Is Middlebury or Boston University better for internships?

The biggest practical tradeoff is access versus structure: Boston University gives you far easier day-to-day access to internships during the school year because you are in Boston, while Middlebury offers a smaller, more hands-on environment but far fewer nearby options you can realistically do alongside classes. At BU, students can reach employers in finance, healthcare, media, tech, nonprofits, government, and research without leaving the city. At Middlebury, internships are more likely to happen in the summer, during breaks, or through school-supported funding and alumni connections rather than through quick local commuting.

In practice, BU is better for internships for most students. Its location matters a lot because being in Boston makes part-time in-semester internships much more feasible, and BU has strong links to major hospitals, startups, consulting firms, public-interest organizations, and corporate offices. That can be especially helpful if you want to build experience early, try more than one field, or turn an internship into ongoing work during the semester.

Middlebury is not weak on outcomes, but the path looks different. The college has a very engaged alumni network, strong advising, and funding support that can help students pursue internships in places like New York, DC, or abroad. The advantage of a small liberal arts college is often more individualized mentorship and closer faculty relationships, which can help you win selective opportunities. The downside is that the surrounding area does not provide the same volume or variety of in-semester options.

One important nuance is that Middlebury can be especially compelling in fields tied to its strengths, such as languages, international work, environmental studies, and certain policy or nonprofit paths. But if the question is simply which campus gives you broader and more convenient internship access while you are enrolled, BU has the edge by a clear margin.