Demystifying the value of internships

The report, “Maximizing the Value of Internships: Advice From Employers,” translates these insights into actionable guidance for leaders in human resources, talent acquisition, and workforce strategy. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

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March 25, 2026

In white, text says New report: employer insights on ROI in internships. There is a student working on a tablet looking at a machine.

While the benefits of internships for students are well-known, many organizations struggle to measure their true impact as a strategic business investment. To bridge this gap, Strada and UpSkill America at the Aspen Institute interviewed 40 diverse employers to uncover how internships solve persistent challenges.

This report, “Maximizing the Value of Internships: Advice From Employers,” translates these insights into actionable guidance for leaders in human resources, talent acquisition, and workforce strategy. It moves beyond isolated metrics to provide a clear framework for aligning internship programs with core business priorities.

The report also highlights four employers that share lessons learned about how to increase the value of their investment in internships.

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Where we focus

Clear Outcomes | Quality Coaching | Affordability |

Work-Based Learning | Employer Alignment

Today’s enthusiasm surrounding work-based learning may be supported by a growing research base – work-based learning has been linked to postgraduation outcomes such as higher graduation rates and increased starting salaries – but enthusiasm isn’t enough.

Sector leaders are now united by one ambitious goal: dramatically scaling these high-impact programs.

Yet research consistently shows that the demand for internships has outpaced the supply. The 2025 State Opportunity Index, for example, found that only 43 percent of graduating seniors at four-year institutions had participated in a paid work-based learning experience.

This week Kevin Grubb, Strada vice president of work-based learning, kicked off a three-part series of LinkedIn articles that will explore promising practices for leaders who are navigating how to pair more students with quality work-based learning opportunities.

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News from Strada

WEBINAR: Join New America’s Future of Work and Innovation Economy initiative, in partnership with Strada and the Association for Community College Trustees, for a discussion about the critical value of regional intermediaries for workforce and economic development. Featured in the conversation will be Strada’s Ruth Watkins, Laura Love, and Lara Bach.

SUMMIT: Dozens of HBCU presidents, chancellors, and senior leaders — plus about 300 Strada Scholars — gathered this weekend in Dallas at the HBCU Leadership Summit, the fourth since the Strada HBCU Initiative’s inception in 2021. Students explored their career paths and networked with professionals in their chosen fields.

REPORT: A new Strada-funded report from The Burning Glass Institute and the National Institute for Student Success shows that consistent and intentional education-to-career guidance leads to employment and workforce alignment, plus positive career progression and earnings.