11 Paid Online Internships for College Students
- Stephen Turban
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
If you are a college student eager to develop your skills, gain practical experience, and build a competitive profile—all while earning a solid sum for your efforts—this list is for you. The paid online internships below offer accessible hands-on learning to help you explore various fields of interest and provide early exposure to potential career paths. Beyond practical experience in a field of your choice, these programs offer financial incentives, making them highly competitive and prestigious additions to your portfolio and resume.
Plus, a paid internship is a financially accessible way to explore a field in depth before your graduate!
Here’s a list of 11 paid online internships that college students can apply to!
Location: Online.
Stipend: Interns receive a stipend.
Dates: Internships are offered year-round.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship.
Eligibility: College students enrolled at least part-time in an academic institution are eligible to apply.
The American Psychological Association (APA) offers fully remote internships in select states. As an intern, you will explore the diverse applications of psychology and gain insights into non-traditional career pathways in fields such as research, policy, communications, financial services, and operations. The program provides comprehensive support, including workshops on resume and cover letter writing, guidance for university applications, and opportunities for research and networking. Through mentorship and collaboration with supervisors, you will build a robust professional network to support your career development.
2. UNICEF
Location: Online internships are available.
Stipend: Interns receive a monthly stipend.
Dates: Internships are offered year-round. The program typically runs between six and twenty-six weeks.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship.
Eligibility: College students who are at least 18 years old and enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or PhD programme, or have graduated within the past two years are eligible to apply.
The UNICEF Internship Programme presents a global opportunity for college students to gain operational experience in a range of professional fields while fulfilling academic requirements. As an intern, you will engage in hands-on learning within the humanitarian sector, contributing meaningfully to UNICEF's mission while enhancing your academic and professional trajectory. This experience not only broadens your perspective but also equips you with skills that foster career growth and personal development.
3. Google
Location: Online internships are available.
Stipend: Interns receive a stipend. A housing stipend is also provided.
Dates: Internships are offered year-round.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship.
Eligibility: College students are eligible to apply.
Google internships provide a gateway to work across diverse teams, such as software engineering, business, legal, user experience, and more. These programs are designed to immerse you in real-world projects, allowing you to develop skills within a global organization renowned for its innovation. By participating, you will gain access to the expansive Google network, opening doors to potential long-term opportunities at the company. Internships span several sectors, enabling you to align your interests and career goals with cutting-edge projects.
Location: Online.
Stipend: Interns receive a stipend depending on the host organization.
Dates: The internship typically runs for 12 weeks in the summer.
Application Deadline: April 1.
Eligibility: College students are eligible to apply.
The CIEE Virtual Global Internship connects you with international companies and organizations, enabling remote work on real-world projects. You can select from industries such as business development, environmental advocacy, technology, marketing, or policy, tailoring the experience to your interests and career aspirations. This 12-week program emphasizes professional skill-building, cross-cultural exchange, and collaborative problem-solving in virtual work environments. It is an ideal platform for developing global perspectives and enhancing your resume with international experience.
Location: Online.
Stipend: Interns receive a stipend sometimes.
Dates: The program typically begins in September and runs for the duration of the academic year.
Application Deadline: February 29.
Eligibility: College students are eligible to apply.
The Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) offers U.S. college students the chance to contribute to federal agencies through virtual internships. Since 2009, over 10,000 interns have provided support in areas such as policy research, data visualization, and digital content development. The program requires a commitment of approximately ten hours per week during the academic year. Some internships qualify for academic credit as well, providing a meaningful way to gain professional experience while supporting public service initiatives.
Location: Online.
Stipend: Interns receive a stipend ranging from $42 per hour to $58 per hour.
Dates: The internship typically runs for 12 weeks between May/June - August/September.
Application Deadline: April 1.
Eligibility: College students who are currently enrolled full-time in a 4-year bachelor degree program and returning to the program after the completion of the internship and have experience with programming are eligible to apply.
As an Atlassian intern, you will immerse yourself in a global environment, collaborating with subject matter experts and leaders while working on impactful projects. Your experience will include insightful seminars, hands-on learning opportunities, and engagement with cutting-edge technology, positioning you for a successful future with Atlassian. As a Software Engineer intern, you will help develop software, craft sophisticated JavaScript, or build mobile applications.
7. NoDesk
Location: Online.
Stipend: Interns receive a stipend.
Dates: Internships are offered year-round.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship.
Eligibility: College students are eligible to apply.
NoDesk offers a comprehensive online platform connecting college students with remote internships across diverse sectors. These opportunities provide valuable real-world experience in fields such as operations, marketing, software development, and customer service. As an intern, you may work on technological initiatives for multinational teams or assist startups in dynamic environments. Non-technical roles such as project management, sales, and customer success are also available.
Location: Online internships are available.
Stipend: Interns receive a stipend.
Dates: The program typically runs for 10-12 weeks in the summer.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: College students are eligible to apply.
Ford’s Summer Intern Program provides you with hands-on, career-specific experiences, allowing you to collaborate with professionals across the business while connecting with leadership. This internship serves as a platform to explore career opportunities through the Ford College Graduate Program and gain exposure to the company’s operations. Throughout the internship, you will work on impactful projects, participate in networking opportunities, and gain lifelong insights. Exceptional performance and alignment with Ford’s business needs may even lead to an offer for full-time employment.
Location: Online option is available.
Stipend: Stipend ranges between $44,000 - $130,000.
Dates: May 27 - August 15 | June 9 - August 29.
Application Deadline: November 26.
Eligibility: Upcoming graduates of a technical degree or certification program from a Technical Boot Camp, Apprenticeship, Community College, or 4-Year University are eligible to apply. Click here for more requirements.
As a Cisco Meraki intern, you will join the test automation team, working on a range of testing projects for cloud-managed products. From nightly feature tests to performance evaluations, you will help ensure quality across products used in over a million networks, impacting tens of millions of users worldwide. You will contribute to the development of Cisco Meraki’s intuitive automation framework, a critical tool used across the software engineering team. Your work will directly influence the success of the business, emphasizing quality and scalability in Cisco’s large-scale operations.
Location: Online option is available.
Stipend: Stipend ranges between $33,500 - $37,000.
Dates: June - August.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Eligibility: College students enrolled full-time and pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited college/university and majoring in Information Technology, Network Systems, Cyber Security, or related major are eligible to apply.
Mr. Cooper Group’s summer internship program offers a unique opportunity to gain real-world experience at a leading financial services organization. You will address innovative business challenges, collaborate within a dynamic team, and build lasting relationships with managers and mentors. As an Information Security intern, you will gain hands-on experience with advanced cybersecurity tools while working on impactful projects. The program is designed to immerse you in Mr. Cooper’s collaborative culture, providing both industry insights and professional growth opportunities.
Location: Online options are available.
Stipend: Interns receive a stipend.
Dates: The program typically runs for 12 weeks.
Application Deadline: Internships are offered year-round.
Eligibility: College students pursuing an undergraduate degree in Finance, Economics, Business and related fields are eligible to apply.
Nationwide’s internship program is crafted to prepare you for a successful professional career. Over 12 weeks, you will work on meaningful business projects with real-world impact while developing essential leadership skills. Beyond your day-to-day responsibilities, you will engage in volunteer activities, interact with company executives, and experience Nationwide’s award-winning culture. This program fosters an environment that encourages growth, challenge, and professional excellence.
Bonus - Ladder Internship Program
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 Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious college students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
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.
Image Source - Ladder Internship Program logo