15 Summer Internships in 2026 for College Students
- Stephen Turban
- 20 minutes ago
- 13 min read
If you're looking to gain professional experience during college, a summer internship can help you explore potential career paths while building skills. Opportunities are available across fields such as business, engineering, technology, healthcare, finance, media, public policy, and the sciences, allowing you to apply your academic knowledge in professional settings. Internships also provide opportunities to work with experienced professionals, expand your network, and better understand the day-to-day responsibilities of different careers.
Why should I do a summer internship in college?
Summer internships give you the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects while learning how organizations operate in your field of interest. Depending on the role, you might conduct research, analyze data, develop technical solutions, support business operations, create marketing materials, assist with engineering or design projects, or collaborate with cross-functional teams under the guidance of experienced professionals. These experiences can help you strengthen your technical and professional skills, prepare for future job opportunities, and make more informed decisions about your career goals.
To help with your search, below is a list of 15 summer internships in 2026 for college students.
If you’re looking for remote internships, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These 15 internships span consulting, technology, finance, media, aerospace, entertainment, international development, sports business, and retail, so students with a wide range of academic backgrounds and career interests can find a relevant opportunity.
Several internships offer strong compensation, including Amazon ($110,500 to $160,000 annual equivalent), Morgan Stanley (~$52 to $53 per hour), Netflix ($40 to $110 per hour), NBA ($26 to $28 per hour for undergraduates), and SpaceX (paid), making them highly competitive for students building early professional experience.
Many programs are structured as pipelines to full-time roles, including McKinsey, Amazon, Morgan Stanley, and SpaceX, which frequently convert strong interns into full-time offers after graduation.
Programs vary significantly in focus and format, from project-based consulting experiences, such as McKinsey and Amazon, to community-oriented programs, such as Bank of America Student Leaders, to global development roles, such as World Bank Group Pioneers, so students should choose based on their career interests and academic background.
Several programs have fall application deadlines for summer internships, including Home Depot (September 15 to October 31), Dow Jones News Fund (November 5), and NBA (October to December), so students should begin preparing applications at the start of the academic year.
Location: Remote and in-person options available
Cost/Stipend: Varies | Some paid opportunities available
Dates: Flexible | Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students
Ladder Internships connects undergraduates with real internship placements at companies across a wide range of industries. You'll work on live projects, gain professional experience, and build your resume with tangible work samples. The program also includes mentorship, professional development sessions, and guidance on navigating career paths after college. Ladder has placed students at startups, nonprofits, and established companies across the US and internationally.
Location: McKinsey & Company, Global Offices (e.g., Sao Paulo, Brazil; New York, NY)
Cost/Stipend: Paid (Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package)
Dates: Typically 8–10 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Varies by office and recruiting cycle
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with expected graduation between July and December of the following year
As a summer business analyst intern, you will function as a fully integrated member of a client-facing consulting team consisting of three to five professionals. Your responsibilities include gathering complex data, testing various hypotheses, and formulating strategic recommendations to address the most pressing challenges of global organizations. You can expect to engage in hands-on projects such as building detailed financial models, conducting client interviews, and participating in site visits to gain industry-specific insights. The program emphasizes high-level mentorship, providing you with a professional development manager and a senior colleague to guide your career growth. To conclude the experience, you will often have the opportunity to present your findings directly to client management, demonstrating the real-world impact of your work.
Location: Global opportunities including Seattle, WA; New York, NY; and the Bay Area, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid (Salary varies by role and location; e.g., $110,500–$160,000 USD annual equivalent)
Dates: Typically 10–12 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling (Early applications encouraged | Varies by role)
Eligibility: Rising seniors or graduate students with at least one semester remaining after the internship
As a participant in this program, you will own a high-impact project from start to finish, ensuring your contributions have a tangible effect on millions of customers worldwide. These summer internships offer roles across diverse sectors, including software development, financial analysis, and fulfillment operations. You will be paired with a dedicated mentor and manager who provide consistent coaching to help you translate your academic knowledge into professional results. Throughout the summer, you may conduct technical code reviews, participate in daily stand-ups, and attend various networking events designed to help you integrate into the company culture. The experience often culminates in a final presentation of your project to team stakeholders, which may lead to a full-time offer upon graduation.
Location: The Home Depot Corporate Headquarters, Atlanta, GA (Virtual options may be available)
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Dates: May 18–July 31
Application Deadline: September 15–October 31
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited college or university
During this award-winning 11-week program, you will be embedded within fast-paced teams to work on immersive projects that directly influence the operations of a Fortune 50 company. They offer pathways across diverse functional areas, including cybersecurity, software development, data analytics, and project management. You will be challenged to own a specific project from its initial conception to its final execution, allowing you to apply your classroom theories to complex retail challenges. The program structure includes dedicated time for networking and professional development, featuring exclusive sessions where you can meet with executive leadership to learn valuable leadership lessons. Furthermore, you will receive coaching in essential soft skills, such as emotional intelligence and effective communication, to ensure you are well prepared for your future career.
Location: Comedy Central, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Paid (amount varies)
Dates: Approximately June–August (Standard summer session)
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students with an interest in television production
By participating in this production-focused program, you will gain comprehensive insight into the daily operations of a legacy late-night television show. You will collaborate with various departments, such as Talent, Post-Production, Field, and Audience, to understand how a broadcast is constructed from the ground up every day. Because the program considers interns to be the backbone of the production team, you will be expected to handle serious responsibilities in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment. This internship provides a unique look at the intersection of media, politics, and comedy. Throughout the semester, you will observe the collaborative effort required to produce topical content on a demanding schedule, building a professional foundation in the entertainment industry.
Location: Various host newsrooms across the United States
Cost/Stipend: Paid (Minimum $525 weekly salary plus a $1,500 tuition scholarship)
Dates: May 15–August 15 (Includes a one-week residency and 10–12 week internship)
Application Deadline: November 5 (Test deadline: November 9)
Eligibility: College sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students enrolled full-time | Approximately 80–90 interns per year
This program offers specialized tracks in data journalism, multiplatform editing, and audience engagement, providing you with a rigorous entry point into the media industry. Before reporting to your assigned newsroom, you will participate in an immersive, all-expenses-paid residency program to sharpen specific skills like SEO best practices, FOIA requests, or visual design. As a working journalist, you will apply these techniques at leading news organizations to produce high-quality content on deadline while digging into government records or managing social media strategy. The experience is designed to bridge the gap between student journalism and professional standards through hands-on reporting and mentorship. Participants also benefit from one-year memberships to professional journalism organizations, further expanding their professional network during their summer internship.
Location: Various NASA Centers (e.g., Johnson Space Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Kennedy Space Center)
Cost/Stipend: Paid (Stipend amounts are based on academic level and session duration)
Dates: Typically 10 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: February 26
Eligibility: U.S. full-time or part-time students (undergraduate to graduate) with a minimum 3.0 GPA | Must be 16 years old at time of application
Participating in this program allows you to contribute directly to the agency’s mission of advancing space exploration, aeronautics, and science. You will engage in short-term, hands-on projects, working alongside NASA experts and mentors to build essential technical and professional skills. These summer internships for college students are open to a broad range of majors, including both STEM and non-STEM fields such as communications and accounting. Throughout the ten weeks, you might support the Artemis mission, assist in atmospheric research, or develop user interfaces for rover operations. The experience is designed to strengthen your career readiness and provide high-level exposure to the nation's workforce pipeline, often culminating in the chance to present your project results to agency leadership.
Location: Nike World Headquarters, Beaverton, or Memphis, TN, or Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Paid (Includes competitive salary and potential relocation or housing support)
Dates: Approximately June–August (Standard summer duration)
Application Deadline: Applications generally open in the fall and are reviewed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students
At Nike, internships are structured as high-impact roles where you are treated as a full member of the team rather than an observer. You will tackle real-world business challenges across departments such as digital product creation, global marketing, supply chain innovation, or footwear design. The program includes an exclusive speaker series featuring insights from Nike executives and professional athletes, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the sports industry. Beyond your core assignments, you will have access to professional development workshops and fitness facilities. These summer internships also offer extensive networking opportunities through social events and community initiatives, helping you build a foundation for a potential full-time career with the brand.
Location: Morgan Stanley Global Headquarters, New York, NY (and other major financial hubs)
Cost/Stipend: Paid (Summer Analyst base pay is approximately $52–$53 per hour; Summer Associate roles typically receive a higher pro-rated salary)
Dates: Typically 10 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by division and location
Eligibility: Undergraduates (Analysts) or MBA/Graduate students (Associates) graduating between December 2026 and June 2027
As an intern at Morgan Stanley, you will be placed in a high-intensity environment where you contribute to live transactions and strategic projects across divisions such as Investment Banking, Wealth Management, and Technology. The program begins with an intensive week of training that covers firm-wide orientation and technical skills necessary for your specific business unit. You will work alongside senior professionals to perform financial modeling, conduct market research, or develop proprietary software, gaining a thorough understanding of the global financial markets. Throughout the summer, you will participate in a structured mentorship program and attend exclusive networking events and speaker series with firm leadership. Morgan Stanley’s summer internships provide a holistic professional experience and often serve as the primary pipeline for full-time analyst and associate positions upon graduation.
Location: Various sites including Hawthorne, CA; Starbase, TX; and Redmond, WA
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Dates: May–August (Minimum 12-week duration)
Application Deadline: Rolling (Recruitment occurs over a six-month period)
Eligibility: Currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students | U.S. citizenship or permanent residency required due to ITAR regulations
Participating in this rigorous program offers you the opportunity to work on the actual design, development, and testing of spaceflight hardware alongside full-time engineers. Unlike many traditional student roles, you will be given significant responsibility and expected to contribute directly to the goal of making humanity multi-planetary. These summer internships in 2026 for college students emphasize hands-on project experience and often select candidates who have demonstrated leadership in extracurricular engineering groups or technical competitions. You might find yourself assisting with launch operations at Cape Canaveral, coding software for satellite constellations in Redmond, or manufacturing rocket components in Hawthorne. The experience is designed to be an immersive professional trial, providing you with invaluable technical insights that cannot be replicated in a typical classroom setting.
Location: Los Gatos, CA, or Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Paid ($40–$110 per hour based on total compensation philosophy)
Dates: May–August (Minimum 12-week duration)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis (Recruiting season typically ends in March)
Eligibility: Enrolled students pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree
Participating in a Netflix internship immerses you in a unique corporate culture defined by high levels of autonomy and the freedom to innovate. You will be fully embedded within a specific team, working on technical or creative projects that directly impact how global audiences consume entertainment. While many opportunities focus on engineering, data science, and streaming algorithms, the program also offers pathways in content, marketing, and finance. Throughout the summer, you will collaborate with innovators and receive high-level mentorship to solve complex challenges, such as optimizing video compression and enhancing content personalization. The experience is designed to mirror the actual full-time work environment at Netflix, often requiring you to demonstrate strong behavioral and technical alignment during the multi-round interview process.
Location: Washington, DC, and various global country offices
Cost/Stipend: Paid (Competitive hourly salary)
Dates: May–August (Standard Spring/Summer cycle)
Application Deadline: January–February (Summer Cycle)
Eligibility: Final-year undergraduate students or current master's/PhD students who are citizens of a WBG member country
By joining the WBG Pioneers, you will participate in the World Bank Group’s premier internship program, designed to provide structured learning and practical experience in global development. You will contribute directly to ongoing workstreams across fields such as economics, public health, urban planning, and private-sector development. This summer internship offers a global work environment where you collaborate with seasoned professionals to understand the mechanics of designing and delivering impactful projects. Beyond technical assignments, you will receive dedicated mentorship to help you build a professional foundation in international finance and corporate support functions like accounting or information technology. The selection process is rigorous, requiring you to demonstrate a strong commitment to the organization's mission through your academic transcripts and a focused personal statement.
Location: Local nonprofit organizations in eligible program locations
Cost/Stipend: Paid ($17/hour or local minimum wage; includes all-expenses-paid summit)
Dates: June–July (Six-week duration)
Application Deadline: February 9–March 16
Eligibility: Students with a high school diploma earned within the last 24 months and 12–18 post-secondary credit hours | Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application | Approximately 300 students annually
This community-oriented program connects you with a local nonprofit organization to gain practical workforce experience while developing critical leadership skills. You will spend six weeks working at least 35 hours per week on projects that address local community needs, such as economic mobility or youth employment. A core component of the experience is the three-day Leadership Summit in June, where you will join peers from across the country to explore how the public and private sectors collaborate for social change. This program emphasizes civic engagement, requiring you to demonstrate active involvement in volunteering or community service. Upon completion, you will have gained a deeper understanding of nonprofit management and a professional network of community-minded peers and Bank of America leaders.
Location: NBA League Offices, New York, NY, and Secaucus, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Paid ($26–$28 per hour for undergraduates; $35 per hour for graduate students)
Dates: June–mid-August (10-week duration)
Application Deadline: October–December (Video interviews in early December)
Eligibility: Rising college seniors or current graduate students in excellent academic standing
The NBA Summer Internship offers you a comprehensive look into the business of professional basketball through a structured 10-week immersion. You will be assigned to a specific business area, such as Team Marketing & Business Operations, Global Strategy, or Technical Operations, where you will contribute to high-priority league initiatives. The program kicks off with a two-day orientation designed to teach you the history of the league and equip you with the tools needed for a successful summer. Throughout the experience, you will attend exclusive fireside chats with top executives and participate in a professional development curriculum tailored to your academic level. This internship also provides unique access to premier events like the NBA Draft and WNBA games, fostering a strong sense of community and culture within your cohort.
Location: Spotify Offices in New York, NY; London, UK; or Stockholm, Sweden
Stipend: Paid
Dates: June–August (10-week duration)
Application Deadline: Typically closes in mid-winter (Notification by mid-April)
Eligibility: Students in their penultimate or graduating year of an Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD program, or those in bootcamp certifications
Spotify’s Global Summer Internship Program offers opportunities across engineering, product, design, business, marketing, finance, and other teams. You work on projects that support Spotify’s products and services while collaborating with experienced professionals across the company. In addition to project work, you attend onboarding sessions, professional development workshops, networking events, and intern community activities designed to encourage collaboration across teams. The program provides you with practical industry experience while exposing you to the company’s product development and business operations. If you are seeking summer internships in the technology and digital media industries, consider Spotify as a competitive option.
Frequently asked questions
What summer internships are available for college students in 2026?
Options include consulting internships, such as McKinsey Summer Business Analyst, technology internships, such as Amazon, Netflix, and SpaceX, finance internships, such as Morgan Stanley, media and journalism internships, such as The Daily Show and Dow Jones News Fund, government and space internships, such as NASA OSTEM, international development internships, such as World Bank Group Pioneers, sports business internships, such as NBA, and flexible startup placements, such as Ladder Internships.
Which 2026 summer internships offer the highest compensation?
Amazon offers an annual equivalent of $110,500 to $160,000, Netflix pays $40 to $110 per hour, Morgan Stanley pays approximately $52 to $53 per hour for summer analysts, NBA pays $26 to $28 per hour for undergraduates, and Dow Jones pays a minimum of $525 per week plus a $1,500 tuition scholarship. SpaceX and McKinsey are also paid at competitive rates.
Which summer internships are best for students interested in STEM or engineering?
Students interested in STEM might consider NASA OSTEM for hands-on research at NASA centers, SpaceX for direct work on spaceflight hardware and launch operations, Amazon for software development and data analytics roles, and Boeing or FAA (listed in other Lumiere content) for aerospace engineering and aviation safety opportunities.
Are there summer internships open to non-STEM majors?
Yes, several programs actively recruit non-STEM students. NASA OSTEM accepts communications and accounting majors, McKinsey recruits across all academic disciplines, Dow Jones focuses on journalism and media, Bank of America Student Leaders is open to students across fields, World Bank Group Pioneers recruits economics, public health, and urban planning students, and NBA internships include business, marketing, and operations tracks.
When should I apply to summer internships for college students in 2026?
Several programs have fall deadlines, including Home Depot (September 15 to October 31), NBA (October to December), and Dow Jones (November 5). NASA OSTEM closes February 26, Bank of America Student Leaders closes March 16, and The Daily Show closes March 30. Amazon, SpaceX, Netflix, and Ladder Internships accept rolling applications, so students should begin applying as early as possible, ideally at the start of the fall semester.
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.