Learn, earn, and make an impact.
Make an unpaid summer internship more financially accessible. Kalamazoo College offers summer internship stipends to help eligible students pursue valuable internship experiences.
Am I eligible?
The minimum qualifications for an internship to qualify for a stipend are as follows:
- The internship must be unpaid.
- The internship must be for a minimum of 240 hours.
- The internship cannot be with an organization that offers a community building internship.
If you have questions about whether your internship qualifies, please contact Richard Sylvester at richard.sylvester@kzoo.edu.
How much funding could I receive?
Remote Internships
No or low financial need
Calculated by: Financial need level base stipend rate + location bonus
Base stipend rate – $2,000.00
Location bonus – N/A (remote)
Total stipend = $2,000.00
Medium or high financial need
Calculated by: Financial need level base stipend rate + location bonus
Base stipend rate – $3,000.00
Location bonus – N/A (remote)
Total stipend = $3,000.00
In-person Internships
No or low financial need – all cost area
Calculated by: Financial need level base stipend rate + location bonus ($1,000 for all cost areas)
Base stipend rate – $2,000.00
Location bonus – $1,000.00
Total stipend = $3,000.00
Medium financial need – Moderate cost area
Calculated by: Financial need level base stipend rate + location bonus (Internship is located in a moderate cost area)
Base stipend rate – $3,000.00
Location bonus – $1,500.00
Total stipend = $4,500.00
High financial need – Moderate cost area
Calculated by: Financial need level base stipend rate + location bonus (Internship is located in a moderate cost area)
Base stipend rate – $3,000.00
Location bonus – $2,000.00
Total stipend = $5,000.00
Medium financial need – High cost area
Calculated by: Financial need level base stipend rate + location bonus (Internship is located in a high cost area)
Base stipend rate – $3,000.00
Location bonus – $2,500.00
Total stipend = $5,500.00
High financial need – High cost area
Calculated by: Financial need level base stipend rate + location bonus (Internship is located in a high cost area)
Base stipend rate – $3,000.00
Location bonus – $3,000.00
Total stipend = $6,000.00
Application Process
To apply for a summer internship stipend, students must respond to five short essay questions explaining how their internship will contribute to their professional growth and career development.
Applications are evaluated by a review committee using a standardized scoring rubric. To promote fairness and minimize potential bias, all identifying information is removed before applications are reviewed.
How are applications scored?
- 0 points – Inadequate: The response does not adequately address the question.
- 1 point – Limited: The response partially addresses the question but lacks sufficient detail or explanation.
- 2 points – Reasonable: The response addresses the question and provides a satisfactory explanation.
- 3 points – Excellent: The response thoroughly addresses the question with specific details, thoughtful reflection, and clear connections to professional development.
Applications can receive a maximum of 15 points. Because funding is limited and the application process is competitive, even a one- or two-point difference can influence funding decisions.
We encourage applicants to take their time, provide specific examples, and clearly explain how their internship will support their learning and career goals.
Essay Questions
The application includes five essay categories, each with several guiding questions or prompts. Applicants are not required to answer every prompt. Instead, they should select the prompt or combination of prompts that best helps them communicate their internship experience.
For example, the Roles and Responsibilities category includes questions about what you will do, the responsibilities you will take on, the challenges you may encounter, and what you hope to accomplish. You do not need to address all four. Focus on the prompts that best allow you to clearly and thoroughly explain your anticipated roles and responsibilities.
It is advised that applicants work on their essays in a separate document, as the application survey can ‘time out,’ which would result in a loss of work and CANNOT be recovered.
Each answer is limited to 150 words, and going over the word limit could result in lost points.
- Roles and responsibilities
- What will you do in this internship experience? What roles and responsibilities will you take on? What new and/or challenging experiences will you have? What will you accomplish?
- Learning Opportunities
- What do you expect to learn from this internship experience? For example, what academic theories will you test? What professional skills will you develop? What experiences have prepared you for this internship, and why is this a good “next step” for you?
- Supervision
- Who will mentor, guide, and support your learning during your internship experience? What are your supervisor’s qualifications and skills, and how will you take full advantage of these? How accessible will your supervisor be? How much have you communicated with your supervisor to date?
- Resources
- What facilities, opportunities, experts, and programs will be available on-site or in the region to complement/enhance your internship experience? How will you access these resources? What do you hope to gain by accessing these resources?
- Outcomes
- What will be the impact of this internship? How will this experience affect you, your career development goals, and the organization in which you will work? What else might change as a result of this experience?
How to apply
- Secure an unpaid internship. Confirm that it meets the minimum requirements (see above).
- Prepare your application. Answer five short essay questions (150 words each).
- Review your answers at the Career Studio (not required, but recommended).
- Submit by the deadline. Use the online application to share your essays and internship details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can international students apply for stipends? (NEW)
Yes! Degree-seeking international students (international students attending K for four years to earn their degree) are eligible to apply for an internship stipend. However, due to recent changes in federal guidance regarding Curricular Practical Training (CPT), international students may face restrictions on their ability to participate in internships in the United States.
As a result, the most straightforward way for degree-seeking international students to pursue an internship and receive a CCPD stipend is to complete the internship remotely while physically located outside the United States (including internships with U.S.-based companies) or in person with an organization located outside the United States. To fully understand all your options, please contact the CIP.
Unfortunately, visiting international students are not eligible to apply because stipends support internships completed during the summer after the spring term ends. Only students who remain currently enrolled and active at K are eligible to receive a stipend.
If I received an internship stipend in the past, can I apply again and receive another stipend? (NEW)
Yes! However, you cannot receive another stipend to return to a previous internship site. While previous stipend recipients are eligible to apply again, priority will be given to students who have not previously received funding.
This policy is not intended to discourage previous recipients from applying. Rather, because funding is limited, we aim to make internship opportunities accessible to as many students as possible.
Can I apply for a stipend if I’m interning at a for-profit company? (NEW)
Yes, but there are limitations. The CCPD’s official position is that for-profit companies should pay their interns using their own financial resources. However, we also recognize that not all for-profit organizations have the same financial resources and that unpaid internships are common in certain industries.
As a result, the CCPD will award a limited number of internship stipends for opportunities at for-profit companies each summer, with priority given to internships at nonprofit and government organizations.
If you secure an unpaid internship at a for-profit company, you will be required to submit a supplemental essay explaining why your internship should be considered for funding. The review committee will consider your explanation alongside the rest of your application.
Do I need to know my financial need level before I apply?
No! Students do not need to know their financial need level to apply for a stipend. If awarded a stipend, CCPD staff will assign students to the appropriate award tier based on the formula listed above.
Do I need to have secured an internship before I apply for a stipend?
Yes! All applicants must secure their internship before applying for an internship stipend. If it is determined that the applicant has not fully received an internship before applying or is in the interview process, they will be passed over in the application process and their application will be withdrawn from consideration.
Are stipends awarded randomly?
No! Students earn stipends through the application process of answering a series of essay questions (more information on that is above). The essays have the applicant’s names and all identifying information removed (to prevent bias in scoring) and are then given to a panel for scoring with the highest-scoring applicants receiving a stipend.
Does the internship need to be unpaid to qualify for an internship stipend?
Yes! The internship stipends exist to allow students who otherwise couldn’t afford them to participate in valuable unpaid internship experiences. Paid opportunities do not qualify for a stipend.
Are stipends awarded on a first-come, first-served basis?
Kind of. Due to the limited amount of funding at this time, the CCPD unfortunately cannot provide a stipend to every student. While the determining factor for receiving a stipend will be the application essays, stipends will be awarded until the funding runs out. The sooner students apply, the better chance they have of receiving a stipend.
Can seniors apply for a stipend?
No. Stipends are used for internships that take place during the summer after the spring term ends. Thus, seniors would have graduated and they are no longer K students but alumni.
Do I have to answer every question/ prompt in a category?
No! You are not required to answer each supplemental question for every prompt. The additional questions are there to give you a starting point and suggestions if you need help with starting your essays. Additionally, it is advised that applicants work on their essays in a separate document as the survey can ‘timeout’ which would result in a loss of work and CANNOT be recovered.
The CCPD’s Philosophy on Unpaid Internships
The Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) believes that paid internships provide greater long-term benefits to students compared to unpaid internships. Paid internships are internships in which the employer/internship provider pays interns for their labor with monetary compensation. Unpaid internships are those in which interns receive either academic credit in place of monetary compensation or no monetary compensation. Students pursuing unpaid internships may find financial support through other means, such as but not limited to scholarships, grants, or funding stipends.
According to research conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), students who participate in paid internships receive more job offers than students who participate in unpaid internships. In 2022, paid interns averaged 1.61 job offers, unpaid interns averaged 0.94 offers, and students with no internship experience received 0.77 offers. Additionally, paid interns also start off their careers with higher pay. The same survey found that the median starting salary of paid interns was $62,500 while the reported starting salary of unpaid interns was $42,500. For these reasons, the CCPD strongly encourages students to pursue paid internship opportunities whenever possible.
However, the CCPD understands that not every industry can provide paid internships. Many valuable internship experiences are unpaid, and pursuing an unpaid internship is better than pursuing no internship. Thus, the CCPD provides a summer internship stipend fund to help remove barriers for students who pursue unpaid internships.
Where have students interned in the past?
- List of organizations that have hosted a K intern in the past
- List of organizations that have hosted a K intern in the past: with student contact info (K login required to view)
Ready to apply?
For the best chances to receive a stipend, it is advised that applicants do not submit their first draft but spend time rewriting and revising their essays after receiving feedback.
For assistance with writing the essays, students can go to the Writing Center, visit the Career Studio, or schedule a career coaching appointment with Richard Sylvester in Handshake. When you’re ready, submit your application.