Most internship platforms and job boards are built for juniors and seniors. They surface roles that want "2-3 years of experience" and filter out programs designed specifically for freshmen and sophomores. That's a problem, because about 30% of internship programs actually accept underclassmen - you just have to know where to find them.
This is a curated list of 70+ internship programs that are known to accept freshmen and sophomores. These are the programs that most job boards miss because they're not optimized for early career searches. We update this regularly as new programs launch and requirements change.
Tech & Engineering Programs
- Microsoft Explore: Specifically for freshmen and sophomores interested in software engineering, product management, and program management. One of the most well-known programs.
- Amazon Propel: Early career program for underclassmen in tech roles.
- Apple Engineering Program: Various programs for early career students in engineering.
- Salesforce Futureforce Tech: Early career program for first and second year students.
- Palantir Path: Software engineering program for freshmen and sophomores.
- Two Sigma: Quantitative trading firm with programs for underclassmen.
- Jane Street: Finance/tech firm with early career programs.
Finance & Consulting Programs
- Goldman Sachs Early Insights: Specifically for first and second year students interested in finance.
- JPMorgan Chase Early Insights: Early career program for underclassmen.
- Morgan Stanley Early Insights: Finance program for first and second year students.
- Bank of America Student Leaders: Community-focused program that accepts freshmen.
- McKinsey Early Access: Consulting program for underrepresented first and second year students.
- BCG Unlock: Consulting program for early career students.
- Deloitte Discovery: Early career program for underclassmen.
- PwC Start: Program for first and second year students.
- EY Launch: Early career program.
- Accenture Student Empowerment: Tech consulting for early career students.
Diversity & Inclusion Programs
Many diversity programs specifically target freshmen and sophomores because they want to build relationships early. These are some of the best opportunities for underrepresented students:
- INROADS: One of the largest diversity internship programs. Accepts freshmen and places them at top companies.
- SEO Career: Finance and consulting program for underrepresented students. Accepts freshmen.
- Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT): Career prep and internship placement for underrepresented students.
- Toigo Foundation: Finance program for underrepresented students.
- Consortium for Graduate Study in Management: Business program, but has early career components.
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund: Various internship programs through partner companies.
- UNCF: Internship programs through historically black colleges and universities.
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE): Engineering internships for Hispanic students.
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE): Engineering programs for Black students.
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE): Programs for women in engineering.
Why Diversity Programs Matter
Diversity programs often have the most resources for freshmen because they're designed to build pipelines early. If you qualify, these are some of the best opportunities for underclassmen.
Industry-Specific Programs
Many industries have programs specifically for early career students:
- NASA Internships: Various programs, some accept freshmen (especially for underrepresented students).
- National Science Foundation REU: Research experiences for undergraduates, many accept sophomores.
- Department of Energy Internships: Government internships that often accept underclassmen.
- Smithsonian Internships: Various programs, some for early career students.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): Research internships, some accept freshmen.
- State Department Internships: Government program, accepts underclassmen.
- FBI Internships: Various programs, some for early career students.
- CIA Internships: Intelligence community programs.
- Peace Corps Prep: Early career program for students interested in international work.
- Teach for America: Early application programs for underclassmen.
Startup & Tech Company Programs
- Stripe: Software engineering internships, some accept underclassmen.
- Airbnb: Tech internships for early career students.
- Uber: Engineering programs, some for underclassmen.
- Lyft: Early career tech programs.
- Snap: Software engineering for first and second year students.
- Pinterest: Tech internships, some accept freshmen.
- Reddit: Engineering programs for early career students.
- Discord: Tech internships for underclassmen.
- Roblox: Software engineering for first and second year students.
- Databricks: Data engineering programs.
Media & Entertainment
- Disney College Program: Internship program that accepts underclassmen.
- Warner Bros. Discovery: Media internships for early career students.
- NBCUniversal: Various programs, some accept freshmen.
- ViacomCBS: Media internships.
- ESPN: Sports media programs for underclassmen.
- PBS: Public media internships.
- NPR: Journalism and media programs.
Retail & Consumer Goods
- Target: Retail and corporate internships, some accept underclassmen.
- Walmart: Various programs for early career students.
- Nike: Sports and business internships.
- Adidas: Early career programs.
- Procter & Gamble: Consumer goods internships.
- Unilever: Various programs for underclassmen.
How to Find More Programs
This list is a starting point, but there are hundreds more programs out there. Here's how to find them:
- Check company career pages directly: Many companies have programs that never make it to job boards. Search "[Company] careers" and look for "early career" or "student programs."
- Use specialized internship platforms: Tools like Internship Grabber filter specifically for programs that accept underclassmen, so you don't have to sift through senior roles.
- Check your university career center: Many schools have Handshake or similar platforms with programs specifically recruiting from your school.
- Look for diversity programs: Even if you don't think you qualify, check - many have broader definitions than you'd expect.
- Search by industry: "[Industry] internship programs for freshmen" often surfaces programs that job boards miss.
The Problem with Generic Job Boards
LinkedIn, Indeed, and other major job boards prioritize roles that want experience because that's where the money is. They don't surface programs designed for underclassmen well. That's why specialized internship platforms exist - they understand that your class projects matter more than years of experience you don't have yet.
When to Apply
Most of these programs start recruiting in September for summer internships. Here's the timeline:
- Spring (March-May): This is when smart students start reaching out. Search for "[Company] university recruiter" on LinkedIn, connect with them, and ask for coffee chats. You're building relationships before the rush.
- September-October: Early application deadlines for competitive programs (Microsoft Explore, Goldman Sachs Early Insights, etc.)
- November-December: Main application season for most programs
- January-February: Late applications and rolling deadlines
- March-April: Some programs still have openings, but most are filled
💡The Spring Advantage
Most students don't start thinking about internships until fall. By reaching out to recruiters in the spring, you're months ahead of the competition. Connect on LinkedIn, attend every university career event, and build those relationships early. When fall applications open, you won't be a stranger - you'll be someone the recruiter already knows.
💡Pro Tip
Set up job alerts on internship platforms that specialize in early career programs. Tools like Internship Grabber can notify you when new programs open, so you don't miss deadlines.
How to Stand Out in Applications
Since these programs are competitive, here's how to make your application stand out:
- Focus on projects, not just coursework: Show what you've built, not just what you've taken.
- Highlight leadership: Even if it's just organizing a club event, show that you can take initiative.
- Be specific: "Built a web app using React" is better than "knows programming."
- Show growth: If you're a freshman, show what you've learned in your first semester. If you're a sophomore, show how you've built on freshman year.
- Research the program: Mention specific aspects of the program that interest you. Show you actually read about it.
The Bottom Line
There are way more internship programs for freshmen and sophomores than most students realize. The problem isn't that they don't exist - it's that most internship platforms and job boards don't surface them well. Use this list as a starting point, but also check company career pages directly and use specialized internship platforms that understand early career recruiting. The opportunities are there - you just have to know where to look.