Support Your Career Progress with an Internship through WGU
There’s no experience quite like hands-on experience, particularly while you’re earning your degree. Internships offer a sense of what a profession or role is actually like and allow you to apply what you’ve learned in school to real-world scenarios.
WGU can help you land an internship with an organization that aligns with your degree program. Each year, WGU places thousands of WGU students in meaningful internships with companies in fields like healthcare, IT, education, and business—many of which are paid. From sharpening your skills to creating networking opportunities, internships offer numerous benefits that can set you up for success once you graduate.
What You Can Gain from an
Internship Opportunity
- Academic credit: Receive credit units you can apply toward the total you need to graduate.
- Establish working relationships: Build your network by rubbing shoulders with industry veterans with connections.
- Boost in confidence: Experience the self-assurance that comes from a job well done and knowing what to expect when you apply for a job.
- Exposure to workplace culture: Gain insight and perspective of office culture and how (or if) it aligns with your personality.
- Opportunity for full-time employment: Potentially land a full-time role with the organization.*
*Being extended a job offer as an intern is not guaranteed and can depend on a variety factors, including performance, economic factors, and the needs of the organization.
Testimonials
“[WGU] ended up being the perfect thing for me. I was able to do my internship at the elementary school my youngest daughter was attending. It was a really, really great experience. I learned so much. I can’t wait to put what I’ve learned to work in my next career opportunity.”
Kristine Hegsted, Master of Science in Educational Leadership
“Attending WGU qualified me for a student internship in network engineering. The certifications and degree I earned made me more eligible for that internship and my first job after school.”
Eva Santos, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
“I got to work my dream job just seven days after completing my internship. I took over a third-grade classroom and have experienced pure joy in my new endeavor.”
Amy Faltraco, Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education
How to Land an Internship through WGU
Internships bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application. This is best achieved by placing you in an internship that most closely aligns with your career goals. WGU's Career and Professional Development Team are ready to help. Whether you know where you'd like to intern or need direction on a good fit, our Career Services Team provide the tools, perspective, and expertise that can help you land the internship that's right for you and get you closer to where you want to be professionally.
By the Numbers
41%
Percentage of college students nationwide who have interned.1
85%
Percentage of employers who point to internships as their preferred recruiting method.2
66%
Percentage of employers who extended full-time job offers to their interns in 2023.3
$67,500
Median starting salary in 2023 among recent grads who had paid internships in college.4
$3,100
Projected increase in annual salary one year after graduating among college students who had a paid internship.5
