Fayetteville State University has made significant strides in preparing its students for successful careers by providing students with internships and experiential learning opportunities that help them gain the necessary skills and connections to secure employment post graduation. 

The journey begins as early as new or transfer students complete orientation. Students explore their interests with career counselors to identify a focus of study and create a plan for obtaining a degree that will set them up for the roles they want. 

FSU’s Career Services team provides personalized support, helping students navigate opportunities in fields ranging from accounting and cybersecurity to education and healthcare. The process includes one-on-one meetings, resume tailoring and direct connections with industry partners. The university’s strong relationships with employers such as Cape Fear Valley Health, Fidelity, Cisco, Blue Cross Blue Shield and SAS have resulted in a steady pipeline of internship and job opportunities for students.

Internships at FSU are not one-size-fits-all. The program offers both paid and unpaid positions, recognizing the diverse needs of its student body, which includes many adult learners and active-duty military members. 

Internship opportunities at FSU are available to students at all class levels, from freshmen to graduate students, thanks to partnerships with companies that value diverse talent. The university uses the Handshake platform to connect students with thousands of job and internship listings tailored specifically for college students.

Students are able to complete their on-the-job learning in multiple formats: 61% of internships are in-person, 22% remote and 25% hybrid. Most internships take place over the summer and last 10 to 12 weeks.

FSU boasts a wealth of student success stories. From C-suite executives to elected officials and scrum masters, broncos are setting the standards for excellence across industries. Many of these students built their bridge to success through internships. 

Peer Career Coach Shereena Jean Francois interned with PricewaterhouseCoopers two summers in a row and is now preparing to move to Boston for a full-time position with the company. Another student, Jester Williams, is starting with Cisco’s FLEX Emerging Leaders program, a full-time three-year rotational program. Nigel Gonzalez, an FSU graduate at just 19 years old, completed an internship with the Bureau of Land Management in Oregon during the summer of 2024 and a subsequent internship as a Financial Crimes Intern with U.S. Bank in Charlotte. These are just a few examples of the high achieving students that secure their futures at FSU. 

The university recently surpassed its ambitious goal of obtaining 1,250 paid internships in four years, but that was only a checkpoint, not the finish line. FSU continues to seek ways to expand and improve its internship offerings. 

Recent grants from the City of Fayetteville have enabled the university to fund unpaid internships, opening up more opportunities to students. The team also hopes to secure more resources to support students who seek out internships that require travel.

According to the National Association for Colleges and Employers, students who complete internships during their collegiate journey earn significantly higher starting salaries post graduation. Students who graduated with an internship under their belt earned a median starting salary of $67,500 compared to $45,000 for students who did not take advantage of these experiential learning opportunities.

Fayetteville State University’s Career Services team understands the importance of student-centered, experiential learning. By fostering strong employer partnerships, offering flexible opportunities and supporting students from all backgrounds, FSU is helping its students become change-makers in their chosen fields and setting them on the path to long-term career success.