Lehigh vs Drexel for internships: which school gives better access to internship opportunities?

For internships specifically, Drexel usually offers more built-in access during college. Its co-op system is one of the school’s defining features, and students commonly alternate academic terms with full-time paid work experiences in Philadelphia and beyond. If you want internships to be part of the structure of your degree rather than something you have to piece together on your own, Drexel has the clearer advantage.

Drexel fits students who want frequent, organized career exposure starting early. The school’s quarter system and established employer pipeline make it realistic to gain substantial experience during the academic year, not just in summers. Being in Philadelphia also helps with in-semester internships, networking, and access to hospitals, startups, finance firms, engineering companies, media organizations, and nonprofits without needing to leave campus for an entire season.

Lehigh makes more sense for a student who wants a traditional residential college experience and is comfortable being more self-directed about finding internships. Lehigh has strong outcomes, a loyal alumni network, and good support through its career center, especially in fields like business, engineering, and consulting. But internships there are less embedded into the academic calendar, and Bethlehem offers fewer day-to-day options nearby than a major city does.

That does not mean Lehigh students struggle to get experience. Many do well through summer internships, alumni connections, research, and employer recruiting. The difference is that at Drexel, work experience is much more woven into how students move through college, while at Lehigh it often depends more on your own planning and outreach.

So if the main question is internship access during college, Drexel stands out more clearly. Lehigh can still lead to strong career results, but Drexel is the school more intentionally built around getting students work experience before graduation.