College students often complete internships to gain work experience and explore their career interests.
Research from the National Association of Colleges and Employers indicates that college students with paid internships or co-ops are more likely to be employed upon graduation and generally receive higher entry-level salaries than their peers without such experience.
However, NACE research casts doubt on whether unpaid internships increase employment chances or boost starting salaries, and critics argue that unpaid experiences are a way of exploiting ambitious young people.
School name (state) | Percentage of graduating seniors with internship experience | U.S. News rank and category |
---|---|---|
College of the Atlantic (ME) | 100 | 93 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |
Delaware Valley University (PA) | 100 | 126 (tie), Regional Universities (North) |
Elmira College (NY) | 100 | 165 (tie), National Liberal Arts Colleges |