NCAA Postgraduate Internship Program: Launching Your Career in Collegiate Athletics
The NCAA Postgraduate Internship Program (PGIP) offers a unique and transformational experience for individuals seeking to launch their careers in collegiate athletics. This comprehensive program provides interns with invaluable insight into the inner workings of college sports from a national perspective, coupled with extensive training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. Over the past 25 years, PGIP alumni have gone on to hold influential roles across the collegiate athletics landscape - on campuses, in conference offices, and beyond, demonstrating the program's effectiveness in cultivating future leaders.
Program Overview
The NCAA Postgraduate Internship Program offers 36 positions across 12 departments. The 2026-27 program will take place in person in Indianapolis, with relocation required for all cohort members. Interns are paid hourly with a rate that equates to $33,000 when annualized.
Key Features
- Comprehensive Training: Interns receive thorough training in their respective departments, gaining a deep understanding of NCAA operations and the collegiate athletics environment.
- Mentorship: The program provides access to experienced professionals who serve as mentors, offering guidance and support to interns as they navigate their roles and explore career paths.
- Professional Development: Interns participate in various professional development activities designed to enhance their skills and prepare them for future leadership positions.
- National Perspective: The PGIP provides a broad view of college sports, allowing interns to understand the complexities and challenges facing the NCAA and its member institutions.
The NCAA Sport Science Institute Internship
The NCAA Sport Science Institute (SSI) offers a postgraduate internship position that provides broad exposure to health, safety, and performance topics supporting member schools across all three NCAA divisions. Since its inception in 2013, the SSI has collaborated with the NCAA membership, the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports, medical and research experts, and various sports medicine organizations to develop evidence and consensus-based guidance and educational resources that support schools in promoting student-athlete health and safety.
Role of the SSI Intern
The NCAA Sport Science Institute intern will help advance initiatives that promote student-athlete health, safety, and performance. Working as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team, the intern will support SSI's mission to promote safety, excellence, and wellness in college student-athletes and to foster lifelong physical and mental development. While the role is nonclinical and will not involve direct research (e.g., exercise science lab work), it offers a unique opportunity to engage with credentialed professionals - including athletic trainers and the NCAA's chief medical officer - and observe how athletics health care expertise informs national-level strategies to support student-athlete health, safety, and performance in collegiate athletics.
The NCAA Eligibility Center Internship
The NCAA Eligibility Center is responsible for certifying initial-eligibility status for Division I, II, and III prospective student-athletes. The Eligibility Center comprises six teams that work together to support this process: core processing; high school review; academic and athletic review; customer service; outreach and strategic partnerships; and operations, analytics and innovation.
Read also: Anthony Robles: Overcoming Obstacles
Role of the Eligibility Center Intern
Interns gain extensive knowledge and understanding of each of these functions and how they are integral to the certification of prospective student-athletes. Interns who have worked in the Eligibility Center have gone on to work in compliance, event operations, as well as student-athlete and academic affairs at both the campus and conference level. The ideal Eligibility Center intern candidates are well-rounded, as the internship is heavily rotational and requires various professional skills to be successful. Candidates must be able to maintain their composure and balance numerous responsibilities. Student-athletes and students who were active in leadership roles on campus are good examples. Candidates with regulatory, legal affairs, and customer service backgrounds have been successful in the past. A postgraduate degree (e.g., law degree, master's) is preferred.
Application Information
The NCAA leadership development hosts informational webinars related to the Postgraduate Internship Program.
Application opens: Aug.
Application closes: Sept.
Candidate notification: Dec.
Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile
Skills and Qualities for Success
Successful candidates for the NCAA Postgraduate Internship Program typically possess a combination of skills and qualities that enable them to thrive in a fast-paced and demanding environment. These include:
- Strong Communication Skills: The ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, is essential for collaborating with colleagues, interacting with stakeholders, and representing the NCAA.
- Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: Interns must be able to analyze complex information, identify problems, and develop creative solutions.
- Organizational and Time Management Skills: The ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize responsibilities, and meet deadlines is crucial for success in the program.
- Leadership Potential: The PGIP seeks individuals with the potential to become future leaders in collegiate athletics.
- Passion for College Sports: A genuine interest in college sports and a commitment to the NCAA's mission are important attributes for interns.
- Adaptability and Flexibility: The collegiate athletics landscape is constantly evolving, so interns must be adaptable and willing to embrace change.
- Teamwork and Collaboration: The ability to work effectively as part of a team is essential for achieving common goals.
- Professionalism and Ethics: Interns are expected to conduct themselves with the highest level of professionalism and ethical behavior.
Read also: The Return of College Football Gaming
tags: #ncaa #postgraduate #internship #requirements
