Graco Internship 2027–2028: Programs, Deadlines & How to Apply

Last updated: October 2026

Graco opened almost its entire summer 2027 intern class in September 2026. On 3 October its Workday board showed 42 live US internship and co-op requisitions, 41 of them posted between 8 and 29 September, and 41 of the 42 list the same base pay: $21 to $28 an hour. None states a closing date.

In plain words: you apply during fall 2026, and you intern in summer 2027. If you'd rather do a co-op, six of them start in January 2027, about four months away, and three more run May to December 2027. Graco is the Minneapolis maker of pumps, sprayers and dispensing equipment, with about 4,000 employees and customers in more than 100 countries, according to its About page. Most of its intern seats are in the Twin Cities suburbs.

Quick Facts

Graco posted its summer 2027 internships and 2027 co-ops in one September wave and is still adding roles. Apply now; the January co-ops will be decided first.

Graco hires interns into engineering, AI, data, marketing and operations roles, and a finished project helps you stand out in any of them. Externships are short, remote programs where you complete a real project for a real company, most commonly over 8 weeks. The Amazon Fulfillment Center Operational Strategy & People Analytics Externship fits Graco's manufacturing engineering internships and co-ops, and the Breaking Games SQL Database Architecture Externship fits its data analytics and CRM roles. Explore all Externships.

What Is a Graco Internship?

A Graco internship is a paid, full-time summer placement in the Graco Intern Program, working on real projects at a company that makes equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray fluids and powders. The reqs say interns "take on projects that matter to the business", join learning events through the summer, and finish with a final presentation of their work. Graco's 5 Reasons to Intern page describes a 12-week internship with monthly Lunch and Learns, manager networking events and an Intern Presentation Day. Most seats are at the Rogers, Dayton and Anoka campuses in Minnesota, with smaller groups at plants in Dexter, Michigan, Erie, Pennsylvania, Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Flagstaff, Arizona. Graco also runs a machinist track for students in two-year Machine Tool Technology programs, which is unusual for a public industrial company.

When Do Graco Internship Applications Open for 2027–2028?

Graco posted its summer 2027 class in one short burst. The co-ops went up on 8 and 9 September 2026, the internships between 9 and 24 September, and a new machinist intern role was added on 29 September. That's about 8 to 9 months before a May 2027 start, and about 4 months before the January co-ops begin. Only one Graco cycle has been measured this closely, so treat the timing for summer 2028 as a projection: applications for summer 2028 are expected around September 2027.

How to read this page: our dates come from tracking previous recruiting cycles and daily posting data. Treat them as informed estimates based on historical patterns, not confirmed dates. The company's official careers page is always the most current source. If a role is posted there, go by that, even if this page suggests the window hasn't opened yet.

Why You Must Apply the Week Applications Open

Graco's reqs are rolling. None of the 42 lists a closing date, and Workday's own system shows last cycle's reqs as closed, so seats go when they're filled rather than on a published day. The wave is also front-loaded: everything posted within about three weeks, so there's no spring batch to wait for. Each site is a separate req, which means five mechanical engineering internships are five separate searches, each run by its own hiring manager. The January co-ops have the hardest clock, because offers have to land before winter break for a student to start in January.

Which Graco Internship Programs Should You Target?

Graco's 42 live reqs fall into six groups. Pay is $21 to $28 an hour on all of them except one placeholder.

Search "intern" or "co-op" on Graco's Workday site. One intern-program role, Technical Support Assistant in Rogers, doesn't say "intern" in its title.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

Graco's requirements are stated clearly on every req:

• Enrollment: currently pursuing a degree in the req's field; some marketing roles name sophomores or juniors, and the machinist roles are for two-year Machine Tool Technology students.

• GPA: engineering internships and co-ops list a minimum 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; marketing reqs list 3.0 as desired. 21 of the 42 reqs carry a GPA line.

• Work authorization: all 42 say the role "is not eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future (e.g., H-1B, TN, F-1 OPT)"; one marketing req also rules out CPT and STEM OPT.

• MBA roles: the two MBA marketing internships want a graduation date 12 to 18 months after the internship.

• Location: every role is full time and on site at one plant or campus.

Is the 3.0 GPA a Hard Cutoff at Graco?

On the engineering side, it reads like one: the reqs say "minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale", not "preferred". The marketing reqs are softer and call 3.0 desired, and the machinist, accounting, HR and sourcing roles don't state a number. If you're an engineering student below 3.0, lead with hands-on build and test work, and look closely at the manufacturing and technical roles.

What Skills Does Graco Look For, and How Do You Build Them?

Graco's reqs ask for three kinds of skills. Hands-on engineering: building and testing prototypes, CAD in Creo, SolidWorks or AutoCAD, and design analysis against standards like SAE and UL, plus "mechanical aptitude and desire for hands on work". Plant support: troubleshooting on assembly and machining lines, root cause analysis and cost-of-quality projects. Collaboration: strong written and verbal communication and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

How Is Demand for Engineering Interns Moving Right Now?

Build These Skills Before You Apply

Several of Graco's non-engineering reqs describe work you can practice in a remote Externship before your interviews.

For the engineering reqs, the best proof is a part you designed in CAD, built, tested and then fixed. That's almost word for word what the mechanical engineering intern reqs describe.

What Is the Graco Application and Interview Process Like?

Graco doesn't publish its interview steps. Here's what its reqs and careers pages show:

1. Search the Workday site. Search "intern" and "co-op", then filter by location; the keyword search is loose, so read titles.

2. Apply per site. Five mechanical engineering internships at five sites are five separate applications, each with its own hiring manager.

3. Check the two hard lines. The 3.0 GPA on engineering roles and the no-sponsorship rule, which covers F-1 OPT, are stated on the reqs.

4. Interviews. The format isn't published. Prepare to walk through a build or test project in detail, since most engineering reqs center on hands-on work.

5. Offer. Offers are rolling. Co-op offers come first because of the January start, and summer interns finish with a final presentation of their projects.

What Students on Reddit Say

Searches for "Graco internship" mostly return the unrelated Graco baby-products brand, so first-hand threads about Graco Inc. are few. These three are the most relevant.

How Do You Stand Out for a Graco Internship?

Three moves. First, show your hands-on work. Graco's engineering reqs ask for "mechanical aptitude and desire for hands on work", prototype building and testing, and CAD. A Formula SAE, robotics or Baja project, with photos and test results, will carry more weight than a list of courses.

Second, apply to more than one site. Graco posts the same role at several plants: there are five mechanical engineering internships and three manufacturing engineering internships live right now, plus nine engineering co-ops. If you can live in Erie, Dexter, Sioux Falls or Flagstaff, those sites are worth a separate application.

Third, prepare for the final presentation from the start. The Graco Intern Program ends with a final presentation of your project, so keep notes on what you changed, why and what it saved. That habit also makes for a strong interview answer when they ask about your past projects.

What Other Companies Should You Consider?

Students applying to Graco often look at these industrial employers too:

For more manufacturers and engineering employers, see our engineering internships summer 2027 guide.

FAQ

Can I still apply for a summer 2026 Graco internship?

No. Summer 2026 is over, and Workday shows last cycle's reqs as closed. What's open now is the next cycle: 33 summer 2027 internships and 9 co-ops for 2027, all posted in September 2026 with no closing dates. Apply this fall, and start with the January co-ops if you can take a term off.

When do Graco internship applications open for summer 2027?

They're already open. Graco posted its co-ops on 8 and 9 September 2026, its internships between 9 and 24 September, and one more machinist role on 29 September. Applications for summer 2028 are expected around September 2027, though only this one cycle has been measured precisely.

How much do Graco interns make?

Every live intern and co-op req except one placeholder lists a base pay range of $21.00 to $28.00 per hour. Graco says hiring at or near the top of the range isn't typical, so most interns should expect the lower or middle part of it. No housing or relocation support is mentioned on the reqs.

Does Graco sponsor visas or accept OPT for interns?

No. All 42 live reqs say the role isn't eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future, naming H-1B, TN and F-1 OPT, and one marketing req also excludes CPT and STEM OPT. International students without permanent US work authorization shouldn't count on a Graco internship this cycle.

Is there a GPA requirement for Graco internships?

Yes, on the engineering side. Engineering internships and co-ops list a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, while marketing reqs call 3.0 desired. The machinist, accounting, HR and sourcing reqs don't state a number, so students below 3.0 have the most room in those tracks.

What's the difference between Graco's internships and co-ops?

Internships run in summer 2027 for about 12 weeks. Co-ops run about 8 months, January to August 2027 or May to December 2027, and all nine are manufacturing, automation or quality engineering roles in Anoka, Rogers and Dayton, Minnesota. Both pay the same $21 to $28 range.

Where are Graco internships located?

Mostly in Minnesota: 34 of the 42 reqs sit at the Rogers, Dayton and Anoka sites, including the French Lake campus in Dayton. The rest are in Dexter, Michigan; Erie, Pennsylvania; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Flagstaff, Arizona. Every role is on site and full time.

Does Graco hire interns full time?

Graco doesn't publish a current conversion rate. Its internship page has said that 32% of interns in one year received full-time positions after graduation, but the page is undated and likely years old. Treat that as a historical data point and ask your manager about openings midway through the summer.

Graco's summer 2027 internships and 2027 co-ops are live now and rolling. Apply to every site that fits this month, and if you'd like a finished project to talk through in interviews, a remote Externship takes about 5 to 10 hours a week.