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A big paycheck is nice, but what interns really want is a chance to gain practical work experience, make in-office connections and secure a full-time job.
That's according to the 2025 U.S. News Intern Survey, which asked 1,740 interns and aspiring interns about their preferences regarding internship benefits, work arrangements and company size.
The findings complicate the narrative that entry-level workers, especially those in Generation Z, demonstrate low work ethic, unprofessionalism and a preference for telecommuting.
In fact, as new workers enter a job market where artificial intelligence is eroding the availability of entry-level roles, interns are expressing a desire for personal connection and hands-on experience.
"Internships that offer clear paths to full-time employment are extremely valuable," one respondent said.
The survey responses, collected between Sept. 18, 2025, and Nov. 11, 2025, posed 23 questions on internship preferences to high schoolers, college students, graduate school students and recent grads. There were some slight variations between the cohorts, but overall trends remained consistent. Here were the key findings:
- Interns crave practical work experience and skill development. When asked to prioritize their motivations for seeking an internship, interns' top response was "gain practical work experience," with 27% selecting that answer.
- Interns want to stand out ... but not stand alone. A medium company, with 201 to 1,000 employees, was the preferred environment for interns, with 32% choosing that response. And respondents did not want to be the sole intern (just 6% selected that option), nor did they tend to favor very large companies or very large intern cohorts.
- Interns want to meet in person. Just 15% of respondents prefer fully remote work. Instead, hybrid models and fully in-person arrangements are the strong favorites among respondents.
Here are more takeaways from the survey
Pay Barely Registers as a Priority – Interns Crave Professional Development
Recent workplace fads, such as the "act your wage" movement and "bare minimum Mondays," have encouraged employees to prioritize self-care over professional striving.
But respondents to our survey bucked those trends.
They largely prioritized skill development and job opportunities over financial compensation or work-life balance. When asked to prioritize their motivations for seeking an internship, interns' top response was "gain practical work experience," with 27% selecting that answer. "I would like structured mentorship and the chance to collaborate across departments," one respondent said.
"Financial compensation" was the least prioritized motivation, with just 4% of respondents selecting this as a primary motivator.
Additionally, when evaluating workplace benefits, interns strongly valued opportunities for full-time employment after the internship.
Interns' Preferred Work Environment: A Midsize Company
A Silicon Valley startup or a Fortune 500 company might seem like classic internship environments. But they didn't appeal to most interns in the U.S. News survey.
Instead, a medium company, with 201 to 1,000 employees, was the favorite environment for interns, with 32% choosing that response. A small company, with 51 to 200 employees, was the second-most popular choice.
The least popular selection was a very large or enterprise company, with 10,000-plus employees. Just 8% of respondents wanted that environment. Startups were similarly unpopular, with only 12% of respondents opting for that preference.
One takeaway: Interns want a company large enough to offer a full spectrum of professional experiences, but not so large that they get lost in the crowd.
Remote Work? For Interns, That's So 2020
Younger workers came of age amid the COVID-19 pandemic-era remote-work models. But they're not interested in the relative isolation of a home office.
Instead, interns wanted a hybrid model, with a mix of in-person and remote work. About 45% selected that answer. A close second was fully in person, with 40% opting for that arrangement.
Just 15% wanted to be fully remote. Additionally, when asked to prioritize various workplace benefits, the remote work option was one of the least popular selections, with just 6% making that choice.
Want to Grab a Coffee? Interns Want to Network with Co-Workers and Peers
While just 11% of interns listed "network with professionals" as the priority when seeking an internship, other responses indicate a desire to meet and connect with professionals in person.
"Opportunities to collaborate with other interns on a small project would help me build teamwork skills and make the experience more fun," one respondent said.
Just 6% want to be the only intern. And 36% of respondents noted that they'd prefer to be a member of a medium-sized group of six to 20 interns.
About 19% prefer a large internship class of 21 to 50 interns, and another 24% would like to join a small group of two to five interns.
Additionally, a preference for midsize companies and in-person work demonstrates an eye toward making personal connections and fostering professional networks during an internship.
Who Were the Respondents?
Most respondents to the survey were graduate (39%) or undergraduate (32%) college students. High school students and recent graduates were also represented in the survey.
The industries they were eyeing ran the gamut, with information technology, health care and research, and engineering and construction dominating the bunch.
Methodology
Data for the U.S. News Intern Survey was collected between Sept. 18, 2025, and Nov. 11, 2025. It included responses from 1,740 interns and internship-seekers, including high schoolers, college students, graduate students and recent graduates.
Respondents were identified through a variety of channels, including university career services offices and job-search sites. Participants answered 23 questions, including multiple-choice formats and open-ended responses. Responses were collected through SurveyMonkey.
