* 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)
* New Brunswick, N.J. * Category: Pharmaceutical, medical * Rating (1-5): 4 * Interview difficulty: 3.1 * Average monthly base pay: $3,275 * Meets with candidates from December through February each year * http://careers.jnj.com/Internship-co-op-programs (Johnson & Johnson)
* 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)
* Bloomington, Ill. * Category: Insurance * Rating (1-5): 4.1 * Interview difficulty: 2.7 * Average monthly base pay: $2,377 * Hires nearly 200 interns for 11 weeks at headquarters each summer * http://www.statefarm.com/about/careers/internships/internships.asp (State Farm Facebook)
* 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 (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)
* Redmond, Wash. * Category: Tech and computing * Rating (1-5): 4.2 * Interview difficulty: 3.2 * Average monthly base pay: $6,746 for research interns * Noted for offering clear project expectations, good working conditions * http://careers.microsoft.com/careers/en/gbl/student.aspx (John Froschauer / Bloomberg News)
* Mountain View, Calif. * Category: Internet-related products and services * Rating (1-5): 4.3 * Interview difficulty: 3.3 * Average monthly base pay: $6,463 for software engineering interns * Noted for offering interns contact with higher-ups, free meals * http://www.google.com/intl/en/jobs/students/ (Tony Avelar / Bloomberg)
