Who can apply?
- Cato welcomes students and early-career applicants across many placements but does not publish one undergraduate class-year minimum for the whole program.
- Applicants must be able to work in person in Washington, DC. International applicants need US work authorization, though Cato says it can sponsor a limited number of J-1 visas.
- Placement fit matters: the official descriptions cover policy research, legal analysis, publishing, public affairs, fundraising, audiovisual work, software and AI, design and social media, each with different evidence.
Cato no longer reviews internship applications on a rolling basis. A form submitted outside the employer's exact term window will not be considered.
Dates, pay & program timing
Spring 2027 applications run October 1–25, 2026; Summer 2027 runs January 11–February 15, 2027; Fall 2027 runs May 28–June 27, 2027. Cato says it does not accept applications outside those fixed windows.
These details reflect the sources at the review date. An overview is not a live job offer. Check the official page for today's application status and the selected opening's written terms.
How to apply to Cato Institute
- Read Cato's placement descriptions first and select the areas where your coursework, writing, data, legal, creative or technical work provides the clearest evidence.
- Confirm that you can work in person in Washington during the full term, then complete the official application inside the published window for that semester.
- Submit work samples or portfolio material that directly support the selected placement and keep the application confirmation; Cato publishes separate finalist and decision dates.
You leave FirstInternships to apply. We do not accept applications, offer referrals, or represent the employer.
Our editorial advice · not employer requirements
How to prepare a stronger application
Choose tangible proof for your placement: a sourced policy memo, careful data analysis, edited publication, campaign result, video reel, design portfolio or software project you can explain end to end.
Study Cato's stated principles and recent work in the selected department. Explain the fit honestly through the work you want to do, not by repeating slogans.
Your preparation, on this device
Make it a plan.
Checking an item saves this program. These are planning prompts, not a substitute for the employer's full requirements.
Add a stage & next actionCato Institute: questions before applying
How much do Cato interns earn?
Cato's current program page states $17.50 per hour.
Is the Cato internship remote?
No. The 2027 page says participants must work in person in Washington, DC.
When does Summer 2027 open?
Cato says January 11, 2027, with a February 15 deadline at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Official sources & update notes
We reviewed these publisher pages on . They establish the program facts above; our preparation suggestions are independent editorial guidance.
- Cato internships: current pay, 2027 windows, work authorization and format
- Cato placement guide: research, policy, editorial, communications and technical work
We do not infer deadlines, remote eligibility, or guaranteed offers from older recruiting cycles. Read our editorial process.