14 Internships for College Students in Massachusetts
- Stephen Turban
- 5 hours ago
- 9 min read
As a college student, internships can help you dive into your interests and prepare for life after graduation. Internships can offer experiences that help you stand out in interviews, strengthen your resume, and understand what type of work is right for you. As an intern, you also get to connect with peers and mentors, who can be a part of your long-term professional network.
Why should you attend an internship in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is home to various leading universities and organizations that hire college students, from undergraduate to doctoral students, as interns. Through these opportunities, you can contribute to ongoing research, assist with data analysis, support policy projects, or take part in product development across different industries. The state’s strong academic environment and diverse professional network make it an excellent place to build experience, learn from mentors, and explore career paths.
To help you with your search, here we have listed 14 internships for college students in Massachusetts.
If you are looking for paid online internships, check out our blog here.
14 Internships for College Students in Massachusetts
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies, based on the program format you choose; need-based financial assistance available
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines each year for each cohort
Dates: Several cohorts run each year, in the summer, fall, winter, and spring.
Eligibility: Undergraduate students and young professionals who can commit to 5–10 hours of work each week for at least eight weeks
Ladder Internships offers students opportunities to work with high-growth start-ups in various fields, including software engineering, environmental science, finance, artificial intelligence, healthcare, deep tech, web design/UX, and mental health. As an intern, you will work under the supervision and guidance of a start-up manager and a Ladder Coach on projects that align with your interests and the organization’s goals. The experience can help you contribute to real projects in a professional setting and access opportunities to build key workplace skills. While applying, you can choose the Startup Internship and work with an organization’s representative, or opt for the CEO Internship, where you will work directly with a start-up CEO from a FAANG (Facebook, Google, etc.) background. You can also choose the Combination program, which combines the CEO Internship format with a mentored research opportunity.
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Stipend: $5,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 2 to 6 students per year
Dates: Early June to mid-August. Dates TBA
Application Deadline: January 23
Eligibility: Undergraduate students
Harvard’s Laboratory for Social Cognitive Science hosts college students for internships in sociology, psychology, and philosophy. You will work with one or two mentors on ongoing research projects in cognitive science, focusing on the development of moral frameworks or on the psychology and philosophy of ethical decision-making. The internship also offers career development opportunities, including presentation opportunities, networking events, and meetings with Harvard professors, fellows, and grad students. This summer experience can provide you with firsthand insights into lab operations and research work.
Location: Boston Globe Media, Boston, MA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: 12-week summer program; requires full-time commitment
Application deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Undergraduate students, graduating seniors, and students in graduate school
The Boston Globe Summer Internship Program offers aspiring journalists the opportunity to work at one of the nation’s leading news organizations. During the internship, you will contribute to reporting and news publication, participate in editorial discussions, and learn directly from seasoned journalists. Opportunities are available in various departments, including business, news, and living/arts. You can also intern as a photographer, designer, or copy editor. You can apply to be a reporting intern if you want to receive one-on-one guidance from a writing coach.
Location: NIH campuses nationwide, including in MA
Stipend: Paid; amount varies by education level. Check details here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Typically summer; June – August
Application deadline: February 18
Eligibility: Students, high school to graduate/professional school level, who are at least 18 years old and U.S. citizens/permanent residents
The National Institutes of Health’s SIP offers students the opportunity to participate in full-time biomedical, behavioral, or social science research within the NIH Intramural Research Program. You will work under the guidance of NIH Principal Investigators, engaging in research within fields like biology, engineering, epidemiology, psychology, computer science, physics, and other health-related disciplines. As an intern, you will also have access to career development workshops, professional skills training, and well-being programs. The program also runs a Graduate and Professional School Fair in July and Summer Poster Day in August, where you get to share your research with peers and the NIH community.
Location: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA
Stipend: $22 – $29.25/hour + $5,000 relocation stipend offered, if required
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Starts on May 11 or June 15 and runs for 10 – 12 weeks
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Graduate students completing a Supply Chain or Engineering-related degree
This internship places graduate students into strategic supply chain roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific. You will be matched to projects aligned with your skills and business needs, and engage in assignments that make an operational or strategic impact for Thermo Fisher Scientific. You may work on analyzing processes, tracking efficiency, promoting continuous improvement initiatives, and developing tools or models to boost supply chain performance. You will also engage in cross-functional collaboration, working with teams across engineering, manufacturing, program management, quality assurance, and finance on various deliverables.
Location: U.S. Department of State offices across the United States, including Massachusetts
Stipend: Paid at GS 04 Step 1 base pay. Travel covered. Housing assistance provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer: May or July to August or September; Fall: September or December to December or February; Spring: January or March to April or May
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. Applications open in October for Summer, February for Fall, and July for Spring
Eligibility: Students enrolled in a degree-seeking program who are at least 18, U.S. citizens, and have a minimum GPA of 3.2; detailed eligibility information is available here.
The U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program is a competitive, paid internship designed for college students interested in exploring federal careers and U.S. diplomacy. As an intern, you will attend high-level government meetings, draft or edit policy documents, contribute to cables and reports, or support large international conferences. You will also assist with public outreach activities, focused on communicating U.S. diplomatic work to domestic and international audiences. Opportunities are available across bureaus, U.S. embassies, and domestic offices, giving you an inside look at both Foreign Service and Civil Service career paths.
Location: Various Thermo Fisher Scientific locations, including Boston/Cambridge, MA
Stipend: $14.75 – $28.75/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 3 – August 20
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Undergraduate students completing an Engineering or Life Sciences degree
As a Field Services Intern at Thermo Fisher Scientific, you will get hands-on exposure to Thermo Fisher’s Instrument and Enterprise Services Division while shadowing experienced Field Service Engineers (FSEs). You will learn how FSEs support customers, maintain scientific instrumentation, and deliver service across diverse laboratory and industrial environments. You will work with FSEs at customer sites. In addition to daily tasks, you will work on and complete a project related to field service operations and present your findings to divisional leadership.
Location: U.S. Commercial Service office in Boston, MA
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly shared
Dates: Spring: January – May | Summer: May – August | Fall: September – December
Application deadline: Spring: October 15 | Summer: March 15 | Fall: July 15
Eligibility: Students who are U.S. citizens enrolled in colleges or universities
The U.S. Commercial Service internship offers college students hands-on exposure to international trade promotion within the U.S. Department of Commerce. You will work closely with International Trade Specialists to assess global market opportunities, conduct market research, and support U.S. companies as they expand into international markets. The role also involves assisting with trade events, preparing marketing materials, engaging with clients, and supporting export counseling activities for small and medium-sized businesses. Additionally, you will help enter, verify, and back up data in the Client Relations Management database.
Location: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Ward Hill, MA
Stipend: $22.00 – $29.25/hour + $5,000 relocation stipend offered, if necessary
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Starting on May 11 or June 15 and running for 10 – 12 weeks
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Undergraduate students completing a degree in Business, Supply Chain, or Engineering
The PPI Specialist Intern program places you within Thermo Fisher teams working on continuous improvement methodologies/Practical Process Improvement. Here, you will spend 10 to 12 weeks contributing directly to operational excellence initiatives. You will learn and apply Lean, Six Sigma, and PPI Business System concepts, such as value stream mapping, Kaizen, Gemba walks, 5S, and SMED, to improve processes across manufacturing and business units. You will also be a part of projects focusing on increasing the company’s production efficiency, reducing defects, standardizing work, and benchmarking against industry best practices.
Location: Various Adobe offices worldwide, including in MA
Stipend: Paid; amount varies by role and location
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Internships offered year-round across departments
Application deadline: Varies by position
Eligibility: Undergraduate, graduate, Ph.D., and MBA students
Adobe offers a wide range of internships across engineering, research, sales, marketing, and business departments, helping you work on meaningful, mission-critical projects that directly influence Adobe’s products and strategy. You will gain hands-on experience, mentorship, and opportunities to build technical and professional skills while contributing to projects. Specialized tracks such as Adobe Research Internships allow Ph.D. students in computer science and electrical engineering to work within Adobe’s labs and innovate on emerging technologies. You can also find opportunities in marketing and machine learning.
Location: Various GE Aerospace offices in the U.S., including in MA
Stipend: Varies depending on position and location
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Vary by opportunity
Application deadline: Varies by role
Eligibility: College students in relevant fields of study; requirements can vary based on role.
The GE Aerospace Internship Program provides students with hands-on, industry-level experience while working alongside engineers, technologists, business leaders, and cross-functional teams. As an intern, you will engage in real-world problem-solving and support projects that influence GE Aerospace’s ongoing innovations in aviation and emerging technologies. Opportunities span multiple areas, including engineering, digital technology, finance, human resources, legal, commercial marketing, and supply chain. GE also offers access to mentorship and training programs, allowing you to build workplace skills and technical abilities.
Location: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA
Stipend: $18.50 – $24.50/hour + $5,000 relocation stipend offered, if necessary
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Starting on May 11 or June 15 and running for 10 – 12 weeks
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Undergraduate students completing a Life Sciences–related degree
As a Sales Intern at Thermo Fisher, you will gain exposure to the company’s commercial operations while building core sales and communication skills. You will work closely with company leadership to identify opportunities for efficiency improvement and assess existing sales processes. You will also help identify new customer opportunities, manage regional sales accounts, and learn how to use continuous improvement tools such as PPI and Six Sigma. Additionally, you will collaborate with research scientists to collect product information and develop sales presentations.
Location: Offices within the Massachusetts Export Center network, Boston, MA
Stipend: Unpaid volunteer internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Rolling; minimum commitment of 16 hours/week
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Open to all; background/education in international business is preferred.
The Massachusetts Export Center’s volunteer internship roles offer hands-on exposure to international trade, market research, and export consulting within a government agency setting. Here, you will support a small team of trade professionals, taking on a broad range of tasks, from administrative duties to high-level research projects tailored to your skills and interests. Responsibilities include preparing secondary market research reports, conducting distributor searches, analyzing country and industry trends, and assisting with export regulatory inquiries. You will also contribute to helping clients develop new markets overseas, gaining experience in data analysis, problem-solving, and research.
Location: Virtual internships available for Massachusetts students
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee (need-based fee waivers available); no stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Students, from high school to undergraduate level, who are at least 15 years old
ASSIP offers remote research internships in various fields, including neuroscience, data science, chemistry, engineering, medicine, statistics, computer science, and physics. You can choose a mentor offering a remote internship format to contribute to lab tasks and research within your chosen track while refining your scientific writing and communication skills. During the program, you will also engage in seminars and discussions with researchers and professors to learn about STEM career paths. ASSIP ends with a research symposium, where you will learn about all the research conducted by program participants during the summer.
One other option—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, check out students’ reviews of the program here and 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 graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. 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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