Now in its second year, the Summer Experience Survey (SES) is helping the Duke Career Center better understand what students are doing over the summer and what those experiences lead to. Based on over 850 student responses, the 2025 SES highlights not just when students received offers, but also what kinds of experiences they pursued, whether they were paid, and what happened next.
Most Students Completed a Summer Experience (And Internships Led the Way)
One of the clearest takeaways from the SES is that participation was high: 94% of respondents completed a summer experience. Within that group, internships were the most common experience type (45%), followed by Duke-sponsored programs (23%), such as DukeEngage and Bass Connections.
Other experiences included research (10%), continuing education (8%), and work that was not an internship (5%). This range reflects that there’s no single “right” way to build skills and explore career interests. Students are finding meaningful opportunities across many formats.
Paid Opportunities Were Common
Compensation is an important part of how students plan for the summer. Among students reporting internships and work experiences, 83% were paid.
“What did pay look like?”
Among respondents who reported compensation, earnings varied widely, an important reminder that pay can depend on factors like industry, location, hours, and experience type. Still, we can see a clear snapshot of typical ranges students reported.
Note: “Total compensation” reflects total earnings across the full summer experience (not hourly pay or monthly salary).
This wide spread is one reason students may want to budget early and explore funding pathways alongside paid opportunities.
Return Offers: A Valuable (But Not Guaranteed) Outcome
For many students, a summer experience can be a pipeline to future opportunities. The data shows that return offers were fairly common, but not universal. Overall, 53% reported no return offer, 24% received a return offer for a full-time job after graduation, and 23% received a return offer for an internship next summer.
A key takeaway: not receiving a return offer doesn’t mean your summer was unsuccessful. In some fields, return offers are less common or timelines extend beyond the summer.
What This Means for Students Planning Ahead
Taken together, the SES suggests a few practical takeaways:
- Internships are common, but not the only high-impact option. Duke-sponsored programs, research, and other experiences also play a significant role.
- Paid opportunities are available for most students in internship/work roles, but reported pay varies widely.
- A summer experience can lead directly to future opportunities, but students should also view it as a chance to build skills, clarify interests, and grow their network, regardless of whether a return offer follows.
Next Steps: Resources + Appointments
If you’re planning your summer search (or reflecting on how to talk about your experience) the Career Center is here to help. Consider exploring:
- Internship & Job Search Guide
- Resume Guide
- Cover Letter Guide
- Job Search Tracker
- Summer Experience Survey Report
Questions? Meet with an advisor; you can view and schedule appointments through Handshake.
