12 Best Paid Internships for College Students

Jul 28

Whether you're looking to boost your resume, build confidence in your field, or simply test-drive a potential career path, internships for college students offer practical exposure that classrooms can’t replicate. They give you a taste of industry dynamics, help you build a network, and often increase your chances of post-graduation employment. A hands-on internship gives you the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to ongoing projects and acquire skills that matter.

Many internships for college students now offer stipends or compensation, making the experience financially rewarding, too. For students curious about a particular industry or already on a focused path, internships can be a gateway to clarity and purpose.

Here are the 12 best paid internships for college students that blend learning, earning, and growth.

1. KP Launch Program

Location: Various Kaiser Permanente locations across Northern California
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Stipend: $25.09 – $29.16/hour
Application Deadline: November 18 – January 6
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Eligibility: College freshmen; 18-24 years old by June 1; More details here

If you're interested in understanding the inner operations of a major healthcare organization—without necessarily pursuing a medical role—the KP Launch Program could provide the valuable insights you're seeking. This summer internship will place you in a non-clinical department at Kaiser Permanente, giving you hands-on experience in areas like HR, IT, finance, and communications. You will have the opportunity to explore various career paths, attend workshops, and develop professional skills through job shadowing and mentorship. Additionally, you will be involved in community service initiatives and gain valuable exposure to senior leadership.

2. Twelve-Month Access and Inclusion Education Internship at the MET

Location: The MET Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Stipend: $26/hour + $1,500 housing/travel stipend + $3,000 research/educational travel stipend
Application Deadline: January 15
Dates: June 2 – May 29 of the next year
Eligibility: Current undergraduates graduating before the program start, master's graduate students, and recent undergraduates or master's graduates

The MET’s 12-month Access and Inclusion Education Internship will give you the chance to join the Education Department’s Access team, where you’ll learn more about the importance of accessibility and inclusion and how to best implement them. You’ll also get to observe Access staff teaching or conducting programs for various audiences and working with them to plan and implement inclusive programs. Some of your tasks will include creating marketing campaigns and spreading the word about inclusive programs. During this internship, you'll dive into accessible design, digital tools, and community events. Alongside educators, you’ll help design strategies and support research to boost access in the arts.

3. Engineering & Technical Internships at Google

Location: Various locations where Google has offices
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: Varies by role
Dates: 12-14 weeks
Eligibility: College students; Specific requirements vary by role

Google’s Engineering & Technical Internships for college students give you the chance to work on real-world problems from day one, from software engineering to product management, or UX. These internships are available across the globe, with eligibility varying by role and location. Programs like STEP support early-career students through hands-on training, while other tracks focus on hardware or mechanical design. If you’re pursuing a degree in a technical field, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to high-impact projects while learning from top engineers in the industry.

4. Twelve-Month Internship in Live Arts at the MET

The MET’s Twelve-Month Live Arts Internship offers you hands-on exposure to marketing, production, and curation within a museum’s performance program. During the internship, you’ll collaborate with departments like artist management, communications, finance, and marketing to learn the full process behind live event programming. In the marketing and communications phase, you’ll design outreach strategies, assist with promotional planning, and contribute to media initiatives that boost public engagement. This internship is a chance to grow your skills in event promotion, PR, and creative management, all while building a strong foundation for a career in arts and cultural programming.

5. PR and Marketing Internship – City Arts

Location: CITYarts Inc., NYC
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Stipend: $15/8 hours of work
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: Flexible
Eligibility: Students familiar with Google Suite programs; Should be willing to learn Trello

The CITYarts PR and Marketing Internship is a good chance to get involved with meaningful, art-driven community projects. In this role, you’ll help design promotional materials, manage social platforms, and research potential partners to expand CITYarts’ reach. Reporting to the Project Coordinator, you’ll produce brochures, flyers, and digital content while also supporting video production and community initiatives. This internship is ideal if you’re creative, detail-focused, and strong in design and communication. You'll gain experience in content creation, marketing strategy, and social media.

6. LCLS Internship Program

Location: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, California
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: November 4 – February 10
Dates: June 16 – August 23
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students; 18 years or older when the internship begins

The LCLS Internship Program offers 10-week paid internships for college students looking to gain hands-on research experience at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. You’ll be paired with a dedicated mentor who guides your work and supports your academic growth. Projects are tailored to your interests and skills, spanning fields like laser physics, accelerator science, engineering, and data science. You’ll not only contribute to cutting-edge research but also gain insights into potential careers and graduate pathways. The experience culminates in a poster session, where top presentations receive cash prizes. It's a chance to dive into real-world science while building lasting professional connections.

7. Stanford Medicine’s Canary CREST Program

Location: Stanford University, California
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 25 students per year
Stipend: $6,000
Application Deadline: December 20 – January 20
Dates: June 16 – August 22
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled in two- or four-year colleges or universities

Canary CREST is a summer research training program at the Stanford School of Medicine for undergraduates interested in cancer detection research. You’ll be placed in a state-of-the-art lab for 10 weeks, paired with a faculty mentor, and supported by a team of postdocs and scientists. The program blends hands-on lab work with classroom sessions on in vitro diagnostics, molecular imaging, and related techniques. You’ll also attend seminars to explore research careers and build professional skills. The experience culminates in a poster symposium where you share your project with Stanford scientists. It’s an immersive introduction to interdisciplinary cancer research.

8. The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship Application

Location: Emma Bowen Foundation (EBF); Various locations across the U.S.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 15%; 150 students per year
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: September – Early January
Dates: 8 weeks; Typically starts in May/June
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled in a 4-year accredited college or university; Minimum 3.0 GPA; Aged 18+ before the internship

The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship offers valuable connections with leading media and technology companies, providing meaningful, real-world experience. Whether your interests lie in web development, journalism, engineering, public relations, or marketing, this program provides an opportunity to gain industry experience. Each year, 150 interns are placed at prominent organizations in roles such as production, sales, IT, and advertising. As a participant, you will be paired with a mentor, gaining essential professional insights and support. You’ll also get to attend professional development workshops, networking conferences, and more. You can find more information here.

9. American Express Internships

Location: American Express offices; Hybrid opportunities available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: August – September
Dates: June – August
Eligibility: Juniors in their Fall semester of undergraduate study

The American Express Internship Program offers a dynamic 10-week experience where you’ll take on real work, grow through mentorship, and develop hands-on skills. It’s a good chance to work with a global leader and contribute to meaningful projects. Open to rising final-year college students, the program is a stepping stone to full-time roles within the company. With openings in Marketing, Finance, Technology, Product, and more, you can explore what suits your goals. Joining Team Amex means sharpening your skills, expanding your network, and building a future in a respected organization.

10. Design Internship – City Arts

Location: CITYarts Inc., NYC
Acceptance Rate: Moderately selective
Stipend: $15/8 hours of work
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: Flexible
Eligibility: Students familiar with Google Suite programs and willing to learn Trello

The CITYarts Design Internship offers internships for college students who want hands-on opportunities to grow their skills in visual design and nonprofit marketing. As a participant, you’ll help develop digital materials, manage social media, and support outreach campaigns that connect art with communities. Working under the Assistant to the Director, you’ll create content that boosts CITYarts’ public presence and strengthens its mission. Ideal candidates bring experience in Photoshop, Canva, and social media, and a strong visual storytelling sense.

11. Stanford Summer Administrative Internship Opportunities

Location: Stanford University, California
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: TBD
Dates: 8,10, or 12 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: Undergraduates earning a bachelor's or associate's degree from an accredited institution

Stanford’s Summer Administrative Internship gives you an inside look at hospital operations through an 8-12 week experience. You’ll rotate through departments such as Radiology Administration, Nursing Education, or Food Services, working on meaningful projects. A dedicated preceptor will guide your daily tasks and offer mentorship throughout the program. In addition to hands-on learning, you’ll attend seminars, career events, and networking sessions to deepen your understanding of healthcare leadership. With both hybrid and on-site options, the program suits students eager to explore health system management.

12. Nursing Internship at Stony Brook University

Location: Stony Brook University, New York
Cohort Size: 30
Stipend: Paid
Application Deadline: December 19
Dates: May 22 – July 30
Eligibility: Senior-year undergraduate pre-licensure nursing students not attending SBU

Stony Brook University Hospital offers a 10-week summer internship that gives you in-depth clinical experience. As a full-time state employee, you’ll work 37.5 hours a week in adult medicine units like Med-Surg or Telemetry. You’ll be paired with a dedicated preceptor and must also complete a 3-credit course through SBU’s School of Nursing. Open to rising senior nursing students from any institution, this program is competitive and hands-on. It’s designed to sharpen your clinical skills and prepare you for future nursing roles.

Looking for an immersive internship experience?

Check out Ladder University Internships!

Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, virtual internship program where you work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!

Dhruva Bhat

Dhruva Bhat is one of the co-founders of Ladder, and a Harvard College graduate. Dhruva founded Ladder Internships as a DPhil candidate and Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, with a vision to bridge the gap between ambitious students and real-world startup experiences.