Penn State vs. Lehigh: Which engineering school offers better access to internships?

Penn State offers better overall access to engineering internships, especially for students seeking broad national employer reach and a large engineering alumni network. Its College of Engineering has dedicated career resources and engineering-focused recruiting events that draw employers across manufacturing, energy, aerospace, technology, consulting, and government-related fields.

At University Park, the scale of recruiting is the main advantage: students can encounter many employers and job types in one place, including summer internships, co-ops, and longer-term rotational programs. That breadth is valuable for students still deciding among disciplines or seeking companies nationwide. The tradeoff is that students need to be proactive because career fairs and applicant pools are large.

Lehigh provides a more personal internship-search environment through its smaller engineering community and career support. Its Bethlehem location offers access to the Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, northern New Jersey, and New York City. Its employer relationships are particularly relevant to students interested in regional industrial firms, manufacturing, materials, finance-adjacent engineering roles, and smaller or mid-sized companies. A Lehigh student may find it easier to build direct relationships with professors, alumni, and recruiters, but Penn State’s recruiting volume and nationwide alumni reach give it the edge for overall internship access.