Career Development Center

The Career Development Center makes every effort to recommend that for-profit employers offer compensation in the form of at least minimum wage. For non-profit industries, where compensation may not be available, other compensation is strongly encouraged. Academic internships may be paid or unpaid by the US Department of Labor. 

The Purchase Academic Internship Stipend is awarded to students to support related expenses such as internship site travel, materials, or other day to day student expenses.

• PAIS (on-campus) - Stipends are available up to $800 per successful completion of the semester’s internship. Fall 2025: $800 for a 3-4 credit internship and $600.00 for a 1-2 credit internship.
• PAIS+ (off-campus) - Stipends are available up to $1200 per successful completion of the semester’s internship. Fall 2025: $1200 for a 3-4 credit internship, $800 for a 1-2 credit internship.
• PAIS Research - Stipends are available up to $1,500 per academic year for a successful completion of the research internship. Fall 2025: $750 for a research internship.

Eligibility:

• Be actively registered in an academic, credit bearing internship occurring during the semester to which they apply.
• Internships are in-person primarily, however remote internship experiences will be considered and approved on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of the internship’s learning outcomes.
• Summer internships that require per credit tuition without compensation, are given priority.
• Interns must be in good standing with a GPA of at least 2.5.
• Students must complete the PAIS application for that semester regarding their unpaid, uncompensated internship, to be considered for this stipend.

Please be aware that stipends are granted on a limited basis as decisions are made upon receiving applications. Only applications with a fully approved Learning Contract will be processed.