Who Gets to Intern? Demographic and Institutional Predictors of Internship Participation Among International Students

This study examines the relationship between senior international students’ demographic characteristics, institutional contexts, and internship participation in U.S. higher education institutions. Despite universities’ emphasis on preparing globally competent, workforce-ready graduates, international students may face limited access to career preparation opportunities (Calonge et al., 2023; Lin, 2023). Guided by Astin’s Input-Environment-Output Model, Social Cognitive Career Theory, and Experiential Learning Theory, the researchers conducted a quantitative secondary-data analysis using 2019–2020 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) data. Descriptive statistics assessed trends in internship participation, while logistic regression explored predictive relationships between student demographics, institutional factors, and participation rates. Among 920 students, 78% reported completing, currently participating in, or planning an internship. Participation was highest among students from Africa/Sub-Saharan regions (92.3%) and Asia (84.6%), followed by Europe (83.2%). Regression analyses revealed no statistically significant effects of gender, nationality, institutional type, or classification on internship engagement, except for students majoring in Computer Science or Civil Engineering, who demonstrated higher participation, likely due to program-specific internship requirements. These findings indicate that international students’ internship engagement is generally equitable across demographic and institutional categories but highlight opportunities for institutions to strengthen career-preparation support. The study provides evidence-based insights for higher education practitioners and researchers, supporting initiatives to enhance international student career development and experiential learning experiences. This research contributes to understanding factors influencing internship participation and offers a foundation for future studies on workforce readiness and global student engagement.