It’s not too early! Now is the perfect time to start researching internships for summer. A summer internship can help you fine-tune career paths, build on-the-job skills, expand your network, and even land a full-time job after graduation. You may be looking forward to working a full 40 hours a week. Perhaps you want to balance part-time experience with classes or a summer job. Either way, there are summer internship programs that support your interests and major.
But the key to landing the perfect one for you is to start researching and planning early. Let’s go!
In this guide, we’ll break down internship opportunities by industry, show you where to search, and help you think through smart choices, like whether a paid or unpaid internship is the right move for you.
Why You Should Consider a Summer Internship
Flickr user Yahoo
Summer internships are real-world experiences that can help shape your future intentionally and meaningfully. No matter where you’re in your college lifecycle (even if you’re an underclassman), an internship is one of the smartest ways to spend your summer. Here are the things you’ll gain along the way:
- Career Exploration: Internships let you “try on” an industry, role, and work environment. Before you commit to a full-time job, you’ll get a taste of what day-to-day life looks like in a field you’re curious about.
- Skill Building: You’ll sharpen valuable skills that classroom learning can’t always provide. Think soft skills like communication, time management, and real-world technical ability.
- Networking Opportunities: Internships connect you with managers, co-workers, and mentors who can give advice, make a job offer, or write your next recommendation letter.
- Resume Booster: Employers love seeing relevant experiences on your resume. An internship shows that you’re motivated and ready to contribute to an organization. And having an internship on your resume early dramatically improves your chances of landing a second internship later in your college career.
- Confidence + Clarity: There’s nothing like learning on the job to help you feel more confident in your abilities. And the time on the job will help clarify which direction you want to take next.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t land your dream internship right away. Every experience helps you learn and grow. Treat it as a stepping stone toward your long-term goals.
Examples to Consider:
- Perhaps you’re a creative major. Yes, your ideal role is creating art or content. But you apply for and land a role as a summer executive assistant to a museum director. The tasks you perform may not be as portfolio-building as you’d like. But think about what you can learn from your manager about how the art industry works.
- Imagine you’re a software engineer, and you’d love to get into gaming as a career. You work hard to land an internship with Microsoft, but end up as a programming intern for Microsoft Office instead of Xbox. You’ll gain a network of people within the organization and already have streamlined access to Xbox through your experience and the people you meet.
Finding a Summer Internship in Your Industry
Once you’ve decided to pursue a summer internship, the next step is figuring out where you can find a great fit.
Every industry offers opportunities. You can find hands-on lab work to support your passion for the sciences. Or, you can find a studio or agency that will allow you to highlight your creative content development. Maybe you can prove your critical thinking abilities with a role in corporate strategy.
Try to align your interests, strengths, and major with a field that excites you. We’ve broken down internship resources by industry to help you explore what’s out there. Find out where you can make an impact this summer – on the industry and your career!
Tech & Engineering Internships
If you love solving problems, writing code, or building the next innovative thing, tech and engineering internships are for you. These jobs often include hands-on experience in product design, software development, testing, or data analysis.
Larger companies like Apple often offer structured internship programs, giving you experience on real projects. Not to mention you’ll gain mentors in the field. Or if you’re interested in aerospace and aeronautics, Boeing offers opportunities to learn on the job.
Majors that Align
- Computer Science
- Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, etc.)
- Mathematics
- Information Technology
- Data Science
If you’d like to explore internship listings across technical sub-industries, use resources like the GitHub Summer 2026 Tech Tracker. You’ll find startup opportunities and roles at corporations that are equal opportunity employers and include clear job descriptions so that you can find a great fit.
Business, Finance, and Marketing Internships
If you’re into helping companies understand customer data or want to support global financial operations, an internship in this space is for you. These roles are often with corporations or agencies and are fast-paced and eye-opening. Programs like the Goldman Sachs Internship Program give students a deep dive into banking, consulting, and project management.
Majors that Align
The Big 4 Accounting firms offer internship programs that can quickly lead to full-time accounting roles after getting your CPA. Programs like General Motors Early Careers offer opportunities across the business, including marketing, operations, finance, and more.
If you’re attending a business college, chances are they have specific job and internship fairs throughout the school year where you can learn about roles in these areas and interview early.
Healthcare and Life Sciences Internships
If you’re pre-med or enthusiastic about public health, healthcare internships offer experience in real-world environments. You can find opportunities for clinical, research, and corporate roles. Programs like the Mayo Clinic’s internships or the CDC’s Pathways program give you a front-row seat to the future of health.
Majors that Align
You can also explore corporate opportunities at companies like Johnson & Johnson. You can also browse public service internships via HOSA’s internship listings in various health-related fields.
Education, Nonprofit and Government Internships
Interested in social change, education, or public policy? You can find internships that get you in a classroom, a nonprofit office, or a government agency. Opportunities like the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities or NASA internships offer immersive experiences where you can support real change across various interesting fields and passions.
Majors that Align
To find local internships, tap into your university’s partnerships with local nonprofits and advocacy groups, or search for organizations that take on volunteer roles. If you’re in education, your school may have relationships with tutoring centers or other educational enterprises that operate during the summer months.
Creative Arts, Media, and Communication Internships
If storytelling, design, or art creation are your passions, a creative internship can bring your talents to life. Internships with organizations like the Metropolitan Museum of Art or EntertainmentCareers.net offer hands-on projects that range from video production to social media strategy.
Majors that Align
Explore opportunities by focus or medium through sites like The Muse – Paid Internships or the University of Iowa’s journalism internship hub. For curious students, the UChicago Muse Program is another standout opportunity.
Environmental and Sustainability Internships
Green careers are more important than ever, as are sustainability internships. If you’re interested in conservation research, renewable energy projects, or local climate initiatives, these internships will let you turn passion into purpose. Start with EcoJobs or Conservation Job Board for national listings.
Majors that Align
If you’re interested in roles with impact, check out Green Jobs or Conservation Careers’ top internships. Local nature centers, nonprofits, state or national parks, and eco-startups often post opportunities directly through school channels.
General Internship Platforms
If you’re searching for a field not mentioned, or if you’re open to broader opportunities to help you narrow your career decisions, there are online resources to help with general internship searches. Two of the broadest platforms to search are:
Use search filters like job description, location, or whether it’s a 40-hour-per-week role to narrow your results. And always check if the company is an equal opportunity employer to ensure inclusivity during the hiring process.
Pro Tip: Visit your school’s career center, talk to academic advisors, and attend job and internship fairs on campus. These resources will connect you with local internships, resume help, and employer connections you might not easily find online.
Paid vs. Unpaid Internships: What’s Right for You?
Deciding between a paid or unpaid internship comes down to your goals and situation. Paid internships can help you cover upcoming expenses, like tuition or rent. But don’t automatically rule out unpaid opportunities. These often offer incredible long-term returns on investment (ROI), like experience at a competitive organization, a unique research opportunity, or mentorship by key industry leaders.
Ask yourself:
- Will this internship open doors in my desired career field?
- Can I afford to take an unpaid role for a few months?
- Are there any funding options through my school?
- Can I balance a paid summer job or work part-time during the school year to cover costs?
There’s no right or wrong answer, just the one that supports your future.
Make this summer work for you. Summer internships allow you to gain real-life work experience, make key long-term connections, and shape the future you want.
And if you’re still exploring careers, check out our Career Finder to help narrow down your interests and get you started on the path to success.
