Lori Meadows
Internships are a great way for university students to gain experience and skills in their desired industry. While some internships are unpaid, offering only work experience, others provide a wage or stipend. According to a 2023 Gallup survey, 41% of US college students complete internships while pursuing their bachelor's degrees. However, this number varies, with first-generation college students reporting a 27% participation rate. Students pursuing humanities and social sciences internships saw a 26.3% increase in employability compared to their non-intern counterparts. While internships provide valuable opportunities, they can also be challenging to secure, with three in ten bachelor's students citing difficulty in obtaining one.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of university students who intern | 41% or 4 out of 10 |
| Percentage of first-generation college students who intern | 27% |
| Percentage of students in public colleges and universities who intern | 36% |
| Percentage of students who face difficulty in finding internships | 23% |
| Percentage of students who cannot afford an internship | 20% |
| Percentage of students who cannot intern due to relocation issues | 17% |
| Percentage of students who are not interested in interning | 25% |
| Percentage of students who intern and receive a salary | 60% |
| Average hourly wage of interns | $20.82 |
| Percentage of internships that are unpaid | 40% |
| Percentage of students who intern and receive academic credit | 57.6% |
| Percentage of students who want to intern but cannot | 66% |
| Percentage of students who complete more than one internship | 50% |
| Percentage of students who intern in 2021 | 21.5% |
| Percentage of students who will not participate in an internship | 12% |
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What You'll Learn
41% of US college students have interned
According to a Gallup survey, 41% of US college students have completed internships while working on their bachelor's degrees. This figure includes students from various backgrounds and institutions, and the survey received responses from 2,430 students pursuing bachelor's degrees at different types of colleges and universities.
The survey also revealed that internship participation rates vary among different groups of students. For example, first-generation college students, whose parents have not completed a degree, reported a lower participation rate of 27%. Similarly, students attending public colleges and universities had a slightly higher rate of 36%. These differences in participation rates may be due to the challenges that students from diverse backgrounds face in accessing internships.
The survey highlights that one of the main challenges for bachelor's students is securing an internship, with three out of ten students facing difficulties. This could be due to the competitive nature of the internship application process, especially in prestigious companies or industries. Additionally, students may struggle with finding internships that align with their interests or face practical barriers such as the need for higher pay or relocation.
Despite the challenges, internships play a crucial role in career development and employability. Students who complete internships gain valuable workforce experience and explore different career paths. According to Gallup, graduates with relevant internships during their studies are more than twice as likely to secure a good job immediately after graduation. Furthermore, internships can boost an intern's chances of staying with the company, as indicated by research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
While the 41% internship participation rate among US college students showcases the value of these opportunities, it also underscores the need to ensure equitable access for all interested students. Colleges and universities can play a vital role in bridging this gap by providing resources, guidance, and support to help students navigate the internship landscape successfully.
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First-generation students report a 27% participation rate
Internships play a crucial role in providing students with valuable workforce experience and the opportunity to explore jobs and industries while seeking fulfilling career paths. However, not all students have equal access to internships. First-generation college students, defined as those whose parents did not earn degrees, face lower participation rates compared to their peers. With a reported 27% internship participation rate, first-generation students encounter significant barriers to accessing these opportunities.
Several factors contribute to the lower internship participation rate among first-generation college students. One of the primary challenges is the difficulty in obtaining internships. The competition for internships has intensified, especially with the economic uncertainties affecting the job market. Gen Z internship seekers are sending out more applications, and companies are witnessing a surge in the number of applications received. This increased competition makes it harder for first-generation students to secure internships, especially in industries like technology, finance, and consulting, which are hiring fewer interns.
Practical barriers also play a role in the lower participation rate among first-generation students. Many students, including those from lower-income backgrounds, face financial constraints that make it challenging to take on unpaid internships or cover relocation expenses. Additionally, students across all types of institutions struggle with finding internships that align with their interests, further contributing to the disparity in participation rates.
To address these disparities, higher education institutions should strive to create more equitable pathways for first-generation students to access internships. This includes ensuring that students have ready access to relevant internship opportunities and providing support to overcome financial and logistical barriers. By fostering greater accessibility, institutions can help level the playing field and enable first-generation students to benefit from the valuable experience that internships offer.
While the 27% participation rate highlights the challenges faced by first-generation college students, it is important to recognize that internships are not the only pathway to career success. Other opportunities, such as cooperative education programs or co-ops, can provide valuable work experience and enhance employability. Additionally, career centers at colleges and universities can offer financial support and guidance to students navigating the internship landscape, helping to increase their chances of securing meaningful opportunities.
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Interns are mostly students, with seniors being the largest group
Internships are a great way to kickstart one's career, and they are mostly taken up by students. In the US, internships are common among college students, with seniors being the largest group. While internships are not limited to students, and anyone may intern to gain experience or explore a career change, the average age of interns in America is 17 years old. This suggests that high school students or college freshmen make up a significant portion of interns.
According to a web survey conducted in March 2023, 41% of college students in the US had completed internships while pursuing their bachelor's degrees. This figure represents a slight increase from the previous year, when 36% of college students interned. The survey also revealed that first-generation college students, whose parents had not earned degrees, reported a lower participation rate of 27%. Additionally, students at public colleges and universities had a lower internship rate of 36%.
The benefits of internships are well-documented. More than 80% of students who have completed internships say the experience influenced their preferences for industries and job roles. Around 54% of interns stated that the experience helped them gain confidence in their career goals, and 56% found it essential for progress. Furthermore, 26% were inspired to set new career goals. Internships provide valuable workforce experience and allow students to explore different career paths. They can also lead to higher salaries after graduation, with interns earning $15,000 more on average than non-interns.
Despite the advantages, securing an internship can be challenging. Three in ten bachelor's students have not had an internship, citing difficulties in obtaining one as the primary barrier. Some students face practical obstacles such as the need for higher pay or the requirement to relocate. Others struggle to find internships that align with their interests. To address these challenges, higher education institutions should strive to provide equal access to relevant internship opportunities and reduce the barriers currently hindering many students.
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60% of internships are paid, with an average hourly wage of $20.82
According to various sources, around four in ten college students in the US have completed internships while working on their bachelor's degrees. This equates to around 40% of students, with some sources giving a figure of 41% and others, 47%. However, it's important to note that these statistics may not include students from private for-profit colleges due to sample size reasons.
While internships are often seen as a valuable step in a student's career, there are several barriers that prevent many from accessing them. For instance, three in ten bachelor's students who have not had an internship cite the difficulty in obtaining one as a primary barrier. This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as not knowing how to find internships, having a heavy course load, or insufficient pay. Additionally, 23% of students say it is hard to find an internship that interests them, 20% cannot afford to take on an unpaid internship, and 17% cannot relocate for an internship.
Despite these challenges, internships have proven to be beneficial for those who secure them. According to CNBC, 60% of interns are paid, receiving an average hourly wage of $20.82. This figure is supported by various sources, including NACE's 2022 Internship & Co-op Survey Report, which reported the same average hourly wage for interns and co-ops in the 2020-21 academic year. While the average hourly wage for interns increased only slightly from the previous year, it was a significant jump from the average wage paid in 2018-19.
The availability of paid internships and the associated compensation vary across sectors. For example, finance, accounting, and IT internships have the highest hourly mean pay, with finance interns earning an average of $30.61 per hour, accounting interns earning $22.93, and IT interns making $22.68. On the other hand, unpaid internships are most common in social services. While unpaid internships are still legal, there are specific parameters that must be met for a company to offer them. These include the company determining that the primary beneficiary of the internship is the intern rather than the company, tying the internship to academic coursework and school credit, and ensuring that interns work under the supervision of regular employees without displacing them.
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57.6% of interns became full-time employees in 2022
Internships are often seen as a way for students to start their careers successfully. However, not all students are able to secure internships. According to Gallup, 41% of college students in the US have completed internships while working on their bachelor's degrees. This number is lower for first-generation college students (27%) and students attending public colleges and universities (36%). A survey conducted in 2023 found that three in ten bachelor's students who have not had an internship cite the difficulty in obtaining one as the main barrier.
Despite the challenges in securing internships, they can provide significant benefits in terms of employability. According to NACE's 2023 Internship and Co-op report, 57.6% of interns became full-time employees in 2022. This highlights the impact of internships in providing valuable workforce experience and helping students explore career paths. Paid interns are also more likely to get hired than their unpaid counterparts, receiving an average of 1.61 job offers after graduation compared to 0.95 for unpaid interns.
The type of internship and the industry also play a role in employability. Hybrid internships, for example, gained popularity in 2022-23, with 64.8% of employers offering them. Students in the humanities and social sciences who interned received 26.3% more job interview requests than those who did not. On the other hand, students in engineering and computer sciences secured higher-paying internships, with average salaries of $61,380 and $75,900 respectively.
Overall, internships remain a valuable opportunity for students to enhance their employability. While the competition for internships is high, with companies expecting to hire more interns, the chances of converting an internship into a full-time position are promising, especially for those who take advantage of paid opportunities.
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Frequently asked questions
According to a web survey conducted in March 2023, 41% of college students in the US have completed internships while working on their bachelor's degrees. However, another source states that 18% of college students do an internship, which would mean 4.17 million students were interns in 2022.
According to the NSCI, nearly two-thirds of non-interns say they would like to take on an internship but are unable to for various reasons. These include not knowing how to find internships, having a heavy course load, or insufficient pay.
According to CNBC, 60% of interns are paid. Paid interns receive an average hourly wage of $20.82. However, another source states that 95% of internships posted on Handshake in the past year were paid.
