12 Business Internships for High School Students in Kansas
TL;DR
Business internships for high school students in Kansas span employer placements, school pathways, and a remote startup option. Depending on the placement, students may support marketing, organize business information, contribute to operations, or explore customer-facing work. Ladder Internships offers high school students remote startup projects with guidance from a company manager and a coach.
Why do customers choose one product over another? The U.S. Small Business Administration explains how market research helps businesses understand demand, customers, and competing alternatives. A business internship can help you connect questions like these to the decisions people make at work. Practical experience lets you explore business interests beyond classroom examples.
Selections reflect high school eligibility, access for Kansas students, and business or related workplace experience described in the entries.
For a wider view, explore these business internships for high school students. If you're interested in finance, our guide to finding a finance internship in high school offers a more focused starting point.
Why should you do a business internship?
A business internship can help you understand how decisions, deadlines, and teamwork shape an organization. Practical experience lets you test your interest in business against the responsibilities of actual work. To explore that interest through a supervised startup project, apply to Ladder Internships.
What skills can you pick up in business internships?
Depending on the role, you may practice interpreting financial information, organizing data, or communicating with customers and colleagues. Business internships can help you turn information into clear, useful decisions. Accuracy, professional writing, and task management matter because other people rely on your work to keep projects moving.
How do you choose the right option?
Consider several factors before applying, including your grade level, location, academic background, schedule, and budget. You should also check requirements related to citizenship, residency, coursework, or GPA, as these can vary significantly!
|
Program type |
Top programs |
Cost / Stipend |
Best For |
|
Virtual Programs |
Cost |
Students interested in startup business projects who prefer remote participation |
|
|
Corporate and Community Business Placements |
Textron Aviation High School Internship Opportunities, ProX Summer Internship Program, Nex-Generation Student Internship Program |
Cost |
Students seeking paid employer experience, from a large manufacturer to Kansas City employers or rural Kansas businesses |
|
Youth Employment and Job Readiness |
The Way to Work (TWTW) Summer Youth Program, Youth Employment Project (YEP) Work Experience/Internship Placements |
Cost |
Students seeking early work experience alongside structured preparation for workplace expectations |
|
School-Based Business Pathways |
Blue Valley CAPS: CAPS Internship Program, Olathe Business Finance Pathway Internships, Shawnee Mission Real World Learning Internships |
Cost |
Students who want business coursework connected to workplace experience through their school or district |
|
Public Service Placements |
Kansas Legislative Internship Program, Johnson County Wastewater: Student Internship Program, City of Wichita Leadership Intern Program |
Cost |
Students interested in applying business or professional office interests within government, public utilities, or legislative settings |
1. Textron Aviation – Textron Aviation High School Internship Opportunities
Location: Wichita, KS; other sites, including Columbus, GA
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 40% estimated; ~160 interns
Dates: Summer: June 8 – July 31; Fall and Spring semester internships also offered
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older; Columbus, GA engineering posting: current high school student, U.S. citizenship, government security investigation
You can work as a paid, part-time intern in one of Textron Aviation's career areas, including Business Management, Finance & Sales, Human Resources, Marketing, Communications, and Customer Experience and Events, as well as engineering, IT, and manufacturing. Internships run in summer, fall, and spring, and summer interns work weekday mornings only. Working closely with a mentor on the job can help you build professional communication skills and learn how business teams support an aircraft manufacturer.
Who is it best for: Students who want paid, hands-on experience in business areas such as finance, sales, marketing, or human resources inside a major aircraft manufacturer.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program type; financial aid available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25%; ~70–100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students
As a participant, you will have the opportunity to spend around eight weeks working with high-growth startups across various industries, including technology, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Projects vary according to your interests, the host company, and the scope of the work. You will get to collaborate closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and may have the opportunity to present your work to the company. The application form is available here.
Who is it best for: Students who want to work on real business projects at a high-growth startup, in areas such as marketing or consulting, with guidance from a manager and a coach.
3. ProX Summer Internship Program
Location: Kansas City region, Missouri and Kansas (six counties)
Stipend: $1,500 for completing 125 hours
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 22% estimated acceptance; ~564 interns
Dates: June 1 – July 2
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: 9th–12th grade; ages 14–19 at application; reside and attend high school in Jackson, Clay, Platte, or Cass County, Missouri, or Johnson or Wyandotte County, Kansas; able to complete employer hiring and work-authorization requirements; attendance at the required workshop
You interview at the ProX Hiring Fair for a five-week paid internship with a Kansas City-area employer, with placements in industries that include marketing and real estate as well as healthcare and engineering. No prior work experience is needed, and for most interns, this is their first job, done alongside weekly professional development sessions and ongoing ProX coaching. That coaching focuses on professionalism, clear communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management.
Who is it best for: Students who want a first paid job exploring business-related fields such as marketing or real estate while building professional workplace skills with coaching support.
4. The Way to Work (TWTW) Summer Youth Program – City of Wichita
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Stipend: ~$9.52 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; about 150 interns
Dates: May 26 – July 31; required youth training May 26–29
Application Deadline: February 4
Eligibility: Ages 14 by June 1 and still 17 on August 1; Sedgwick County residents; legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship; meet household income guidelines
You work a paid summer job at a worksite the City of Wichita matches you with, such as a city department, library, nonprofit, healthcare provider, or local business, and you attend workshops on resume writing, interviewing, and workplace etiquette. Training also covers financial literacy, including budgeting, banking, credit, and paycheck analysis, plus Microsoft Office basics and employment math. The City pays your wages, so businesses of any size can host you, and the experience can help you develop practical workplace and money-management skills.
Who is it best for: Students who want their first paid work experience, plus practical training in personal finance, professional conduct, and everyday workplace skills.
5. Blue Valley CAPS: CAPS Internship Program
Location: Overland Park, Kansas
Stipend: Non-Blue Valley students pay pro-rated district registration fees / Paid and unpaid options available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; about 600 students
Dates: Part-time or full-time; work schedule and duration determined by the employer
Application Deadline: No single program-wide deadline; CAPS students complete an internal application, while individual host companies control their internship selection process and timing
Eligibility: Current CAPS students who are high school juniors and seniors and have completed at least one semester at CAPS; must be able to spend three periods per day away from their home school and provide their own transportation to CAPS and business-partner sites; non-Blue Valley students may attend CAPS if they live within Blue Valley School District attendance boundaries
You take a semester-long CAPS course like Global Business, which uses projects and case studies to cover marketing, supply chain and logistics, data analytics and management, or Innovation and Entrepreneurship, where you build prototypes and write business plans using LEAN startup methods. After your first CAPS semester, you may go further with a capstone project through industry partnerships and a possible internship. In a previous program, CAPS interns at Challenger Teamwear worked on finance, accounting, inventory, and operations.
Who is it best for: Students who want to test business interests like marketing, operations, or entrepreneurship through real client projects and, if available, an internship with a local company.
6. Kansas Legislative Internship Program
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Stipend: None; but interns completing all program requirements are eligible for a stipend; amount not specified; mileage reimbursement is available to eligible interns driving from outside Topeka
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not stated
Dates: Begins the week of January 12 – April; mandatory orientation takes place before the session
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Secondary or postsecondary students earning credit or making academic progress; completion requires orientation, at least one intern seminar, at least 10 days at the Capitol during the session, a Policy Proposal project, and evaluations by the intern and legislator
You work with a Kansas legislator, attending committee and caucus meetings, researching issues, tracking legislation, drafting letters, addressing constituent concerns, and preparing material for weekly newsletters. You're assigned to a specific legislator and complete a Policy Proposal project for them, alongside Friday-morning intern seminars.
Who is it best for: Students who want to see firsthand how state policy and laws are made by researching issues and tracking bills for a legislator.
7. Johnson County Wastewater: Student Internship Program
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Stipend: Generally unpaid; pay possible case by case, depending on program funding
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not stated
Dates: Spring, Summer, Fall, and full-school-year options; up to 12 weeks
Application Deadline:
Eligibility: At least 16 years old; enrolled full- or part-time in an accredited high school, college, or university; no residency requirement for student interns; parent or guardian permission if under 18
You can intern at Johnson County's public wastewater utility for up to 10 hours a week, working with a supervisor under a development plan and keeping an hour log. The utility lists Asset Management and Water Quality Lab internship tracks. Asset Management involves GIS, maintenance-management software, field mapping, and infrastructure data, but this track has no internship opportunities for fall; the Water Quality Lab track involves sample collection and testing. Any JCW work area can host an intern when work volume allows, and safety rules are met. The interest form lets you choose business-side areas such as Marketing and Communications or Customer Service.
Who is it best for: Students who want to see how a public utility runs from the inside, through communications, customer service, or infrastructure data work, and who are open to a flexible, part-time placement.
8. City of Wichita – Leadership Intern Program
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Stipend: Paid or unpaid, depending on position, departmental needs, and academic requirements
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not stated
Dates: Offered throughout the year; positions and timing vary with departmental needs
Application Deadline: Positions posted individually throughout the year on the City careers page; departments may create internships when students contact them directly
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, or graduate students; openings at each level depend on the position and departmental needs
You would work in a City of Wichita department on public-service projects. Past business-related roles include Finance interns who helped with financial analysis, budget development, and process improvement, and Purchasing interns who supported procurement and contract administration. Professional development opportunities may include leadership discussions with City executives and elected officials, department tours, and gatherings with other interns and Fellows.
Who is it best for: Students who want hands-on exposure to how a local government handles budgets, purchasing, and public services, and who are willing to watch for department openings or ask departments about them.
If you live outside Wichita or don’t want to commute every day, consider Ladder Internships, which pair you with startups to work on real projects in a fully virtual format.
9. Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas – Youth Employment Project (YEP) Work Experience/Internship Placements
Location: South Central Kansas, including Wichita, El Dorado, Wellington, Arkansas City
Stipend: Paid placements at least $7.25 per hour; some internships unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 315 internship placements
Dates: Workshops: March – June; placements: mostly June – August, usually eight weeks or less
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Work experience: at least 16 by June 1; workshops: ages 14+; registration covers ages 14–24; pre-employment workshops required before work-experience consideration; some employers or occupations require applicants to be 18+
You'll take pre-employment workshops in workplace etiquette, customer service, resume and interview skills, and financial literacy, and you earn a Youth Essential Skills Certificate after finishing three. You'll later be matched, based on employers and your interests, to a summer work experience or internship in fields such as banking and finance, clerical and office work, and customer service or retail, helping you build practical business and workplace skills. YEP staff handle onboarding and payroll for host employers and assign a job coach to work with each young adult.
Who is it best for: Students who want real-world work experience in banking, office, or customer-facing business roles while building job-readiness and financial-literacy skills with coaching support.
10. Olathe Public Schools / Olathe South High School – Business Finance Pathway Internships
Location: Olathe, Kansas
Stipend: Paid or unpaid, depending on placement site
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not stated
Dates: The Academy itself lasts four years (grades 9–12). Formal Business Finance Work Experience courses are offered in Grade 12; internships can occur during school, after school, or during summer, and a 1-credit internship requires at least 120 hours
Application Deadline: Academy entry: December 4; internships: no separate universal application deadline for the senior internship placement
Eligibility: Olathe Public Schools students; academy entry in eighth grade (late applications if seats remain); 2.75 minimum GPA; 7th-grade and first-semester 8th-grade attendance reviewed; nonresidents need out-of-district transfer approval; internships: second-semester juniors or first-semester seniors in an academy or CTE pathway, for senior-year placement; own transportation; intern eligibility contract; 95% attendance goal per quarter
In grades 9–10, you study business essentials and accounting. You then specialize in accounting or wealth management and work toward a senior-year internship with a community partner, which you find through the district's Jobready WBL postings or your own proposal. Internships, job shadowing, and other approved activities count toward the 200–400 extension hours needed for a Business Finance endorsement noted on your transcript.
Who is it best for: Students who want to commit to a multi-year track in accounting or wealth management and try that out in a real business setting.
11. Shawnee Mission School District Real World Learning Internships – Business/Marketing pathways
Location: Johnson County, Kansas; Kansas City-area employer placements
Stipend: Paid and unpaid options available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not stated
Dates: Semester-based placements of at least 60 hours; start and end dates vary by placement
Application Deadline: Counselor-routed: YouScience assessment, academic vetting, résumé, internship bootcamp, and counselor interview come before employer-specific application links; no district-wide deadline published
Eligibility: SMSD high school juniors and seniors; on track for graduation credits and cleared through academic vetting; YouScience assessment; résumé; internship bootcamp; counselor interview
You do resume-worthy workplace tasks with a local employer, in internship fields that include advertising, business, finance, and marketing, with past host partners such as H&R Block, Garmin, and Cerner. A qualifying internship involves at least 60 hours during a semester and meaningful workplace tasks that count as a Market Value Asset toward the district’s graduation goal. Client-connected projects are a separate category with specified coach or mentor feedback and a final evaluation or presentation. Before placement, you build a résumé, complete an internship bootcamp, and interview with your counselor, which can help you develop professional communication and workplace-readiness skills.
Who is it best for: Students who want to test a business, finance, or marketing career through supervised, semester-long work with a local employer.
12. Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth, Inc. – Nex-Generation Student Internship Program
Location: 28 counties across Northwest and North Central Kansas
Stipend: $12/hour base wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~294 interns
Dates: May 21 – August 3
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school or college students; age 16+, and must be from or attending school in one of these Kansas counties: Barton, Cheyenne, Cloud, Decatur, Ellis, Ellsworth, Gove, Graham, Jewell, Lincoln, Logan, Mitchell, Norton, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Rawlins, Republic, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Saline, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Thomas, Trego, or Wallace.
You work a paid summer job with a local employer in rural Northwest or North Central Kansas. Past host roles include a community bank, a retail apparel shop, and nonprofit positions handling donor databases, marketing materials, and business-directory updates. Nex-Gen gives participating businesses grant funding to employ interns at a base wage of $12 per hour.
Who is it best for: Students who want paid, real-world experience inside a local business and want to explore career paths in rural Kansas communities.
Can a business internship help with your college applications?
A business internship can give you specific experiences to reflect on when explaining your academic interests. Work involving operations, marketing, or customer service may help you describe a problem you encountered, a responsibility you handled, or an assumption you reconsidered. Focus on what you learned and how it shaped your interest in studying business.
How do you apply for a business internship?
Start with each program’s official instructions for eligibility, deadlines, and requested materials. Prepare concrete examples of your interest in business, such as a class project, club responsibility, or experience helping an organization. Allow time to assemble the materials and complete any interviews or school approval steps, since the process differs by placement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I specialize in accounting or wealth management before interning?
Yes, one school pathway combines business essentials and accounting coursework with an accounting or wealth management specialization before a senior-year internship. Other entries describe finance-related employer roles without that same multi-year sequence, giving students both academic pathways and direct workplace experiences to explore.
2. Can I explore business functions without joining a private company?
Yes, the public-sector entries include past municipal finance and purchasing roles, alongside possible utility work in communications, customer service, or infrastructure data. The legislative placement emphasizes policy research and correspondence, so its focus differs from a commercial business role.
3. How do summer placements compare with semester internships in time commitment?
Commitments include a five-week summer placement and semester internships with minimum hour requirements. The school-based entries include thresholds of 60 hours per semester and at least 120 hours for a one-credit internship. For an approximately eight-week remote startup experience, explore Ladder Internships.
4. Will I earn an hourly wage or receive a completion stipend?
Both payment structures appear in the entries: some youth and local-business placements pay hourly, while a five-week option pays $1,500 for completing 125 hours. Other placements may be unpaid, and the legislative option offers a conditional completion stipend rather than regular pay.