15 Internships for College Students in California
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 9 min read
Internships offer college students a great way to gain industry exposure and training beyond the classroom. Whether you’re exploring potential career paths or strengthening your resume for future applications, internships can help you apply what you’ve learnt in the classroom and develop professional skills. California is home to many internship opportunities that can provide industry experience and help you form valuable connections with mentors and peers.
To help you choose, we’ve narrowed down a list of 15 top internships for college students in California, selecting programs based on their prestige, rigor of professional experience, and the networking opportunities they provide.
If you’re still looking for more prestigious internships, check out this set of blogs!
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
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!
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: $18–$45/hour
Application Deadline: Late December
Program Dates: Full-time summer internship
Eligibility: Current bachelor’s students with a portfolio in 2D/3D concept art and proficiency in design and 3D software
The Concept Art internship at EA gives college students a chance to work at a global video game company. There are plenty of offerings available under EA, but this concept art internship is specifically to be a part of the team behind the video game franchise Apex Legends. Here, you will join the team in a professional studio environment to create concept art for characters, environments, props, and hard-surface items. You will be collaborating closely with artists and designers, learning the game-asset development pipeline, iterating on art direction feedback, and contributing to real game content. This is a suitable choice for any college student interested in a career in game art, concept design, or visual storytelling.
Location: Burbank, CA
Cost/Stipend: $22.50/hour
Application Deadline: Not specified
Program Dates: June 1 – August 28
Eligibility: Enrolled college students in Film, Screenwriting, Media Studies, or related fields with unrestricted U.S. work authorization
Lucasfilm, a renowned film studio in California, offers college students an internship opportunity in story development. As a Creative Development Intern, you will help read and evaluate writing samples and scripts, write coverage for submitted materials, assist with research, and support organizational and administrative tasks. You will gain ample insight into how major franchises are shaped from early concept to production planning. Overall, this is a highly competitive, hands-on experience to go for. And if this specific role doesn’t float your goat, you can opt to search for other open positions on their website.
Location: El Segundo, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: $20/hour stipend
Application Deadline: Closes in November
Program Dates: Summer: June – August | Spring: January – March
Eligibility: Current students or recent graduates eligible to work in the U.S.
The LA Times offers a prestigious 10-week internship where college students will work alongside professional journalists to cover news in and around Los Angeles. You will work in different sections such as metro/local, entertainment & arts, sports, business, editorial, feature, foreign, national, and more. Overall, the program offers a well-rounded experience, giving you insight into the fast-paced nature of a major publication. This is a great choice for you if you are looking to have a future in journalism, as it offers a way to build your skills, a portfolio, and a network while you gain practical experience.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship (wage not specified)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Program Dates: August – December
Eligibility: College students
The Development and Communications internship at artworxLA offers college students a role in supporting a nonprofit focused on arts education and youth development. You will help create marketing materials, donor-stewardship communications, and social media content. The internship is also offered in a hybrid format, giving flexibility in your experience. Key learnings include graphic design, photography/video documentation, and communications strategy. This is a great choice for students interested in nonprofit arts, social impact, communications, or arts administration who are interested in helping out in an art-based education nonprofit.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship (amount not specified)
Application Deadline: None specified
Program Dates: June – October
Eligibility: College students
CBG Arts is a non-profit that uses performing and visual arts to uplift the youth. They offer a music production internship for college students to get experience in music and community outreach. You will assist with music production, sound design, and live event planning. The music production interns also help organize a concert called “More in Music,” exposing you to hands-on team-based experience. By collaborating with professionals and peers, you will gain experience in production workflows, teamwork, and community-focused arts programming.
Location: Feminist Majority Offices, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid, $16–$25 per hour
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Undergraduate students of any major
The Feminist Majority Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to women’s equality, reproductive health, and non-violence. Their internships offer college students hands-on experience in feminist advocacy and policy work. You will collaborate with like-minded peers and foundation team members on initiatives in both a national and international scope. All work will be related to women’s political participation, reproductive rights, gender-based violence, and human rights. Depending on your chosen focus area, you may conduct policy research, assist with communications, help organize events and rallies, or contribute meaningfully to ongoing legislative campaigns. With its flexible scheduling and opportunity to engage directly with leaders advancing gender justice and equality, this is a strong option to go for.
Location: Centric Brands Office, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid; rate not specified
Application Deadline: Typically opens in spring
Program Dates: 10 weeks, June – August
Eligibility: Current undergraduates (sophomore year completed) and graduate students
Centric Brands’ Sports Marketing internships offer a hybrid, ten-week summer internship program on brand strategy, merchandising, and marketing related to entertainment and sports-related brand categories. You will work on projects that involve sports apparel partnerships, cross-functional team meetings, product marketing, brand positioning, and market research. Aside from these experiences, you will also sit in structured learning sessions that take you through industry knowledge, career development, and Centric’s social impact initiatives. At the end of the program, you will present a final team project to senior leadership. Overall, this is a suitable option if you’re interested in gaining insight and building networks in the sports industry.
Location: UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost/Stipend: $500 stipend; housing and meals included
Application Deadline: February 26
Program Dates: July 20–25
Eligibility: Current college students or recent graduates
The Sports Industry Academy offers a short-term, residential internship for college students interested in youth mentorship, event coordination, and the sports industry. You will work at UC Santa Barbara, where you’ll take part in a one-week summer program. The program will introduce you to careers in sports media, marketing, law, and operations. You will live on campus and help lead daily activities, facilitate workshops, and manage logistics like attendance, session setup, and student check-ins. Other roles may include contributing to the group’s social media and program documentation. Overall, a structured opportunity for students interested in working within the sports industry.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: $17.87/hour, up to 400 hours
Application Deadline: Not specified
Program Dates: July 1 – December 15
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled in a college or university in LA County
The Justice For My Sister internship will place you at a nonprofit that represents underrepresented voices in film, TV, and storytelling. You will help support arts education and community outreach programs. Key responsibilities include coordinating workshops, organizing mentor-alumni engagement, operating outreach efforts, and assisting in logistical planning. You will work closely with teaching artists, community mentors, and other interns to organize the group’s events. The hybrid structure of the program also provides flexibility while still offering hands-on involvement in the team’s projects. Overall, this is a suitable choice for any student interested in arts, media, social justice, or community-driven storytelling.
Location: Monterey Park, CA
Cost/Stipend: $17.87/hour
Application Deadline: Not specified
Program Dates: June – December
Eligibility: Undergraduate students
The Art Studio internship at Boys & Girls Club of West San Gabriel Valley and Eastside offers college students the chance to work closely with a youth-centered art studio. You will be assisting with classroom setup and clean-up, managing art supplies, and supporting the visual arts projects for club youth under the supervision of the club’s Art Director. This is an experience closely tied to community arts education, youth mentorship, program support, and nonprofit art studio management. It’s a great choice for students interested in art education, community engagement, or youth development.
Location: Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship, amount not specified
Application Deadline: February 2
Program Dates: June – August
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; completed at least two years of undergrad; minimum GPA 3.0
The Keck School of Medicine of USC offers a pathway program called Bridging the Gaps. BTG offers students the opportunity to gain basic science, translational, and clinical research experiences. You will take part in research work, participate in weekly seminars on health topics, and healthcare competencies. Alongside this, you will also participate in career development workshops offering guidance on graduate school admissions processes, financial aid, and more! Through its formal lectures in physiology, pathophysiology, and biostatistics, this is a great opportunity to learn by shadowing professionals at the program’s affiliated hospitals. At the end of the program, you will also present your findings to the Keck School of Medicine community.
Location: UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Varies per role
Application Deadline: Not specified
Program Dates: Varies per role
Eligibility: Students enrolled in UCLA TFT
The UCLA TFT internship programs are open to its enrolled juniors, seniors, and graduate students. These internships offer academic credit for internships in Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters. Specific eligibility requirements vary per role. Overall, there is a diverse range of roles to play in a world-renowned professional hub of performing arts. Students interested in pursuing a paid or unpaid internship can explore the options available.
Location: Athletes First Headquarters, Laguna Hills, CA
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid; academic credit possible
Application Deadline: January – February (final interviews)
Program Dates: June – August
Eligibility: Rising undergrad seniors and current graduate students
Athletes First is a talent agency located in Laguna Hills, California. They offer a summer internship in their headquarters as well as in satellite offices across the country. You will support teams in departments like football operations, legal matters, client relations, and event marketing. The work you’ll do depends on your placement, so there’s flexibility involved in the application. Overall, this makes for a decent way to gain exposure to athlete representation, client services, and the behind-the-scenes work that goes into contract negotiation and brand development for NFL players, coaches, and media talent.
Location: Sports Academy facilities, Thousand Oaks and Seal Beach, CA
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid; eligible for academic credit
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: May – August
Eligibility: Students 21+ enrolled in college programs related to sports performance or exercise science
The Sports Academy Internship is an internship program for students interested in sports performance, rehabilitation, and athletic training. You will be placed in the training environment. You will be working with athletes ranging from youth to NFL-level clients. The program will give exposure to the Sports Academy’s performance methods to gain experience and know-how in strength and conditioning, cognition training, and return-to-play protocols. The program also includes weekly educational sessions led by professional coaches, where you’ll explore assigned research topics to deepen your understanding in the field of sports science.
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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