Financial circumstances can affect whether students are able to participate in experiences to apply what they learn, explore career interests, develop professional skills, and build networks. An unpaid or underpaid internship may mean giving up earnings while taking on transportation, housing, or other costs. For students who rely on employment to support themselves or their families, those demands can make participation difficult. SUNY Oneonta addresses this challenge through financial support for internships, research, and study abroad. Internship stipends help reduce the financial burden of participating in experiential learning, creating the conditions for students to pursue opportunities that support their academic and professional development. During 2025–26, the university supported a total of 527 internships and awarded $502,585 in internship stipends. Every student requesting eligible internship funding received support.
SUNY Oneonta is one of twelve partner institutions of the Tyler Center for Global Studies, which funded 63 Tyler Fellows for hands-on learning abroad in summer 2026. Students spent part of their summer exploring Latin America, Europe and Africa, where they completed research projects and creative work under the guidance of faculty mentors. This fall, the students will present their research and reflections at the Tyler Center’s Virtual Summit and in person at the university’s Summer Showcase.
Read more about these Tyler Fellows experiences at https://suny.oneonta.edu/news/tyler-center-fellows-complete-hands-research-abroad.
SUNY Oneonta’s Student Grant Program for Research and Creative Activity also provides funding to support internships, study abroad and participation in faculty-led trips.
SUNY Oneonta’s funding for experiential learning recognizes that affordability extends beyond tuition and fees. By helping cover the costs of hands-on learning, it gives students greater access to experiences that build skills, clarify career goals, and prepare them for life after graduation.