15 Internships in San Francisco for College Students
- Stephen Turban
- 1 day ago
- 10 min read
College is usually when students start thinking about what kind of work fits them, and internships make that easier to explore. You get to work on tasks that matter to an organization, learn how teams function, and see where your strengths lie. San Francisco is a good place for college internships because the city hosts everything from early-stage startups to established institutions. You might work on small contributions to a product, support a research project, or help a team organize information.
Choosing a local internship in San Francisco also makes the process easier on your time and your finances. You don’t have to worry about travel or paying for housing in another city, and you won’t disrupt your semester by going abroad. You can stay close to campus and build the kind of experience that will give you an edge in future job applications and internship rounds.
With that in mind, here are 15 internships in San Francisco for college students! And if you’re still looking for more internship opportunities, check out this set of blogs.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
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!
The Ladder University Internship Program connects students with early-stage startups for about eight weeks of remote, project-based experiences. You can choose a placement area that aligns with your academic interests, whether in technology, sustainability, public policy, or even forensic science, while contributing directly to company projects. You will work around 10–15 hours a week and receive mentorship from a Ladder Coach, who will offer regular feedback and career guidance throughout the internship. You will get to take ownership of your projects and present your results to company leaders at the end of the internship. Apply now!
Location: Remote with occasional in-person events in the Bay Area, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: $30 per hour
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in the fall
Program Dates: 8-month internship from October to May
Eligibility: Open to college-age youth or young adults with an interest in philanthropy, community change, and nonprofit strategy
Stupski Foundation is a social services organization in San Francisco that gives college-age youth the opportunity for a paid, part-time internship. You will be working in the foundation’s work on equity, food justice, postsecondary success, health, and grantmaking. You will join a yearly cohort of interns for eight months, where you will be working closely with staff, grantee partners, and youth leaders in community-centered projects and programs. Throughout the internship, you will occasionally be invited to join a professional development speaker series where you get to connect with philanthropy professionals and learn more about the nonprofit systems. At the end of the program, you will also present a capstone project in your chosen focus area to the foundation and the community.
Location: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: $6,500
Application Deadline: Typically in February
Program Dates: 10-week program from June to August
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are current undergraduate students.
The Summer Systematics Institute at the California Academy of Sciences is a 10-week paid internship for undergraduate students interested in biodiversity, evolutionary biology, and systematics. You’ll work on molecular and morphological data in museum collections, exploring how species evolve or decline under global change. The program will begin as a week-long field trip at the UC Point Reyes Field Station, where you’ll have hands-on training in field methods, science communication, and biodiversity sampling, which you will all use as you work in the Academy’s San Francisco labs and collections.
Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: $650 per week
Application Deadline: Typically closes in January
Program Dates: 10-week program from June to August
Eligibility: Open to undergraduates, graduates, or college graduates who have strong illustration skills and some knowledge of biology
The California Academy of Sciences offers a paid biological illustration internship that places illustrators with Academy scientists to create detailed, publication-quality scientific drawings of museum specimens. You will contribute to real research and scientific art in areas of study like herpetology, invertebrates, botany, and more. Your work may also be used in scientific publications, diagnostic keys, or educational materials. This internship is integrated with the Academy’s Summer Systematics Institute, so alongside the training, you will also join seminars, fieldtrips, and presentations alongside other research interns. If needed, the program offers housing at dormitories within walking distance and easy transportation to and from the Academy.
Location: San Francisco Public Works Department, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Paid internship, exact amount not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Program Dates: 10-12 week program in the summer
Eligibility: Open to currently-enrolled college students in engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, construction management, or IT
The SFPW offers college students in engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, construction management, IT, or related fields the opportunity to work in government-led infrastructure and public works projects. You will work in the field, contributing to planning, designing, construction, and maintenance of city infrastructure under the mentorship of engineers, architects, and project managers. You can look forward to visiting field sites, assisting with master planning, making cost estimates, and preparing reports or presentations. According to the latest annual report, the program selects a cohort of about 50 interns in the summer.
Location: Parks throughout the Bay Area, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: $500 per week for full-time positions and $250 per week for part-timers
Application Deadline: Varies by year
Program Dates: 11-week program from June to August
Eligibility: Open to college and university students
Made in memory of Dr. Nina S. Roberts, one of the principal co-founders of the Academic Internship Program, the Dr. Nina S. Roberts AIP is organized by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. In this program, you will be working under the supervision of park staff and Conservancy professionals. Key areas where you’ll build experience are business administration, operations, community programs, historical preservation, and visitor programs. Alongside these, you will also be attending cohort seminars, receiving training in professional skills, and reflecting on your work through group meetings. The program spans a wide range of partnered academic institutions, which include SFSU.
Location: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Offers a stipend, but the exact amount is not listed
Application Deadline: Applications close in March
Program Dates: Runs from June to August
Eligibility: Open to undergraduate, graduate students, and recent graduates (within 6 months), and must be eligible to work in the U.S.
SFMOMA’s Internship Program offers a full-time, nine-week paid internship for college and university students interested in exploring future museum careers. Key fields of experience include curatorial design, museum education, and visitor engagement. You will be mentored by museum professionals while you work on project-based assignments, giving you insight into the operations of a major art institution like SFMOMA. Throughout the internship, you will also attend weekly presentations, Q&A sessions with department heads, and join professional development workshops.
Location: SFMTA offices and sites in San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Paid internship: amount not specified
Application Deadline: Applications close in January
Program Dates: Runs from May to September
Eligibility: Open to students pursuing degrees in planning, engineering, computer science, IT, and natural resources
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency runs a summer internship for students pursuing planning, civil engineering, transportation engineering, or related fields. You will contribute to real-world transportation planning and engineering projects. Specifics include designing multimodal street improvements, participating in outreach projects, and working with city agencies. You will be participating in seminars, field trips, and exposure to different divisions within the agency. You will be mentored by professionals in the agency and be involved in project-based work that impacts San Francisco’s infrastructure.
Location: San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, 350 Rhode Island Street, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Unpaid internship
Application Deadline: Varies by hiring cycle
Program Dates: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to college students and recent graduates interested in criminal justice
The San Francisco DA’s Office offers internships for undergraduate students interested in criminal justice, communications, policy, or law. You will be working in various units within the SFDA’s Office. You will assist prosecutors in a variety of tasks such as preparing case files, contacting witnesses, managing subpoenas and records, which offers you exposure to the work in a high-stakes legal environment. One important thing to consider is that the position requires a significant weekly commitment.
Location: SF Fed Head Office, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Paid internship, exact amount not specified
Application Deadline: Typically in October
Program Dates: 10‑week summer internship, typically starting in May
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate or graduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco offers a 10-week paid summer internship for college students. You will be contributing to projects in banking supervision, economics, IT, operations, and financial services. Throughout the internship, you will be paired with a mentor who will help guide you through the summer. All the while, you will be participating in business seminars and skill-building workshops. The internship requires that you work full-time for 40 hours per week on the work of the SF Fed. This program offers good networking opportunities, as you take part in social events and connect with Federal Reserve Bank employees across teams.
Location: 901 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Paid internships, but the exact amount is not listed
Application Deadline: Applications close in October
Program Dates: Runs for 12 weeks from June to August
Eligibility: Open to students in community college, university, or graduate study
The San Francisco Chronicle is a long-standing newspaper founded in 1865 that serves mainly the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. It offers a paid, 12-week summer newsroom internship for college students. You will work in departments such as breaking news, data reporting, digital design, audience engagement, and more under the mentorship of veteran journalists. You will be exposed to a real newsroom experience, being actively involved in reporting, writing, photojournalism, and multimedia production. This is an ideal option for students in journalism and related fields of study.
Location: Mayor’s Office, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: Unpaid internship
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Program Dates: Varies by term
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university.
The Mayor’s Office Internship Program in San Francisco offers college students work experience in key city government divisions. Key areas of learning will be in communications, policy, community affairs, operations, and government relations. You will be supporting real projects. Typical tasks may include crafting press materials, assisting with policy research, contributing to community outreach, and assisting with internal operations, all under the guidance of senior staff. This experience is a sound, structured internship program that will give you ample exposure to the inner workings of municipal leadership, civic engagement, and local governance.
Location: 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, and other partner organizations’ offices
Stipend: Up to $3,000, spread across the semester
Application Deadline: Typically in October
Program Dates: Runs from January to May
Eligibility: Open to undergraduates of any major at SFSU
San Francisco State University is a well-regarded publicly funded academic institution in San Francisco. Its Climate HQ runs a Climate Justice Internship that will place you with the university’s local partner organizations. You will be working on projects that involve climate equity, grassroots organizing, and environmental justice. You will be matched with a project with a local partner and work approximately 10 hours per week over a 15-week semester, where you will be designing real-world solutions with seasoned climate justice advocates. One key requirement to getting into the program is enrolling in and passing a 1-unit seminar, BIOL 681: Climate Action for Real World Change. And at the end of the internship, you have the opportunity to make a public presentation during Earth Week, developing communication, speaking, and presentation skills.
Location: Offers remote work flexibility with occasional in-person meetings
Stipend: $24 per hour
Application Deadline: Typically near the end of November
Program Dates: Starts in December
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled at SFSU in either Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field with an interest in environmental work, and maintain a GPA of 3.5 and above.
Panorama Environmental, Inc. is a small, women-owned consulting firm focused on environmental planning and natural resource management projects. In collaboration with SFSU’s Institute for Civic & Community Engagement, Panorama offers a paid internship for duties in sales, marketing, and operations. You will work on projects in fields like marketing, communications, and business development. The program offers a paid internship at $24 per hour for 10 hours of work per week. Priority consideration is given to applications received by November, and onboarding typically begins before the holidays.
Location: Remote!
Stipend: None
Application Deadline: First-come, first-served basis
Program Dates: Accepted on a rolling basis; internship length depends on the student and the host
Eligibility: Open to SFBU students
San Francisco Bay University, in partnership with internship provider company Virtual Internship, offers remote internship experiences to its enrolled college students. Terms vary between 1 and 4 months, as you will be working with international companies, nonprofits, and startups. Fields of experience vary based on your interest and chosen company. You will be matched with a personal internship coach who will work with you through an online curriculum called CareerBridge, which includes webinars, weekly group check-ins, and professional development initiatives. At the end of the program, you will submit an end-of-program report, receive supervisor feedback, get a certificate, and earn a free membership to the Virtual Internships alumni network. For eligible students, you’ll also be able to earn 1 or 2 units in Curricular Practical Training.
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 Ph.D. 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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