Prospective Applicants

Program Overview

Since 1992, HACU has offered one of the best internship programs in the country. Join our 14,000 alumni in gaining invaluable professional experience interning within a federal agency, while getting paid! 

• PAID internship
  • Spring 2024 pay rates (according to status during internship):
    • Currently enrolled or recently graduated undergraduate (associate's or bachelor's degree) = $17.20/hour
    • Currently enrolled or recently graduated graduate (master's degree, Ph.D., J.D., etc.) = $18.75/hour
• Year-round sessions: fall and spring (15 weeks) and summer (10 weeks)
• Virtual, hybrid, and in-person formats
• Full-time and part-time positions
• Numerous program benefits:
  • Federal work experience (see partners below)
  • No application fee
  • Potential for academic credit
  • Professional development seminars
  • Programmatic and student support from HNIP Staff

Current Federal Agency Partners

• Department of Justice (DOJ)
• Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM)
• Farm Credit Association (FCA)
• Federal Reserve Board (FRB)
• Library of Congress (LOC)
• National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) 
• Small Business Administration (SBA)
• U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)
  • International Trade Administration (ITA)
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • National Institute of Health (NIH)
• U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
• U.S. Department of the Treasury (DOTr)
  • Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)
  • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Eligibility

• Any race/ethnicity - does NOT need Hispanic heritage
• All MAJORS
• Currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program 
  • Any degree-level acceptable - associate's, bachelor's, master's degree, J.D., Ph.D., etc. 
  • Students pursuing a credential or certificate program are not eligible
• Limited positions available for recent graduates 
  • Spring graduates are eligible to apply up to the summer session of the same year
  • See Library of Congress Conduit Program highlighted below
• Must have completed first year of undergraduate studies
• Most positions require U.S. citizenship, per security clearance requirements
  • Students legally authorized to work in the U.S., DACA students, and permanent residents are still encouraged to apply
  • HACU participates in e-Verify

Dates and Deadlines

Application Components and Tips

Apply  Applicant Login

*Please be advised that you will not be able to move forward to a particular section without first completing the section that precedes it, but you will be able to save your work and return to the most recently completed section at a later time. 

*Do not use your browser's "Back" button while completing the application, as doing so will corrupt the information you've entered. 

*Tech issue? Please submit this form. 

*HNIP Staff will switch your application status from "Submitted" to "Eligible" only if the following sections and documents are complete. 

• Education (including current and past higher education institutions)
  •  Please make sure to fill out this section completely, with (anticipated) graduation date and answering the "recent grad" question. 
• Resume section
• Work history 
• Essay
• Enrollment verification (upload pdf)
  • An enrollment verification verifies that you are currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program. It is sometimes called "proof of enrollment" or "certificate of enrollment." It is usually accessible via your institution's student portal, but, if not, is something you can request from the Registrar's Office on your campus.
  • If needed, you/your institution may use this enrollment verification form provided by HACU. 
  • In order to satisfy this requirement, your enrollment verification must be as up to date as possible. Preferably, the enrollment verification confirms your enrollment for the time of the internship, but, otherwise, must verify your enrollment at the time of application. 
  • If you are a recent grad, instead of submitting an enrollment verification, please upload a copy of your diploma. If you have graduated, but don't yet have your diploma, you can request a degree verification letter from the Registrar's Office on your campus. If you are submitting your application for a future session during your last term of study, you can upload an enrollment verification, preferably stating your anticipated graduation date. 
• Unofficial transcripts (upload pdf)
  • This is one of the most important parts of your application! Please make sure you are submitting your most recent transcripts. Only up-to-date transcripts will satisfy this application requirement. 
  • If you have attended multiple higher education institutions, you must submit transcripts from each institution, unless your most recent institution lists your previous credits as transfer credits. 
  • In order to submit your application, you will need to upload a document in the transcript spot; please upload or type up a confirmation document stating how and when you requested your transcript so that HNIP Staff knows what and when to expect it. 
• 1-3 professional references 
  • 1 is required and up to 2 additional are optional

Available Positions

NASA General Student Auditor

NSF Summer Scholar Intern

SEC Intern

Safety Assistant

See All Positions

Connect with Us

Email: hnip@hacu.net

Phone: 202-467-0893

Tech issue? Please submit this form. 

Address:
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 430
Washington, D.C. 20036

Follow us to stay up to date!

Facebook: @HACU.NationalInternshipProgram 

Instagram: @hacu_hnip

Twitter: @HNIP

FAQ's

Can I apply to HNIP if my institution is not a HSI or HACU member?

Yes! HNIP (with federal agencies) is open to all students, whether your institution is a Hispanic-Serving Institution, HACU member, or not. Please see the eligibility section above for more information. 

I am not Hispanic, can I still participate in HNIP?

Yes! In accordance with state and federal law, HACU will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment because of race, disability, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, veteran status, or non-job related factors. Please see the eligibility section above for more information. 

Who would be my employer and pay me?

HACU serves as your employer on record. HACU is a contractor of the federal government, making interns sub-contractors of the federal government. As your official employer, HACU pays interns. 

How does housing work?

If you are selected for a hybrid or in-person internship position and required to relocate to Washington DC, HACU will arrange housing for you.

When applicable, HACU does not pay for housing, but rather fully arranges it and supports interns so there is no upfront cost or burden.

HACU will arrange for you to live with other interns, choose an appropriate apartment and location close to work and necessities, and provide furnishings so you just need to bring your suitcase. HACU ensures that there is no credit check, no security deposit, and no upfront costs (e.g. administrative fees, move-in fees, or first month's rent). Interns will have their total rent for the entire session equally divided and deducted from their bi-weekly paychecks.

All HACU interns can choose to instead arrange their own housing and manage payments on their own if they would like.

How is travel arranged and covered?

As a way to support interns if selected for a hybrid or in-person internship and relocating. Transportation to your housing for the first time will also be arranged and covered.

Can I participate in the spring session if I am graduating in fall?

Most of the internship positions require interns to be currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program during the time of the internship. There are a limited number of positions available to recent graduates. One position that is available is HNIP's Conduit Program with the Library of Congress.

I will be graduating in spring and I plan on attending graduate school the fall. Will I be paid as a graduate student for the summer before graduate school?

No. Your pay rate is determined by your degree level at the time of the internship. Please see the pay rates information above. 

If there are specific positions or agencies I am interested in, should I mention them in my application?

The only place in your application that we would suggest specifying positions or agencies is as a separate sentence before starting your actual essay. Otherwise, we highly encourage keeping your application generic since HACU can submit your application to multiple agencies. You don't want to limit your options and miss out on the perfect opportunity. 

In general, we suggest that you complete your application in a way that demonstrates your skills and goals. In doing so, you keep your options open and will not miss out on a perfect match between your own goals and those of varying agencies. Please recognize that a generic application does NOT mean lacking details. Load your application with details as they are what truly paints a picture of you and your skills and goals. 

How many hours per week is an internship?

Internships are 40-hours per week. However, some agencies are able to accommodate part-time interns, with a minimum of 20-hours per week. 

What does my application status mean?

As an applicant, prior to being selected, the three statuses you need to be aware of are as follows:

• In Progress - exactly as it sounds; you have not yet submitted your application 
• Submitted - you have submitted your application and either a) HNIP Staff need to review it for completeness or b) it is incomplete, likely missing the appropriate documents
• Eligible - HNIP Staff have reviewed your application and it is complete; your application is eligible for consideration

How can I edit my application after submitting it?

After submitting your application, you are only able to edit your general contact information. If you would like to upload different documents, please email the PDF(s) to hnip@hacu.net, making sure to mention your full name, application session, and document type(s). If you would like to edit the resume section, work history, and/or education portion(s) of your application, please email hnip@hacu.net with the details, and we will either complete the edits (if simple and quick) or change your application back to in progress for you to edit and resubmit. 

What should I do if I am having a technology issue with my application?

We are sorry to hear that you are a having a technology difficulty. Please submit a ticket here and we will follow up with you as soon as possible.

When will I be notified if I am selected or not? What is the selection process?

Once your application status is switched to eligible, your application is considered for all available positions. When HNIP receives internship openings, staff reviews the eligible applicant pool and submits applications for consideration by the agency.

HNIP continually receives position requests from agencies. Some submit requests months in advance, whereas others submit their requests a few weeks before a session starts. After filling the last position for a session, likely a few weeks into the session, we will notify all applicants not selected via email. If you are not selected, we highly encourage you to apply again as opportunities are different session to session!  

If I wasn't selected for an internship one session, is there any point in applying again?

YES, ABSOLUTELY! The positions we have change each session. We highly encourage students to apply routinely throughout their studies!

Please make sure to update your application each session to include new accomplishments and activities, including updated transcripts. 

Disclaimers

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: HACU believes that equal opportunity for all employees is important for the continuing success of our organization. In accordance with state and federal law, HACU will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment because of race, disability, color,  creed, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, veteran status, or non-job related factors in hiring, promoting, demoting, training, benefits, transfers, layoffs, terminations, recommendations, rates of pay or other forms of compensation. Opportunity is provided to all employees based on qualifications and job requirements.

ADA COMPLIANCE: HACU complies with the American with Disabilities Act, as well as all other federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to individuals with disabilities. HACU provides reasonable accommodations to disabled individuals in accordance with the terms and conditions of the ADA and all other applicable laws.

E-VERIFY NOTICE: Federal law requires the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. HACU will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.