How do WashU and Michigan compare for internship opportunities?

Both schools can get you strong internships, but they do it in slightly different ways. Michigan usually offers a larger, more built-out recruiting ecosystem because of its scale, alumni network, and employer presence across business, engineering, tech, consulting, and finance. WashU also places students well, especially in pre-med, research, healthcare, business, and certain STEM areas, but the path can feel a bit more self-directed and relationship-based.

Michigan tends to suit the student who wants a very broad internship market with lots of on-campus recruiting and a huge alumni base spread across major cities. Employers know the school well, and students in Ross, engineering, computer science, and related fields often benefit from especially visible pipelines. Even outside those programs, Michigan’s size means more clubs, project teams, career fairs, and peer networks that can lead to experience early.

WashU can be excellent for the student who wants closer faculty access, a more intimate campus environment, and strong support finding research, healthcare, and academically connected opportunities. St. Louis gives access to hospitals, research institutes, nonprofits, and some solid business internships, and WashU students often build resumes through lab work, campus jobs, and personalized connections before moving into larger-name internships later. That can work very well, but it may require being proactive earlier.

If by internship opportunities you mean sheer volume of recruiting and employer variety, Michigan has the edge. If you value a smaller environment where professors and advisors may know you more personally and help you find tailored opportunities, WashU has real advantages.

A lot depends on your field. For engineering, CS, business, consulting, and finance, Michigan is hard to ignore because of its scale and national pull. For pre-med, biomedical research, public health-adjacent work, and students who want close mentoring while still having access to strong outcomes, WashU is very compelling.