Achieve College Internships

We connect talented, diverse college students with professional internships and networks that can help launch careers in the Twin Cities.

Two people at table with laptops

Mentor college students and establish a direct line to a great local talent pool.

employer interest form


Introducing Achieve College Internships

The Achieve College Internships program connects talented, diverse college juniors with high-quality paid summer internships, professional training, mentors and career networks at local companies and organizations. The program is designed to help young professionals launch their careers in the Twin Cities and provide opportunities for employers to discover and support new talent.

Our interns include Step Up alums, Minneapolis and Saint Paul public schools graduates, Wallin Scholars and Minnesota Private College Fund Black Men's Success Initiative scholars.

We're a leader in career and college readiness programs

Achieve Twin Cities has over 20 years of experience creating internships with large and small businesses, delivering nationally recognized career and college readiness programs and connecting students with professional mentors and employers.

Through Achieve College Internships, we've provided high-quality internships for over 113 students from 20 colleges and universities, connecting them with Twin Cities employers that range from global businesses to local companies, nonprofits and community-based organizations.

Here are our Achieve College Internships employers.

Meet some of our college interns

College Intern in company lounge

Dinah at People Incorporated

Dinah is a University of Minnesota student who is majoring in health and well-being sciences and minoring in public health. She found her passion for a career in mental health through her internship with People Incorporated.
Intern and supervisor at laptop

Abdulahi at Ameriprise

Abdulahi studies management information systems at Augsburg University. After completing his internship with the Ameriprise advice and wealth management business development team, he accepted a permanent position at the company.
High school and college interns in hospital hallway

Hani at Children's Minnesota

Step Up alum Hani (right) is a nursing student at Concordia University. During her college internship in the Children's Minnesota Infant Care Center, she learned new skills and mentored Step Up intern Sabrin (left), who was also working in the Center.
Man standing in office smiling

Kevyn at Boston Scientific

Kevyn studies electrical engineering at the University of St. Thomas. He gained key skills in facilities engineering during his Boston Scientific internship.
Woman wearing a mask working at a desktop computer

Suabyi at Graco

Suabyi did her summer internship at Graco in the purchasing department. New professional connections and hands-on experience at Graco enrich her business major at Hamline University.
Man wearing lab coat working with technical equipment

Brian at Upsher-Smith

Brian is a mechanical engineering student at Dunwoody College of Technology. He deepened his career exploration through a metrology internship at Upsher-Smith.

Our Interns: Preparing for Professional Careers

  • Our interns are already on a leadership trajectory, preparing for professional success and building upon rich personal and professional experiences. They include include Step Up alums, Minneapolis and Saint Paul public schools graduates, Wallin Scholars and Minnesota Private College Fund Black Men's Success Initiative scholars.
  • Interns are local students. They are enrolled full-time in a four-year college, are deeply connected to our community and represent a direct line to future permanent hires. Participants are college juniors.
  • Interns are ready to succeed and stay. Our participants are a committed cohort of students who receive professional skills training and mentoring prior to their internships. They are driven to lead and build their careers in Minnesota.
  • Interns are predominantly students of color. They represent a wide diversity of talent, skills and life experience that are critically underrepresented in our regional businesses and organizations.
contact our team

Our Employers: Partnering for Internship Success

Our team works closely with employers to provide the resources and support they need for successful internships.

  • The right candidates are matched to positions: We work with employers to assess their specific needs and opportunities and then connect them with candidates who are the best fit.
  • Foundational training to prepare interns: Participants complete several hours of leadership and work readiness training before internships begin.
  • Intern coaching and professional development: Each intern has a designated job coach. Interns also participate in additional summer training designed to strengthen their leadership and workplace skills.
  • Supervisor training: We equip supervisors with best practices training, tools and access to cultural competency trainings to ensure that interns receive the support they need.
Link to employer interest form

Check out these Achieve College Internship worksites

Upsher-Smith

Upsher-Smith

Product marketing supervisor Alyssa with intern Efrata, and metrology intern Brian with his supervisor Stephanie

Man sitting at a desk working on a computer

Summit Academy

Marketing and communications intern Ziggy

Two people standing against wall with skyline against them

RSP Architects

Architectural intern Mikoto with her supervisor, Alex

Two people standing in front of Graco logo

Graco

Purchasing intern Suabyi (right) and her supervisor, Rochele

College intern in front of Children's Minnesota sign

Children's Minnesota

Intern in front of office wall at Amerirprise

Ameriprise

Two people standing in hall

Upsher-Smith

Product marketing intern Efrata (right) with her supervisor, Alyssa

Two people standing in office hallway looking at the camera

Summit Academy

Marketing and communications intern Ziggy with his supervisor, Jill

Woman standing with crossed arms in front of wall with architecture documents

RSP Architects

Architectural intern Mikoto 

Two people walking down an office hallway

Graco

Purchasing intern Suabyi and her supervisor, Rochele

Intern and supervisor sitting together in hospital lobby

Children's Minnesota

Intern sitting in office chair

People Incorporated

Two people at table with laptops

Upsher-Smith

Metrology intern Brian with his supervisor, Stephanie

Two men in front of Boston Scientific logo on office wall

Boston Scientific

Facilities engineering intern Kevyn with his supervisor, Jordan

Intern leaning against pole in office

People Incorporated

Intern and supervisor sitting at table with laptop and smiling

Ameriprise

College intern with Xcel Energy manager

Xcel Energy

College intern in hospital lobby

Children's Minnesota

Intern sitting at office table

People Incorporated

Amerirprise interns and supervisors in office

Ameriprise

College intern and supervisor in hospital lobby

Children's Minnesota

Interns and supervisor standing in front of office signs

People Incorporated

Intern at office desk at Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy

"The Pollen team told me time and again how the work I was doing directly impacted their company and helped their staff. The projects I took on allowed the rest of the team to tackle other work and will help with efficiency in the future, too. A couple of my projects are even being published!"

Kiani, intern at Pollen Midwest
Architectural intern Mikoto looks over project plans with supervisor, Alex

Learn how you can hire an Achieve college intern for summer 2023

Employer info