15 Business Internships for Undergraduates in North Dakota
For students pursuing business careers, internships offer exposure to key domains, including marketing, finance, operations, consulting, and management. North Dakota offers a range of opportunities through corporations, financial institutions, energy companies, and emerging startups across cities such as Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks. These organizations regularly offer business internships for undergraduates in North Dakota, enabling students to gain structured experience while learning about the operation of regional industries.
For those looking for business-administration specific internships, look at our blog here, and for those interested in business-research internships, check out our blog here.
Why should I do a business internship in college?
Completing a business internship during college can significantly improve your employability after graduation. Many employers often prioritize candidates with practical experience, and internships demonstrate your ability to apply academic knowledge to real-world business contexts. Whether you are analyzing data, supporting marketing initiatives, assisting with financial reporting, or contributing to operational projects, internships help you build both technical and professional competencies that companies value. Participating in business internships for undergraduates in North Dakota can offer both practical experience and a competitive advantage when applying for full-time roles after graduation.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 business internships for undergraduates in North Dakota.
1. SHIFT - SHIFT Marketing Internship
Location: Various locations across North Dakota
Cost/Stipend: Commission-based | average first-year interns earn $13,000 - $26,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer internship (duration varies by program cycle)
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: Undergraduate students interested in business, sales, marketing, or entrepreneurship
The SHIFT Sales & Business Internship focuses on developing practical sales and communication capabilities through real-world client engagement. Interns learn how to generate revenue by promoting products or services while building customer relationships and supporting broader business development initiatives. The program emphasizes professional growth through structured coaching, performance tracking, and hands-on experience with modern sales technologies such as customer relationship management (CRM) platforms. During the internship, you work closely with a team to refine sales techniques, practice persuasive communication, and contribute to customer acquisition strategies. Interns participate in training sessions designed to strengthen work ethic, time management, and client relationship skills.
2. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Remote (work from anywhere in the world)
Cost/Stipend: Varies by placement | some roles are paid, while others may be unpaid, depending on the host organization
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 8 - 12 weeks | cohorts offered in spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: January (spring), May (summer), September (fall), and November (winter)
Eligibility: Undergraduates and gap year students are able to work for 8 - 12 weeks, committing 10 - 20 hours/week
The Ladder University Internship Program is a selective virtual internship that connects students with startups and nonprofit organizations across multiple industries. Instead of working on simulated assignments, you contribute to live projects that address real organizational needs. This approach enables you to gain practical experience in areas such as business strategy, market research, operations, and product development while collaborating with professionals in a remote work environment. Throughout the program, you work closely with a dedicated manager or mentor who provides guidance, feedback, and oversight as you complete defined project milestones. At the end of the internship, you will present your completed project and explain its key outcomes and insights in a professional presentation.
3. Consolidated Electrical Distributors (CED) - Business Intern
Location: Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Fargo, ND
Cost/Stipend: $17 - $20 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 10 - 12 week internship
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: Students at least 18 years old with authorization to work in the U.S. | an interest in business management, sales, or operations preferred
The CED Business Intern program at Consolidated Electrical Distributors offers students hands-on exposure to the operations of a business-to-business electrical distribution organization. Through a structured 10 - 12 week internship, you rotate through multiple departments to understand how different business functions contribute to overall performance. This rotational format allows interns to explore areas such as operations, logistics, sales, and management while gaining insight into the electrical distribution industry. During the internship, you may support activities such as inventory management, purchasing processes, customer relations, and inside sales support. Interns also learn about financial planning, operational improvements, and project management within a distribution business environment.
4. Titan Machinery - Business Operations Internship
Location: Titan Machinery Shared Resource Center, West Fargo, ND
Cost/Stipend: Not publicly specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer internship (duration varies by program cycle)
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: Undergraduate students pursuing degrees in business, marketing, finance, human resources, information systems, or related fields
The Titan Machinery Business Operations Internship provides students with hands-on exposure to the operational functions that support agriculture and construction equipment dealerships across North America. You will work within the company’s Shared Resource Center in West Fargo, which provides centralized support services for dealership locations. The internship emphasizes project-based learning, mentorship, and practical training designed to help students apply academic knowledge to real-world business challenges. During the program, interns may contribute to departments such as accounting and finance, marketing, human resources, IT, business analytics, and field operations support. Responsibilities can include assisting with financial reporting, analyzing operational processes, supporting marketing campaigns, and helping maintain business systems and data infrastructure. Interns collaborate with experienced professionals and participate in structured onboarding and feedback sessions throughout the summer.
5. Baranko Companies - Marketing Intern
Location: Baranko Companies, Dickinson, ND (on-site)
Cost/Stipend: $22 - $26 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer internship (exact duration varies)
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: Undergraduate students interested in marketing, business, communications, or related fields
The Marketing Internship at Baranko Companies provides students with practical experience executing marketing campaigns and brand initiatives within a growing regional company. You will work closely with the marketing team to assist with projects that promote the company’s services and strengthen its market presence. This role offers hands-on exposure to marketing strategy, advertising, and content development in a professional business environment. During the internship, you may assist with tasks such as creating marketing materials, conducting market research, and helping coordinate promotional campaigns. Interns may also contribute to event planning efforts, support digital marketing initiatives, and help analyze campaign performance.
6. CampusReel - Marketing Intern (Rasmussen College–North Dakota)
Location: Fargo, ND (campus-based) | some work can be completed remotely
Cost/Stipend: $25 - $35 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Part-time internship during the academic term
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: Current Rasmussen College–North Dakota students with an interest in marketing, social media, or video content creation
The CampusReel Marketing Internship at Rasmussen College–North Dakota allows students to gain hands-on experience in digital marketing and content creation while promoting campus life through a growing education technology platform. You will help raise awareness of CampusReel’s services by creating authentic, student-generated content that showcases the college experience for prospective applicants. In this role, you create short-form video and photo content using a smartphone and share it through CampusReel’s mobile apps and social media platforms. You will also help coordinate social media activity, recruit peers to contribute content, and promote CampusReel within the campus community and local high schools.
7. Forge Marketing - Summer Sales Internship
Location: Bismarck, ND (placement may vary by market) | relocation may be required
Cost/Stipend: Commission-based compensation with performance bonuses | housing provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May - August (3 - 4 months)
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: College students or recent graduates interested in sales, entrepreneurship, or business development
The Forge Marketing Summer Sales Internship provides students with hands-on experience in sales, leadership, and customer engagement. You will work as sales representatives promoting residential pest-control services across selected markets while developing practical exposure to business and communication skills. The program emphasizes performance-based learning, allowing you to gain real-world experience in client interaction, lead generation, and sales conversion. During the internship, you will participate in structured training sessions focused on sales strategy, negotiation techniques, and professional communication. Interns collaborate in teams, track sales targets, and receive mentorship aimed at building resilience, leadership capabilities, and time management skills.
8. Vivint - Summer Sales Representative Internship
Location: Fargo, ND (in-person) | relocation for summer sales territories may be required)
Cost/Stipend: Performance-based compensation | interns earn an average of about $23,000 during the summer
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer internship (typically 1 - 4 months)
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: Open to college students or residents in the Fargo area interested in sales and customer engagement
The Vivint Summer Sales Representative Internship provides students with practical experience in direct sales and client relationship management. You will serve as the primary point of contact for potential customers, introducing them to Vivint’s smart home and solar technology solutions. Through daily interactions with clients, you develop skills in product presentations, customer engagement, and sales strategy while working within a fast-paced sales environment. During the internship, you meet with potential customers, conduct product demonstrations, explain pricing structures, and help complete sales transactions. Interns also learn to identify customer needs, tailor product solutions, and maintain strong customer relationships throughout the sales process.
9. Lotus Sales - Summer Sales Internship
Location: Various U.S. locations
Cost/Stipend: Commission-based | typical earnings range from $7,000 - $20,000+ for the summer
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May - August (summer internship)
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: College students interested in sales, entrepreneurship, or business development
The Lotus Sales Summer Sales Internship is designed to provide college students with hands-on experience in direct sales, business development, and customer engagement. Interns work as sales representatives promoting residential services while learning how to build customer relationships and close sales. The program focuses on developing core business skills such as communication, persuasion, and resilience in a performance-driven environment. During the internship, you receive structured sales training and ongoing mentorship from experienced sales leaders. Interns practice lead generation, product presentations, and negotiation techniques while working toward individual and team performance goals. The role also helps students strengthen time management and leadership skills while collaborating with a team in a fast-paced environment.
10. Aerotek - Sales Internship
Location: Aerotek, Fargo, ND
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship (10-week program) | exact hourly pay not publicly specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 10-week summer internship
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: College students pursuing a BA/BS degree (sales, business, or related field preferred) | students transitioning between junior and senior year are preferred
The Aerotek Sales Internship, part of the Ascend Internship Program, provides students with hands-on exposure to the staffing and talent solutions industry. You will rotate across core business functions such as recruiting, account management, and field support while developing skills in sales and client relationship. The program emphasizes real-world learning and introduces students to how staffing firms connect organizations with qualified talent. During the internship, you may assist with posting job openings, screening resumes, and coordinating interviews with recruiters. You will also shadow account managers during client interactions, lead-generation efforts, and business-development activities, such as cold calls and networking events.
11. Operation Intern Program - North Dakota Department of Commerce
Location: North Dakota
Cost/Stipend: Varies by employer | state funding provides up to $5,000 in matching support for internship-related costs
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Internships offered year-round, depending on employer participation
Application Deadline: Rolling until funding for each round is fully allocated
Eligibility: College students seeking internships with North Dakota employers in industries such as energy, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, technology, or autonomous systems
The Operation Intern Program is a workforce development initiative designed to expand internship and apprenticeship opportunities across North Dakota. The program encourages businesses in key state industries to hire interns by providing matching funds that offset internship-related costs, such as wages, training, equipment, and tuition reimbursement. Through this model, students gain practical work experience while employers develop a pipeline of future talent within the state. Participating organizations offer internships in a range of fields connected to North Dakota’s priority sectors, including advanced manufacturing, energy, technology-based businesses, and value-added agriculture. Interns work directly with local employers and apply skills learned in the classroom to real-world projects and operational tasks.
12. Local Internship Opportunities - Job Service North Dakota
Location: Burleigh and Morton Counties (Bismarck, Mandan, and surrounding areas), North Dakota
Cost/Stipend: Varies by employer | internships may be paid or unpaid, depending on the position
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Typically during academic semesters or summer months, depending on the employer
Application Deadline: Varies by individual internship listing
Eligibility: Generally open to undergraduate students seeking short-term work experience in their field of study
Job Service North Dakota provides a regional platform that connects students with local internship opportunities across Burleigh and Morton Counties. Through this platform, you can search for internships offered by businesses in Bismarck, Mandan, and nearby communities. These internships allow undergraduate students to gain professional experience by working with local organizations for a defined period, typically during the summer or an academic semester. The listings include internships across a variety of industries, allowing students to explore career paths while building practical skills and professional networks. Depending on the employer, internships may be offered on a full-time or part-time basis. Participants can perform responsibilities such as assisting with projects, supporting day-to-day operations, or contributing to specialized work within a company.
13. GSB Sales Summer Internship - Garden State Bins
Location: Fargo, ND (on-site) | housing provided in assigned markets such as Central Jersey or Naples, FL)
Cost/Stipend: $200 - $300 per day and performance bonuses
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer (seasonal internship)
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: Open to college students interested in sales, marketing, or business development
The GSB Sales Summer Internship offers hands-on experience in sales and customer engagement through a residential trash bin cleaning service model. During the internship, you develop practical sales skills in persuasion, communication, and revenue generation while working directly with homeowners. The program emphasizes measurable performance metrics and leadership development to help interns build strong professional experience. As an intern, you promote sanitation services related to cleaning and disinfecting residential trash bins, educating homeowners about the health, hygiene, and odor-control benefits of the service. Responsibilities include generating leads, engaging with potential customers, explaining service offerings, and managing client relationships.
14. Onsharp - Business Development Representative Intern
Location: Fargo, ND (on-site)
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Not specified (internship) | typically seasonal
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: College students pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in business, communications, or a related field
The Business Development Representative Intern role at Onsharp offers hands-on experience in B2B sales and client engagement within a professional software and services company. During the internship, you work directly with the business development team to identify potential clients, qualify leads, and support the execution of sales strategies. The role emphasizes developing a proactive, opportunity-driven mindset, where you actively seek new business opportunities through prospecting, networking, and outreach. As an intern, you engage with decision-makers via phone and digital channels, gain insight into client needs, and help position Onsharp’s services as solutions to real-world business challenges. Responsibilities also include maintaining CRM data, tracking sales activities, scheduling meetings for senior sales staff, and contributing to relationship-building efforts with prospective clients.
15. Doosan Bobcat - Sales Student Experience
Location: Bismarck, ND; West Fargo, ND; or Statesville, NC (on-site)
Cost/Stipend: $20 - $21/hour and potential stipends and reimbursements
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Internship (semester-long) or co-op (8 months)
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Eligibility: Undergraduate students (freshman–senior) in business-related fields
The Sales Student Experience at Doosan Bobcat provides hands-on exposure to sales analytics, business strategy, and real-world corporate operations within a global manufacturing company. As part of this program, you work on data-driven projects that influence sales performance and decision-making. During the internship or co-op, you analyze sales data, create business intelligence reports, and identify new market opportunities across different segments. You also support order management systems, assist dealer networks, and contribute to projects involving sales contracts and shipment strategies. The role emphasizes translating data into actionable insights, helping you develop analytical and problem-solving skills.
Summary
This list covers 15 business internships for undergraduates in North Dakota, spanning sales, digital marketing, content creation, B2B distribution, banking, agricultural equipment, staffing, government workforce development, business development, and independent project-based work, hosted at organizations including Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Titan Machinery, First Interstate Bank, Doosan Bobcat, Aerotek, Onsharp, Baranko Companies, CampusReel, and the North Dakota Department of Commerce, with hourly compensation ranging from approximately $17 to $21 at the most transparent corporate placements, while several commission-based sales programs list average seasonal earnings but offer no guaranteed base wage. The programs divide clearly between performance-based sales internships — SHIFT, Forge Marketing, Vivint, Lotus Sales, and GSB — which offer high earning potential for strong performers but income that depends entirely on personal sales output, and more structured corporate and government placements like Titan Machinery, First Interstate, Aerotek, Doosan Bobcat, and the North Dakota Department of Commerce Operation Intern, which offer defined project-based work, mentorship, and more predictable compensation for students who prefer a corporate or public-sector environment. Students targeting structured programs like Doosan Bobcat's co-op and Aerotek's Ascend Program should apply early in spring, as most rolling positions at these organizations fill between January and March.
Questions Students Often Ask About Global Affairs Programs
1. I'm not a business or sales major. Are any of these internships open to students from other academic backgrounds?
The North Dakota Department of Commerce Operation Intern program is one of the most flexible options, covering sectors including technology, agriculture, energy, and manufacturing alongside business. Titan Machinery accepts students in information systems alongside business-focused fields. CampusReel suits students from communications, marketing, or journalism backgrounds. Job Service North Dakota's platform aggregates openings across many industries, so the eligibility varies by individual employer posting rather than the platform itself. For students with non-business majors, filtering the platform by your specific field of interest is the most practical approach to finding a relevant placement.
2. Several programs on this list involve door-to-door or direct sales work. Is that the same as a traditional business internship?
Not exactly. Programs like SHIFT, Forge Marketing, Vivint, and GSB center on direct customer contact and revenue generation through personal sales effort, which is very different from corporate internships focused on analysis, project management, or operations. The skills developed — persuasion, resilience, client relationship management, and performance under pressure — are genuinely valuable for students pursuing sales-heavy careers in business development, real estate, or entrepreneurship. The key differences are income variability, since all four are commission-based with no guaranteed base, and the nature of the daily work, which is primarily customer-facing rather than office or project-based. Students should be clear about which type of experience they're looking for before applying.
3. The North Dakota Department of Commerce Operation Intern Program mentions state matching funds. Does that mean I apply for a stipend directly from the state?
No — the program works through employers, not through students directly. Businesses in North Dakota apply to the state for matching funds that offset the cost of hiring interns, including wages, training, and equipment. The actual internship offer comes from the employer, and your compensation depends on what that employer offers. As a student, the most practical approach is to apply to businesses participating in the program, which can be found through the Commerce Department's employer registry. The state funding is an incentive for businesses to hire local talent — it does not flow directly to the student.