cumulative of 3.00 GPA
- U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs)
2. Apple Machine Learning/AI Internship
Recommended for: Computer Science/Engineering Students
About the Internship:
Apple Inc., the largest technology company by revenue, offers several summer internships and co-op programs.
The Machine Learning/AI internship is a full-time, paid internship for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in Machine Learning or related areas. Apple is seeking highly qualified people for the AI/ML Engineer position and AI/ML Research. Interns must be available 40 hours per week.
Eligibility/Requirements:
- Pursuing a Ph.D., Master’s, or Bachelor’s degree in Machine Learning, Human-Computer Interaction, National Language Processing, Robotics, Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, or related areas
- Strong publication record demonstrating innovative research
- Excellent programming skills in Java, Python, C/C ++, CUDA, or other GPGPU is a plus
- Good presentation Skills
Apple also offers internships in software engineering, hardware engineering, real estate service, environment, health, and safety, business, marketing, G&A, and many other fields.
3. Goldman Sachs Summer Analyst Intern Program
Recommend for: Students pursuing careers in Business, and Finance
Our Summer Analyst program is an eight- to ten-week summer internship for undergraduate students. You will be fully immersed in the day-to-day activities of one of Goldman Sachs’s divisions.
Eligibility/Requirements:
The Summer Analyst role is for candidates currently pursuing a college or university degree and is usually undertaken during the second or third year of study.
4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Undergraduate Internship Programs
Recommended for: Undergraduate students
About the Internship:
Our year-round internship programs allow undergraduate students to work in several areas before they graduate.
These paid opportunities span a range of studies, including, but not limited to: Finance, Economics, Foreign language, Engineering, and Information Technology.
Eligibility/Requirements:
- U.S. Citizens (dual U.S. Citizens are also eligible)
- At least 18 years of age
- Willing to move to Washington, the DC area
- Able to complete security and medical evaluations
5. Deloitte Discovery Internship
Recommended for: Students pursuing a career in Business, Finance, Accounting, or Consulting.
About the Internship:
Discovery Internship is designed to expose freshmen- and sophomore-level summer interns to different client services businesses at Deloitte. Your internship experience will include personalized mentorship, professional training, and continuous learning through Deloitte University.
Eligibility/Requirements:
- College freshman or sophomore with definitive plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, STEM, or related fields.
- Strong academic credentials (preferred minimum GPA of 3.9 at the end of the academic year)
- Demonstrated problem-solving skills
- Effective interpersonal and communication skills
Deloitte also offers Internal Services and Client Services Internships.
6. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Talent Development Internship Program
Recommended for: Students pursuing a degree in Animation
About the Internship:
The Talent Development Internship Program will immerse you in the artistry, technology, and teams behind animated films like Frozen 2, Moana, and Zootopia.
Through hands-on mentorship, seminars, craft development, and team projects discover his you can be a part of a studio that has created timeless stories that have touched generations.
Eligibility/Requirements:
- 18 years or older
- Enrolled in post-high school education program (community college, college, university, graduate school, trade, online school, or equivalent)
- Demonstrate interest in a career in Animation, Film, or technology.
7. Bank of America Summer Internship
Recommended for: Undergraduate students pursuing degrees in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related fields.
About the Internship:
The Global Technology Summer Analyst Program is a 10-week internship that provides you with a unique experience based on your interests, development opportunities, and current business needs.
The job profiles for the Global Technology Summer Analyst Program include Software Engineer/Developer, Business Analyst, Data Science, Cybersecurity Analyst, and Mainframe Analyst.
Eligibility/Requirements:
- Pursuing a BA/BS degree from an accredited university
- 3.2 minimum GPA preferred
- Your undergraduate degree will be in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, or a similar degree.
8. NIH Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research (SIP)
Recommended for: Medical and Healthcare students
About the Internship:
The Summer Internship Program at NIEHS is part of the National Institute Health Sumner Internship Program in Biomedical Research (NIH SIP)
SIP provides internships to outstanding undergraduate and graduate students interested in pursuing careers in the biomedical/biological sciences to work on a research project that entails exposure to the latest biochemical, molecular, and analytical techniques in a given field.
Participants are expected to work for a minimum of 8 continuous weeks, full-time between May and September.
Eligibility/Requirements:
- 17 years of age or older
- U.S. Citizens or permanent residents
- Are enrolled at least half-time in an accredited college (including Community College) or university as an undergraduate, graduate, or professional student at the time of application. OR
- Have graduated from high school, but has been accepted into an accredited college or university for the fall semester
9. Health Care Connection (HCC) Summer Internship
Recommended for: Medical and Healthcare students
About the Internship:
HCC Summer Internship is designed for undergraduates and recent graduates in the field of public health and healthcare.
Summer Internships are full-time (up to 40 hours per week) for 10 consecutive weeks typically beginning in May or June and lasting through August (depending on the academic calendar)
Eligibility/Requirements:
- Demonstrated interest and commitment to healthcare and/or public health
- Demonstrable academic achievement and prior work experience
- Health or public health-related coursework
10. Explore Microsoft
Recommended for: Students pursuing a career in Software Development
About the Internship:
Explore Microsoft is designed for students who are beginning their academic studies and would like to learn more about careers in software development through an experiential learning program
It is a 12-week summer internship program specifically designed for first- and second-year college students. The rotational program allows you to gain experience in different software engineering roles.
It’s also designed to give you hands-on experience with various tools and programming languages in the field of software development and encourage you to pursue degrees in computer science, computer engineering, or related technical disciplines
Eligibility/Requirements:
Candidates must be in their first or second year of college and enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in the US, Canada, or Mexico with a demonstrated interest in majoring in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, or related technical major.
11. World Bank Legal Internship Program (LIP)
Recommended for: Law school students
About the Internship:
The World Bank Legal Vice Presidency offers highly motivated currently enrolled law students an opportunity to be exposed to the mission and work of the World Bank and that of the Legal Vice Presidency.
The objective of the LIP is to provide students with first-hand experience of the day-to-day operations of the World Bank by closely collaborating with staff in the Legal Vice Presidency.
LIP is offered thrice a year (spring, summer, and fall cycles) for 10 to 12 weeks at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, DC, and in certain selected country offices for currently enrolled law school students.
Eligibility/Requirements:
- Citizen of any IBRD member state
- Enrolled in an LLB, JD, SJD, Ph.D., or equivalent legal academic program
- Must have valid student visa documents sponsored by educational institutions.
12. SpaceX Intern Program
Recommended for: Business or Engineering students
About the Internship:
Our year-round program provides an unparalleled opportunity to play a direct role in transforming space exploration and assisting in the realization of humanity’s next evolution as a multi-planetary species. At SpaceX, there are opportunities in all engineering functions and business operations.
Eligibility/Requirements:
- Must be enrolled at a four-year accredited university
- Internship candidates for business operations and software roles may also be within 6 months of graduating from university at the time of employment or currently enrolled in a graduate program.
- GPA of 3.5 or higher
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment, accomplishing tasks with limited resources at a rapid pace
- Intermediate skill level using the Windows operating system
- Intermediate skill level using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
- Technical roles: Hands-on experience through engineering project teams, lab research, or through a prior relevant internship or work experience
- Business operations roles: Prior relevant internship or work experience
13. Wall Street Journal Internship Program
Recommended for: Students pursuing degrees in Journalism.
About the Internship:
Wall Street Journal internship program is an opportunity for college juniors, seniors, and graduate students to be fully immersed in our Pulitzer Prize-winning newsroom. The internship program is offered twice (summer and spring).
Summer internships usually last 10 weeks, and full-time interns must work 35 hours per week. The 15-week part-time spring internship allows students in the New York or Washington, D.C., metropolitan areas to gain newsroom experience while continuing to attend school. Part-time spring interns are required to work a minimum of 16 to 20 hours per week, depending on their class load.
Internship opportunities are available in reporting, graphics, data reporting, podcasts, video, social media, photo editing, and audience engagement.
Eligibility/Requirements:
- By the application deadline date, you must be a college junior, senior, or graduate student enrolled in a degree program. OR Applicants within one year of graduation.
- Applicants must have at least one previous professional news media job, internship, or exceptional work published with a campus news outlet or as a freelancer.
- You need to be authorized to work in the country where the internship is based.
14. Los Angeles Times Internship
Recommended for: Students pursuing degrees in Journalism.
About the Internship:
The Los Angeles Times Internship is offered twice: summer and spring. Summer internships last for 10 weeks. The spring internship is more flexible to accommodate students’ schedules. The internship lasts 400 hours, which equates to a 10-week internship at 40 hours per week or a 20-week internship at 20 hours per week.
Interns are placed throughout the Los Angeles Times: Metro/Local, Entertainment and Arts, Sports, Politics, Business, Features/Lifestyle, Foreign/National, Editorial Pages/Op-Ed, Multiplatform Editing, Photography, Video, Data, and Graphics, Design, Digital/Engagement, Podcasting, and in our Washington, D.C., and Sacramento bureaus.
Eligibility/Requirements:
- Applicants must be actively pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree
- Graduates may be eligible if they completed their studies within six months of the start of the internship
- Must be eligible to work in the United States
- Applicants for visual journalism and most reporting internships must have a valid driver’s license and access to a car in good working condition
15. Meta University
Recommended for: Students who have an interest in Engineering, Product Design, and Analytics
About the Internship:
Meta University is a ten-week paid internship program designed to provide students from historically underrepresented groups with technical skill development and professional work experience.
It takes place from May to August and includes a few weeks of relevant technical training followed by hands-on project work. Participants are paired with a Meta team member who serves as a mentor throughout the program.
Eligibility/Requirements:
Current first-year or second-year college students, studying at a four-year university (or equivalent program for special cases) in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.
16. U.S. Department of Justice Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP)
Recommended for: Law students
About the Internship:
The SLIP is the Department’s competitive recruitment program for compensated summer internships. Through the SLIP, various components and US Attorneys’ Offices hire students annually.
Law students who participate in the SLIP gain exceptional legal experience and invaluable exposure to the Department of Justice. Interns come from various law schools across the country and have diverse backgrounds and interests.
Eligibility/Requirements:
- Law students who have completed at least one full semester of legal study by the application deadline
17. International Bar Association (IBA) Legal Internship Program
Recommended for: Law students
About the Internship:
The IBA Legal Internship Program is a full-time internship for undergraduate and postgraduate law students or newly qualified lawyers. Interns must commit to a minimum of 3 months and the intakes are usually for the fall semester (Aug/Sept-Dec), spring semester (Jan-April/May), or summer (May-Aug).
Interns will assist the IBA in developing academic papers and conducting research on key legal topics of local and international relevance. They will be able to draft policy papers on substantive legal issues and assist in the preparation of background research for grant proposals.
Eligibility/Requirements:
- Be an undergraduate, postgraduate law student, or a newly qualified lawyer. You must have completed a minimum of 1 year of the degree.
- There is no minimum or maximum age limit. Our interns generally range from 20 to 35 years old.
18. Disney College Program
Recommended for: Theatre and Performing Arts students
About the Internship:
The Disney College Program spans four to seven months (with opportunities to extend up to one year) and allows participants to network with professionals throughout The Walt Disney Company, participate in learning and career development sessions, and live and work with people from all over the world.
Disney College Program participants could work the equivalent of a full-time schedule, so they must have full work availability, including working days, nights, weekends, and holidays. Participants must also be flexible to work any time of day, including early morning or after midnight.
Participants can work in the following areas: Operations, Entertainment, Lodging, Food & Beverage, Retail/Sales, and Recreation. While working in your role, you will build transferable skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, guest service, and effective communication.
Eligibility/Requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age at the time of application
- Currently enrolled in an accredited US college, university, or higher education program OR have graduated from an accredited US* college, university, or higher education program within 24 months of the application posting date
- By the time of program arrival, you must have completed at least one semester at an accredited US college, university, or higher education program.
- If applicable, meet any individual school requirements (GPA, grade level, etc.).
- Possess unrestricted US work authorization for the duration of the program (Disney does not sponsor visas for the Disney College Program.)
- Be receptive to Disney Look appearance guidelines
19. Atlantic Records Internship Program
Recommended for: Students pursuing a career in the music industry
About the Internship:
Atlantic Records’ Internship Program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to learn about the music industry. This program begins by matching students to specific departments across Atlantic Records, based on their interests, for a semester-long internship.
Internship opportunities are available in the following areas: A&R, Artist Development & Touring, Licensing, Marketing, Publicity, Digital Media, Promotion, Sales, Studio Services, and Video.
Eligibility/Requirements:
- Receive academic credit for the participating semester
- At least one prior internship or campus work experience
- Enrolled in a four-year accredited university
- Current sophomore or junior (or rising sophomore or junior in summer months)
- Passionate about music and well-versed in the industry
20. The Recording Academy Internship
Recommended for: Students who are passionate about music
About the Internship:
The Record Academy Internship is a part-time, unpaid internship, designed for students who have an interest in the music industry. The internship lasts one full school year and interns work 20 hours a week.
Interns will work at the Chapter office, at events, and on-campus during regular business hours as well as some evenings and weekends.
Eligibility/Requirements:
- Be a current college/university student. One year of coursework toward a degree in a related field is preferred.
- A letter from your school stating that the Intern will receive college credit for the Recording Academy internship.
- Demonstrate an interest in music and a desire to work in the recording industry.
- Have excellent verbal, written, and analytical skills.
- Demonstrate strong leadership and organizational abilities.
- Exhibit computer skills, and typing proficiency (a computer test may be required).
- Be a junior, senior, or graduate student with a 3.0 GPA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an internship?
An internship is a short-term professional experience that provides meaningful, hands-on experience related to a student's field of study or career interest. It can either be paid or unpaid and held during the summer or throughout the academic year.
Do employers place more value on students who have participated in internships?
Yes, many employers prefer to hire students with work experience, and internships are the best way to gain work experience. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2017 survey, around 91% of employers prefer to hire candidates with experience, especially if relevant to the position in question.
When is the best time to start looking for an internship?
Consider applying for internships as early as the second semester of your freshman year. It is never too early to start applying for and participating in internship programs, particularly those that are directly related to your career path.
Can I get academic credit for my internship?
Yes, there are internship programs that give academic credits, some of which are mentioned in this article. Generally, companies or organizations usually state whether college credit is available or not. Also, your university or college will usually decide whether or not your internship can count for credit.
How many hours can I work as an intern?
During the academic year, internships are typically part-time, ranging from 10 to 20 hours per week. Summer internships, or internships during the semester when the student is not enrolled in courses, can require up to 40 hours per week.
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Conclusion
Internships are a great way for college students to build up their resumes and gain valuable work experience. There are plenty of options out there; however, remember that not all internships are created equal—pay attention to what the program offers and how it’s organized. Happy hunting!
