CU Public Interest Internship Experience (PIIE)

Public Interest Internship Experience

The CU 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 are open Jan. 19–Feb. 8 for summer 2026!

Apply Now!

Important Dates
  • Jan. 14: PIIE Applications Best Practices Virtual Presentation. Register on Handshake. 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. 20: 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 CU 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 CU PIIE internship, a student must:

  • Be a full-time undergraduate at CU 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.

  • International students are not eligible to apply.

Interns are matched with a mentor (typically a CU staff member) who provides support throughout the summer.

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 CU 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 CU Boulder. Please 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

If you are a recipient of a CU 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 mentor at least three times throughout the semester.
  • Attend a PIIE orientation, professional development activities at CU Boulder, and an end of summer PIIE celebration.