14 Public Relations Internships for College Students
- Stephen Turban
- Apr 20
- 10 min read
If you want to explore a future in public relations (PR), an internship is one of the best ways to start. PR is fast-paced, relationship-driven, and highly competitive, so employers look for candidates who understand how the industry works. Internships give you that foundation with communication projects, exposure to media strategy, and a professional network that can open doors later on.
Breaking into PR can feel intimidating at first. Many companies keep their communication work in-house, so it can be challenging to know where to look for opportunities. An internship can give you a useful preview of what PR workflows look like. Additionally, private PR firms draw heavily from their college intern pool for new talent, making internships an ideal opportunity to get your foot in the door. To make the search easier, we’ve rounded up 14 public relations internships for college students. These opportunities, spanning corporate communication teams and leading PR firms, offer strong mentorship, structured training, and experience that help you develop a job-ready PR skill-set.
Location: Remote (work from anywhere)
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; typically January, May, September, November
Eligibility: Undergraduate and gap year students able to commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, virtual internship program that connects college students with startups and nonprofits from around the world! These organizations span a variety of industries, giving students the chance to explore different fields while contributing to meaningful work. As an intern, you will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup, and present your work at the end of your internship. For students interested in Public Relations, this is a great way to dive in, as many startups look for help with PR and marketing to grow the company’s presence and engage with audiences. You’ll work closely with your manager at the startup, gaining mentorship, feedback, and hands-on experience along the way. Apply now!
Location: Boston, MA; similar internships in other office locations
Cost/Stipend: $20.36/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not provided
Dates: Typically 12 weeks; varies
Application Deadline: Rolling review
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with background in creative writing, news, and market trend analysis; prior PR or marketing internship experience; valid driver’s license required
617MediaGroup’s Public Relations & Marketing Internship program provides college students with a front-row seat at how a national PR and communications firm operates. In this role, you’ll work directly on client projects, supporting functions from publicity strategies to social media. You’ll learn about clients’ industries and priorities and work on tasks such as developing media and influencer contacts, drafting press releases, and researching speaking opportunities to boost clients’ profiles on the national stage. You’ll also help strengthen their digital presence by creating social media posts and campaigns in collaboration with the client’s account team, and keep an eye on online mentions to monitor their reputation. You’ll also gain exposure to high-level PR strategy by attending media briefings, joining team-wide calls with both 617MediaGroup staff and client leaders, and communicating with members of the press.
Location: Multiple office placements available
Cost/Stipend: Paid; varies by office; course credit option available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Number of openings varies yearly
Dates: ~8 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Experienced undergraduate and graduate students
Ketchum’s internship program gives college students an opportunity to experience public relations at a global scale, with a focus on contributing high-value work for clients and building long-term career skills. You’ll be assigned to a Ketchum account team to work with a specific client, taking on responsibilities such as drafting press materials, researching business opportunities, creating presentations for client meetings, and planning events. You’ll also attend an in-house PR training program to hone your core skills and explore the broader communications universe. The internship culminates in an internship cohort-wide Capstone Project, giving you a chance to showcase what you have learnt.
Location: A&G Public Relations, Boston, MA, and Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: $20/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not provided
Dates: Winter/Spring, Summer, and Fall options
Application Deadline: Rolling review after openings are posted
Eligibility: Undergraduate sophomores, juniors, seniors, and recent graduates
A&G’s Public Relations internship program focuses on training college students in content development and public-facing marketing campaigns. As an intern, you’ll work with national brands to shape their digital marketing and PR strategies: building relationships with media outlets and online influencers, drafting media pitches and press releases, and preparing social media content. The internship mainly centers on research, from tracking clients’ social media presence to analyzing industry-specific PR trends, and evaluating press coverage of the client. You’ll learn to build PR strategies, develop cohesive brand narratives, and create polished digital content.
Location: NYT Offices, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: $20/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: One intern selected
Dates: 10 weeks beginning June 1
Application Deadline: Rolling review
Eligibility: Undergraduate students in Communications, Public Relations, Media Relations, Project Management, Writing, or related fields
The New York Times Communications Internship is a 10-week summer opportunity for college students looking to explore public relations within a major organisation. This internship places you on the NYT Communications team as a generalist, giving you experience across research, narrative-building, social media, and press engagement. Your daily work might involve creating coverage reports, analyzing engagement data, developing media pitches, and drafting content for the NYT web pages, social media accounts, and videos. You’ll also gain experience with public engagement, including coordinating interviews in newsrooms and on the radio, responding to media inquiries, and maintaining relationships with external news outlets. You’ll gain exposure to building narrative-driven PR strategies for a major newspaper, while connecting with journalism leaders both inside and outside the Times.
Location: MSL Group offices in New York, NY; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; Atlanta, GA; Seattle, WA; Detroit, MI; Boston, MA; Washington, DC
Cost/Stipend: $20/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: June 2–August 8
Application Deadline: Rolling review
Eligibility: Rising and graduating seniors
The MSL Graduate Fellowship program is designed for new college graduates and undergraduates entering their senior year, offering a comprehensive introduction to the PR industry. You’ll learn how to build client relationships and industry-specific knowledge, with an opportunity to focus on a particular area such as Consumer Brands, Corporate Reputation, or Health, and a discipline such as Creative/Design or Digital Innovation and Strategy. Your public-facing work will include cultivating journalist and influencer relationships, managing social media accounts, and coordinating client publicity events. On the research side, you’ll track industry trends, analyze engagement data, and evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing campaigns. Over 90% of Fellows are invited to join MSL as a full-time employee, so this opportunity can serve as a direct pipeline for a PR career after graduation.
Location: Washington, DC
Cost/Stipend: $19/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: June 1–August 7
Application Deadline: December 5
Eligibility: Current undergraduate sophomores and juniors enrolled in college during the program (juniors preferred)
NBCUniversal offers public relations internships in its NBC 4 DC channel, where college students can assist the network’s News, Digital, and Community Affairs team. As an intern, you’ll help build the network’s presence both online and offline by planning community events, strengthening media partnerships, and enhancing social media engagement. Students interested in filmmaking will also assist in video content creation, including planning live shoots and editing clips for social media, apps, and the NBCUniversal website. The internship provides learning opportunities, access to NBCUniversal’s development programming, and strong networking, ranging from internal meetings and collaborations with NBC reporters to building relationships with major news outlets and influencers.
Location: CVS, Woonsocket, RI
Cost/Stipend: $25/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: May 27–August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling review from September to March
Eligibility: Undergraduate juniors and seniors studying Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, English, Business, or related fields
CVS Health’s Corporate Internship Program offers a Public Relations opportunity for undergraduates through its Media Relations placement. In this role, you’ll support external communications for one of the country’s leading healthcare companies. You’ll support collaborative teams, including senior staff members, on media relations strategies such as monitoring media, drafting press releases, and pitching news stories to journalists. Much of your work will center around CVS Health’s efforts in Community Impact, Sustainability, and Workforce Initiatives. Beyond day-to-day PR tasks, you’ll have access to personalized mentorship, workshops on professional development skills, and opportunities to meet senior leaders. Interns may also be considered for full-time roles after graduation, based on performance.
Location: Chesterfield, MO
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not provided
Dates: 10 weeks in June–August
Application Deadline: Rolling review
Eligibility: Current undergraduate or master’s students studying Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or Journalism
RGA’s undergraduate Summer Intern program offers a Public Relations pathway through its Enterprise Marketing & Communications placement, where you’ll provide PR support by managing and analysing social media communications. In the Social Media Monitoring placement, you’ll review online coverage of RGA and track potential reputation risks. Community Engagement and Content Creation tasks include managing RGA social media accounts, responding to comments, and collaboratively developing social media strategies. The Analytics and Reporting track entails more quantitative work, where you’ll analyze engagement data to evaluate the impact of various marketing campaigns. RGA offers any of its entry-level roles to former interns, so strong performance may lead to a full-time offer after graduation.
Location: Fleishman Hillard, Washington, DC
Cost/Stipend: $17.20–$22/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: One intern selected for the role
Dates: Spring, summer, and fall internship cycles
Application Deadline: Rolling review
Eligibility: Undergraduate juniors and seniors with minimum GPA 3.0
The Fleishman Hillard Public Relations Internship lets college students support client-facing projects. You’ll be placed in a practice area, such as Brand Marketing, Public Affairs, and Corporate Reputation, and work under the guidance of a department manager. You’ll begin the internship by learning about the industries supported within your practice group, and develop skills in PR research, media writing, media relations, and strategic communications planning. During the internship, you’ll take on assignments such as monitoring media coverage, analyzing survey and engagement data, contributing to client business and PR proposals, drafting press releases and talking points, and developing social media content for clients. Fleishman Hillard also offers a post-graduation Research Internship for students looking to continue their PR experience.
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Cost/Stipend: $19/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Mid-to-late January–April 24 (flexible end dates)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising undergraduate juniors and seniors currently enrolled in college; prior PR or social media experience preferred; rising seniors and recent graduates also eligible
Sony Pictures’ Game Show Network hosts college students for public relations internships with a strong focus on social media strategy. In this role, you’ll help promote Sony’s current and upcoming shows by crafting social media posts, sourcing engaging clips, and applying PR tactics to build public interest. On the analytical side, you’ll track social media analytics and evaluate the effectiveness of different marketing strategies. You’ll also take on more advanced responsibilities, such as developing pitches for new marketing and PR campaigns and planning press visits. The program provides rich networking opportunities ranging from meeting with TV show producers, hosts, and participants, speaking with journalists from news outlets, and collaborating with department leaders across a major media group.
Location: National Immigration Forum, Washington, DC
Cost/Stipend: $50/month
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: One intern
Dates: Not provided; likely flexible
Application Deadline: Rolling review beginning in November
Eligibility: High school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students
For college students interested in both public relations and social advocacy, The Communications Network offers internships focused on public messaging around immigrant advocacy for both the media and the general public. You’ll work with the Strategic Communications team to develop outreach strategies for national, state, and local media outlets. You’ll craft public statements on behalf of the organization, including pitching and developing stories for the daily newsletter, drafting summaries on breaking news related to immigration, and writing blog posts. You’ll also work on building strategic connections with the media, including building databases on news contacts and expanding media lists, and helping develop messaging guides. If you’re passionate about issues affecting refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrant populations, this internship will allow you to combine your advocacy interests with hands-on PR experience.
Location: Under Armour, Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: Paid; relocation assistance included
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 12 weeks in summer
Application Deadline: Rolling review
Eligibility: Current undergraduate juniors and graduate students
Under Armour’s Marketing and Communications Internship program offers college students the chance to gain hands-on experience in public relations through placements in Brand Marketing Communications. In this program, you’ll support communication and marketing projects that strengthen Under Armour’s reputation and industry presence. In the Communications placement, you’ll support external communications and public engagement, with assignments focused on developing cohesive brand narratives and shaping how the company presents itself to the public. In the Brand Marketing track, you’ll work on projects related to acquisitions, event planning, and operations, with the option to focus specifically on PR and Communications strategy. The program includes strong professional development support, such as one-on-one guidance from a personal mentor, Q&A sessions with company executives, and meetings with talent advisors to help you plan your career path. Other placement options include Content Creation, Sports Marketing, and Social Media.
Location: Boiron, Newtown Square, PA
Cost/Stipend: Not provided
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: One internship position
Dates: Not provided; may be flexible; contact HR for details
Application Deadline: Rolling review
Eligibility: Current undergraduate and graduate students studying Public Relations, Marketing, Communications, or related fields
Boiron’s Public Relations Internship allows you to support media relations, marketing, and digital content development, with a focus on homeopathic medications. You’ll help coordinate communications strategies by researching strategic media and influencer collaborations, creating media pitches, and assembling press material. On the technical side, you’ll manage the brand’s CRM database, analyzing engagement metrics, and overseeing online media assets. You’ll also create a range of communication material, such as social media posts, press releases, blog posts, and mailings, for both media outlets and the general public. The internship places a strong emphasis on skill building across technical tools, outreach strategies, and relationship building, preparing you for a wide range of PR career paths.
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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