15 Internships for College Students in Philadelphia, PA
- Stephen Turban
- 23 minutes ago
- 12 min read
As a college student, internships help you expand your knowledge in a field of interest and gain practical experience. They act as a bridge between what you learn in class and how those ideas are applied in the workplace, giving you a chance to build key skills like collaboration, communication, and project management. You can meet and learn from a spectrum of experts and build a valuable network of industry connections with mentors and potential future employers.
Why should you attend an internship in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is home to a range of organizations and universities that offer internships in areas such as research, media, business, law, and the arts. As an intern, you might help manage museum collections, contribute to scientific research, assist in event planning, or work on community-focused projects. Whether you are a local or out-of-state student, these opportunities allow you to explore possible career paths while strengthening your resume and professional experience.
To help you in your search, we have compiled a list of 15 internships for college students in Philadelphia, PA.
If you are looking for paid online internships, check out our blog here.
Location: Remote
Cost: Cost varies depending on the program type; full need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10 – 25%; 70 – 100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who can work for 10 – 20 hours/week for 8 – 12 weeks; open to high school and gap year students as well
College students in Philadelphia, PA, who are keen to get work experience with global startups and nonprofits can consider Ladder's University Internship, a selective, virtual internship program. The startups range across a variety of industries, such as health tech, environmental science, AI, consulting, non-profit, and more. In the eight-week program, you gain real-world working experience while working closely with a manager, and develop technical and professional skills across multiple sessions with the host company. As part of the internship, you will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup you are working with, and present your work at the end of the internship. Apply here.
Location: Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: $4,000 living expenses
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Highly selective; typically, 10 students
Dates: June 2 – July 25
Application Deadline: February 17
Eligibility: Currently enrolled undergraduate/graduate students, or have graduated within a year of the start of the internship; should have completed at least the college freshman year of college by the end of the Spring semester; should be eligible to work in the U.S.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art's Museum Studies Internship Program (MSIP) provides students from diverse academic backgrounds with the opportunity to gain an educational experience and explore a career as a museum professional. You don’t need to pursue a major in history! Your academic and career goals will determine which department you will work in. You will receive personalized mentorship to gain practical skills and experience in a professional environment while working on projects associated with the museum's collections and exhibitions. You will get multiple networking opportunities with curators, conservators, and other museum personnel, as well as peers who share your interests.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: Paid on a limited basis to students who are unable to obtain funding
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely competitive; 13 – 20 interns
Dates: June 2 – August 1
Application Deadline: Typically, late February or early March
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in philosophy, political science, international relations and other related fields
UPENN's Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) hosts a summer internship program for college undergraduates in Philadelphia who are keen to explore a career related to national security. You will expand your perspective on critical legal and ethical issues with insight from scholars, military-affiliated professionals, and legal practitioners. You will collaborate with team members in research work, provide support for events, policy briefings, and workshops, and publish work for CERL's portal. You will also participate in intellectual discussions and interact with national security experts and peers.
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S., including at the Philadelphia Federal Records Center and the National Archives, Philadelphia, PA. (check locations here)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies as per specific projects and supervisory capacity
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year; Summer: late May/early June – August; Fall: September – late November/early December; Spring: late January/early February – April
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort; Summer: typically, late March; Fall: July 18; Spring: December 19
Eligibility: Current high school/undergraduate/graduate students | U.S. citizens | At least 18 years old | Former students who graduated within the past two years are also eligible
College students in Philadelphia keen to gain work experience in cataloging and storing documents, retail processes, or administrative/legal fields could consider the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Voluntary Internship Program. Across 10 weeks, you will be assigned tasks by a supervisor, working independently or in collaboration with team members in various units of the national archives' field offices, libraries, or museums. You could be preparing documents for digitization (archival intern), creating social media posts (PR intern), managing sales at a museum store (retail intern), photographing artifacts and maintaining inventories (curatorial intern), and more. You will enhance skills in teamwork, time management, and gain competency in the area specific to the internship role.
Location: WHYY Philadelphia Studio, PA (also available in Delaware)
Stipend: $18/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 10 – 11 interns
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year; Fall: September – December; Winter–Spring: January – April; Summer: June – August
Application Deadline: Fall: August 1; Winter–Spring: December 1; Summer: April 1
Eligibility: College juniors and seniors, graduate and postgraduate students (within 2 – 3 years of graduation)
Public media organization WHYY provides paid professional development opportunities for undergraduate/graduate/postgraduate students in administration and media units at their Philadelphia Studio. You will gain hands-on work experience during the 12-week internship (16 hours/week; 20 hours/week for newsroom internships). As an administrative intern, you will be assigned work in marketing, HR, IT, member relations, PR, or major gifts. As a media intern, you will be assigned work in the newsroom, graphic design, promotions, TV production, or media arts education. You will work alongside professionals, getting a perspective into the behind-the-scenes work of a public media organization. You may even earn college credit!
Location: Philadelphia, PA (specific location details not available)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 1 – 2 interns per cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year; Fall: September – December (16 hours/week); Spring: January – May (16 hours/week); Summer: May – August (24 hours/week)
Application Deadline: July 15 (fall); October 15 (spring); March 15 (summer)
Eligibility: Students enrolled in a college/university who are U.S. citizens | Must work within the Contiguous United States, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico
In this internship, you will get a close insight into international business and trade, including the economic aspects, challenges faced by companies in the global market, and more. With mentorship by professional trade specialists, you will work on global market research, evaluate global opportunities for U.S. businesses, maintain databases, craft creative campaigns, support personnel for trade events, and the like. You will also get networking opportunities at trade seminars and meetings with clients. You will gain self-confidence and competency in taking on tasks independently or as a team member, and enhance time management, interpersonal, and analytical skills.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: Undergraduates: $15/hour; Graduates: $18/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: 10 weeks during the summer; typically, first week of June through the second week of August
Application Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students; recent college graduates are also eligible; an academic discipline may apply to a specific intern's role
The Barnes Foundation provides college and graduate students with opportunities to gain work experience in various departments of the Foundation through a paid summer internship. You will work on meaningful assignments associated with the Foundation’s work in the fields of art conservation, education, research, and more. You will interact with curators, conservationists, and other professionals who will provide mentorship and guidance. The diverse range of intern roles includes creating learning opportunities for school students, maintaining records of art and artifacts, conservation of paintings and objects, working with the fundraising team, assisting with campaign strategies for brand promotion, editing print and digital material, and more.
Location: Wilma Theater, Philadelphia, PA, with a hybrid model
Stipend: $15/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically a small number of slots
Dates: Offered year-round, aligning with academic semesters: Summer, Fall, and Spring
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: College students who have completed at least one year of college with academic and practical experience in theater
The Wilma Theater provides college students with opportunities to have immersive learning experiences while working as artistic and literary interns in a theater setting. You will be assigned diverse tasks, including maintaining databases, reading and reporting scripts, researching plays, providing support in the office with clerical work, providing support for events and auditions, and more. You will enhance organizational and collaborative skills across various departments. You will also participate in workshops and networking events where you will meet artists and other professionals in the arts and business community.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: $12/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically, a small number of slots
Dates: Multiple cohorts - Fall, Spring, and Summer
Application Deadline: Rolling until final deadlines, which vary as per cohort
Eligibility: College students and emerging theatre professionals
This program is designed for college students who are keen to pursue a career in the administrative, educational, and arts-related fields of performing arts. You can earn credit for academic coursework through the 12-week internship. Based on skills and interests, you can opt for more than one type of internship to work alongside Arden professionals in various departments. You can opt for a diverse range of hands-on experiences, such as insight into the work of production, which includes lighting, props, and costumes, the role of an archivist in theatre, marketing and PR strategies, and more. You will gain professional connections in theater and expand your perspective on career paths in the field.
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S., including PA
Stipend: Paid, the amount information is not available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: Typically 10 weeks between June – August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors pursuing a bachelor's degree who maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
The paid summer internship at Philadelphia Insurance Companies is designed for college students to explore careers as insurance professionals. You will gain insight into diverse aspects of insurance, such as actuarial science, marketing, risk management, and underwriting. You will work with peers on an assigned case study to present to the leadership team. You will attend formal classroom lectures as well as weekly department presentations led by the company's senior leaders to learn about the insurance sector and the company. You will also gain networking opportunities with top management through informal meets and events, and mentorship for professional pathways in the industry.
Location: Multiple locations across PA, including Philadelphia
Stipend: Paid based on internship type and duration ($1,000 stipend for an earlier cohort paid over 3 months)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 2 – 3 internships per term
Dates: Flexible scheduling across various cohorts; Winter/Spring: Approx. January–March; Spring/Summer: Approx. April–June; Summer/Fall: Approx. July–September
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: All students who are at least 16 years old
Philadelphia students aged 16 and over who are keen to explore a career in youth sports management or Ultimate Frisbee could consider the Philadelphia Area Disc Alliance (PADA) Youth Internships. You will assist in PADA youth tournaments and events, as well as sports clinics and workshops. You will gain insight into the operations of youth programs, including logistics, coaching, maintaining documents, social media campaigns, and the like. Earlier cohorts have pursued internships in social media, graphic design, school programming, and more. You will gain networking opportunities with youth sports leaders, participate in community development, and gain hands-on experience in youth programming.
Location: Childcare centers/elementary schools/public locations across Philadelphia, PA with hybrid options available
Stipend: $15/hour + tuition support/reimbursement
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; typically, small cohort sizes
Dates: Approximately 4 to 6 months, aligning with the college semester
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: College students keen to work with children and who have access to transportation around Philadelphia
The Soccer Shots Philadelphia Spring Internship provides college students in Philadelphia with opportunities to get hands-on experience with soccer programs for kids. You will get comprehensive training and mentorship to gain insight into youth coaching and event management. You will be assigned tasks such as providing support for coaches and event planning, creating marketing campaigns, working with the sales team on outreach events, and the like. You will also participate in leading soccer sessions for children aged 2 – 8 years. You will gain self-confidence as well as competency and organizational abilities in organizing children's soccer programs.
Location: APS Philadelphia, PA, and Cold Spring Harbor Lab, NY (virtual in the first and last two weeks)
Stipend: $2,000 living stipend + funding to support travel (up to $500)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 1 undergraduate student
Dates: May 18 – July 10
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Currently enrolled/have recently graduated from a U.S. college/university | Must have completed a minimum of two years of undergraduate studies and be entering the third or fourth year | Non-U.S. students are eligible, but no visa sponsorship is provided for them
This internship allows you to do a dual internship with the American Philosophical Society (APS)'s Center for the History of Science. You will initially be based at the Center for Humanities and the History of Modern Biology's Cold Spring Harbor lab, NY, and then at APS, Philadelphia, with access to archival materials. Mentors will guide you in the research areas such as molecular biology, genetic engineering, cancer, microbiology, and other fields. You will gain an understanding of scientific processes, technical methods, and the like. You will make a presentation on your research work and complete a short essay/blog post about your internship work.
Location: Wistar and other labs, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: Paid. The information on the stipend amount is not available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective; cohort size details not publicly disclosed
Dates: Laboratory Orientation at Wistar: May 11 – 22; Lab experience 1: May 26 – June 26; Lab experience 2: June 29 – July 31
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Students who have completed at least one semester of college-level Chemistry and one semester of Biology for science majors with a focus on molecular and cellular topics | Additional prerequisite courses and skills may be applicable
In collaboration with the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP), the Wistar Institute provides college students in Philadelphia with opportunities to explore biomedical research careers through the Biomedical Technician Training (BTT) program. You will undergo training in biomedical lab techniques and skills at Wistar. You will then gain hands-on work experience for 10 – 12 weeks either at Wistar or other sites such as a university lab, a regional biomedical center, a pharmaceutical company, and the like. You will build technical and professional skills in research and the development of biotechnology and pharmaceutical products, and gain networking opportunities while working alongside lab technicians and researchers.
Location: Philadelphia Zoo, PA
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: Typically offered in three defined programmatic sessions: Spring, Summer, and Fall, with a commitment of 1–3 days per week
Application Deadline: Varies as per season
Eligibility: Full-time college students and recent graduates | Must fulfill time requirements and level of commitment based on the role
In this internship, you will be assigned tasks and volunteer duties in a team and/or individually, with a variety of volunteer/internship roles available. As an animal care intern, you will work with zookeepers, with duties including cleaning enclosures, preparing food, providing support to zoo personnel with guest experiences, and the like, with minimal physical contact with animals. As a conservation education intern, you will gain experience in animal observation, conservation, and research. As an event planning intern, you will assist in planning, developing, and executing an event and work on project-based tasks. You will expand your knowledge about zoo operations as well as build strategic decision-making and organizational skills.
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, 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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