The Best 15+ Internships for College Students

There are many internships available to college students, but choosing a quality program that fits their educational and professional goals can be overwhelming. Students can start their search by checking out the following top internships across different fields.

• • Arts and Humanities
    Americans for the Arts InternshipsAmericans for the Arts, the country’s leading nonprofit for the advancement of the arts, notes the mutual benefits of offering high-quality internships to students: students gain the skills needed to become future leaders and stewards of the arts, and the Americans for the Arts organization gets the creative input from young thinkers needed to further the arts. Interns earn an hourly wage, career and academic support, peer-to-peer networking and the chance to collaborate on a variety of projects. The organization offers three internships: Arts Action FundGovernment and Public AffairsMeetings and EventsNational Endowment for the Humanities Internship ProgramThe National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency that aims to promote and further knowledge in the humanities. The organization offers a wide range of internship opportunities to students of all humanities disciplines, including history, linguistics and literature. Internships fall under different offices, such as preservation and access, education programs, research, congressional affairs and communications.Premier TEFL Homestay Internship in ChinaPremier TEFL offers a great internship for those interested in education, diplomacy, cultural exchange or working with children. Interns participate in a homestay program in China, where they teach English to young students. Prior to their classroom time, interns will complete a TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) course, and they will also receive Mandarin lessons throughout their stay. A stipend is provided, along with flight reimbursement, housing and cultural excursions.

• • STEM+
    U.S. Department of Defense STEM InternshipsHands-on research, engineering, computer science, cybersecurity and physics are a few of the focus areas of the numerous internships offered by the Department of Defense. Specific tasks and requirements vary by internship, but many programs offer mentorships and compensation in addition to the invaluable experience. IAESTE International InternshipsThe International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experiences aims to promote the intercultural exchange between STEM students and provides them with internship opportunities abroad. Students get the dual benefit of gaining professional and cultural experience. Students within technical fields, including architecture, are eligible to apply. Those who receive the internship also get a stipend, which covers the cost of transportation, housing and food.

• • Government, Law, Health and Social Services
    U.S. Department of Justice InternshipsThe U.S. Department of Justice offers a range of unpaid internships and volunteer opportunities for undergraduates and law students who are interested in gaining practical experience within specific justice departments like the Office of the Assistant Attorney General, the Policy and Strategy Section or the Voting Rights Section. Students may also apply for the Pathways Program, which provides opportunities for paid internships within federal agencies. U.S. Department of State InternshipsStudents interested in foreign policy, diplomacy or other federal careers may be interested in pursuing internships at the U.S. Department of State. Students have the opportunity to work in Washington, D.C., at embassies around the world or in departments throughout the U.S. The Pathways Program is also available to students looking for paid internships at the Department of State.Health Career Connection InternshipStudents pursuing medical and other health care professions can take advantage of Health Career Connection’s Internship program, which offers paid summer positions in a wide range of health care roles and departments. Each intern gets a mentor, networking opportunities and time to work on meaningful projects within their field of academic and professional study.

• • Business, Finance and Consulting
    Bank of America InternshipsBank of America offers a range of internships and other programs for students at various points in their educations. For instance, those who have recently started their undergraduate program and are curious if banking, finance, operations or research is right for them could benefit from Bank of America’s insight programs, which give a more holistic view of various departments and roles. Summer internships are directed toward juniors who will be entering the workforce within a year. Most of Bank of America’s new hires are sourced from their internship programs. Deloitte InternshipsDeloitte is one of the most prominent professional services networks in the world and specializes in audit, tax, advisory and consulting services. Students interested in these fields can apply for Deloitte’s internships and other leadership opportunities. Deloitte offers internships to undergraduates of all class standings, so green and seasoned students alike can gain top-notch professional experience while in school.Pioneer InternshipDiscovery InternshipInternal Services InternshipClient Service InternshipKPMG InternshipsStudents who intern at KPMG, one of the “Big Four” accounting companies, can get a well-rounded experience, thanks to the company’s Build Your Own Internship Program. Students choose one major area of internship, where they focus on the core skills needed for that practice, and one developmental area, which allows students to explore different career options and gain a holistic understanding of auditory, tax and advisory work. KPMG also has a global internship program, where students spend four weeks abroad working with major clients. KPMG provides its interns with national training and mentoring throughout their internships.Morgan Stanley InternshipsFinancial services company and multinational investment bank, Morgan Stanley, offers over one thousand internships to students each year. Their program finder tool makes it easy for students to find meaningful internships across the U.S. and abroad; students just answer a few questions and get a list of suggested internships within divisions that align with their skills and interests.

• Communications, Media and More
  DigitasMarketing and advertising students should keep their eyes on Digitas’ summer internships for current students and full-time tracks for recent graduates. Internships give students hands-on experience in marketing that culminates in a creative capstone projects. Throughout their internships, students will be guided by mentors and invited to participate in staff events, outings and community service projects. FacebookPerhaps it’s no surprise that the social media giant would have the resources to build a top-notch internship program. Interns are paired one-on-one with mentors, can participate in tons of activities and receive housing assistance and employment benefits. Facebook offers internships to students of all areas of interest, from sound design to engineering research.NBCUniversal Campus 2 Career Internship ProgramNBCU’s top-ranked internships are highly competitive, but those who get accepted can benefit from hands-on experience in ad sales, accounting and finance, communications and media relations, film production and development, business development and strategy, marketing, human resources, legal and more, depending on their interests. This internship program puts a strong emphasis on career readiness, giving students impactful roles and responsibilities during their tenure.