15 Paid Internships in Chicago, IL for College Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 10 min read
If you are in college and want practical learning beyond lectures and assignments, an internship can help you understand what professional work in your field looks like. The work you do becomes a concrete example of your skills that you can mention in future job applications or interviews. Paid internships tend to assign substantive work to students, and the stipend can help you offset living costs as you build experience.
What paid internships are available for college students in Chicago?
Chicago offers multiple paid internships for college students through the range of organizations in the city. You can work alongside professionals in finance, engineering, public service, research, design, or healthcare, depending on your interests. These settings give you a close view of how projects move forward, how teams collaborate, and how responsibilities are distributed in fast-paced environments. Choosing a paid internship close to home keeps your expenses manageable, since you don’t have to plan for travel or summer housing.
With that in mind, here are 15 paid internships in Chicago, IL, for college students!
Location: Remote or hybrid at ACLU affiliate offices across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Available year-round
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Undergraduates and recent graduates, depending on the role
The ACLU Internship Program drops you into the real day-to-day work of civil liberties, everything from immigrant rights to criminal justice reform. Some interns help legal teams with research and case prep, others work with advocacy or communications staff shaping reports, drafting language for campaigns, or gathering material for public outreach. The organization has placements in affiliate offices around the country, including a paid option in Chicago, and remote roles are part of the mi,x too. The internship usually runs about ten weeks full-time or twelve weeks part-time. If you’re not taking academic credit, you receive a stipend.
Location: Nationwide offices
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Summer, Spring, and Winter (typically 8–12 weeks)
Application deadline: Varies by role
Eligibility: Early undergraduates (freshmen/sophomores) exploring professional services; open to various majors; GPA/coursework may apply per role
The Discovery Internship gives early college students a chance to explore multiple service lines while developing core professional skills. You’ll rotate between teams, balancing technical training with client-focused work that builds your consulting foundation. The program is designed so you can shadow meetings, contribute to research or deliverables, and watch how strategic decisions develop. Mentorship from advisory and strategy professionals provides ongoing guidance as you refine your interests. Networking sessions, lunch-and-learns, and regular check-ins create a broad learning environment that extends beyond daily project tasks.
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid
Dates: 10 weeks during the summer (exact dates vary)
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students pursuing a relevant degree with a minimum GPA of 3.2; More info here
The SHINE Program serves as a specialized option for undergraduates interested in marketing, business development, and strategic communications within a consulting environment. Through rotations in areas such as Strategic Marketing or Client Account Management, you’ll work on projects involving market analysis, promotional strategy, and client engagement initiatives. National training sessions and cross-functional collaborations allow you to experience how large-scale professional service firms manage brand positioning and business growth. Senior staff offer guidance as you refine your analytical and communication skills throughout the summer.
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S.
Stipend: $9,000
Dates: 10 weeks (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: Varies by region
Eligibility: Current bachelor’s and master’s students with one full summer left before graduation
Bain’s Associate Consultant Internship introduces undergraduates to management consulting through direct involvement in active client cases. After a week of foundational training, you’ll join a case team where you’ll take responsibility for a portion of a project and contribute to analyses. Your tasks may involve structuring research, interpreting data, and presenting insights during team discussions. Bain provides a monthly salary and uses the internship as an early pipeline for potential full-time roles.
Location: Major BNY Mellon U.S. offices
Stipend: Paid
Dates: 8–10 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: Applications typically open in early August
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students graduating by August of the year following the internship with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better
BNY Mellon’s summer internship gives you a real look at how modern financial services work. You might review client portfolios, help advisory teams think through strategy, and understand how wealth management and private banking operate. The firm builds in training sessions and talks with senior leadership, so you’re not just completing tasks; you’re picking up the language and logic of the industry. You’ll have a mentor keeping you on track, plus chances to join community and inclusion programs that show you how the company thinks about its broader role.
Location: Chicago, IL
Stipend: $500/ week for up to 10 weeks
Dates: 6-10 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: UlMs who are undergraduates or full-time students in medicine, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or a related field
The Northwestern Radiology UIM Fellowship offers a 6- to 10-week paid internship in Chicago, IL, for students underrepresented in medical research. Under faculty mentorship, you’ll design and carry out research projects that may explore diagnostic imaging, artificial intelligence applications, interventional procedures, or clinical imaging analysis. Participants work through each stage of the research process, from shaping hypotheses to analyzing imaging data. You’ll also attend sessions designed to introduce you to radiology residency pathways and broader career opportunities in the field.
Location: Various U.S. cities (where U.S. Bank offices are located)
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Typically 10 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: Typically fall (September – October) for the following summer
Eligibility: Students must apply for the summer before their final year of college
U.S. Bank’s 10-week internship brings you into the real workflow of a major financial institution. You will pick a track that matches your interests from credit analysis, capital markets, data analytics, product work, or investment services. From the start, you’re contributing to meaningful projects that your team relies on, not just shadowing from the sidelines. Along the way, you take part in leadership talks and workshops that help you connect classroom theory with the way banking decisions are made. The program includes mentorship from professionals across the bank and opportunities to join community and volunteer initiatives.
Location: Varies by position, available across multiple locations in the U.S.
Stipend: Paid
Dates: 8-10 weeks, all year (exact dates vary)
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Undergraduate students (exact specifications vary by position)
Crowe’s internship introduces you to client work, including analyzing data sets, mapping out processes, or supporting teams on consulting projects. You’ll be paired with coaches who help you refine your approach and understand how the work fits into a broader strategy. The summer includes events like Crowe Cares Day and plenty of chances to meet professionals across the firm, giving you a clear look at how the business operates. You’re expected to contribute from day one, and the pace reflects that. Many interns walk away with full-time offers, often with a signing bonus attached, which makes the experience both practical and career-shaping.
Location: FBI Headquarters and Field Offices Nationwide
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June–August
Application deadline: Typically closes in March
Eligibility: Must be a full-time student (undergraduate, graduate, or post-doctoral) attending a U.S.-accredited institution and not graduating before the program start date.
The FBI Honors Internship Program gives undergraduates and graduate students the chance to work alongside federal law enforcement staff on projects related to national security, intelligence, or investigative operations. As an intern, you may be placed at headquarters or in field offices in areas such as cybercrime, counterterrorism, or organized crime, depending on your skills and assignment. Assignments can involve operational support, analytical work, or technical tasks tied to ongoing investigations. Close interaction with agents and analysts helps you understand the structure of federal law enforcement. You’ll be expected to maintain confidentiality and follow security procedures throughout the experience.
Location: Across the U.S. Explore opportunities here.
Stipend: Paid
Dates: 9–10 weeks during the summer
Application deadline: Varies by role
Eligibility: Applicants must be currently pursuing a college or university degree (typically third or penultimate year of study)
Sachs’ Summer Analyst Program introduces undergraduates to the operations of a global financial institution through structured training and hands-on project work. After orientation, you’ll join teams in areas such as investment banking, asset management, global markets, or compliance. You may support deal execution, contribute to research, or assist with analysis that influences client decisions. The program combines technical instruction with exposure to high-pressure, collaborative environments. You’ll also gain a sense of how different departments interact through cross-functional projects. Mentorship and ongoing guidance help you navigate the learning curve.
Location: Multiple locations across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Exact dates vary
Application deadline: Students can contact their school recruiter for more information about application dates
Eligibility: Undergraduate and MBA students
As part of EY-Parthenon’s Associate Program, interns join strategy teams working on engagements related to growth planning, market entry, or mergers. You’ll contribute to quantitative analysis, research, and client discussions as teams build recommendations for complex business challenges. This paid internship in Chicago, IL, for college students exposes you to consulting methodologies and tools such as market modeling and AI-supported analysis. Mentorship and structured training sessions round out the experience by reinforcing core consulting skills.
Location: NCIS Headquarters and Field Offices (191 locations across 41+ countries)
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Multiple sessions offered annually - Spring (January-May), Summer (May-July), Fall (August-December); minimum 10-week commitment required for any session.
Application deadline: November 30
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled at least half-time in a bachelor’s or graduate degree program; Must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
The NCIS Honors Internship provides undergraduate and graduate students with a 10-week immersion into the investigative and forensic aspects of federal law enforcement. You’ll work with special agents and analysts on assignments involving national security, intelligence operations, cybercrime cases, or forensic evaluations. The internship is paid and follows federal employment structures, with placement tied to your academic preparation. Interns gain exposure to NCIS’s role in protecting Navy and Marine Corps personnel and assets worldwide.
Location: State agencies in Chicago or Springfield
Stipend: $2,700
Dates: 10 weeks during the summer
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Illinois residents who are college juniors, seniors, or graduate students authorized to work without employer sponsorship
The Michael J. Curry Internship places you inside a state agency for ten weeks and gives you a close look at how Illinois handles public service and policy work. You can request a placement in areas like Human Services, Public Health, or the Environmental Protection Agency, depending on what you want to study or eventually pursue. Once you’re in, the work is straightforward and real. You might be asked to analyze policy drafts, pull together research, write reports, or help with community outreach tied to ongoing state priorities. You’ll learn how agencies communicate, how decisions move through a system, and how people coordinate to push statewide projects forward.
Location: Varies by position, available across multiple locations in the U.S.
Stipend: Paid
Dates: 8-10 weeks (typically early June to mid-August)
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Rising college juniors and seniors
Alvarez & Marsal’s internship introduces undergraduates to strategic and financial consulting through project work in areas such as performance improvement and restructuring. You’ll collaborate with consultants on analyses that help businesses address operational or financial challenges. The program includes training workshops, feedback sessions, and networking opportunities to support your development. Interns are encouraged to explore different practice areas to better understand how the firm’s services intersect. You’ll contribute to client deliverables and see how recommendations are formed and refined.
Location: Fidelity regional offices across the U.S.
Stipend: Paid
Dates: 10 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: Applications open between August and September, vary by available programmes and location (register your interest here)
Eligibility: Applicants must be in the penultimate year of their degree
Fidelity’s 10-week internship drops you straight into a live investment team, whether that’s equity research, fixed income, or a multi-asset group. Your placement depends on what you’ve studied and what type of markets you want to dive into. You’ll work on assignments, breaking down companies, assessing risk, building models, and eventually presenting what you find to senior investors. The program mixes technical training with day-to-day mentoring from analysts and portfolio managers, giving you a clear view of how investment decisions are made inside a major firm. Some interns rotate across teams, which helps you see different stages of the research and investment process.
Cost: Varies by the program (financial aid available)
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 high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
The Ladder University Internship Program is an eight-week, remote-first experience built for college students who want real project work with fast-growing startups. You’re matched with a company based on your interests; it could be AI, health tech, fintech, design, consulting, or another field, and you spend the summer working on a concrete problem the team actually needs solved. That might mean building a prototype, running market research, shaping a product strategy, writing case studies, or supporting early engineering work. You meet regularly with your manager and a Ladder coach, who help you set goals and push your work toward a finished deliverable you can showcase.
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 in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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