Internship Funding FAQ

You’ve got questions? We’ve got answers.

• How can I get help with my funding application?
  • CLS advisers can answer your questions about the funding process and review your application materials. You can schedule an appointment via Handshake.
• What counts as an internship? Can I get funding for summer research, like an REU?
  • Lots of different kinds of experience fall under the “internship” umbrella (including research). What sets an internship apart is that the student is the “primary beneficiary” of the experience: it is primarily a learning and professional development experience for you. Many unpaid/low-paid experiences may be labeled as internships but do not pass that “primary beneficiary” test.
• Does the CLS only fund unpaid internships? Does the CLS only fund internships with non-profit organizations?
  • The CLS funds unpaid as well as “low-paying” internships, which we define as less than minimum wage at the location of the internship. An internship in a location with no minimum wage will be compared to the U.S. federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour as of 2025). In the U.S., most experiences that fall into this category are paid with a stipend or a housing allowance rather than an hourly wage.
  • The vast majority of the internships funded by the CLS are with non-profit organizations (including governmental and educational institutions). For-profit organizations in the U.S. offering unpaid internships must meet specific criteria in order to comply with the Department of Labor Fair Labor Standards Act. The CLS asks that supervisors confirm that their internship passes the “primary beneficiary test” in order to qualify for funding. Learn more here.
• What are the criteria for funding? How are awardees selected?
  • Preference is given to first-time recipients with consideration of class year. All else being equal, a third-year student who has not previously received CLS internship will be prioritized over (for instance) a first-year student or a student who was funded the previous summer. This doesn’t mean that students aren’t funded for multiple summers, only that this helps us make decisions about how to allocate limited resources.
  • Many donors to the College wish to support specific types of experiences. Much of our funding decisions are based in matching internships with appropriate funds.
  • The Rosenfield Program incorporates an interview with a panel of Rosenfield committee members into their selection process. Rosenfield funds are awarded primarily based on fit with the Program’s mission.
• Can I apply for internship funding as a graduating senior?
  • No, seniors who will graduate in May of the application year are not eligible for CLS internship funding. Students must be currently enrolled as full-time students at Grinnell College for the spring semester in which they apply (i.e., the semester before the summer internship experience) and the fall semester following the internship (or accepted into an approved off-campus study program for that fall). Fourth-year students with a planned December graduation, however, are eligible to apply for summer internship funding.
• Is there a GPA requirement for funding?
  • No, there are no academic requirements. Applicants just have to be in good conduct standing.
• Are there location restrictions for funded internships?
  • Funding can be used for domestic, international, virtual/remote, or hybrid internships.
  • The college will not support international travel to a country with a travel warning.  
• I’m looking for internships in a field that hires very late in the academic year. Can I get an extension?
  • For equity reasons, we can’t consider any late submissions or grant extensions to the application window. Our deadline is set as late as possible in the spring to ensure that funds are disbursed to funded students’ accounts before the end of the academic year.
• I’ve secured a part-time internship that takes place during the academic year. Can I apply for CLS funding?
  • The CLS is only able to fund internships during the summer. Our Professional Development Grant might be appropriate to help offset some of your expenses for an experience during the fall or spring semester.
• When will I receive my summer funding award?
  • Funds will be deposited into the bank account you have on file with the College after you have submitted your completed acceptance form and attended an internship orientation. 
• Should I enroll in INT-300 to get academic credit?
  • INT-300 offers 0.5 credit hours for F-1 visa students to meet CPT requirements and/or for students interning at an organization that requires them to receive academic credit. Outside of these circumstances, INT-300 is likely not a good use of your time and tuition money.