Dartmouth Raises $30 Million for Internships as AI Anxiety Pushes 4 in 10 Students to Reconsider Majors
Updated
Updated · CNBC · May 18
Dartmouth Raises $30 Million for Internships as AI Anxiety Pushes 4 in 10 Students to Reconsider Majors
4 articles · Updated · CNBC · May 18
$30 million in new endowed funds will let Dartmouth students claim up to $6,500 a term for unpaid or underpaid internships aimed at improving career outcomes.
AI-driven job fears are helping drive the push: two-thirds of students are pessimistic about the labor market, and 4 in 10 have considered changing majors, according to a CNBC-SurveyMonkey survey.
The same survey found 36% have considered switching target industries and 49% are rethinking which skills to build as students try to navigate uncertain demand.
Schools beyond Dartmouth are expanding career-focused programs, with CUNY rolling out advising, paid internships, apprenticeships and industry partnerships for its 180,000 undergraduates.
Recent Indeed, Stanford and Dallas Fed research suggests AI risk is highest in fields such as technology and finance, though the overall hit to early-career jobs remains limited so far.
Are universities' internship pushes just a temporary fix for an outdated educational model in the new AI era?
With AI boosting experienced workers, could it widen the career gap between new graduates and established professionals?
Dartmouth’s $30 Million Internship Fund: Integrating AI, Coaching, and Experiential Learning for Career Readiness
Overview
Dartmouth College has raised $30 million through a major fundraising effort, including a $15 million matching challenge supported by 29 families, to expand undergraduate internship opportunities and make career preparation a core part of its academic mission. This initiative has transformed internships into structured, essential experiences for students, leading to a fivefold increase in those supported—now about 250 students each year. With financial awards averaging $4,675 per term, Dartmouth ensures students can access valuable experiential learning without financial barriers, making career development an integral and equitable part of every student’s education.