¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Public Interest Internship Experience (PIIE)

Public Interest Internship Experience

The ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Public Interest Internship Experience (PIIE) Program was established in 2006 to connect students interested in civic engagement with paid internships at nonprofits and government agencies. PIIE was the first of its kind among public universities in the nation and has become increasingly competitive since its first summer. Now in its 21st year, PIIE has provided more than 200 internships in fields ranging from animal welfare to education, health, law, sustainability and more.


Applications for summer 2026 will open on January 19. Please check back for an updated list of 2026 opportunities in January.Ìý


Curious about application best practices? Join us virtually on January 14 for a PIIE Application Best Practices Presentation.Ìý

Internship positions for 2025: (Please note we will update positions for 2026 in January. These are previous positions from summer 2025 and are examples of what 2026 opportunities may be similar to.)

Important Dates
  • Jan. 14: PIIE Applications Best Practices Virtual Presentation. . This presentation is optional but a great way to learn more about the application process.
  • Jan. 19: Applications open
  • Feb. 8: Applications due by 11:59 p.m.
  • Feb. 19–Mar. 13: Applications reviewed by PIIE and host organizations. Interviews conducted during this time and offers will be made.
  • Mar. 21: Deadline for students to accept or decline received offers.

Once students submit their full application, they will be initially reviewed by the PIIE board to identify potential candidates. Successful applications will then be sent to host organizations. Employers will then contact candidates to set up interviews.

By the end of March, all PIIE internships will have offers made and accepted. The ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä PIIE director will work with applicants who do not receive an internship offer by providing resources that may help them in their future.

In order to be eligible for a ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä PIIE internship, a student must:

  • Be a full-time undergraduate at ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder. Student must also be continuing enrollment (study abroad counts) for the following fall semester after the internship takes place.

  • Be in good academic standing with a GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Interns are matched with an advisor for the semester (typically a ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä staff member) who acts in a mentorship capacity and provides support throughout the semester

Interns participate in professional development activities with Career Services to learn more about skills they are gaining and reflect on their experiences

Interns are awarded a total of $5,000 if chosen for the PIIE program. Payment is distributed in the form of a recognition award from ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä PIIE, and direct payment from the host organization. The internship requires completion of 250 hours over the course of 9-12 weeks. This equates to approximately $20 an hour.

Recognition Awards are considered "Other Financial Aid (OFA)" and, consequently, must be reported to Financial Aid. Financial Aid assesses all forms of financial aid, including OFA when determining a student’s eligibility for financial assistance at ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder.ÌýPlease contact a Financial Aid advisor to determine how Recognition Awards could impact your financial aid.

  • View the internship descriptions above and pick your top two choices.
  • Complete all necessary forms and create materials needed.
  • Submit your application no later than 11:59 p.m. on February 8.
Application Materials
  • One completedÌý.
  • An updatedÌýresume. The quality of your resume affects your application. If you want your resume reviewed, you can attend virtual office hours Monday-Thursday with Peer Career Advisors.
  • Two separateÌýcover lettersÌýfor your top two organization choices from the list above.

If you are a recipient of a ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä PIIE internship, you must be able to:

  • Fulfill all responsibilities of their internship, including traveling to and from their host organization (if applicable some opportunities are fully remote).
  • Meet with their designated advisor at least twice throughout the semester.
  • Attend a PIIE orientation, professional development activities at ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder, and an end of summer PIIE celebration.