12 Internships for Civil Engineering Students
Internships are a crucial step for college students, providing real-world experience that goes beyond classroom learning. They enhance resumes, improve job prospects, and offer valuable insights into the professional world of your chosen field.
For civil engineering students, internships are particularly impactful, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. These experiences provide hands-on exposure to areas like structural design, project management, and infrastructure inspection, helping you develop skills that are essential in a competitive industry.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 12 internships for civil engineering students!
1. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: College students and young professionals
Application Deadline: December 10, 2024 for the upcoming winter cohort
Duration: 8 weeks
Dates:
- Winter Cohort: December 16, 2024
- Spring Cohort: March 3, 2025
- Summer Cohort: June 2, 2025 | July 14, 2025
- Fall Cohort: September 16, 2025
Cost: $1,490
The Ladder University Internship Program offers an intensive 8-week experience that combines hands-on projects with personalized mentorship to prepare college students and early professionals for careers in STEM and business. This program is designed to build both technical skills and professional networks and allows students to work on real-world projects, such as developing machine learning models, conducting market research, and creating startup pitch decks.
Throughout the program, students receive individualized support from industry experts, including professionals from top companies and educational institutions like Harvard and Y Combinator. The program’s combination of challenging projects and mentorship makes it a solid choice for students seeking impactful, resume-building experiences.
2. HDR’s Environmental Inspector Internship
Location: Seattle, WA
Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students pursuing a degree in environmental science, biology, environmental engineering, or a related field
Application Deadline: N/A
Dates: N/A
Stipend: $24 - $26/hour
As an Environmental Inspector Intern, you will gain practical experience by contributing to real-world projects that focus on environmental compliance and sustainability — key components of modern civil engineering. Interns work on real-world infrastructure projects, assisting with tasks such as data collection, compliance monitoring, and environmental reporting.
Throughout the program, interns collaborate with seasoned professionals, gaining insights into industry practices and regulatory standards. Additionally, participants engage in mentoring sessions and networking events designed to support career development. This hands-on opportunity allows you to develop essential skills while exploring how civil engineering intersects with environmental management.
3. Stanford University’s Global Engineering Internship
Location: Various international locations, including China, Hong Kong, India, Mauritius, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam
Eligibility: Undergraduate students; Students enrolled in the School of Engineering who have not previously participated in a GEP program will be given priority.
Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
Dates: Late June – Early September 2025
Cost: No cost; students receive a stipend and housing (or housing allowance) from the host company.
The Global Engineering Internship (GEI) Program provides an exciting summer opportunity for students to enhance their engineering expertise through hands-on work in diverse international settings. Participants are matched with partner companies in developing economies, engaging in impactful projects that provide invaluable global perspectives and real-world engineering experience.
Internships span 9 to 12 weeks during the summer, with locations in countries such as China, Hong Kong, India, Mauritius, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam. Students receive a stipend and housing support from host companies, ensuring that basic living expenses are covered. These internships offer a unique blend of practical engineering experience and cultural immersion, helping students gain valuable global perspectives while applying their skills to impactful, real-world projects.
4. U.S. Engineering Internships
Location: Midwest (Kansas City and Flint Hills) and Rocky Mountain (Denver area) regions
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in mechanical or civil engineering programs
Application Deadline: Varies by program; applications are typically reviewed starting in the fall
Dates: May to mid-August 2025
Cost: No cost; interns are paid competitive hourly wages
U.S Engineering, a mechanical contracting company, offers hands-on learning opportunities where you’ll shadow U.S. Engineering team members and gain practical experience on active projects. You will work alongside experienced professionals on active construction and design projects, gaining practical knowledge and industry insights.
Locations for these internships include Kansas City, Flint Hills, and the Denver area, offering participants a chance to contribute to projects in diverse environments. The program emphasizes mentorship and skill-building, often serving as a pathway to full-time roles within the company. Interns typically engage in tasks such as project management, technical analysis, and engineering design.
5. Hitachi Summer Mechanical/Civil Engineering Internship
Location: Jefferson City, MO
Eligibility: College students pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD in engineering (civil or mechanical)
Application Deadline: N/A
Dates: May 2025 (12 weeks)
Cost: No cost; candidates will receive a stipend
The Hitachi Summer Mechanical/Civil Engineering Internship is a 12-week, full-time program designed to provide hands-on experience and professional development opportunities for college students. Based in Jefferson City, Missouri, this internship focuses on equipping participants with technical expertise and a robust professional network.
Interns work on projects in civil and mechanical engineering, gaining exposure to advanced technologies and industry practices. Mentorship from experienced professionals ensures that participants develop both technical and interpersonal skills, preparing them for future roles in engineering. It will provide you with hands-on experience and a professional network to help build a strong foundation for your career.
6. Meshek & Associates Civil Design Internship
Location: Tulsa, OK
Eligibility: Students must have completed their sophomore year in an ABET-accredited Civil Engineering program by Spring 2025.
Application Deadline: N/A
Dates: Summer 2025; exact dates to be determined
Stipend: $20 per hour
This internship is a great option for civil engineering students who will have completed their sophomore year by Spring 2025 and are enrolled in an ABET-accredited program. This internship offers hands-on experience in municipal and county roadway projects, commercial site development, and stormwater modeling and design. Interns will work alongside experienced professionals, gaining practical skills and insights into civil engineering design processes.
Those with prior internship experience will find this role especially rewarding, but it also serves as a strong foundation for students eager to pursue a career in civil engineering design.
7. Civil Water Engineering Internship at Merrick & Company
Location: Greenwood Village, Denver, or Loveland, CO
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who are pursuing an engineering degree in Civil Engineering from an ABET-accredited program
Application Deadline: Mid-may to mid-August
Dates: End of November 2024. However, the timeframe can be subject to change.
Cost: No cost; this is a paid internship
Merrick & Company is offering a paid summer internship for civil engineering students at their Colorado offices. This program provides hands-on experience in various aspects of civil engineering, including storm drainage, site development, roadway, and utility design. Interns will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, interface with clients and contractors, and adhere to project schedules and budgets. Strong communication and problem-solving skills are essential.
8. Meshek & Associates Hydrology and Hydraulics Internship
Location: Tulsa, OK
Eligibility: Students must have completed their sophomore year in an ABET-accredited Civil Engineering program by Spring 2025.
Application Deadline: N/A
Dates: Summer 2025; exact dates to be determined
Stipend: $20 per hour
Meshek & Associates, LLC, a leading civil engineering consulting firm in Oklahoma, specializes in water resources, transportation design, GIS, surveying, land acquisition, and hazard mitigation planning. The firm is looking for an intern to assist in watershed modeling, pond design, stormwater systems planning and design, water resources modeling, and water quality assessments.
This internship is a great option for students eager to gain hands-on experience in hydrology and hydraulics while contributing to impactful projects. It’s particularly beneficial for those interested in mastering the fundamentals of water resource management, learning advanced engineering tools, and exploring a future in civil engineering consulting.
9. Civil Land Development Internship
Location: Charlotte, NC
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who are pursuing an engineering degree in Civil Engineering from an ABET-accredited program
Application Deadline: Applications are typically accepted from September through November
Dates: Mid-May through mid-August
Cost: No cost; students will receive a stipend
Merrick & Company is offering a paid summer internship for Summer 2025 at their Charlotte, North Carolina office. This opportunity is open to college seniors or graduate students actively pursuing a Civil Engineering degree, excluding those with a Structural emphasis.
Running from mid-May through mid-August 2025, this internship is for students looking to gain technical experience in civil engineering. You will work on diverse tasks, including storm drainage, site planning, roadway, and utility design. It’s a valuable chance to build practical skills, contribute to real-world projects, and deepen your expertise in civil engineering.
10. Structural Engineering Internship
Location: Greenwood Village, CO; Tulsa, OK; Richmond, VA; Chamblee, GA
Eligibility: college juniors, seniors, or graduate students pursuing a degree in Civil or Architectural Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
Application Deadline: Typically end of November. However, the timeframe can be subject to change.
Dates: Mid-May through mid-August
Cost: No cost; students will receive a stipend
The Merrick Intern Program offers undergraduate and graduate students a hands-on opportunity to explore structural engineering as an integral part of civil engineering. Interns will gain valuable technical experience in an industrial setting, tackling tasks such as structural analysis using finite element software, designing structural steel, foundations, and concrete systems, and assessing existing structures.
You will also engage with industry standards like ASCE and ACI codes, develop drawings in AutoCAD, and learn engineering quality assurance processes. This internship is designed for students eager to deepen their understanding of how structural engineering supports broader civil engineering practices.
11. Quality Engineering Internship
Location: Alliance, NE
Eligibility: College students pursuing a degree in Engineering or a related field
Application Deadline: N/A
Dates: Not specified; typically aligns with academic semesters or summer breaks.
Cost: No cost; students will receive a stipend
Parker Hannifin Corporation offers a Quality Engineering Internship designed to provide hands-on experience in various aspects of quality assurance within the engineering sector. Interns participate in inspections, audits, process and quality documentation, failure analysis, corrective actions, and lean continuous improvement initiatives. This role is for those seeking practical experience in quality engineering processes and methodologies.
Interns will also engage in corrective action initiatives and lean continuous improvement projects aimed at enhancing cost-efficiency, quality, and overall performance. This role is especially beneficial for civil engineering students with an interest in administrative or operational aspects of engineering, providing valuable exposure to process optimization and quality assurance in a real-world industrial setting.
12. Field Engineering Internship
Location: Various U.S. locations, including Tuscaloosa, AL; Beulah, ND; and Freeport, TX.
Eligibility: Students enrolled in a Bachelor of Engineering program (Chemical, Environmental, Industrial, or Mechanical) or a Chemistry Bachelor of Science program
Application Deadline: Not specified; applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates: Typically a 12-week full-time internship beginning in May.
Cost: No cost; students will receive a stipend
Veolia Water Technologies and Solutions is offering a field engineering internship to college students. As a Field Engineering Intern, you’ll be joining a hands-on technical service team, where you’ll work alongside seasoned professionals in the industrial water treatment field. You’ll get the chance to support water treatment systems, contribute to team goals, and play an active role in driving the organization’s success.
This is a full-time, 12-week internship set to begin in May 2025. This position is ideal for students currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) program (Chemical, Environmental, Industrial, or Mechanical) or a Chemistry Bachelor of Science (BSc) program. Applicants from other science-based technical programs and degrees will also be considered.