Summer Internship Funding

Student Eligibility

• Currently enrolled first-years, sophomores, or juniors who will return to Carleton and enroll in courses for the next academic year
• International students are welcome to apply
• Must be in good standing with the college (academic and conduct)
• Must have secured an internship offer
• Students may not apply for funding for more than one internship (at different sites) to be done in the same time period.
• To ensure that financial support for high-impact experiences such as summer internships and research roles is available to as many students as possible, summer funding grants are only available to students who have not/will not accept another substantial source of Carleton Funding, such as a Summer Research Partnership, department fellowship, or similar, for the same summer or academic term. Case-by-case exceptions will be considered for short-term funded research related to Comps projects. 
• Students must have a Career Center Success-Ready Resume to apply for funding for a summer experience. Please schedule an appointment with a professional career coach or student career assistant to review your resume before applying for funding. Please note that it may take more than one appointment to achieve Success-Ready Resume approval.

Internship Site Criteria

• Internship is at least six weeks in length and provides at least 240 hours of professional experience
• Unpaid or underpaid*
  • *Underpaid definition: the estimated cost of living expenses during the internship exceeds the financial support (wages, salary, stipend) a student receives from an internship site.
• Benefits both the student and the internship provider
• Involves a high level of direct supervision, training, mentoring, and feedback
• Has clearly defined and attainable learning goals set by the student

Internships That Do Not Qualify

• Research based on Carleton’s campus or done exclusively with Carleton faculty to support their academic research
• Institutional research or an independent project intended for use only at and by Carleton employees and/or students, such as a comps project
• Internships with organizations owned or operated by immediate family members or current undergraduate students

Application Process

The following materials are required for the application:

• Success-Ready Résumé
  Students must have a Career Center Approved Success-Ready Resume to apply for funding for a summer experience. Please schedule an appointment with a professional career coach or student career assistant to review your resume before applying for funding. Please note that it may take more than one appointment to achieve Success-Ready Resume approval.
  
• Budget Form  (This form will be uploaded with your funding application.)
  • Budget Form
  • Post Paris OCS Program Budget Form
  • Budget & housing resources and completed budget form examples
• Short Essay Questions (Your responses will be included in your application form.)
  • Please tell us about your internship organization and what you expect to be doing in your internship, including daily tasks and/or long-term projects. Up to 150 words
  • What motivated and/or inspired you to do this internship? How will the experience you have chosen give you clarity related to your academic pursuits, interests, and/or post-Carleton plans? Up to 250 words
  • What knowledge, skills, and perspectives do you hope to learn or improve? How do you want your work to contribute to the goals of the organization? Up to 250 words
• Internship Host Confirmation Form (Complete your part of the form, and then ask your supervisor to complete the bottom part of the form. You can upload a PDF or photo of the complete and signed form.)

Applications missing any materials will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed until all materials have been submitted. 

Application Due Dates

Applications are only reviewed after the deadlines listed below.

• Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CST
• Sunday, March 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CST
• Sunday, April 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CST
• Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CST
• Applications received after May 3 will be considered on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted or the end of the term on June 8 . All applications submitted by the May 3 deadline will be reviewed prior to applications received after May 3. Applications received after May 3 will be reviewed in the order received.

Applicants will be notified of their decision within three weeks after the deadline listed.

Application Review Process

Eligibility Review. All funding applications undergo a review process to determine if both the applicant and internship opportunity meet the eligibility criteria. Financial need will be taken into consideration, and applicants with demonstrated financial need will be prioritized. Applicants will be notified if their application is withdrawn due to being ineligible.

Fund Matching. Internship funding is available to Carleton students through the generosity of donors, alumni, and friends of the college. More than 50 distinct endowed gifts support the program, each outlining preferences and guidelines for the types of experiences that can be supported. Once a student is approved for funding the Career Center will match them with a specific endowed gift based on their experience.

Funding Amounts and Payment

Students who are awarded funding can receive up to $5,350 for the summer. 

• Generally, the award amount for a virtual or remote internship is less than a hybrid or fully on-site internship.
• Please note that your budget will be reviewed and scrutinized. Equity across applications will guide decisions related to award amounts.
• Students will receive their funding award in one payment up to thirty (30) days after accepting the award. Payments will be processed through student accounts on file with the Business Office.

Recipients who are nonresidents for U.S. tax purposes are required to report the funding as income in the year the funding is received. The College may withhold a 14% federal income tax, which reduces the amount of your payment, and will issue tax Form 1042-S. If you are eligible for tax treaty benefits, there will be no federal tax withholding, and Form 1042-S will be issued noting the exemption. It is your responsibility to report the payment on your annual tax returns, both Federal and State, and pay any additional taxes, if applicable. 

Requirements and Expectations for Funded Students

As a condition of receiving funding, students will be enrolled in the internship reflection program. The following are required of all participants:

• Complete all activities on the program’s Moodle course by the assigned deadline
• Submit 1-2 experience photos including at least 1 photo of yourself engaging in the experience
• Complete a supervisor evaluation/feedback conversations with the host/supervisor
• Complete a final reflection essay to share with the donor(s) supporting your internship
• Complete an appointment with a professional career coach at the conclusion of your experience
• Create a culminating poster to be shared with the campus community during the fall or winter poster symposium. Alternative assignments are available to students who will be away from campus during these events.
• There may be additional requirements for recipients of CCCE, Chaplain’s Office, MCAN Fellows Program awards

Funding recipients must comply with all set deadlines and requirements. NOTE: Students who do not fulfill their requirements may be charged up to the full amount of their funding award in the subsequent term of enrollment.

Apply for summer funding