Maximizing ROI: How Organizations Can Benefit from Internship Relocation Programs

No doubt about it: interns bring all kinds of value to employers.

Take NASA intern Wolf Cukier. Five years ago, on day three of his internship, he literally discovered a planet—one that generations of NASA’s finest had somehow overlooked.

Admittedly, not all interns make such remarkable contributions. But they do indeed contribute. And the more strategically you plan your internship program, the better its ROI will be. 

As you prepare for the 2025 internship season, here’s some things to keep in mind.

5 Benefits of Internship Programs

Many employers sponsor internship programs because they offer these advantages:

1. An Effective Talent Pipeline

Internships give both employers and interns a low-risk opportunity to get to know each other. Employers get to evaluate their interns’ skills, cultural fit, and work ethic before making a permanent offer; interns find out if this is where they want to be.

It’s a great system. And it’s effective: last year, employers converted 53% of their interns into full-time employees.

2. A Fresh Perspective

Interns bring fresh ideas into the workforce. They know the latest youth-based trends and technologies in their bones. Who better to help launch a new viral TikTok campaign than a native TikToker? Who knows better what Gen Z-ers want than…a smart, thoughtful Gen-Zer?

3. An Empowered Workforce

Because interns augment your permanent workforce, they can help your existing teams get more done, whether tackling administrative backlogs or long-neglected projects. And because interns are typically paid at a lower pay rate than full-time employees (statistically, an average of $16 per hour versus $35 per hour), they’re cost-effective, too.

4. Enhanced Employer Branding

A company that offers an internship program is seen as one that gives back; it’s a brand booster. And when interns discuss their positive experiences with their friends and family, it creates positive social buzz. (Of course, it’s key to ensure it’s positive—more on that below.) 

5. Increased Workforce Engagement

Interns contribute to vitality in the workplace. Their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn can boost morale, allowing long-time employees to view their employer through fresh eyes. Plus, studies show that the act of mentoring increases job satisfaction. Interns aren’t the only ones who benefit from mentoring; their mentors do, too.

How Internship Relocation Programs Can Help

If you want to get the most from your internship program—and ensure that your interns get the most from their experience—start by offering them quality relocation support. We promise: it’s a game changer.

Hands-down, the most stressful aspect of long-distance internships is finding safe, affordable housing. When employers offer housing support, neighborhood resources, and hyper-local guides, it lifts that weight off their shoulders

So does financing transportation costs and guiding interns through the relocation process—since for many young people, this is new territory. And the more thoroughly you can introduce them to their new area—say, via city guides, transportation guides, orientations, etc.—the better they’ll fit in and, therefore, perform.

Finally: it’s essential to have a foolproof stipend disbursement process since most students survive on tight budgets and truly depend on those funds. 

In short, offering a defined relocation program will create a more positive experience for your interns—and ultimately, that benefits you, too.

Maximizing Internship ROI in 2025

Now’s the time to start planning your 2025 internship program, if you haven’t already. In highly competitive industries, employers start recruiting interns up to 18 months in advance to get out in front of top talent.

While you may not have an 18-month advantage, there’s another way to give your company an edge, and it’s a snap. There’s still time to upgrade your internship relocation program—and UrbanBound can help. Our internship relocation program benefits both employers and interns by:

• Providing housing resources and support 
• Helping interns plan a low-stress relocation
• Providing useful, hyperlocal information about the area and company 
• Automating the stipend disbursement process