Finance Internships for College & High School Students (2025-2026)

Investment banking and other finance jobs are getting increasingly competitive. As a result, the recruiting season is starting earlier and earlier each year. In order to gain a spot at a top-tier bank or fund, most students apply for finance internships starting their sophomore year of college, for matriculation the following summer.

To get even more experience on a resume, ambitious students are now looking for internships starting their freshman year in college.

Tips for Freshmen Aspiring to a Career in Finance

Because of the quantitative and technical demands of finance internships, most companies will not pay much attention to freshmen applicants. However, this time can be spent cultivating the required skills and experience to be a competitive applicant in the next few years. Here are six tips for freshmen who are hoping to eventually score an internship and career at a top-tier bank:

1. Fill in the gaps

Though you may not be actively searching for an IB internship, fill your resume with other experiences and accomplishments. For example, join finance clubs and position yourself for a leadership position. Take relevant courses and do well in them. Volunteer and pursue extracurricular activities that you enjoy. Get relevant work experience that will give you useful training and experiences to speak about in your personal story and in your “Why banking?” interview question.

Read: A Guide to the Investment Banking Interview: Tips from an Expert

2. Hustle during your sophomore year

Your sophomore year is when banks will actively be recruiting for junior internships. Make sure you are set up for success so when the time comes, you are polished and ready to nail your interviews. You should build your connections, gain valuable work and leadership experiences, practice your story, and know your technicals.

Getting a return offer after your junior internship will actively propel you as you begin your career in finance.

Read: Investment Banking Technical Interview Questions & Answers and How to Nail the Second Most Common Investment Banking Interview Question

3. Build your quantitative skillset

Finance internships are heavily quantitative, and students hoping to pursue a career in the industry will need to demonstrate mathematical abilities. By taking the right courses and practicing technical skills, you’ll be able to build a solid foundation. You don’t need to be a math major, but you do need to be good with numbers.

4. Know Excel

For anyone hoping to get into investment banking, Microsoft Excel is extremely important. Junior analysts and associates use Excel almost every day for return analyses, data mining, and more. Learning Excel while you’re a freshman means fewer late nights teaching yourself later on.

5. Read the news

To gain basic literacy in finance lingo, we recommend reading the news to understand how the markets are talked about. Newspapers like the Wall Street Journal are technical enough that you’ll be able to learn something, while basic enough to understand the gist. Many newspapers also offer newsletters and podcasts to stay up-to-date on the latest industry developments. Many universities offer free subscriptions to these newspapers through the library, so be sure to check yours before paying for one.

Read: The Best Investment Banking Newsletters and Podcasts to Subscribe To

6. Go local

If you’re set on completing some type of finance internship during your freshman year, ask around at local banks, funds, or corporate offices to see if there are any positions available that haven’t been widely advertised. Usually, these firms are less hesitant to hire freshmen, and the jobs can be a good introduction to the world of finance. Also, having experience already on your resume will make you that much more of a competitive applicant in the following years.

The Ultimate Resume Guide

Use our comprehensive resume guide with its investment banking-specific tips and examples to prep a standout IB resume and get your foot in the door.

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Best Summer Finance Internships for Freshmen (2025–2026)

These summer internships are open to college freshmen (and in some cases, sophomores) and offer the kind of experience, exposure, and mentorship that can give you a serious edge. Here are some of the top finance-related internships across the U.S. for Summer 2026.

1. Goldman Sachs

Role: 2026 Summer Analyst Program

What You'll Do:

• Participate in orientation and comprehensive training
• Work directly on teams within Investment Banking, Asset Management, or Operations
• Contribute to real projects alongside full-time employees

Basic Qualifications (Required Skill/Experience):

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's degree
• Ability to work full-time, in person, during the summer

Preferred Qualifications (Desired Skills/Experience):

• Enrolled in a Bachelor's program (any major)
• Must be able to work full-time in-person in Summer 2026
• Strong academic performance, leadership, and interest in finance
• Open to students across the U.S. (multiple U.S. locations available)

See the job post here.

2. Deloitte

Role: Discovery Intern – Audit & Assurance (Summer 2026)

What You'll Do:

• Rotate across client service lines to explore multiple career paths
• Gain mentorship and participate in developmental workshops
• Collaborate with teams on meaningful business projects
• Available in Deloitte offices nationwide

Eligibility:

• College freshman or sophomore pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field
• Definitive plans to pursue the minimum requirements for CPA eligibility
• Strong academic credentials (minimum GPA of 3.2)

See the job post here.

3. Abbott Labs

Role: 2026 Finance Internship

What You'll Do:

• Gain hands-on experience for students with proven academic performance and leadership potential
• Utilize and further develop technical and soft skills (i.e, communication), business knowledge, analytical techniques, and creative problem-solving abilities
• Work in corporate and operating unit headquarters, manufacturing plants, or support function locations, where the interns will interact with various finance co-workers and business partners

Eligibility:

• Completed at least one year of college education before beginning internship
• Must be enrolled in school in the semester following your internship
• BS/BA student
• Before graduation, planning to complete a minimum of 4 Accounting classes (one 3-4 credit hour accounting course needs to be a cost accounting)
• School and/or work experience using Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Offered in multiple U.S. cities (IL, OH, TX, CA, and more)

See the job post here.

4. Highmark Health

Role: Undergraduate Intern - Business Analyst

What You'll Do:

• Acquire practical experience through direct exposure, training, and experience in business lines
• Work on projects and programs, plan and implement initiatives
• Conduct research and write reports for recommendations and proposals
• Work in collaboration with customers to translate high-level business needs into detailed requirements for new capabilities, provide root cause analysis, and ensure quality delivery

Eligibility:

• Enrolled in a U.S. college or university
• Available full-time in Summer 2026
• Multiple office locations and remote options available

See the job posting here.

5. KPMG

Role: Embark Scholars Internship (Summer 2026)

What You'll Do:

• Designed for underrepresented students to explore finance, audit, and advisory services
• Rotational exposure + mentorship + networking
• Develop foundational skills in professional services

Eligibility:

• Freshman or sophomore interested in business/finance
• Available in major cities across the U.S.

See the job post here.

6. PwC

Role: Start Internship – Finance & Consulting Focus

What You'll Do:

• Explore career paths in finance, accounting, and consulting
• Participate in professional development and client shadowing
• Work in diverse teams and attend firm events

Eligibility:

• Freshman or sophomore pursuing a business-related major
• Open to underrepresented students
• Nationwide locations + hybrid/remote options

See the job post here.

7. Capital One

Role: Finance Internship Program

What You'll Do:

• Support teams in corporate finance, treasury, or internal audit
• Use data analysis to inform business decisions
• Join workshops and mentoring from finance professionals

Eligibility:

• Typically open to sophomores, but early applicants are encouraged
• Internship offered in multiple Capital One hubs (VA, TX, IL, etc.)

See the job post here.

8. John Deere

Role: Accounting/Finance Summer Intern 2025

What You'll Do:

• Complete process improvement projects by utilizing finance automation techniques
• Understand and use financial software tools (Excel, Power BI, etc.)
• Gather, review, and analyze financial information
• Work cross-functionally to solve business problems
• Develop professional skills by networking and interacting with Deere leaders

Eligibility:

• Must be currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in accounting, finance, economics, business analytics, or a related major with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Must have completed at least 6 credit hours of accounting courses
• Internship opportunities across multiple U.S. cities

See the job post here.

9. AT&T

Role: EDGE Internship Program

What You'll Do:

• Work alongside a team on an innovative group project in one of five focus areas (technology, sales, finance, marketing, and corporate)
• Present project findings to an executive panel of judges
• Develop essential skills for full-time management positions

Eligibility:

• Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree at an accredited college/university
• Must be able to work full-time, in person, for 10-12 weeks
• The program runs in multiple cities across the U.S.

See the job post here.

10. Vanguard

Role: College to Corporate Finance Internship

What You'll Do:

• Analyze budgets, forecast financials, and influence business strategy
• Attend speaker series and mentorship events
• Work on cross-functional projects

Eligibility:

• Pursuing a finance or business-related degree
• GPA of 3.0+
• Internship offered in AZ, NC, and PA, with relocation assistance for some roles

See the job post here.

Why Early Finance Internships Give You a Competitive Edge

For finance students looking to break into competitive fields like investment banking, asset management, or commercial banking, securing early, paid finance internships can be a game-changer. These roles do more than fill your resume; they teach critical thinking, develop leadership skills, and expose you to the real-world application of your academic knowledge.

In most freshman and sophomore internships, you’ll work on meaningful projects like financial analysis, portfolio management, or risk management tasks that contribute to actual business decisions. Whether you're modeling revenue scenarios or researching market trends, these experiences teach the language and pace of the industry early.

Even more valuable is the exposure to financial management systems and data analytics tools that industry leaders use every day, including Excel, SQL, and increasingly, machine learning models used for forecasting or fraud detection. These technologies are no longer optional. Top employers expect finance majors to bring more than just coursework; they want students who can think strategically and gain experience applying financial principles in tech-forward environments.

Internships also provide an inside look at how firms navigate economic progress, market volatility, and capital allocation. By learning how decisions are made under uncertainty, you’ll begin to build instincts around risk management and resource prioritization: skills that are critical whether you're working in commercial banking, private equity, or corporate finance.

Finally, early internships help you build a network of mentors and professionals. Many programs offer workshops, speaker series with industry leaders, and structured mentorship opportunities that will help shape your path beyond college.

Land an IB Job With the Help of an Expert

Whether you are preparing for interviews, polishing your resume, or simply interested in the investment banking industry, the best way to prepare yourself for a successful career in banking is to talk to an expert. Here are several of our top investment banking coaches. Browse all of them here.

Here are several other articles you may find helpful:

• How to Ace Your Alpine Investors PE Interview
• How to Ace Your TA Associates PE Interview
• The Best Venture Capital & Private Equity Newsletters and Podcasts to Subscribe To
• The Top 10 Venture Capital Fellowships
• An Expert's Guide to Resumes: Five Tips to Make You Stand Out
• What to Do if You Didn't Have an Internship This Summer

FAQs

Can you get a finance internship as a freshman?

• Many students wonder if top firms hire freshmen. While rare, it is possible, especially through early insight programs or local firms. Some roles are designed to build early pipelines for underrepresented talent.

What should I do in my freshman year for finance?

• This question commonly appears in search and aligns with a reader's mindset of building a long-term path. The answer typically involves joining finance clubs, networking, building Excel skills, and reading financial news—elements that support internship readiness.

Is it hard to get a finance internship with no experience?

• This search reflects a big fear for freshmen. Many are unsure if they’re even competitive. Addressing this helps encourage readers that initiative, networking, and local internships can overcome the lack of a finance background.

What GPA do you need for finance internships?

• While some internships may list a 3.0–3.5 minimum GPA, this varies by firm. A well-rounded resume with leadership, involvement, and technical skills can sometimes offset a lower GPA—another great opportunity to offer advice or reassurance.

What do finance interns actually do?

• Readers often don’t know what day-to-day work looks like in finance. A short explainer or visual outlining analyst tasks—financial modeling, PowerPoint decks, research—can clarify expectations and improve confidence.