Today is National Intern Day, and there's no better time to remind CLAS students that an internship might be the single most valuable thing they do outside the classroom. With majors spanning the sciences, humanities, social sciences, and everything in between, CLAS students land internships across nearly every industry in the Denver metro — from labs and nonprofits to newsrooms, government offices, and startups.
What are the benefits of an internship?
1. It’s one of the fastest paths to a full-time job offer. Recent data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) 2026 Internship & Co-op Report, shows that the average intern-to-full-time-hire conversion rate has hit 63.1%—a five-year high. With offer acceptance rates near 88% and employers planning to expand their intern intake, putting in the effort during an internship is actively paying off in real job offers.
How much you get out of it depends on the effort you put in — but the numbers make one thing clear: internships are converting into real jobs at the highest rate in years.
2. You’ll build skills that lectures can't teach. No matter your major—psychology, biology, political science, English, or economics—some lessons only happen on the job. An internship accelerates your technical skills, sharpens your professional communication, and gives you insider knowledge about your chosen industry.
3. Internships expand your network and break tie-breakers on resumes. An internship puts you shoulder-to-shoulder with working professionals and peers who will become valuable contacts throughout your career. When employers compare two candidates with similar academic credentials, NACE research shows that practical internship experience is often the deciding factor.
4. An internship allows you to "test-drive" a career early. Because a CLAS degree opens doors to dozens of different industries, narrow down your interests before graduation. An internship gives you a low-stakes, real-world trial run to figure out what environment, role, and industry culture actually suit you best.
Ready to Find Your Opportunity?
Start your search with the Experiential Learning Center (ELC) at LynxConnect, located in the Tivoli Annex. The ELC offers hands-on support for finding opportunities, polishing resumes, and navigating applications.
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Pro tip: Don't forget to talk to CLAS faculty and academic advisors about industry leads in your field.
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Unpaid internship? The ELC can also help you explore funding and support options to ensure you get compensated for your work.
Six Tips to Land a Great Internship Visit the Experiential Learning Center