15 Internships for College Students in North Carolina
If you’re an undergraduate student, internships can play an important role in shaping your career while you’re still in college. They allow you to build a stronger resume, gain hands-on experience, and develop practical skills that employers look for when hiring. By working in real-world environments, you gain insight into workplace expectations, industry standards, and daily responsibilities in your field of interest. Internships also help you build professional connections that can support your future job search and career growth. In a diverse and fast-growing state like North Carolina, college students can explore opportunities across industries such as technology, finance, healthcare, research, media, and startups.
If you’re open to considering remote/online internships, then you can check out paid programs here! And if you’re worried about having less experience, check out our blog here!
Why should I do an internship in college?
Completing an internship during college can significantly improve your chances of employability by providing relevant experience that many employers value. It helps bridge the gap between academic learning and professional work, making you better prepared for future full-time roles. Internships also allow you to develop essential workplace skills such as time management, adaptability, and communication. They give you the opportunity to explore different career paths and understand your professional interests before committing to a full-time role. Additionally, many companies use internships as a pathway for future hiring, which means performing well during the program could lead to a permanent full-time role. Overall, internships help you build valuable skills, gain clarity, and develop the confidence needed to succeed in your professional career.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 internships for college students in North Carolina.
Quick look
15 internships total spanning state government, public health and human services, agricultural extension, nonprofit fundraising, biomedical research, conservation, broadcasting, zoo operations, museum curation, and banking, hosted by organizations including the State of North Carolina, NCDHHS, Duke Clinical Research Institute, UNC Chapel Hill, NC Zoo, PBS North Carolina, AgSouth Farm Credit, and Blue Cross NC
The strongest disclosed stipends are Duke STAR ($5,000), OneCarolina at UNC ($22 per hour at 36 hours per week), NCDHHS ($20 per hour for undergraduates), State of North Carolina ($15 per hour at 40 hours per week), and NC A&T Cooperative Extension ($15 per hour at 40 hours per week)
Several programs require North Carolina residency or enrollment at a North Carolina institution, including the State of NC Internship (permanent NC resident required), PBS NC (UNC system enrollment required), and the HBCU/MSI program (NC HBCU or minority-serving institution enrollment required); Duke STAR and AgSouth Farm Credit are more broadly accessible nationally
OneCarolina accepts only 5 interns and NC Coastal Federation runs summer deadlines that have passed per the listing — both entries should be reviewed carefully before a student invests time in those applications
The earliest summer deadlines are the State of North Carolina Internship (January 30), Blue Cross NC (January 31), and NC Zoo (March 1), so students targeting government or healthcare programs should prepare materials before the spring semester begins
1. State of North Carolina Internship Program
Location: North Carolina
Cost/Stipend: $15 per hour, 40 hours/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive selection process
Dates: May 18 - July 24
Application Deadline: Jan 30
Eligibility: You must be a permanent North Carolina resident with a minimum GPA of 2.5 attending a college, university, community college, law school, or graduate school | You will be at least 18 years old by January 1| Prior paid interns in this program are not eligible to reapply.
You will work full-time for 10 weeks within a North Carolina state government agency, completing project-based assignments developed by agency staff. In addition to your project work, you will participate in meetings, educational tours, networking events, and other professional development activities. The program also includes optional visits and tours to different state facilities and organizations, allowing you to explore various areas of public service. You may interact with professionals in state government and attend networking events such as the internship reception at the Governor’s Mansion. The internship is designed to help you develop workplace, leadership, and career development skills while exploring careers in public service. Internship placements and projects are assigned through a competitive selection process managed by the North Carolina Internship Council.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote (work from anywhere globally)
Cost/Stipend: Starting at $2,490 | financial aid available | unpaid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | not publicly specified
Dates: Multiple cohorts offered in spring (January), summer (May), fall (September), and winter (November) | typically 8 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling | varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduate students, and gap year students who can work for 8 - 12 weeks, committing 10 - 20 hours/week
The Ladder Internship Program is a remote internship experience that connects students with a fast-growing startup in fields such as technology, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. During the program, you are placed within a startup team on projects that support business operations or product development. You work alongside a startup manager while receiving mentorship and feedback from a ladder coach. Your day-to-day responsibilities include research, strategy development, content creation, or other project-based tasks based on the company’s needs. The experience concludes in a final presentation, where you showcase your contributions and results with the startup team or company leadership. Throughout the program, the focus remains on building strong communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and gaining practical exposure to startup environments.
3. HBCU/MSI Internship Program
Location: North Carolina Department of Transportation, North Carolina
Cost/Stipend: Paid competitive wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 10-week summer program
Application Deadline: Applications closed
Eligibility: You must be a North Carolina resident who is currently enrolled full-time at a North Carolina HBCU or minority-serving institution or have graduated from one within the past three years.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation internship program allows students to work 40 hours per week as temporary employees in transportation and state government operations. During the program, you will also attend professional development workshops focused on resume building, business writing, and networking. You will work with NCDOT leaders and build professional connections while contributing to projects and initiatives. The internship involves working on multiple projects and contributing to ideas that support department programs and initiatives. The program is designed to provide practical work experience and exposure to careers in the transportation industry and state government.
4. NCDHHS Experiential Learning and Opportunity Internship Program
Location: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), North Carolina
Cost/Stipend: Undergraduate interns: $20/hour | Graduate interns: $25/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: 10-week internship program
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled in a four-year college or graduate program in North Carolina
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services internship program allows students to work with NCDHHS professionals on projects related to health and human services systems. Your responsibilities may include organizing and analyzing data, creating reports and presentations, conducting research, and communicating with internal and external stakeholders. You also build practical skills in professional communication, information management, and data organization while learning how public health and human services systems operate. Depending on the role, you may contribute to areas such as health education, behavioral health, leadership, environmental health, or community services. The program offers flexible work arrangements, including on-site, hybrid, and remote opportunities.
5. Loan Officer Intern
Location: AgSouth Farm Credit, North Carolina
Cost/Stipend: Paid: $18/hour (up to 40 hours per week) | housing and transportation not provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: May 18 - July 31
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Students pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree in finance, business administration, agribusiness, agriculture, or a related field with at least sophomore-level coursework completed
During this internship, you work with agricultural lending professionals and gain experience in areas such as financial analysis, sales, business development, and customer relationship management. You complete an intern development guide to understand the Farm Credit System, along with AgSouth’s products and services. Throughout the program, you collaborate with employees across different departments and participate in projects designed to build workplace and industry knowledge. You are also paired with mentors who guide you through assignments and introduce you to day-to-day responsibilities in agricultural finance. The internship concludes with a project presentation delivered to the executive management team.
6. Development Internship – Corporate and Event Fundraising
Location: Make-A-Wish Central and Western North Carolina, Charlotte, NC
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: January 8 - April 26 (minimum 15 hours per week)
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Students interested in fields such as Business, Non-Profit Management, Event Management, Marketing, or Communications
During this internship, you support fundraising and donor engagement initiatives while working with the corporate and event fundraising team. Your responsibilities may include organizing silent auction items, assisting with event logistics, preparing materials for fundraising activities, and helping with event setup and coordination. You also gain experience with donor research, database management, stewardship outreach, and marketing efforts connected to fundraising campaigns. In addition, you may help create donor-facing communications and outreach materials for community engagement activities. The internship emphasizes practical experience in nonprofit fundraising, event planning, and communication within a fast-paced team environment.
7. OneCarolina Summer Internship Program
Location: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Cost/Stipend: $22 per hour, 36 hours/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 5 interns
Dates: Begins May 18, 10-week program
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: You must be an undergraduate student who will be enrolled as a full-time student for the fall semester and be in good academic standing | Students from a variety of majors and departments are eligible to apply.
You will work on-site across the university in development and fundraising-related roles such as marketing, research, data management, donor relations, and stewardship. During the program, you will spend four days each week working on hands-on projects that support fundraising and advancement services across the university. On Fridays, you will attend professional development workshops led by university staff and faculty. You will work on various projects throughout the internship and complete a capstone presentation at the end of the program. The internship is cohort-based, and interns are matched with roles that align with their skills, goals, and interests.
8. N.C. A&T Cooperative Extension Student Internship Program
Location: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (County Extension offices across North Carolina)
Cost/Stipend: $15 per hour, 40 hours/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15 interns
Dates: May 18 - July 31
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: You must be a full-time sophomore, junior, or senior at the time of the internship and enrolled for the fall semester.
You will work closely with county agents in areas such as Agriculture, Community and Rural Development, 4-H Youth Development, and Family and Consumer Sciences. During the 11-week program, you will gain hands-on experience through a combination of fieldwork and office-based assignments, including community engagement activities and project work. You may be involved in developing campaigns or initiatives tailored to the needs of your assigned county. The internship includes opportunities to work across different settings and collaborate with professionals in extension services. At the end of the program, you will present your work through different formats such as presentations, campaigns, or other project outputs.
9. Blue Cross NC Summer Internship Program
Location: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, North Carolina
Cost/Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 18 - July 24
Application Deadline: Jan 31
Eligibility: Not specified
You will participate in a 10-week paid internship program that provides hands-on experience in fields such as corporate communications, information technology, data and analytics, finance, health care, human resources, sales and marketing, strategy and innovation, and business operations. During the program, you will work on projects that support company operations and community initiatives across North Carolina. The internship also includes professional networking events, social events, and community service projects. You will also attend executive leadership sessions, such as Lunch and Learn events and coffee chats. The program includes professional training and career development activities. Each intern is paired with a mentor throughout the program.
10. North Carolina Zoo Internship Program
Location: North Carolina Zoo
Cost/Stipend: Modest stipend | free on-site housing available for summer interns based on availability
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 25 - Aug 7
Application Deadline: Mar 1 (summer session)
Eligibility: Not specified
You will gain hands-on experience working in areas such as animal care, animal welfare, zoo science, education, horticulture, communications, or operations, depending on the internship role. During the internship, you will work alongside zoo professionals while supporting daily operations and conservation efforts. The program includes hands-on training, opportunities to connect with professionals and fellow interns, and experience in areas such as education program delivery, research, or graphic design, depending on the assigned role. Summer interns may receive a stipend and may be offered on-site housing depending on availability. The internship is designed to provide practical experience and exposure to careers related to zoo operations and conservation work.
11. North Carolina Museum of Art Internship Program
Location: North Carolina Museum of Art
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid, some tracks (for example, library cataloging) may offer $20/hr
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 - Aug 7 (10-week internships) | Curatorial 20th Century internship: May 11 - July 3 (8-week)
Application Deadline: April 5
Eligibility: College students, recent graduates, graduate students, and nontraditional students are eligible to apply | Curatorial roles require students in art history, history, museum studies, or related humanities fields, with academic research and writing experience.
You will work on curatorial and research-based tasks based on the internship track. In the European Art and Collections History role, your work will include object record data entry, formatting bibliographies and provenance records, and conducting research on objects within the museum’s collection. You will also assist with provenance research for existing and potential acquisitions, along with administrative and research support for exhibitions and permanent collection installations. In the 20th Century and Contemporary Art role, you will focus on researching and writing about collection objects and potential acquisitions, while also supporting exhibition planning and development for smaller collection-based exhibitions. Across both roles, you will participate in enrichment activities such as staff presentations, gallery tours, and cohort sessions, and you will present your work at the end of the internship.
12. PBS North Carolina Public Media Internships
Location: PBS North Carolina, North Carolina
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Starts early June (Summer internships)
Application Deadline: April 19
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in a University of North Carolina system institution as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student, or be a recent graduate from a UNC system institution after Spring.
You can intern in areas such as digital marketing, production, post-production, editing, business administration, fundraising, social media, or visual and broadcast design, depending on the role you apply for. During the internship, you will work with staff on projects related to media production, marketing, content creation, or program development. The internship experience may include shadowing production shoots, observing live studio recordings, and participating in job shadow days to learn how different departments collaborate. You will work with teams, contribute to department projects, and interact with senior leadership through mentorship and networking opportunities. The internship is designed to provide hands-on experience in public media and exposure to multiple areas of media production and broadcasting.
13. North Carolina Coastal Federation Internships
Location: North Carolina Coastal Federation - Offices in Ocean, Wanchese, and Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited number of interns each semester
Dates: Approximately mid-May through late July or early August (about 12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Summer deadlines have passed
Eligibility: Eligibility varies by internship and partnership program | Some internships are available through partner programs such as East Carolina University Public Service Fellows Program, NC State Climate Leaders Program, and Duke University Stanback Fellowship Program | The NPIP track requires Pell Grant eligibility, NC residency, and rising sophomore/junior/senior status | Current seniors graduating in the internship year are not eligible.
You will work on projects related to coastal policy, habitat protection and restoration, environmental education, community collaboration, and nonprofit operations, depending on the internship role. The internship includes both fieldwork and research-based work, such as restoration projects, environmental research, outreach, and policy-related work. You will also learn about nonprofit management, including communications, fundraising, strategic planning, and governance. The program features guest presentations, site visits with government agencies, nonprofits, and marine laboratories, as well as collaborative group projects with other interns. The internship is designed to provide hands-on experience in coastal conservation, environmental policy, and nonprofit work.
14. Duke STAR Program (Summer Training in Academic Research)
Location: Duke Clinical Research Institute
Cost/Stipend: $5,000 as a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 - July 24 (with pre-reading in early June and remote work in early August)
Application Deadline: The cycle opens in November and closes in early January.
Eligibility: You must be an undergraduate student with strong academic performance and an interest in science | U.S. citizenship or permanent residency is required | No prior research experience is required.
You will participate in a five-week in-person research program where you work in a team with faculty mentors on an original research project. During the program, you will develop a research question, review literature, analyze data, and work toward writing a full research paper. You will attend lectures and tutorials on research methods, statistics, scientific writing, and medical topics, while meeting regularly with mentors to discuss progress. Participants aged 18 years or older may also have the opportunity to shadow physicians during hospital rounds. The program concludes with a formal presentation and submission of a written research paper, and some projects may be submitted to peer-reviewed journals.
15. Coastal Reserve Research and Education Internship
Location: North Carolina Coastal Reserve – Beaufort Office, North Carolina
Cost/Stipend: $15/hr for 30 hrs/week for 10 - 12 weeks, plus a $1,500 travel/housing stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: January 30
Eligibility: NC college/university enrollment, freshman–senior standing, majoring in Biology, Environmental Science, Marine Biology, Ecology, or Natural Resources Management | The student must be able to show academic promise via references.
You will work with Coastal Reserve research and education staff, conducting estuarine field research in both field and laboratory environments. Your responsibilities will include marsh vegetation surveys, shoreline mapping using drone technology, deploying and retrieving water quality instruments, conducting bird and wild horse surveys, and helping maintain boats and public access areas. You will also assist with outreach and education programs, including summer camps for K-8 students and public field trips. Through this internship, you will gain hands-on experience in environmental research, natural resource management, field survey techniques, and community education and outreach related to coastal conservation.
Questions Students Often Ask About These Programs
1. Several programs require North Carolina residency or enrollment at an NC school. What are the options if I'm from out of state?
Duke STAR is one of the most accessible programs on this list for out-of-state students, requiring only U.S. citizenship or permanent residency and strong academic standing with no NC residency requirement. AgSouth Farm Credit and NC Museum of Art do not specify state residency. Blue Cross NC's listing does not restrict by state. Ladder Internships is fully remote and open to students from anywhere. For students who specifically want to intern in North Carolina without a residency requirement, Duke STAR and the agricultural or museum-focused programs are your most direct options without needing to establish an NC connection first.
2. I'm interested in research but have no prior research experience. Is Duke STAR realistic for me?
Duke STAR explicitly states that no prior research experience is required, which makes it one of the most accessible entry points to academic medical research on this list. The program is designed to teach the full research process through a structured team-based format with faculty mentorship, including training in scientific writing, statistics, and research methodology. Students who have strong academic records in science-related coursework and can articulate a genuine interest in a research question or medical topic tend to be competitive applicants even without a lab background.
3. OneCarolina at UNC only accepts 5 interns. How do I make my application stand out for such a small cohort?
With only 5 spots, OneCarolina is one of the most selective programs on this list despite not being a nationally recognized name. Applications that stand out tend to demonstrate specific interest in development, fundraising, or university advancement as a career direction rather than describing the opportunity as general professional development. The program spans roles in marketing, donor relations, research, and data management, so being clear about which function aligns most closely with your skills and goals is stronger than a general expression of enthusiasm. Describing any prior experience with data management, communications, or nonprofit work, even in a volunteer capacity, adds meaningful specificity to an application for a 5-person cohort.