15 Highest Paid Internships for College Students
- Stephen Turban
- 18 hours ago
- 10 min read
When you’re in college, it can be difficult to understand how your major fits into professional work. Internships help fill that gap. They give you a chance to take theories you’ve been studying and apply them in a place with professional deadlines, teams, and communication patterns.Â
Paid internships are a particularly useful way to gain work experience. The organizations that offer high compensation usually expect students to contribute to projects in a meaningful way, whether through research, analysis, coding, writing, or supporting operations. Because these internships pay well, you can cover your personal expenses while gaining exposure to standards and expectations used by established companies.Â
To make your search easier, here are 15 of the highest-paid internships for college students! If you're looking for more prestigious internships, check out this set of blogs!
15 Highest Paid Internships for College Students
Location: Various locations across the U.S.Â
Stipend: Varies by location (approximately $9,833–$12,500+/month for undergrads)
Dates: 10-12 weeks in the summerÂ
Application Deadline:Â RollingÂ
Eligibility: Typically open to students pursuing a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD, especially in Computer Science or other relevant technical fields for SWE roles
The Google Software Engineer Intern program gives you the chance to work on real engineering projects that power products used by millions of people. As an intern, you join a Google team and build scalable systems, write production-level code, and solve complex technical problems with support from experienced engineers. The program offers mentorship, technical training, professional development workshops, and plenty of collaboration across teams. You also receive competitive pay, housing or relocation support in many locations, and a structured 10–12 week summer experience designed to help you grow your skills and prepare for future full-time roles in software engineering.
Location: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
Stipend: $7,304 stipend
Program Dates: June 22 – August 21
Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: Undergraduate college students entering the summer before the final year
The Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) at Fred Hutch gives undergraduate students a nine-week chance to work inside a real research lab. In this program, you help with experiments, collect and analyze data, and learn scientific methods while being guided by experienced researchers. Along with your lab work, you take part in weekly workshops that focus on scientific reading, report writing, and preparing for graduate school. The program also includes guest lectures from scientists at Fred Hutch and the University of Washington, giving you exposure to many areas of research, including basic sciences, human biology, public health, and clinical studies.
Location: Rochester, Minnesota; Jacksonville, Florida; or Scottsdale, Arizona
Stipend: $6,000Â
Program Dates: May 26 – July 31 (with alternative June 16 – August 21 for quarter-system students)
Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: Current second- or third-year undergraduate students (rising juniors or seniors) enrolled at an accredited U.S. college or university, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and serious consideration of a biomedical research career as Ph.D. or M.D.-Ph.D. International students attending U.S. institutions are eligible with proper documentation.
The Mayo Clinic Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) is a 10-week, full-time program for undergraduates interested in biomedical science. In this program, you work with faculty and researchers on projects in areas such as biochemistry, neuroscience, immunology, biomedical engineering, pharmacology, and virology. You spend about 40 hours a week doing hands-on lab work with a mentor who designs a project for you. The program also includes weekly seminars, collaboration with scientists, and access to advanced research facilities. It ends with a poster symposium where you present your work, and many students earn recognition or co-authorship on publications.
Location:Â Atlassian runs internships in multiple regions
Stipend: $49/hr – $55/hr
Dates: 12 weeks, typically May/June– August/SeptemberÂ
Application Deadline:Â Rolling
Eligibility: College students who are currently enrolled full-time in a 4-year bachelor's degree program and returning to the program after the completion of the internship, and have experience with programming.Â
Atlassian’s Internship Program gives you the chance to work with product teams and engineers on projects that feed directly into the company’s software. You spend the summer learning how large tech teams build and ship features while taking part in workshops, technical sessions, and mentor meetings that strengthen your skills. You might work on software systems, write JavaScript, or help build mobile features, depending on your team. The environment is collaborative and fast-moving, and you leave with practical experience using the same tools and workflows Atlassian relies on every day.
Location:Â In WA, exact sites vary; placements depend on host agency availability
Stipend:Â Up to $6,000 based on hours worked
Program dates: Vary; internships can last up to three months and will be completed before June 30 | You will commit 8–16 hours/week during school and up to 40 hours/week during breaks
Application deadline:Â March 7
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, as well as undergraduates in their freshman to junior years
The PacTrans Washington Paid Internships Program offers college students a chance to work with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) on real transportation and infrastructure projects. You may be placed in areas like traffic management, hydraulics, geotechnical work, freight, or complete streets, depending on your interests and skills. As an intern, you gain hands-on experience through tasks such as data collection, field surveys, report writing, and project support, all while being guided by professionals from WSDOT and PacTrans.Â
Location:Â Most internships are based in downtown SeattleÂ
Stipend:Â Up to $6,000 based on hours worked
Program dates:Â Summer internships typically start in May or June and last around 3 months (about 40 hrs/week)
Application deadline:Â January (for summer)Â
Eligibility: Must be enrolled in an accredited program (associate, bachelor’s, certificate, or graduate) with a relevant major
The Seattle City Light College Internship Program gives students a chance to turn classroom knowledge into real work inside one of the region’s major public utilities. During the internship, you work with professionals in areas like engineering, business, environmental studies, public administration, and the arts. You learn how power generation and distribution connect with equity and social justice in daily operations. The program also includes chances to meet with executive leaders, join professional development workshops, and present your final project at the end of the term, helping you build strong skills and confidence for your future career.
Location:Â Tempe campus of ASU, in Tempe, Arizona
Stipend:Â $6,000
Program dates: May 20 - July 26
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Must be a current US undergraduate (freshman, sophomore, or junior)
The SMS Summer REU at Arizona State University is a 10‑week research program that gives undergraduate students the chance to gain hands-on experience in sustainable chemistry and catalysis. During the program, you work in ASU’s labs under faculty mentorship, designing and conducting experiments while learning green chemistry practices. The program also offers professional development workshops, networking with graduate students and industry scientists, and opportunities to present your research at the end of the term.
Location:Â Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Stipend: $6,300 + housing, meals, travel, and local transit
Dates: June – AugustÂ
Application Deadline:Â FebruaryÂ
Eligibility: U.S. citizens/permanent residents from STEM or social science majors, not currently in grad school
CorGGLE is a nine-week paid summer internship at Cornell designed for undergraduates from non-geoscience majors who want to explore meaningful career paths in the geosciences. You’ll work on research projects related to energy, climate change, remote sensing, and other environmental challenges while receiving mentorship from Cornell faculty and graduate researchers. The program includes weekly luncheons with scientists and industry professionals, giving you insight into real-world applications and career trajectories. You also take part in workshops and professional development sessions that strengthen your research and communication skills. The internship culminates with a final research symposium where you present your work.Â
Location:Â Online option is available
Stipend: $55/per hour
Dates:Â May 27 - August 15 | June 9 - August 29
Application Deadline: November 26
Eligibility: Upcoming graduates of a technical degree or certification program from a Technical Boot Camp, Apprenticeship, Community College, or 4-Year University are eligible to apply. Click here for more requirements.
As a Cisco Meraki intern, you will join the test automation team and work on a variety of testing projects for cloud-managed products. You will help run nightly feature tests, perform performance evaluations, and ensure quality across products used in over a million networks, impacting tens of millions of users worldwide. You will contribute directly to the development of Meraki’s intuitive automation framework, a key tool relied on by the software engineering team. Your work will have a real impact on the success of the business, emphasizing quality, scalability, and reliability in Cisco’s large-scale operations.
Location: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
Stipend: $6,000 stipend | $1,000 traveling, housing, dining supplement
Dates: June 15 – August 21
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility:Â Current sophomores, juniors, or non-graduating seniors with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.4, who are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or have DACA status with prior research experience, and are interested in pursuing a Ph.D.Â
The WAVE Fellows program allows you to explore and prepare for Caltech’s PhD programs while gaining hands-on research experience in STEM. You will work with Caltech faculty mentors on projects across fields such as chemistry, biology, chemical engineering, and other scientific disciplines. The program especially encourages participation from underrepresented groups in STEM, including women, first-generation students, those from geographically underrepresented regions, students from educationally or financially disadvantaged backgrounds, and students with disabilities. Alongside your research, you will participate in weekly seminars led by Caltech faculty and scientists from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Location:Â University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Stipend:Â $6,000 + free housing and travel support
Dates: May 24 – July 31 (40 hours/week for 10 weeks)
Application deadline:Â February 1
Eligibility:Â Undergraduate college students who are U.S. citizens or individuals with permanent resident visas; recent graduates are also eligible.
At the University of Virginia School of Medicine, SRIP allows you to gain hands-on experience in biomedical research while preparing for graduate school. You will work with a faculty mentor on a research project, building your laboratory and analytical skills. You will also participate in lectures by scientists and physician-scientists, attend professional development sessions, and join workshops that help you communicate complex scientific ideas effectively. The program concludes with a one-page abstract and an oral presentation at the final symposium.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Stipend: $5,000 stipend and free housing
Program Dates: 10 weeks, from June 2 to August 8
Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: You must be a sophomore, junior, or senior in college (graduating the upcoming spring), currently enrolled full-time in a four-year accredited college or university; have a minimum 3.3 overall GPA; have an interest in child health and wellness research; and be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute Summer Scholars Program (CRISSP) is a 10-week, full-time internship focused on pediatric research. In this program, you spend 40–50 hours each week working with a dedicated mentor while learning how to design studies, work with research tools, and interpret data. You can choose projects in areas like lab-based science, patient-centered clinical research, or social and behavioral health. Each week includes lunch sessions that help you set career goals, receive mentorship, and strengthen your presentation skills.Â
Location:Â Remote (U.S.)
Stipend:Â Paid internship at $43.51/hour
Dates:Â Summer; 12-week program
Application deadline:Â December 5
Eligibility:Â Students graduating by next year studying Computer Science, Engineering, or related fields; minimum GPA 3.0; must be eligible to work in the U.S. remotely for the internship duration
In this Riot Games Technical Game Design Internship, you will turn your interest in gameplay into tangible player experiences. You’ll help develop systems like onboarding, in-game events, and prototype modes while creating tools and workflows that make it easier for other designers to craft content. Working alongside engineers and artists, you’ll design, test, and fine-tune combat systems, using C++, Unreal Engine Blueprints, and data-driven methods. You’ll bring your coding skills and knowledge of 2D fighting games, including timing, hitboxes, and player feedback to the table, all while learning directly from industry experts and contributing to games still in development, giving you hands-on experience in technical and systems-level game design.
Location:Â Hybrid (Seattle area, in-person required weekly)
Stipend:Â $7,920
Program dates: June 23 to August 22
Application deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Must be an undergraduate student enrolled in a degree-granting program at UW (Seattle, Tacoma, or Bothell)
The EarthLab Summer Internship Program at the University of Washington gives undergraduate students a nine-week paid opportunity to work on projects focused on climate change, environmental justice, and community resilience. In this program, you work with EarthLab member organizations and partners to understand how environmental challenges connect with social equity and policy. The program blends hands-on experience with mentorship and peer learning. You get to apply what you learn in the classroom to real sustainability and research work. You also join weekly cohort sessions, career development workshops, and community-building activities that help you grow your skills and confidence as a future leader in environmental and social impact work.
Location: Redmond, WA or Atlanta, GA
Stipend: A competitive salary is provided to selected participants
Program dates: July 7 – August 1
Application deadline: To be announced (applications typically open in February)
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors and incoming college first-years who have completed pre-calculus and are affiliated with Microsoft-sponsored organizations; check the FAQs section on the internship page for the complete list of these organizations
The Microsoft Discovery Program is a four-week, in-person summer internship that introduces high school students to the tech world through hands-on learning and guidance from mentors. In this program, you work in a small team to design a product while getting early exposure to roles like software engineering, product management, and UX design. You learn how the early stages of product development work, including understanding user needs, brainstorming ideas, and building first-stage product concepts. Throughout the program, you collaborate with other students and receive mentorship from Microsoft professionals. You also build key workplace skills such as problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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