Student Internship Toolkit
What are the program details?
We know how essential internship experience is to launching your career. To offer more San Diego students access to paid work-based learning opportunities, we’ve partnered with 55 local companies to place eligible students* in paid summer internships. This program is made possible by local philanthropy, and aimed at supporting small- and mid-sized businesses in connecting directly with students like you.
Students at select local programs are invited to apply for an internship in their field of study by April 6, 2026. Interns will gain up to 240 hours of experience at a San Diego company and will earn a competitive $22/hour wage. The best part? You only need to fill out 1 single 15-minute application!
Am I eligible?*
This internship opportunity is exclusively available to students of Verified Programs, with dates ranging from June to September 2026. Before you apply, check to see if you’re enrolled in or recently graduated from an eligible program:
Eligible Programs
Able-Disabled Advocacy
Eligible Programs
- Computing: Cybersecurity Program
California Institute of Applied Technology
Eligible Programs
- Computing: Applied B.S. in Computer Information Systems
- Computing: Associate’s of Applied Science in Business Data Analytics Programs
Career Services Dept.
- Kara Sturdevant | ksturdevant@ciat.edu | Academic Partnerships Manager
CSU San Marcos
Eligible Programs
- Business: College of Business Administration
- Engineering: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Department of Physics
- Computing: Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Career Services Dept.
- | careers@csusm.edu | CSUSM Career Center
Cuyamaca College
Eligible Programs
- Business: Business Program
- Computing: Computer and Information Science Program
- Engineering: Engineering Program
Career Services Dept.
- Malena Medrano | malena.medrano@gcccd.edu | Job Placement Case Management Specialist
General Assembly
Eligible Programs
- Computing: Software Engineering Bootcamp
Grossmont College
Eligible Programs
- Computing: Computer Science and Information Systems Program
Career Services Dept.
- Renee Nasori | Renee.Nasori@gcccd.edu | Career Services Supervisor
- Erica Olmos | Erica.Olmos@gcccd.edu | Career Services Program Coordinator
- Sonia Yaddgo | sonia.yaddgo@gcccd.edu | Job Placement Case Manager
MiraCosta College
Eligible Programs
- Business: Business Administration Program
- Computing: Computer Science Program
- Engineering: Technology Career Institute
Career Services Dept.
- Mike Green | mgreen@miracosta.edu | Internship Coordinator
- Joana Gomez| jmgomez@miracosta.edu | Student Success Specialist, Biotechnology Department
MiraCosta College Technology Career Institute
Eligible Programs
- Business: Business Administration Program
Career Services Dept.
- Mike Green | mgreen@miracosta.edu | Internship Coordinator
- Joana Gomez| jmgomez@miracosta.edu | Student Success Specialist, Biotechnology Department
National Foundation for Autism Research
Eligible Programs
- Computing: Cyber Program
Career Services Dept.
- Robin Gibbons | Robin.Gibbons@nfar.org | Job Readiness Coach & Industry Outreach Specialist
National University
Eligible Programs
- Business: Bachelor of Business Administration
- Engineering: Electrical and Computer Engineering Program
- Computing: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Palomar College
Eligible Programs
- Business: Accounting Program
- Business: Business and Advertising, Marketing, and Social Media
- Computing: Computer Science
Career Services Dept.
- Jason Jarvinen | jjarvinen@palomar.edu | Assistant Professor/ Work Experience Coordinator
Point Loma Nazarene University
Eligible Programs
- Engineering: Engineering Program
- Computing: Computer Information Technology
- Computing: Bachelor’s in Cyber Security
- Computing: Bachelor’s in Software Engineering
- Computing: Bachelor’s in Technical Applications
Career Services Dept.
- Peter Alkatib | palkatib@pointloma.edu | Career Services Director, Strategic Partnerships
Poway Adult School
Eligible Programs
- Business: Accounting Level 1 program
Career Services Dept.
- Sara Kende | skende@powayusd.com | Career Education Specialist
San Diego City College
Eligible Programs
- Computing: Cyber Defense & Analysis
- Computing: Cybersecurity
- Computing: IT Management
San Diego College of Continuing Education
Eligible Programs
- Business: Business, Accounting and Entrepreneurship Department
- Computing: Desktop Technician Certificate
- Computing: Network Technician and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- Computing: Security Essentials
Career Services Dept.
- Rita Shamoon | rshamoon@sdccd.edu | Career Center Services
- Sandy Hamel | chamel@sdccd.edu | Career Center Services
- Jennifer Kennedy | jkennedy@sdccd.edu | Career Center Services
San Diego Futures Foundation
Eligible Programs
- Computing: Basic Computer Refurbishing and Repair
San Diego Mesa College
Eligible Programs
- Business: Associate’s in Business Administration
- Computing: Computer Information Science
Career Services Dept.
- Pavel Consegura | pconsuegra@sdccd.edu | Internship and Work-Based Learning Coordinator
- Shawn Fawcett | sfawcett@sdccd.edu | Work-based Learning Coordinator
San Diego Miramar College
Eligible Programs
- Computing
Career Services Dept.
- Lance Grob | lgrob@sdccd.edu | Employer Relations Liaison
San Diego State University
Eligible Programs
- Business: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- Business: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration General Business (BSBA)
- Business: Bachelor of Science in Information Systems (BSIS)
- Engineering: Engineering Program
Career Services Dept.
- Tina Tan | tina.tan@sdsu.edu | Director, Partrick-Clayes Center for Career Development
Southwestern College
Eligible Programs
- Engineering: Engineering Program
Career Services Dept.
- Mesa Program | mesa@swccd.edu |
UC San Diego
Eligible Programs
- Engineering: Jacobs School of Engineering
UC San Diego Extended Studies
Eligible Programs
- Business: Professional Certificate in Project Management
- Business: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt program
- Business: Certificate in Supply Management
- Business: Professional Certificate in Business Management
- Engineering: Embedded Engineering Systems
- Engineering: Systems Engineering
UC San Diego Rady School of Management
Eligible Programs
- Rady School of Management
Career Services Dept.
- Toni Rhorer | trhorer@ucsd.edu | Executive Director, Graduate Career Management Center
Vista Adult School
Eligible Programs
- Business: Bookkeeping and Accounting Technician
Not eligible? That’s okay! Sign up below and we’ll send San Diego’s latest internship and job opportunities straight to your inbox each month:
How do I apply?
Check out our application guide so you have all your information ready to go before you start. We recommend you work with your counselor or career center to ensure your resume is top-notch—and be sure you use an email address that you check regularly.
There are nearly 90 internships available across 55 companies in San Diego. Be sure to review the available positions ahead of time so that you can select the 3 best options for you. To help you choose, here are a few questions you can ask yourself:
- Is the position related to my field of study?
- Am I interested in the work? And would the company be interested in ME? Check out their website and LinkedIn to be sure their mission and product/service sparks your curiosity. Keep in mind, 240 hours will go FAST and this experience is important to developing your resume, your business acumen, and your vision for your career.
- Can I access the position? If it’s in-person, do I have adequate transportation? If it’s virtual, what setup will I need to be successful? (PS: If selected, you have access to a $500 stipend to cover things like transportation, technology, work attire, and more!)
Once you’ve chosen your 3 options, fill out and submit your application by no later than April 6 at 12 p.m. PST. Applications will not reopen; this is a hard deadline!
Plus: You’ll have the chance to access additional exclusive career resources. We hope you’ll join us!
What’s the timeline?
- March 6-April 6: Applications open
- April 20-May 2: Companies reach out to interview selected candidates
- Check your email for messages with the subject line: “San Diego Internship Program – Request for Interview“
- May 30: Deadline for hiring decisions
- June 2 at 6 p.m.: Internship onboarding session option 1
- June 4 at 9 a.m.: Internship onboarding session option 2
- June 8: Earliest internship start date
- August 17: Latest internship start date
- September 30: Latest internship end date
Why should I intern?
Internships give San Diego students a powerful head start by connecting classroom learning with real-world experience.
Programs like this help students build practical skills, grow their professional networks, and explore career pathways in the region’s most innovative industries.
The impact is clear: 17% of our host companies in 2024 transitioned their interns into full-time roles, and employers increasingly see internships as a key talent pipeline—92% say they help expand or diversify recruitment.
For students, internships aren’t just a summer opportunity—they’re a pathway to meaningful careers right here in San Diego.
“Not only has this internship allowed me to finally showcase my marketing skills,” one business intern shared, “but [it] also provided me with experience working with real world situations, people, and problems.”
Have questions?
Let us know below. Please include your name, email, and major/field of study, and we’ll get back you ASAP!