7 Business Internships for High School Students in Iowa

Business internships help you move beyond theory by giving you exposure to how organizations work. These experiences strengthen your resume, add credibility to college applications, and give you concrete examples to mention during interviews. They also help you figure out where your interests lie, whether it’s in marketing, finance, operations, entrepreneurship, or public service. Business internships offer a structured way to build skills, confidence, and professional awareness before college. 

What business internships are available for high school students in Iowa?

Iowa offers a range of business-focused opportunities through local companies, state and city offices, nonprofits, and university-affiliated programmes. Many of these internships emphasise projects, mentorship, and exposure to decision-making. You may work on tasks related to marketing, administration, finance, operations, or community development, depending on the program. Some opportunities are summer-based, while others run during the academic year. Together, these internships allow you to gain early professional experience while building skills that translate well to future academic and career paths.

To help you get started, we’ve put together 7 business internships for high school students in Iowa.

1. Kirkwood Community College Internships 

Location: Various businesses and organizations in eastern Iowa
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors from Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Washington Counties
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Program Dates: Multiple sessions in a year (fall, winter, spring, and summer)
Cost/Stipend: Free; Offers concurrent/dual credit (some hosts may offer a stipend)

Kirkwood Community College’s Internships program will place you in a supervised work setting aligned with your career interests. You’ll gain experience at a local business or organization while participating in career development meetings coordinated by the Workplace Learning Connection. Internships may be completed during the school year as part of your course schedule or during the summer. You’ll earn dual credit through both your high school and Kirkwood Community College. As a participant, you will be expected to complete required work hours, attend meetings, and finish assigned reflections and surveys. 

2. Ladder Internship Program

Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Cost: Varies; Financial aid available 

Ladder Internships is a selective internship program designed for ambitious high school students interested in start-up environments. As a participant, you’ll have the opportunity to intern with high-growth start-ups across a range of industries, including business, technology, deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. The start-ups involved in the program are typically high-growth companies, with many raising over one million dollars in funding. During the program, you will collaborate closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and have the chance to present your work to the company. The virtual internship generally lasts approximately eight weeks. Apply now!

3. Project Iowa: YouthWorks

Location: Local businesses across Des Moines, IA
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: Not specified
Program Dates: 9 months
Stipend: Paid 

YouthWorks is a year-long high school internship program that combines in-school training with a paid placement at a local business during senior year. You’ll apply as a junior and begin the program with an eight-week skills training course that takes place during the regular school schedule; you must complete this to continue. After training, you’ll work in a nine-month paid internship with a local employer. The structure integrates classroom instruction, supervised work hours, and ongoing mentorship throughout the year. You’ll be paired with a workplace mentor and also meet regularly with YouthWorks staff for check-ins and support. The experience concludes with a capstone presentation reflecting on learning and professional growth, with continued post-graduation support from Project Iowa focused on career readiness and workforce preparation.

4. NIACC Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center: Youth Entrepreneurial Academy

Location: NIACC Pappajohn Center & SBDC, Mason City, IA
Eligibility: Current high school students planning to continue to college or university
Cohort Size: 300 students
Application Deadline: June 8
Program Dates: June 15 – June 26; Pitch Night on June 30
Cost/Stipend: Free; $500 NIACC scholarship

The Youth Entrepreneurial Academy is a two-week hybrid program for high school students interested in learning how to develop a business idea. You’ll participate in a mix of in-person sessions at the NIACC Pappajohn Center, online classroom instruction, and virtual meetings scheduled during daytime hours. The curriculum focuses on idea development, basic business planning, and entrepreneurial skills, with structured activities and guest speakers. The program concludes with a pitch competition where you will present your business concepts and may even get to earn seed funding. The academy has served more than 300 students from North Iowa and centers on early-stage entrepreneurship and business fundamentals.

5. Oak Futures Youth Employment Program

Location: Local nonprofit, for-profit, and public-sector businesses in Des Moines, IA
Eligibility: Youth ages 14-24
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Details not provided
Application Deadline: Spring
Program Dates: Year-round options and an 8-week summer session
Stipend: Paid

During the Oak Futures Youth Employment Program, you will work in entry-level business roles within local organizations, completing assigned tasks that support daily operations. You may assist with administrative work, data entry, customer or client support, basic marketing tasks, or project coordination, depending on the host site. The schedule combines on-the-job business tasks with guided skill-building sessions. You’ll also receive supervision from a workplace mentor and participate in regular check-ins with program staff. 

6. Iowa Youth Leadership Academy

Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students living or attending school in participating rural Iowa service areas
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: October 2, 14, 23
Application Deadline: October 1
Cost/Stipend: None 

The Iowa Youth Leadership Academy is a short virtual program made up of three live Zoom sessions held in the evening. You’ll attend webinars focused on the cooperative business model, rural advocacy, and civic leadership, each lasting approximately 45 to 60 minutes. These sessions are led by speakers from electric cooperatives and related public service backgrounds. If you attend all sessions, you will be entered into a drawing for a $1,000 college scholarship. Individual session attendance also qualifies students for prize drawings, including AirPods. The program is designed to be completed remotely from home and does not require prior leadership experience, focusing on civic engagement, advocacy, and cooperative-based career awareness.

7. More Spark! 

Location: Virtual
Eligibility: Middle and high school students, educators, and school clubs who have completed Spark! or Venture Validator
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Ongoing; Special sessions offered periodically
Application Deadline: Registration opens in the early fall
Cost: Free 

More Spark! is a virtual entrepreneurship program that builds on prior Spark! or Venture Validator participation. You’ll take part in online sessions led by venture development specialists and CSU undergraduate students, focusing on practical entrepreneurship topics such as business models, marketing, and project planning. Sessions are structured around applying concepts directly to an existing idea or venture. You’ll receive guided feedback and access to resources intended to help move projects forward. You may also be invited to pitch events, including the Venture Rams Showcase during Innovate CSU Day. 

Image source - Kirkwood Community College logo