15 Social Media Internships for College Students
- Stephen Turban
- 1 day ago
- 10 min read
College students who want a closer look at how social platforms operate can learn a lot by doing a social media internship. These internships place you inside offices where teams plan content, track what audiences respond to, and manage day-to-day communication for different organizations. By participating, you’ll pick up workplace habits and start building useful connections in the digital space.
Why should I participate in a social media internship in college?
A social media internship can help you figure out which part of the field is closest to your interests. You’ll learn if you enjoy shaping creative content, breaking down analytics, managing comments and messages, or supporting campaign planning. The projects you complete can be added to your resume, strengthening your future job applications.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 social media internships for college students!
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by the program. Financial aid is available
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’s University Internship Program is an eight-week, remote experience that connects college students and young professionals with fast-growing startups for actual project work. You’re matched with a company based on your interests, and your weekly schedule stays light enough, about five to ten hours, to fit alongside classes or other commitments. Depending on your placement, you might build a machine learning model, conduct market research, design a product prototype, or contribute to a go-to-market plan. The work is structured to give you material you can use later on your resume or portfolio. You will work closely with your manager at the startup. Apply now!
Location: Dittoe Public Relations, Indianapolis, IN (Remote option)
Stipend: Paid, amount unspecified
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: Summer, flexible schedule
Eligibility: Undergraduate students
Dittoe Public Relations Social Media Internship allows students to work in a remote or hybrid structure while gaining experience in the flow of public relations and digital media work. As an intern, you will develop social content for active accounts, observe how trends move across platforms, and study the analytics that guide client decisions. You also participate in projects that involve client communication, which helps you understand how campaigns are planned, prepared, and executed inside an agency environment. The internship accepts both part-time and full-time commitments.
Location: Smithsonian Institution, Central Smithsonian Wide Internships, Washington, DC
Stipend: $8,000–$10,000, varies by year
Application Deadline: Early March (varies slightly by year)
Dates: June 1 – August 7
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents; enrolled undergraduates with junior/senior status or within six months post-graduation; declared art history major or related field; financial need and eligibility for federal student aid; generally minimum 3.0 GPA
The Katzenberger Foundation Art History Internship is a summer program for undergraduates and recent graduates who want experience in art history, museum studies, or related fields. You will work on research, collections, and curatorial projects at Smithsonian museums and archives, preparing exhibit materials, studying collection items, and assisting with public engagement programs (which may include social media support for exhibits). You may support public affairs and social media tasks when departments need help with ongoing projects.
Location: Mission North, New York, NY, or San Francisco, CA
Stipend: $35,000 scholarship + $6,000 stipend + paid eight-week internship
Application Deadline: March 3
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer
Eligibility: BIPOC undergraduate students (rising juniors or seniors), majoring in public relations, marketing, communications, digital marketing/design, or tech-marketing; GPA 2.5+; authorized to work in the U.S.; able to work in person at Mission North’s offices
The Mission North The Future Is… Fellowship gives you an intensive summer experience if you plan to work in PR, tech communications, science communications, or digital marketing. You will support communication work for technology and science clients, which often involves helping with social media campaigns, preparing content for online platforms, and reviewing digital analytics for Mission North and its partners. You may draft posts, prepare visual material, or study engagement numbers as part of a campaign team. If you work in digital marketing or design, you focus on communication across multiple platforms and on growing audiences through steady social media work.
Location: Greenough Communications, Boston, MA
Stipend: $3,500 scholarship + paid eight-week internship ($25/hour)
Application Deadline: March 3
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer
Eligibility: BIPOC undergraduate students (rising seniors), majoring or minoring in public relations, journalism, marketing, or communications; authorized to work in the U.S.
The Greenough Fellowship offers a paid summer internship and scholarship for one BIPOC identified undergraduate entering their senior year in a communications-related field. As a fellow, you will work with the Greenough team on brand marketing, strategic communications, and content development for clients in technology, healthcare, and climate transition. Social media is part of your daily work, and you take on tasks such as drafting and scheduling posts for clients, preparing messaging that fits multiple platforms, and reviewing analytics to understand how audiences respond. You may also help shape communications for LinkedIn and Instagram, supporting both client channels and the agency’s own accounts.
Location: The Key PR, San Francisco, CA
Stipend: $10,000 scholarship + $4,000 stipend + paid eight-week internship ($20/hour)
Application Deadline: March 3
Dates: Eight weeks in the summer
Eligibility: BIPOC and/or first-generation undergraduate students (rising juniors or seniors), majoring in public relations, marketing, or communications; GPA 3.5+; authorized to work in the U.S.
The Key PR Fellowship offers a summer experience for students who want to build skills in public relations, communication strategy, and digital storytelling. You will create and schedule content for company and client accounts, contribute ideas during campaign planning, and review analytics to understand how campaigns perform. You join brainstorming sessions where you help shape brand voice and messaging for online channels, and you assist with outreach and audience interaction across social networks.
Location: HermesPR, New York, NY
Stipend: $5,000 scholarship + paid six-week internship ($18/hour)
Application Deadline: March 3
Dates: Six weeks in the summer
Eligibility: BIPOC undergraduate students (rising juniors or seniors), majoring in public relations, marketing, communications, English, liberal arts, digital marketing, journalism, public policy, business, or related fields; authorized to work in the U.S.
The HermesPR Fellowship offers a paid summer internship and a scholarship for BIPOC undergraduate students who want experience in public relations, marketing, and communications, with a focus on healthcare and technology work. You take on social media responsibilities throughout the program, which may include creating and scheduling posts, engaging with online audiences, reviewing analytics, and developing ideas that support client goals. The fellowship gives you practical digital marketing experience, including outreach and brand visibility through social channels, and introduces you to PR campaigns that combine digital and traditional communication methods.
Location: Sacramento, CA (Varies by year)
Stipend: Internship includes registration fees and hotel accommodations; travel stipends available if not local; unpaid internship
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: June 10-12
Eligibility: Enrolled college students or recent graduates aged 21+; valid passport or photo ID required
The EVMC internship program is designed for students who want experience in live entertainment and event marketing. You support the EVMC Planning Committee in daily work such as managing databases, handling registration tasks, collecting surveys, taking notes during sessions, and capturing event photography. You will assist with social networking efforts before and during the conference, help promote the event on online platforms, and may create live updates or posts while the conference is underway. The internship is unpaid, but it gives you direct access to industry professionals and useful experience in digital marketing and public relations within live entertainment.
Location: Estée Lauder Companies (U.S.-wide, including NYC opportunities)
Stipend: $25-$33 per hour
Application Deadline: October 8 (annually for next summer)
Dates: 10 weeks from June to mid-August
Eligibility: Open to current U.S. undergraduates (preference for rising seniors)
The Lauder Summer Internship Program at Estée Lauder Companies is a ten-week paid role in New York City for undergraduate juniors who want direct experience inside a global beauty business. You will work with brands such as MAC, Clinique, and Bobbi Brown on projects in marketing, product development, finance, supply chain, and digital strategy. Your assignments place you on active teams where you handle tasks that build practical skills and strengthen your resume. The program also gives you structured opportunities to connect with people across the company through workshops, meetings with senior staff, and regular mentorship.
Location: CITYarts Inc., NYC
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Stipend of $15/8 hours of work
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: Flexible
Eligibility: Students ages 18 and up, familiar with Google Suite programs, and willing to learn Trello
In the CITYarts Design Internship, you create visual materials, support social media posts, and help share information about public art projects across New York City. You will work with staff who show you how the organization develops its branding and uses digital communication in community settings. If you have experience with tools such as Photoshop or Canva, you can use those skills in daily assignments. Over the course of the internship, you develop a clearer sense of design workflows, audience outreach, and the role visual content plays in nonprofit work.
Location: CITYarts Inc., NYC
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Stipend of $15/8 hours of work
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: Flexible
Eligibility: Students familiar with Google Suite programs and willing to learn Trello
The CITYarts PR and Marketing Internship gives you experience in nonprofit communication work linked to public art. You prepare marketing materials, help manage social media posts, and assist in identifying community and partnership opportunities. You work with the Project Coordinator on brochures, videos, and outreach efforts that support CITYarts and its programs. By the end of the program, you will have built practical skills in nonprofit marketing, tasks connected to fundraising, and content creation, and you will develop a portfolio.
Location: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Stipend: Paid through NCSU student employment: up to $2,000 per academic year, or may be credit-based
Application Deadline: Unspecified (open for academic year internships)
Dates: Typically offered during the academic year; some opportunities in the summer, depending on needs
Eligibility: Enrolled undergraduate students in communication, marketing, art and design, or related fields
The NC State University Marketing and Communications Social Media Internship gives you experience in planning and carrying out social media campaigns that support the university’s brand. You take part in content ideation, development, and scheduling, and you assist with digital storytelling and visual production. The role includes supporting strategic social media work, collaborating with teams across campus, and reviewing engagement metrics to understand how audiences respond. The internship offers practical marketing experience and steady guidance from communication staff in an academic setting.
Location: Boise, ID
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Stipend of $16.50/hour
Application Deadline: Not mentioned
Dates: May – August
Eligibility: Current Boise State student
The Marketing, Promotions & Events Internship at Elemental Superfood gives you experience with brand support, event coordination, and promotional tasks. You’ll help organize pop-up events, product demos, and community activities while setting up displays and speaking with customers. Your work may also include contributing to marketing materials, assisting with partnership outreach, and supporting content used to highlight the brand. Throughout the internship, you’ll gain exposure to event logistics, retail-focused marketing, and day-to-day consumer interaction within the organic food industry.
Location: Contra Costa Community College District, primarily remote with some in-person events, CA
Cost/Stipend: $17.00 per hour + course credit
Application Deadline: Unspecified, summer start
Dates: Summer (tentatively), 10–20 hours per week with flexible scheduling
Eligibility: Current students at Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College, or Los Medanos College enrolled in a minimum of units
The Contra Costa Community College District Social Media and Marketing Internship is a paid role focused on creating social media content and supporting marketing efforts that strengthen the visibility of the college and the district. You will take photos and videos at events, edit video and audio materials, conduct virtual interviews with students and faculty, and write stories for newsletters. The role requires experience with platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Your responsibilities include managing content that promotes educational events and programs across multiple channels and using tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Outlook for coordination.
Location: Illinois State University, Normal, IL
Cost/Stipend: Unspecified
Application Deadline: April 11 (annually; reviews begin immediately after)
Dates: Academic year and summer (tentatively)
Eligibility: Declared College of Business majors in good academic standing
As a Social Media Marketing Intern with the College of Business, you will take on responsibilities to increase engagement across platforms, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Your duties will include developing weekly content themes, serving as lead content creator, especially for the COB Instagram account, writing original posts, and managing partnerships with influencers related to the College. You will contribute to creative campaigns such as video series, student blogs, and promotional content, working collaboratively in a team environment modeled after a news organization with structured content and project management. Regular performance reviews are conducted to ensure skill development and mutual benefit.
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 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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