Is Northeastern or USC better for internships?

For internships specifically, Northeastern usually offers the clearer built-in path. Its co-op model is central to the undergraduate experience, and many students graduate with multiple full-time work experiences already completed. If you want a school where structured work experience is woven into the academic calendar rather than added on top of classes, Northeastern has a real edge.

Northeastern fits students who want a highly organized pipeline into experience. The university has a long-established co-op system, dedicated employer relationships, and a culture where taking time for work placements is normal, expected, and well supported. That matters because it can be easier to get substantial experience early, not just a summer internship after sophomore or junior year. For a student who wants resume-building to be a core part of college from the start, Northeastern is hard to beat.

USC makes a lot of sense for students who are comfortable being more self-directed and want to tap into a huge city and alumni network. Being in Los Angeles gives access to internships across entertainment, business, tech, media, engineering, health fields, and startups during the school year. USC students can absolutely build strong experience, but the model is less centered on formal co-ops and more on using location, connections, and initiative to line up opportunities.

If your priority is the easiest and most systematic route to relevant work experience, I would lean Northeastern. If you are excited by the idea of networking aggressively in LA, juggling internships during the semester, and taking advantage of USC’s industry ties, USC can be excellent too.