15 Business Internships for Undergraduates in North Carolina

Internships are one of the most effective ways for college students to build practical skills while still in university. By working in professional environments, you can strengthen your resume, develop industry-relevant competencies, and gain exposure to how organizations operate. Internships also help you clarify your career interests, expand your professional networks, and improve your chances of securing full-time roles after graduation. For students interested in business, internships provide experience in areas such as marketing, finance, operations, consulting, and entrepreneurship.

Why should I do a business internship in college?

A business internship during college can significantly strengthen your professional profile. Employers often prioritize candidates who already have practical experience, and internships demonstrate initiative, time management, and familiarity with workplace expectations. Through internships, you'll learn how to apply classroom concepts, such as financial analysis, marketing strategy, or data-driven decision-making, to organizational challenges. Beyond technical skills, internships also help you develop essential professional abilities such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Many programs provide mentorship from professionals and exposure to industry tools or platforms. These experiences can help you refine your career interests within the business world.

North Carolina has major banking institutions, fast-growing startups, and a thriving research and technology ecosystem centered around the Research Triangle. To help you explore the most meaningful opportunities, we've narrowed down a list of the 15 best business internships for undergraduates in North Carolina, focusing on programs that offer practical projects, mentorship, and professional exposure.

1. Bandwidth – Marketing Analytics Intern

Location: Raleigh, NC (Headquarters)
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Dates: 10–12 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's degree program in Marketing, Business, Data Analytics, Finance, or a related field; proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets is required

As a Marketing Analytics Intern at Bandwidth, you will dive deep into how performance data actively drives strategic business decisions. Your daily activities involve cleaning campaign data, tracking key performance indicators, and building visual dashboards to make metrics easily understandable for stakeholders. You will also explore datasets to research optimization trends while collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure reporting accuracy. What sets this program apart is Bandwidth's "Whole Person Promise," involving unique perks such as a dedicated 90-minute workout lunch, volunteer outings, and an executive speaker series. Through this experience, you will develop data storytelling, cross-functional collaboration, and practical proficiency skills with industry tools like Salesforce, Marketo, and Google Analytics.

2. Ladder University Internship Program

Location: Remote (work from anywhere)
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid available / No stipend
Dates: 8–12 weeks; multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort; January (Spring), May (Summer), September (Fall), November (Winter)
Eligibility: Undergraduates and gap year students able to commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks

The Ladder University Internship Program is a selective virtual internship that connects students with startups and nonprofit organizations across multiple industries. You contribute to a real-world organizational project that addresses a pressing business need. This structure allows you to develop practical skills while working on deliverables that have tangible value for your host organization. Throughout the program, you collaborate with a designated manager who provides guidance, feedback, and oversight as you progress through the project. The internship emphasizes professional communication, structured workflows, and milestone-based deliverables. You gain exposure to areas such as business strategy, operations, marketing, and market research, depending on the host organization's needs. At the end of the internship, you present your completed project and explain your approach and outcomes in a professional presentation setting. Apply now!

3. Bandwidth – Product Management Intern

Location: Raleigh, NC
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Dates: Typically 10–12 weeks starting in early June through August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Business, Computer Science, or Computer Engineering

In this internship, you will navigate the full software product development cycle within the cloud communications and API space. During the 11-week program, you will write product requirement documentation, develop strategic business cases, manage project timelines, and build Go-to-Market plans. By completing these tasks, you will sharpen your analytical problem-solving abilities and learn how to directly translate complex technical features into clear business value. The program uniquely champions a "Whole Person Promise," integrating 90-minute daily workout lunches, community volunteering, and executive speaker series into your regular schedule. You will finish the program by formally presenting your work and project results to company leadership.

4. NC IDEA — Summer Undergraduate Internship

Location: NC IDEA Foundation, Durham, NC
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Dates: 10 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: January 10
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with demonstrated interest in startups or entrepreneurship

The NC IDEA Summer Undergraduate Internship offers students the opportunity to gain exposure to North Carolina's startup and innovation ecosystem. You will work with the NC IDEA Foundation, an organization that supports early-stage entrepreneurs through grants, mentorship, and startup-focused programs. Through this experience, you learn how organizations help launch and scale new ventures across the state. During the internship, you may assist with research, program support, and initiatives related to entrepreneurship and startup development. The role allows you to interact with founders, community partners, and organizations that contribute to North Carolina's growing startup landscape.

5. Lenovo – Global Social Media Creator Marketing Intern

Location: Morrisville, NC
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Dates: May 18/June 1 – July 24
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Undergraduates majoring in Marketing, Communications, or related fields. Requires experience with TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, plus familiarity with influencer platforms like CreatorIQ

As a Lenovo Global Social Media Creator Marketing Intern, you will dive into influencer marketing by directly supporting Lenovo's massive FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign. The program covers end-to-end creator strategy, digital operations, and social analytics at the intersection of tech and football. Your daily activities involve vetting sports creators for brand alignment, onboarding them into CreatorIQ, reviewing inbound content, and tracking match-day campaign performance. What makes this role uniquely exciting is your direct involvement in a live global tournament, offering a behind-the-scenes look at high-stakes digital sports media. By the end of the summer, you will develop skills in global creator strategy, data analytics, and fast-moving social media execution.

6. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina — Summer Internship Program

Location: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Durham, NC (On-site/Hybrid depending on role)
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate varies as per undergraduate level
Dates: May 18 – July 24
Application Deadline: February
Eligibility: Rising sophomore, junior, or senior enrolled in an accredited degree-seeking undergraduate program; authorized to work in the U.S.; maintain residency in North Carolina during the internship period

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Summer Internship Program is a competitive 10-week paid internship that provides undergraduate students with hands-on experience in a large healthcare organization. You will work on meaningful projects that support real business initiatives across the company while gaining exposure to healthcare systems, corporate strategy, and operational decision-making. Opportunities are available in several areas, including finance, corporate communications, strategy and innovation, human resources, sales and marketing, business operations, and data analytics. The internship also includes structured professional development activities such as leadership "Lunch and Learn" sessions, networking events, and coffee chats with company executives.

7. PBS North Carolina — Internship Program

Location: PBS North Carolina, Research Triangle Park, NC
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Dates: 8–15 weeks, beginning in early June
Application Deadline: Mid-to-late April
Eligibility: Currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students at accredited colleges/universities, or recent graduates; Must be from a constituent institution within the University of North Carolina (UNC) System; Must reside in NC within a 2-hour commuting distance of the duty station

The PBS North Carolina Internship Program offers college students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in public media and nonprofit broadcasting. Interns can work in several departments, including marketing and communications, business administration, fundraising, social media, production, editing, and post-production. Through these placements, you will contribute to projects that support PBS North Carolina's mission to educate, inform, and inspire communities across the state. During the internship, you collaborate with staff members while learning how different departments within a media organization operate and coordinate their work. Interns may observe production shoots, attend studio recordings, and participate in job shadow experiences across multiple teams.

8. Hitachi Energy – Summer Business Intern

Location: Raleigh, NC
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Dates: 12 weeks; typically running from mid-May/June through August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Undergraduates (rising juniors/seniors) or Master's students pursuing degrees in Business, Human Resources, Accounting, Communications, or related fields; must have permanent US work authorization

At Hitachi Energy, your 12-week Summer Business Internship covers basic corporate areas like human resources, sales, and supply chain. You will spend your time analyzing market data, suggesting new business ideas, writing reports, and collaborating with global teams on daily tasks. A very unique part of this program is how you apply for it; you just submit one general application, and the company automatically matches you to the best job for your specific major. Working in the clean energy field, you will learn how to think critically and communicate clearly with people from different backgrounds.

9. Old Dominion Freight Line — Marketing Intern (Summer)

Location: Old Dominion Freight Line, Elm City, NC
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Dates: Summer internship; 10–12 weeks, typically starting in late May or early June and concluding in August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Students enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program in marketing, communications, or business administration with no more than 12 months remaining before graduation; minimum 3.0 GPA; proficiency in Microsoft Office and strong communication skills

The Old Dominion Freight Line Marketing Internship offers undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to gain practical experience in corporate marketing within the transportation and logistics industry. You will begin the program with a structured orientation and training period before being assigned to marketing projects that support the company's communication and brand initiatives. During the internship, you work closely with marketing leadership and team members to assist with campaign development, content creation, and project execution. Interns typically contribute to two or three marketing projects during the summer, collaborating with internal departments and subject-matter experts to support business objectives. The program also includes mentorship and shadowing opportunities.

10. AAA – The Auto Club Group — Sales and Marketing Intern

Location: Greenville, NC
Stipend: $18.50/hour
Dates: Mid-May – Early August
Application Deadline: March 16–27; varies slightly by recruiting platform
Eligibility: Undergraduate students (sophomore or above) enrolled in a business-related program such as marketing, management, risk management, or insurance with a minimum 3.0 GPA

In this internship, you will work with the North Carolina sales team to support membership growth and assist with marketing campaigns that promote the organization's banking, insurance, and travel products. The role provides exposure to multiple business lines and helps students understand how large service organizations develop and implement sales strategies. During the internship, you assist with branch-level marketing activities, community outreach, and promotional events to increase brand visibility and customer acquisition. You will also help analyze sales initiatives, track performance metrics, and contribute to reports or presentations used by sales leadership.

11. Campus Reel – Campus Marketing & Outreach Intern

Location: Charlotte, NC (On-site / campus-based)
Stipend: $18–$35/hour + commission opportunities
Dates: Part-time internship; flexible schedule during the academic term
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Currently enrolled college students in or near Charlotte, NC

The Campus Marketing & Outreach Internship offers students hands-on experience in digital marketing, event promotion, and peer-to-peer outreach. In this role, you contribute to marketing campaigns that combine social media engagement with in-person outreach on campus. You will create and share content across platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and other social channels while helping organize campaigns to increase awareness of financial resources available to students. The position also involves collaborating with student organizations, academic departments, and local businesses to coordinate events, workshops, or campus pop-ups. In addition to outreach activities, interns track engagement metrics and help refine marketing strategies based on feedback and campaign results.

12. WSP – Marketing Intern (Summer)

Location: Raleigh, NC (Main office location); roles are also periodically listed for Durham, NC
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Dates: May 18 – August (standard 12-week program; start dates are often flexible)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program (Marketing, Communications, Journalism, English, or related); anticipated graduation date of August of the current year or later; 18 years or older; U.S. work authorization

As an undergraduate marketing intern at WSP, you will learn how to market services in the building and engineering industry, focusing on organizing information and helping the business grow. Your daily tasks will include updating company resumes, organizing marketing materials on SharePoint, and interviewing engineers to write content for new project bids. You will also help format and design these final documents before they are sent to clients. You get to watch the entire sales process from the very first idea to winning the contract, all while receiving guidance from WSP's dedicated intern network.

13. McKinney – Agency Operations Internship

Location: Durham, NC
Stipend: $18/hour
Dates: June 3 – August 12
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising juniors, seniors, recent graduates, or graduate students pursuing degrees in Business, Finance, Marketing, Operations, Communications, or related fields. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

As an intern in McKinney's Agency Operations program, you will explore the intersection of project management and finance within a fast-paced advertising agency. This program places you on real campaigns for actual clients alongside cross-functional creative and media teams. Your daily responsibilities will involve building project timelines, supporting budget tracking, monitoring financial burn rates, and participating in status meetings. Through these hands-on tasks, you will learn how complex workflow systems operate and how to seamlessly connect creative ideas with financial realities. Ultimately, you will develop precise budgeting skills, proactive problem-solving abilities, and a strong operational foundation.

14. Kioti Tractor – Parts Business Analytics Intern

Location: Wendell, NC
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Dates: Early June – early August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Currently enrolled undergraduate student

As an undergraduate in the KIOTI Tractor Parts Business Analytics Intern program, you will focus on aftermarket business strategy by diving into sales analysis, demand forecasting, and market pricing. During this internship, you will analyze historical sales data to identify seasonal trends, conduct competitor pricing research, and help build out Power BI reporting dashboards for management review. You will also get hands-on experience using modern AI-assisted tools to summarize data and evaluate market benchmarks. The internship specifically focuses on the heavy equipment aftermarket, allowing you to see how your analytical inputs directly impact pricing and inventory decisions in a niche industry.

15. Carolina Core FC – Marketing Summer Intern

Location: High Point, NC
Stipend: None
Dates: May – August
Application Deadline: Early April
Eligibility: Undergraduate or graduate students currently enrolled in Marketing, Communications, Sports Management, or a related field

As a marketing intern with Carolina Core FC, you will explore the fast-paced business of professional soccer by supporting brand strategies and game day operations. Throughout the program, you will cover essential topics like digital marketing, market research, and consumer brand management. Your daily activities will involve executing game day marketing campaigns, analyzing market research data, and collaborating with graphic designers to create digital content. The internship enables direct involvement in live sports activations and promotional events right at the stadium. By the end, you will have developed practical skills in digital ad creation, market analysis, and executing real-world promotional strategies.