15 Paid Remote Internships for College Students
If you’re an undergraduate student interested in gaining professional experience while still managing your coursework and schedule, a paid remote internship can be a practical option to explore. These internships can strengthen your resume, improve your employability after graduation, and help you evaluate whether a particular field aligns with your long-term interests. They may also provide opportunities to contribute to real-world projects and develop transferable skills such as research, communication, technical writing, data analysis, project coordination, and collaboration in professional environments. Since remote internships eliminate commuting and relocation costs, they can also make professional experiences more financially and geographically accessible to students.
If you’re worried about having less experience for these sorts of roles, you can check out our blog here!
Why should I do a Paid Remote internship in college?
For college students, paid remote internships are one of the most accessible ways to gain industry, research, healthcare, nonprofit, or public sector experience before graduating. These opportunities may involve research projects, policy analysis, healthcare administration, scientific publishing, communications, public health initiatives, archival work, data-driven research, and interdisciplinary collaboration, depending on the organization. Many programs will also include structured mentorship, networking events, professional development workshops, and final presentations that help you build communication and workplace skills alongside technical or subject-specific knowledge. Completing an internship during college can also improve your chances of securing full-time roles or graduate school opportunities by giving you concrete experience, professional references, and exposure to real workplace expectations.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 paid remote internships for college students across fields such as healthcare, public policy, biomedical research, psychology, museum studies, international relations, publishing, and data science. The internships included here were selected based on factors such as the quality of mentorship, the rigor of the professional experience, networking opportunities, and the reputation of the organizations offering them
Key takeaways
This list rounds up 15 remote internships for college students spanning healthcare, museums, government agencies, and research institutions, with standout hosts including the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, and multiple federal research labs.
Despite the "paid" framing, several entries here are only partially paid or not guaranteed to pay at all, so it's worth confirming compensation directly before counting on it.
One biomedical research internship compensates with startup equity rather than cash, worth weighing carefully given how uncertain early-stage equity value can be, and one policy internship only offers a limited number of paid spots assigned after you're already selected.
All of these are fully remote or offer a remote option, though a few carry state-specific eligibility restrictions or geographic hiring preferences tied to the host institution's location.
The earliest deadlines fall in early December for two of the healthcare and government-affiliated programs, so it's worth starting applications well before winter break if a paid research or policy role interests you.
1. Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Pediatrics Summer Internship
Location: Hybrid and fully remote opportunities available
Stipend: Participants will be paid a modest stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; limited number of spots per program
Dates: June 1 – August 7 (internships last 6–10 weeks, depending on the placement)
Application Deadline: December 8 – January 5
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students
This 6- to 10-week internship is offered through the Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Pediatrics and provides students with exposure to pediatric medicine, healthcare administration, advocacy, and clinical research through a range of remote and hybrid placements. You may work on projects related to child health advocacy, Medicaid policy, childhood obesity, pediatric nephrology, asthma research, or healthcare operations, depending on your assigned project. Responsibilities can include conducting literature reviews, analyzing clinical or financial data, developing patient education resources, supporting community outreach initiatives, and assisting with retrospective medical record research using databases such as REDCap. Interns will work closely with faculty mentors, physicians, researchers, and administrative staff while learning about clinical care, research processes, and pediatric health systems. Some placements will also include opportunities to shadow physicians, contribute to ongoing research projects, and assist with abstracts or manuscripts related to departmental research initiatives.
2. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 10%
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to undergraduates and gap year students!
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. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup. Apply now!
3. Sandia National Laboratories Internships
Location: Virtual internships available
Stipend: Varies by education level, lab, and internship role
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Internships are available year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by internship
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students who are enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university | Required minimum GPA for Research and Development (R&D), Technical, or Business positions is 3.0/4.0 | Required minimum GPA for clerical or laborer positions is 2.5/4.0 | Must be at least 16 years old | Some internship positions require security clearance and are only open to U.S. citizens
Sandia National Laboratories offers paid summer and year-round internships for undergraduate and graduate students interested in STEM, cybersecurity, engineering, computer science, energy systems, and related technical fields. Depending on the internship track, you may work on projects involving national security, artificial intelligence, microelectronics, data analytics, energy resilience, software development, or systems engineering, with responsibilities that can include research, modeling, programming, testing, and technical analysis. Many internships are available in virtual formats and can be experienced through Sandia’s Intern Institute Program, where interns will work closely with scientists, engineers, and technical mentors on multidisciplinary projects tied to ongoing laboratory research and national security initiatives. Interns may also participate in technical seminars, professional development activities, collaborative team projects, and presentations related to their work.
4. Library of Congress Internship (LOCI) Program
Location: Virtual internships are available
Stipend: $17.47/hour – $19.24/hour (tentative; subject to change based on your location)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Internships are available year-round; fall internship program dates are September 8 – December 11
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens
In the LOCI Program, you’ll work on full-time projects that support the Library’s collections, digital services, publishing initiatives, administrative operations, and public engagement efforts. Depending on your placement, you may contribute to projects in areas such as information technology, software quality assurance, publishing, recruitment and outreach, archival research, or program management while using tools such as Microsoft Office, collaborative software platforms, programming languages, and automated testing frameworks. Your work may involve conducting research, analyzing data, developing automated test scripts, proofreading and editing content, organizing digital records, or supporting documentation and communication efforts across Library divisions. The program offers fully remote internship opportunities and provides mentorship from Library staff while exposing interns to the professional workflows in one of the largest library and research institutions in the U.S.
5. Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Internships
Location: A few virtual internships are available
Stipend: Minimum of $700/week for full-time interns
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; over 100 interns each year
Dates: Internships are available throughout the year, including in the Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring
Application Deadline: Summer internship application deadline is March 1 | Fall, Winter, and Spring internship applications must be submitted at least 6 weeks before the start of the internship
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students
As a Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage intern, you may contribute to projects involving folklore research, cultural documentation, archives, educational outreach, nonprofit arts administration, or digital media production. Depending on your placement, you may support initiatives connected to the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, Smithsonian Folklife Festival, or Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives through activities such as archival cataloging, audiovisual documentation, social media management, web production, curatorial research, or public programming support. The internship may even involve hands-on work with cultural collections and public-facing projects, including opportunities to assist with research, digitization, publishing, and festival-related programming. Some internships can be completed remotely, and interns may also participate in team meetings, professional development activities, and collaborative projects tied to ongoing Smithsonian cultural initiatives.
6. Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Internships
Location: Virtual internships available
Stipend: Up to $450/week for part-time internships and up to $850/week for full-time internships (exact rates will be specified in the internship descriptions; check here)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very competitive
Dates: Internships are available in the Spring (January – April), Summer (June – August), and Fall (September – December)
Application Deadline: October 15 (Spring Internships) | February 15 (Summer Internships) | June 15 (Fall Internships)
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students who have completed at least one year of undergraduate study | Individuals who have already completed internships or fellowships with The National Museum of African American History and Culture are ineligible | Check individual internship descriptions here for internship-specific eligibility requirements and prerequisites)
As an intern at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, you may work with museum professionals, curators, educators, archivists, and administrative teams on projects connected to collections, exhibitions, digital engagement, public programming, and museum operations. Depending on your placement, you may contribute to areas such as archives and digitization, oral history initiatives, education, marketing and communication, fundraising, exhibition design, information technology, or visitor engagement. The internship will emphasize hands-on learning through projects that support the museum’s daily operations and long-term initiatives. You will receive mentorship from Smithsonian staff and participate in professional development workshops, networking events, and collaborative activities designed to expose interns to a broad range of museum careers.
7. Columbia Center for Global Mental Health Undergraduate Summer Internship
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Generally unpaid, as students are encouraged to apply for internship funding from their home institution. If this is not possible, students may apply for a stipend of up to $2,000 through the CCGMH Summer Scholars Fund
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Less than 25 interns
Dates: 8 weeks starting in June
Application Deadline: December 1 – January 31
Eligibility: Rising senior undergraduate students
The Columbia Center for Global Mental Health Undergraduate Summer Internship places rising senior undergraduates on faculty-led global mental health research projects conducted through Columbia University’s Department of Psychiatry and its international research network. Throughout the eight-week virtual program, you may support ongoing studies focused on mental health assessment, treatment implementation, healthcare access, and equity-informed research practices in global mental health studies. Your work may include literature reviews, qualitative and quantitative analysis, manuscript preparation, and other research support tasks connected to active global mental health initiatives. Interns will work closely with faculty mentors from fields such as psychiatry, psychology, epidemiology, social work, and medical anthropology while participating in daily seminars and professional development sessions.
8. Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) Internship Program
Location: Remote and hybrid internships available
Stipend: $20/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Typically starts on September 7 (some internships last one semester, while others last two)
Application Deadline: May 17
Eligibility: College students currently enrolled in a degree-seeking undergraduate program at a Massachusetts institution, or have permanent residence in Massachusetts | Must meet the minimum age requirements under federal, state, and local employment laws | Required minimum GPA is 2.5 | Must be a U.S. citizen or possess appropriate employment authorization documentation
As part of the Massachusetts DPH Internship Program, interns may work on state-level public health projects involving policy analysis, healthcare regulation, substance use services, training and evaluation, or public health administration, depending on project placement. You may contribute to ongoing departmental initiatives by conducting research, analyzing data and feedback, drafting reports or policy materials, supporting program coordination, and assisting with communications and documentation tasks. The program will provide hands-on exposure to governmental public health systems and emphasize practical skill development in areas such as project management, data analysis, professional communication, and equity-informed public health practice. Many internships will be offered in remote formats and include structured professional development activities, mentorship from DPH staff, and opportunities to learn about careers in public service and governmental health agencies. Interns will also participate in collaborative meetings and program-wide activities and present their work at the department’s Intern EXPO at the conclusion of the internship experience.
9. American Psychological Association Internships
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Both paid and unpaid internships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Internships are available year-round
Application Deadline:
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students who reside in one of the states where APA is already registered as an employer | Must be eligible to work in the U.S. | Students from Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, U.S. Virgin Islands, Washington, and Wyoming are not eligible to apply
In the APA Internship Program, you may work with APA teams on projects related to policy, research, publishing, communications, education, and organizational operations. Depending on the role, you may contribute to initiatives involving research support, writing and editing, content development, outreach, or web-based projects that support APA programs and publications. You may also participate in workshops and seminars that explore career pathways in psychology, professional development, and workplace skills. Internships are part-time, fully remote, and offered throughout the year, with some positions providing academic credit or compensation depending on the specific placement.
10. University Of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)’s NSF Funded Big Data REU Site
Location: Virtual
Stipend: $5,600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 8–10 students
Dates: June 1 – July 24
Application Deadline: March 3
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students who have completed at least 15 college credits before the start of the program | Must have completed a minimum of one course in programming, one course in calculus, and one course in statistics | Must have a GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 | Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
UMBC’s NSF-funded Big Data REU Site is a fully online summer research program focused on data science, machine learning, and high-performance computing applications across scientific and technical fields. You will work in interdisciplinary research teams on projects connected to areas such as atmospheric science, engineering, medicine, and other data-intensive domains. Projects may involve machine learning methods, distributed computing, large-scale data analysis, and the use of HPC infrastructure to address applied research problems. You will be supported by a faculty mentor and graduate assistant while also participating in virtual seminars, research discussions, and collaborative project work throughout the program. The REU will conclude with a formal presentation of your research findings. Some students may even qualify for optional financial support to travel to the conference for their research presentation.
11. Berkeley Pharma Tech Remote Medical Research Internships
Location: Virtual
Stipend: Participants earn equity in a start-up
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; limited number of positions available per internship
Dates: May 26 – August 14
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students who live in the U.S.; check individual internship descriptions for internship-specific eligibility requirements and prerequisites
Berkeley Pharma Tech provides remote, part-time internships for students eager to explore biomedical research, scientific publishing, biotechnology, and startup activities. Interns may work on medical research projects, conduct literature reviews, create technical content, edit, proofread, support publishing processes, assist with recruitment, or be involved in interdisciplinary product development in biotech and healthcare innovation. Research interns will team up with others to address medical challenges and develop project ideas using scholarly databases, collaborative research methods, and technical communication. Editorial interns will help produce and review scientific journal articles, ensuring quality. Some roles will also offer leadership opportunities, exposure to scientific communication and publishing processes, and the possibility of receiving college credit, recommendation letters, or equity-based compensation, depending on the position.
12. MetroHealth Non-Clinical Internship Program
Location: Remote and hybrid internships available
Stipend: Compensation will be based on a predetermined hourly rate
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 – July 31, with the option to extend the internship based on the intern’s schedule and business needs
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students (prior healthcare experience is preferred)
The MetroHealth Non-Clinical Internship Program is a paid, full-time internship that places undergraduate students in operational and administrative departments across MetroHealth’s public healthcare system. You may work on healthcare management and system improvement projects in areas such as hospital operations, population health, finance, behavioral health, information services, strategy, or human resources, depending on your placement. The program will emphasize hands-on project work, giving you exposure to how large healthcare organizations manage care delivery, public health initiatives, and internal operations. Interns will work closely with MetroHealth professionals and healthcare leaders through mentorship, networking opportunities, shadowing experiences, and structured professional development activities. Depending on the department, internships may be conducted onsite, remotely, or in a hybrid format, with interns contributing to ongoing organizational projects and initiatives throughout the 9- to 10-week program.
13. Texas A&M University’s Online Research Experience for Undergraduates (O-REU)
Location: Virtual
Stipend: $5,000 + travel support for site visits
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 27 – July 31
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: U.S. undergraduate students; priority will be given to sophomores and juniors enrolled at colleges and universities within the south-central US (TX, NM, OK, AR, LA)
Texas A&M University’s O-REU is a remote summer research program that connects undergraduate students with faculty mentors and research groups working in materials science, engineering, computational research, and data science. You may contribute to projects involving simulation, machine learning, programming, or high-performance computing, often in collaboration with researchers affiliated with Los Alamos National Laboratory. The program will combine hands-on research with technical training through Texas A&M’s HPRC and TAMIDS, giving you exposure to tools and workflows used in computational and data-intensive research environments. Alongside project work, you will participate in weekly online seminars, research discussions, and professional development sessions focused on research communication and graduate school preparation.
14. Baylor College of Medicine’s Bioethics Summer Internship
Location: Remote internships available
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Up to 10 weeks in June – August
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students
Baylor College of Medicine’s Bioethics Summer Internship is a paid summer research program focused on the ethical, legal, and social challenges connected to neuroscience and emerging neurotechnologies. You’ll work with faculty and interdisciplinary research teams at the Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy on projects related to neuroscience, ethics, and society, with internships offered in both remote and in-person formats. You will participate in virtual lunch-and-learn sessions, professional development programming, and community events organized by the Center throughout the summer. Interns will also have the opportunity to present their research virtually to the broader Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy community at the conclusion of the program, gaining experience in research communication and interdisciplinary discussion.
15. Internship Opportunities at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI)
Location: Remote internships available
Stipend: Limited number of paid internships available; stipends are determined based on financial need after selection
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Internships are offered throughout the year, including the Spring (February – April), Summer (June – August), and Fall (October – December)
Application Deadline: Varies by internship session
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students; research internships, in particular, often require advanced foreign language skills, data analysis skills, and study abroad or field research experience
The FPRI Internship Program offers in-person and remote internships for students interested in foreign policy, international affairs, research, and think tank operations. You may work directly with FPRI scholars or staff members in areas such as Eurasia, Asia, national security, or organizational operations, contributing to research, administrative projects, and program support activities. You will be paired with a scholar or professional mentor who will offer guidance as you develop research, communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and time management skills. Summer interns will also participate in weekly foreign policy and career-focused seminars featuring guest speakers, while all interns will receive access to FPRI’s in-person, virtual, and hybrid events. Depending on your role, you may also have the opportunity to develop a research paper for possible publication on FPRI’s Intern Corner, gaining experience with policy writing and public-facing research.
Questions students often ask about these internships
1. Do I need research experience already to apply to these remote internships?
Not always. Several of these are designed to teach research and professional skills from the ground up, so no background is required going in. A few of the more competitive research fellowships do favor students with some relevant coursework, so check eligibility closely.
2. A few of these listings mention pay is limited or not guaranteed. How can I tell which ones will actually pay?
Read the stipend or compensation section closely for each listing, since a few here only pay a subset of participants or compensate in non-cash ways like equity. If guaranteed pay matters most to you, prioritize the entries that clearly state a fixed stipend or hourly rate.
3. Are any of these remote internships open to students outside the U.S.?
Most of these do require U.S. citizenship or eligibility to work in the U.S., since they're tied to federal agencies or U.S.-based institutions. Check each listing's eligibility section closely, since international eligibility varies quite a bit across this list.