* San Jose, Calif. * Category: Tech * Rating (1-5): 4 * Interview difficulty: 2.5 * Average monthly base pay: $4,017 * https://communities.cisco.com/community/general/universityconnection
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The 20 best companies for interns

* San Jose, Calif. * Category: Tech * Rating (1-5): 4 * Interview difficulty: 2.5 * Average monthly base pay: $4,017 * https://communities.cisco.com/community/general/universityconnection

* San Jose, Calif. * Category: Tech * Rating (1-5): 4 * Interview difficulty: 2.5 * Average monthly base pay: $4,017 * https://communities.cisco.com/community/general/universityconnection (Paul Sancya / Associated Press)

* Cincinnati, Ohio * Category: Consumer goods * Rating (1-5): 4 * Interview difficulty: 3.4 * Average monthly base pay: N/A * http://www.pg.com/en_US/careers/index.shtml

* Cincinnati, Ohio * Category: Consumer goods * Rating (1-5): 4 * Interview difficulty: 3.4 * Average monthly base pay: N/A * http://www.pg.com/en_US/careers/index.shtml (Al Behrman / Associated Press)

* Santa Clara, Calif. * Category: Semiconductors * Rating (1-5): 4 * Interview difficulty: 3 * Average monthly base pay: $5,681 for graduate technical interns * Photo: Manufacturing technicians preparing to check on chips at the Santa Clara headquarters * http://www.intel.com/jobs/usa/students/internships/

* Santa Clara, Calif. * Category: Semiconductors * Rating (1-5): 4 * Interview difficulty: 3 * Average monthly base pay: $5,681 for graduate technical interns * Photo: Manufacturing technicians preparing to check on chips at the Santa Clara headquarters * http://www.intel.com/jobs/usa/students/internships/  (Paul Sakuma / Associated Press)

* New York * Category: Entertainment * Rating (1-5): 4.1 * Interview difficulty: 2.4 * Average monthly base pay: N/A * Noted for good team spirit and feedback for interns * The company takes juniors, seniors and sometimes graduate and law students. Offers academic credits. * It's celebrity central for stars such as Demi Lovato, shown here at MTV Times Square Studios http://www.mtvnetworkscareers.com/internships/

* New York * Category: Entertainment * Rating (1-5): 4.1 * Interview difficulty: 2.4 * Average monthly base pay: N/A * Noted for good team spirit and feedback for interns * The company takes juniors, seniors and sometimes graduate and law students. Offers academic credits. * It’s celebrity central for stars such as Demi Lovato, shown here at MTV Times Square Studios http://www.mtvnetworkscareers.com/internships/  (Scott Gries / AP Photo)

* San Diego * Category: Telecommunications * Rating (1-5): 4.2 * Interview difficulty: 3.1 * Average monthly base pay: $4,520 for engineering interns * Noted for offering social events and good accommodations * Hires more than 800 interns and co-ops internationally each year. Six in 10 interns become full-time employees. * Has an in-house health clinic, shown above * http://www.qualcomm.com/careers/students/intern

* San Diego * Category: Telecommunications * Rating (1-5): 4.2 * Interview difficulty: 3.1 * Average monthly base pay: $4,520 for engineering interns * Noted for offering social events and good accommodations * Hires more than 800 interns and co-ops internationally each year. Six in 10 interns become full-time employees. * Has an in-house health clinic, shown above * http://www.qualcomm.com/careers/students/intern  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

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