This page has been tailored to provide industry-related opportunities, resources, and information for students interested in careers in government, policy, and international relations. Explore the blog posts, videos, events, job and internships, resources, and connect with alumni through this community!
Government jobs often have very good benefits and job security. Entry-level pay may not be as high as a corporate job, but there are easy paths to raises and promotions once you begin working in government. Some people may complain that change is slow to happen, while others prefer the stability of the work. While public change may take longer at times due to laws, regulations, or votes, it often has a wide-reaching impact, which many find fulfilling and worth the wait. You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which can help alleviate the pressure of student loans.
Generally, internships with federal and state government agencies are advertised. Agencies often have annual internship programs that take place each year or summer, many of which are labeled as Pathways Internships. Most federal positions are posted on USA Jobs, but Intelligence agencies and the Department of Justice, as well as other levels of government (state, local, etc.) may post jobs on other sites.
Internships with senators and members of Congress are typically advertised through the legislative branch websites – you can find more information about jobs and internships through the House Employment Bulletin or Senate Placement Office. These sites will send you a weekly email attachment with posted opportunities. We suggest using your computer’s search function to find keywords like your state or an issue of interest.
Internships at the local government level may be advertised, but it may also be possible to generate an internship with municipal or county government. Contact the particular department you are interested in, discuss your interests and skills, demonstrate how these might fit with the department’s needs, and make an internship proposal.
Suggested summer or full-semester programs:
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection is looking for bright and motivated interns that interested in preserving and protecting the NYC water supply and making the city more sustainable. Interns receive in-depth work experience that supports core functions …
Thursday, March 25 (Apply by March 8 March 15)
4:30pm to 8pm (on-campus, in-person)
The application deadline has been extended for this year’s Grad School Prep Lab! This one-night, intensive workshop, hosted by Cornell Career Services and the Graduate …
Madelynn Hollis 
Meghan Kilfeather Cornell Career Services surveys undergraduate and many professional master’s graduates to obtain information on their career plans after graduation. To learn more about our approach to career data and outcomes, please visit: https://career.cornell.edu/career-statistics-and-outcomes/. The below interactive tools will allow you to explore outcomes by graduation year, school, major, degree and employer industries.
Most Recent Class Overview (Undergraduate Class of 2025):
| Knowledge Rate | Employed or in Graduate School | Mean Starting Salary | Top Employment Industries |
| 72.8% of those graduating in the class of 2025
N=4,283 |
91.3% employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation | $88,208 average salary among undergraduates employed full-time in the United States | Financial Services, Technology, Consulting/Professional Services, Human Healthcare Services and Education |
The data displayed defaults to include multi-year outcomes of undergraduate and graduate programs at Cornell University. Use the dropdown menus above to customize your search based on academic year, academic divisions/schools, degree, employer industry or programs/majors.
This is a list of employers that hired the most graduates in the selected filter settings. Please note that employers are listed first in the order of those that hired the most graduates.
The salary information below is self-reported by graduates employed full-time. This information does not include international or military salaries. The figures represent base salaries and do not include bonuses or other forms of compensation. Some programs or majors may not show salary data if there are less than 10 responses in the data set.
Cornell graduates land in a variety of employment industries after graduation.
New grads build careers in the United States and beyond. This graph shows where students have accepted positions within the United States and around the world. Tip: Hover over each state to see the percentage of graduates in that state.
Cornell graduates pursue advanced degrees at some of the nation’s top institutions in the United States and around the world. The list below shows universities in the order of those that are most attended by Cornell graduates.
The chart below shows degrees being pursued by graduates immediately after graduation.
Cornell graduates are well positioned for continuing education in a wide variety of fields of study.
We don’t have enough student data to show you these results.
