15 Paid Psychology Internships for College Students

As a college student interested in psychology, internships are one of the best ways to see how the subject works beyond the classroom. Internships let you step into professional spaces and work on research or support professionals in a clinical setting. Paid internships make these experiences even more accessible by allowing you to focus on learning and professional growth without financial strain.

Along the way, you’ll start developing key skills in communication, analysis, and collaboration that are essential for graduate school and future careers. These experiences also help you connect with mentors who can offer insight into different areas of psychology and share advice about academic or career next steps. 

To help with your search, here are 15 paid psychology internships for college students that can strengthen your resume. 

If you are looking for paid online internships, check out our blog here.

1. Harvard Laboratory for Social Cognitive Science Summer Internship

Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Stipend: $5,000

Dates: Early June - Mid-August

Application deadline: January 23

Eligibility: Undergraduate students | Admitted students typically must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents; non-citizens are considered on a case-by-case basis, but may be ineligible based on administrative/legal regulations

Harvard’s Laboratory for Social Cognitive Science offers a structured summer internship where college students explore research connecting psychology, philosophy, and sociology. As an intern, you’ll work closely with one or two senior researchers on questions involving moral reasoning, social learning, and how people make causal judgments. Throughout the paid psychology internship for college students, you’ll be trained in advanced research methods across computational psychology, cognitive science, and philosophical theory. You’ll grow professionally by attending social events, connecting with faculty and graduate students, and joining social events designed to strengthen your research experience. Interns spend roughly 30 hours each week on site in Cambridge and receive tailored guidance on active research projects. Cohorts are intentionally small (usually between two and six students), so participants may join with varying levels of prior research experience.

2. Undergraduate Summer Internship at Columbia-WHO Center for Global Mental Health 

Location: Virtual or Columbia University, New York, NY

Stipend: Unpaid; students not receiving external funding may be eligible for a stipend of $2,000

Dates: 8 weeks beginning in June

Application deadline: January 31

Eligibility: Rising undergraduate seniors interested in pursuing careers in mental health

Columbia University, in partnership with the World Health Organization, offers an undergraduate internship focused on global mental health, blending clinical psychology with public health and medical anthropology. You’ll work on an assigned research project while collaborating with multiple mentors, including faculty and graduate students from Columbia’s Psychiatry Department, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the School of Public Health. Common research themes include access to mental healthcare, epidemiological trends, and the relationship between psychology and psychiatry in low-resource settings. With only about 15 interns selected, the experience is notably competitive. The program also includes training in data analysis, scientific writing, and oral presentation skills to help you communicate complex findings effectively. Discussions about graduate school pathways and guidance to choose the right advanced degree add to the program’s professional development component.

3. Pathways into Quantitative Aging Research (PQAR) Summer Program @ NYU

Location: NYU’s School of Global Public Health, New York, NY

Stipend: $5,000 + housing provided

Dates: June 9 – July 18

Application deadline: February 3

Eligibility: Current undergraduate students and recent college graduates who are U.S. citizens or non-citizen permanent residents

NYU’s PQAR program gives quantitatively minded college students the chance to study aging through data-driven psychological and health research. You’ll join a small cohort working on pre-defined projects related to healthcare or mental health in older populations, guided closely by graduate-student mentors. Past projects have examined issues such as neighborhood cohesion and its mental-health implications for elderly New Yorkers. This psychology internship includes coursework on advanced statistical methods commonly used in biology and epidemiology, alongside faculty lectures and professional development workshops on academic pathways and graduate school admissions. Beyond the summer itself, interns may join a year-long journal club, receive funding to attend conferences, and potentially return to the lab for continued research.

4. Rice University - Translating Research in the Psychological Sciences to the Real World Fellowship 

Location: Rice University, Houston, TX

Stipend: $4,800 plus funded housing, travel, and meal stipend

Dates: 8 weeks over the summer

Application deadline: January 6 

Eligibility: Current undergraduates in psychology or related fields planning to pursue graduate-level study 

Rice University’s fellowship brings together undergraduates interested in examining psychological questions related to social behavior, technology, and public engagement. You’ll work closely with a faculty mentor to develop a research project aligned with your academic interests; past topics have explored social mobility, political participation, personality assessment, and AI. Throughout the program, you’ll engage in discussions with Rice faculty and graduate students and attend colloquia that highlight applications of psychological theory to real-world issues. The program culminates in a conference-style presentation of your research at the end of the summer. Fellows also receive funding to attend a national psychology conference the following year, extending the program’s professional reach.

5. Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Pediatrics Summer Internship – Clinical Behavioral Health Track 

Location: Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY; some internships may follow a remote/hybrid work model

Stipend: Offered; housing and other expenses not covered

Dates: June 2 – August 8 (10 weeks); 6-week internships within this timeline are also offered in some departments (including Behavioral Health)

Application deadline: January 5

Eligibility: Current or recent undergraduates,  and high school juniors/seniors, Weill Cornell, and other medical students

Weill Cornell Medicine’s Pediatrics Summer Internship offers college students hands-on experiences across multiple medical specialties,  including an optional  Clinical Behavioral Health track for those interested in psychology. Within this placement, you’ll assist with research on children’s mental health and learn about approaches such as CBT, diagnostic tools, and Exposure and Response Prevention. This psychology internship balances research and clinical exposure – you may help with case management, observe therapy sessions, and contribute to ongoing studies. Because the Pediatrics Department includes several related practice areas, students interested in psychology may also gain relevant experience in Brain Development or Advocacy & Health Policy.

6. Biomedical Informatics and Data Science at I2DB (BIDS@I2DB) Summer Research Internship

Location: Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO

Stipend: $18/hour plus funded housing for undergraduate students without residences in the area

Dates: May 26 – July 31

Application deadline: January 15

Eligibility: Undergraduate and master’s students

Washington University’s BIDS@I2DB internship allows psychology students interested in bioinformatics or biomedical data science to participate in ongoing faculty-led projects. You’ll be matched with a mentor whose research involves psychological and behavioral data, so you can learn computational methods used in modern biomedical research. Coursework in biostatistics, informatics, and data analysis complements your project work, helping you navigate and interpret complex datasets more effectively. As the program progresses, you’ll build a conference-style poster that summarizes your findings and present it to faculty and peers. A cohort-wide retreat provides opportunities to network with investigators across the I2DB community and better understand the field of biomedical informatics.

7. Summer Internship Program at Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness  

Location: Harvard Chan School of Public Health, Cambridge, MA

Stipend: Paid

Dates: June 9 – August 15 | Students may be permitted to extend their internship on a case-by-case basis

Application deadline: February 3

Eligibility: Rising undergraduate seniors and graduate students enrolled in an American college/university, with relevant interests and academic backgrounds in public health and health equity. International students must have valid CPT/OPT authorization.

Harvard’s Chan School hosts the Center for Health and Happiness Summer Internship Program, allowing undergraduates to explore psychology through the lens of public health. Depending on your interests, you’ll join a research team at Harvard or a partner institution in the Boston area to study the intersection between physical health, social environments, and psychological well-being. Projects often address global health equity and policy questions, showing how behavioral research shapes population-level health outcomes. The internship includes meetings with faculty and public health professionals, and workshops that strengthen both research and professional skills. Networking events round out your research experience and help you consider career paths in health psychology and public health.

8. Boston College Cooperation Lab REU Summer Internship 

Location: Boston College, Boston, MA

Stipend: $6,000 stipend | Students not accepted through the NSF REU admissions process will not receive a stipend, but will be supported by BC in applications for external funding

Dates: June 3 - August 9

Application deadline: Rolling admissions, usually beginning in late winter or early spring

Eligibility: Rising sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduate students, particularly from underrepresented and/or minority groups | Talented students not meeting criteria for REU funding may be accepted 

Boston College’s Cooperation Lab brings together social and developmental psychology to look at how children understand and act in cooperation, and the NSF-funded REU program places you right in the middle of that research. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, you’ll explore questions tied to culture, evolution, and development while working with child participants. Depending on your assigned project, you may handle tasks such as running behavioral studies, analyzing quantitative and computational data, or drawing on methods from anthropology and evolutionary biology. Weekly lab meetings anchor the experience, giving you opportunities to learn about ongoing research and contribute to group discussions. You’ll also participate in workshops that strengthen your statistical and research skills and join panels designed to demystify the psychology PhD application process.

9. Undergraduate Research in Human Development & Family Sciences (OUR HDFS) Fellowship Program

Location: Texas State University School of Family and Consumer Sciences, San Marcos, TX

Stipend: $5,625 plus travel expenses and meals

Dates: October 1 - May 15 | 300 hours total; details determined with mentor

Application deadline: August 31

Eligibility: Undergraduate students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 | Applicants should be studying human development, psychology, sociology, or related fields; able to commute to campus throughout the year | Students should be attending local Texas colleges with limited STEM and psychology research opportunities 

Texas State University’s OUR HDFS Fellowship is a 25-week research experience that blends psychological, sociological, and mental-health research through long-term faculty mentorship. Over the course of the program, you’ll work closely with a professor and graduate student to design your own research project in areas such as emotional well-being across cultures, family relationships and long-term mental health, or academic development in children and adolescents. Regular lab meetings and academic seminars help you strengthen your theoretical foundation and sharpen research skills valuable for graduate school. You’ll also attend networking events that introduce you to faculty across the department and give you a clearer sense of academic career pathways. This highly selective, paid psychology internship admits only 12 students each cycle, making it an exceptional opportunity for motivated undergraduates.

10. University of Maryland College of Behavioral and Social Science Summer Internships

Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Stipend: $3,000 stipend plus funding for meals, travel to campus, housing, and activity expenses

Dates: June 2 - July 25

Application deadline: February 10

Eligibility: Current undergraduate sophomores and juniors planning to pursue a PhD in social sciences | Underrepresented groups and minoritized students are encouraged to apply in particular

The University of Maryland’s Summer Research Initiative is a two-month, mentor-based program for undergraduates interested in psychology and other behavioral and social sciences. You’ll be paired with a University faculty member whose research aligns with your interests and jointly develop a summer project that you’ll implement from start to finish. Alongside this work, you’ll receive training in interdisciplinary research methods, attend lectures on key social science topics, and engage in academic discussions with campus researchers. Graduate school preparation is a major focus, with workshops on applications, sessions on research careers, and guidance on different academic pathways. Networking events help interns build professional connections across departments, and the program concludes with a formal research presentation where you share your research findings. 

11. University of Wisconsin - Madison Psychology Research Experience Program 

Location: University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI

Stipend: $6,000 plus $2,100 for meals and fully-funded housing and travel

Dates: May 26 - August 1

Application deadline: February 15

Eligibility: Current U.S. citizens or permanent residents | Students must be rising undergraduate juniors and seniors, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and be planning to pursue a career in psychology research | Students with limited access to research opportunities are prioritized (students from low-income households, historically underrepresented groups in academia, affected by a documented disability, first-generation college students)

University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Psychology Research Experience Program (PREP) is a two-month summer internship designed for college students preparing for graduate study in psychology, with research placements across fields such as Clinical, Developmental, and Perception Psychology. You’ll partner with a faculty member whose interests align with your own and spend most of the program conducting an individualized research project. In addition to hands-on research, you’ll receive training through data science workshops, learn about advanced tools used in neuroimaging and behavioral neuroendocrinology, and tour active research facilities. Because the program is designed with future PhD applicants in mind, you’ll also receive guidance on navigating graduate admissions and meet representatives from more than 30 psychology programs at the university-wide fair. The experience culminates in a formal presentation at the PREP Symposium, followed by a networking event with faculty and fellow interns. 

12. University of Minnesota Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP)

Location: University of Minnesota

Stipend: $4,000 plus funding for travel, room, and board

Dates: May 31 - August 9

Application deadline: February 16

Eligibility: Undergraduate students at 2- or 4-year institutions interested in pursuing a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in life sciences | Underrepresented students prioritized | Applicants for the NS and NS-ADD Programs are encouraged to have taken some biology and/or chemistry courses before applying | Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents (or their territorial possessions)

The University of Minnesota’s Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP) hosts undergraduates across a range of life-science fields, including a dedicated track in neurological disorders and addiction for students interested in psychology and brain research. You’ll start with a cohort-wide introduction to neuroscience that builds a foundation in neuropsychology and clinical research before transitioning into full-time lab work. Under faculty mentorship, you’ll conduct a project in addiction science or neurological disorders while also attending seminars on research ethics, data analysis, and scientific communication. Networking events throughout the program help you connect with other researchers and explore graduate school options. The program concludes with a poster session, where you’ll present your findings to the University faculty and fellow interns. With about 60 students across six program areas, the program has an acceptance rate of roughly 16% – making it highly competitive. 

13. Laney Graduate School (LGS) - SOAR at Emory University 

Location: Emory University, Atlanta, GA, or Remote

Stipend: Unpaid (Virtual) | $5,000 stipend plus funded travel and housing (Residential)

Dates: June 2 - July 20 (Remote) | May 27 - August 1 (Residential)

Application deadline: February 3

Eligibility: Undergraduate students, not including graduating seniors, planning to attend graduate school | Virtual applicants are often current undergraduate freshmen and sophomores

Emory University’s SOAR program offers a 10-week research experience in psychology, cognitive science, and brain sciences, pairing interns with mentors at Emory or partner institutions across Atlanta. You’ll design and carry out a research project suited to your interests, working closely with faculty or professional researchers to refine your research questions and methods. You’ll join seminars and discussions about graduate school expectations, dissertation writing, and academic career pathways. You’ll also hear firsthand from graduate students about navigating advanced-degree programs and balancing research demands. The experience culminates in a written research report and a final presentation to the SOAR cohort. A less competitive online option is also available, where students explore advanced topics in small groups, led by graduate student mentors. 

14. The Ohio State University (OSU): The Language of Science and the Science of Language: Buckeye Language Network Summer Research Program 

Location: Center of Science and Industry, Columbus, OH

Stipend: Stipend of $4,800 (distributed at $600/week)

Dates: May 19 - July 11

Application deadline: January 31

Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students, especially those with limited research experience, from underrepresented backgrounds, or attending one of OSU’s regional campuses or community colleges 

The Ohio State University’s (OSU) summer program explores the interface between psychology, linguistics, sociology, and public communication, giving research and outreach opportunities to interested college students. Paired one-on-one with a faculty mentor from OSU’s Language Sciences Research Lab, you’ll explore how children acquire language, how listeners perceive regional accents, and how people process singular versus plural forms. A standout feature of the program is the outreach component at Columbus’s Center of Science and Industry (COSI), where you’ll help design interactive activities that explain language science to the public. You’ll lead sessions, host educational discussions with museum visitors, and practice explaining research to non-specialist audiences. The program also includes training in research ethics and human subjects protections, and concludes with a final presentation to OSU faculty and COSI researchers.

15. University of Missouri Scientific Study of Interpersonal Relationships Across the Lifespan 

Location: University of Missouri, Columbia, MO

Stipend: $5,400 stipend plus paid room, board, travel, and travel funds for conference attendance after the program

Dates: 9 weeks during the summer

Application deadline: February 16

Eligibility: Rising sophomore, junior, or senior undergraduates studying behavioral or social science | Underrepresented students and/or students with limited prior access to research opportunities prioritized | Applicants must be attending college in the U.S. 

The University of Missouri’s summer internship allows college students to explore how human relationships develop, evolve, and influence well-being, drawing from psychology, human development, and communication studies. Working with a faculty mentor, you’ll design a research project centered on family, romantic, or friendship dynamics and examine the factors that shape these bonds. Throughout the program, you’ll attend seminars on advanced academic topics and research techniques relevant to lifespan and communication psychology. Professional growth workshops also help you navigate academic career paths and understand what it takes to succeed in research-focused roles. This paid psychology internship concludes with a conference-style presentation where you’ll share your findings with peers and faculty. You’ll also receive funding to attend a national conference with your mentor the following year.

Bonus — Ladder University Internship Program

Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.

Cost: Varies by cohort

Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). 

Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to undergraduates and gap year students!

Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, virtual internship program where you work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup. Apply now!

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 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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