Is Indiana University or Arizona State University better for internships?

The biggest practical tradeoff is employer access by location versus alumni pull by school reputation in certain fields. Arizona State benefits from being in the Phoenix metro area, which gives students year-round access to a large and growing job market in tech, business, healthcare, government, and startups. Indiana University, especially through Kelley, has a very strong employer network and alumni base, but many of the most valuable opportunities may involve more structured recruiting or spending summers in other cities.

For internships specifically, ASU has an edge if you want volume, convenience, and the ability to intern during the school year. Being in and around Phoenix makes it easier to build experience early, because many employers are close enough for part-time internships while classes are in session. That can matter a lot if your goal is to stack multiple internships before senior year.

IU is especially compelling if you are in business, finance, accounting, or related fields where Kelley’s recruiting presence is a real asset. Employers know the school, alumni are active, and students often benefit from more established pipelines into internships and post-grad roles. In some fields, that brand and network can outweigh the fact that Bloomington is not a major corporate hub itself.

If your interests are broader or lean toward tech, engineering, communications, public policy, healthcare admin, or entrepreneurship, ASU’s metro location and industry connections are often more practical. If you are choosing IU because of Kelley or another program with strong dedicated recruiting, IU can be the more powerful launchpad.