Many Iowa State graduates stay in Iowa making Iowa-based internships a great resource in minimizing "brain drain."

Iowa State University provides opportunities for students to learn and grow through internships and experiential learning. Providing a superior education to our students is part of Iowa State's land-grant mission, and supporting those students is a priority among our educators. The university is among the nations' top 45 in providing well-prepared graduates, according to a 2009 Wall Street Journal survey of recruiters.

Of internships reported to the Career Services offices for the 2011-2012 academic year, approximately 66% (1,441/2,172) were located in Iowa and more than 645 employers were involved ranging from small local businesses to Fortune 100 companies.

The basic advantages of internships are obvious - earned income, college credit, career direction, resume enhancement but one point to highlight is how in today's economy internships have become the "feeder system" for full-time employment upon graduation. Companies boast of intern conversion rates between 50-80%.

Did you know? Iowa State has one of the largest and most successful career fairs in the nation. The placement rate for jobs or continuing education six months after graduation is 90% despite the recent economic recession.