ILLINOIS TOLLWAY OFFERS INTERNSHIPS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS AND RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES

ILLINOIS TOLLWAY OFFERS INTERNSHIPS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS AND RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES

Applications open through March 30 for hands-on experiences in transportation industry

DOWNERS GROVE, IL – The Illinois Tollway is inviting college students to apply for its 2025 Internship Program, offering real-world transportation experiences in fields such as engineering, information technology, finance, communications and more. Eligible students can apply online on the Tollway’s website through March 30.

“Our internship program is designed to give students the skills and experiences they need to launch successful careers,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “Interns don’t just observe – they contribute. Whether they’re out in the field on a construction site or helping to develop new technology solutions, they’re gaining valuable hands-on experience that will set them apart in the job market.”

Students interested in learning more about the Illinois Tollway’s Internship Programs can view an informational video in the Careers section on the Tollway’s website or sign up for a live online information session on Friday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The Tollway’s paid internships offer flexible scheduling, allowing students to participate on part-time basis, working 20 to 30 hours weekly.

The Illinois Tollway’s annual Professional Services Internships runs from June 2 through August 8, placing students in various Tollway departments such as administration, business systems, facilities and fleet, finance, information technology, internal audit, office of the inspector general, operations, planning security and safety and stakeholder engagement. Interns will work alongside mentors to gain insight into how these departments contribute to the agency’s overall success.

Eligible applicants must be currently enrolled, or have a graduation date of November 2024 or later, in any trade/vocational program, certificate program, 2-year, 4-year or graduate-level institution.

For engineering students, the Tollway also offers two Engineering Cooperative Education Internship opportunities: A summer program from June to August 2025 and a year-long program from June 2025 through May 2026.

These internships provide hands-on experience in project management, structural drafting and 3-D modeling, and construction inspections and traffic maintenance. Engineering students will in collaboration with Tollway engineering project managers to apply their academic knowledge to real-world projects.

To qualify for the Engineering Cooperative Education Internship, students must be currently enrolled at an accredited technical/vocational program, college or university, studying engineering or a related program with an interest in learning about roadway engineering and construction project management.

All interns will work in a hybrid environment, but must have reliable transportation to the Illinois Tollway’s headquarters in Downers Grove on a frequent basis. Engineering Co-Op interns will typically be required to be present for more in-person work since they will be assigned to a specific construction site.

The Illinois Tollway’s Internship Programs offer students practical experience in different segments of the transportation industry and government, while connecting them with mentors and professional development opportunities to help further their careers. These experiences will help prepare students for leadership roles in their chosen fields.

The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 294 miles of roadways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) and the Illinois Route 390 Tollway.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

On The 9 Run Crew