15 Business Internships for Undergraduates in Arkansas
If you are an undergraduate interested in business and want practical experience away from classroom learning, an internship can be a strong way to explore careers in finance, marketing, management, or entrepreneurship. Business internships let you contribute to real projects at companies, nonprofits, or government offices across Arkansas, from market research and financial modelling to operations support and client outreach. These experiences help you build technical skills such as spreadsheet modelling, market analysis, and CRM use, as well as professional skills like business communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
For those looking for business-administration specific internships, look at our blog here. If you are seeking other Arkansas-based internships, find a list here.
Why should I do a business internship as an undergraduate?
A business internship lets you apply classroom concepts in commercial settings and strengthens your resume by showing initiative, hands-on experience, and familiarity with workplace processes, which are qualities that employers value. You may produce deliverables (reports, pitches, process improvements) that become concrete examples to cite in applications or interviews, while close collaboration with managers or mentors can lead to strong recommendation letters and ongoing professional guidance. The internships also expose you to workplace culture, client interactions, and networking opportunities that help clarify career goals.
How did we shortlist summer internships in Arkansas for you?
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 business internships for undergraduates in Arkansas, highlighting programs that offer meaningful experience across industries.
1.Arkansas Business Publishing Group Summer Internship Program
Location: Arkansas Business Publishing Group (ABPG), Little Rock, AR
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Summer term (8 weeks; June 1 – July 24; interns work 40 hours per week through the full program)
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who have completed at least 60 credit hours at a four-year college (or 30 hours at a community college); residents attending an out-of-state school are also eligible, with preference for in-state students
The Arkansas Business Publishing Group Summer Internship Program places you inside Arkansas’ largest niche publishing company for an immersive 8-week paid business experience that bridges classroom learning with real professional work. You’ll rotate through departments including editorial, photography, sales, digital marketing, and research, gaining a broad view of how a publishing organization runs and how business functions like advertising, content strategy, audience development, and revenue generation intersect. Throughout the internship, you’ll work alongside seasoned professionals on substantial tasks such as reporting, preparing marketing materials, supporting sales efforts, creating digital content, and contributing research that informs business decisions and publication strategies.
2.Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to undergraduates and gap year students!
Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, virtual internship program where you work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup. Apply now!
3.Summer Internship Program – Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Location: Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield offices (Little Rock area; employer’s statewide presence)
Stipend: Paid (compensation throughout internship)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: May 27 - August 1 (tentative; 10-week full-time summer program)
Application Deadline: Application period runs from November to April each year
Eligibility: Sophomore, junior, and senior college students with business or related majors and a 3.0 GPA (3.5 for actuarial tracks)
The Summer Internship Program at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield places you in a structured 10-week business experience where you will participate in team-building, professional development, special projects, and weekly leadership activities. As an intern, you’ll work with departments across business areas such as actuarial, finance, business analytics, and management, gaining exposure to how a major healthcare insurer operates. You may contribute to data analysis, process improvement, project coordination, marketing research, or risk management tasks, all while building professional skills and connections within a well-established organization.
4.Venture Intern Program – University of Arkansas
Location: University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation — Fayetteville, AR (placements with early-stage ventures, entrepreneurship support organizations, regional accelerators, and investor networks)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship | $15 per hour for around 15 hours per week over a 12-week semester
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive and selective (applications open each semester)
Dates: Semester-long
Application Deadline: Varies by semester
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students (primarily juniors and seniors) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0+ and eligible to enroll for at least one credit hour of co-op/internship credit
The Venture Intern Program gives you a chance to work directly with startups and entrepreneurial organizations in the Northwest Arkansas ecosystem while developing core business and innovation skills. Through a semester-long internship, you’ll be placed with a scalable venture, accelerator, investor network, or support organization where you’ll help tackle real business needs from market research, strategy development, and operations support to product development, customer discovery, and fundraising processes. The program also offers cohort training, orientation sessions, check-ins, and networking events where you connect with peers and mentors, share experiences, and build your professional profile. This internship helps strengthen your entrepreneurial mindset, expand your business network, and prepare you for careers in innovation, venture creation, or business leadership.
5.MyARInternship – Arkansas State Government Intern Program
Location: State of Arkansas government departments statewide (placements can include business, finance, administration, communications, marketing, and related areas)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship based on a 40-hour workweek with state pay (specific rate varies by role)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified (competitive selection process)
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: Varies by posting
Eligibility: U.S. citizens aged 18+, enrolled undergraduate students who have completed at least one year of college, or recent graduates; veterans may also qualify
The MyARInternship Program gives you a paid, hands-on opportunity to work within the Arkansas state government while applying your business skills to real public-sector challenges. Over the summer, you’ll be placed in an executive-level department such as finance, marketing, communications, compliance, administration, or real estate services, where you’ll support daily operations and project work that may include data analysis, policy research, financial reporting, communications tasks, and workflow coordination. You’ll gain experience working with professionals across divisions, helping you build practical workplace skills in project planning, written and oral communication, problem-solving, and team collaboration in a large organizational setting.
6.Walmart Accounting & Finance Development Program
Location: Walmart Home Office, Bentonville, AR
Stipend: Paid | $19.00–$35.00 per hour depending on role and placement level
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective (corporate internship at a Fortune-ranked company)
Dates: Summer term
Application Deadline: Not specified (open positions posted online)
Eligibility: Undergraduate students pursuing degrees in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Analytics, or other business-related fields
The Walmart Accounting & Finance Development Program Summer Internship gives you a chance to begin your career at one of the world’s largest retailers through a structured, competitive business experience focused on finance and strategy. Over the summer, you’ll work as part of a corporate finance or commercial finance team, supporting areas such as strategic operations, merchandising analytics, supply chain financial planning, forecasting, and real estate or FP&A (Forecasting, Planning & Analysis). You’ll tackle real business problems and projects that contribute directly to financial decision-making and performance analysis, while gaining exposure to enterprise-level financial systems and reporting practices. This internship helps you develop key technical skills in financial modeling, business communication, data interpretation, and cross-functional collaboration that can lead to full-time career opportunities within Walmart’s rotational development programs after graduation.
7.Program & Operations Internship – ULI Northwest Arkansas
Location: Urban Land Institute Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR)
Stipend: Paid — $20 per hour, paid bi-weekly through the organization’s payroll system
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Only 1 position open
Dates:Summer Term: May 18 – August 14
Application Deadline: Not specified (applications accepted by resume and cover letter)
Eligibility: Students or emerging professionals interested in real estate, urban development, placemaking, communications, research, and nonprofit operations
The Program & Operations Internship with ULI Northwest Arkansas gives you the chance to gain hands-on experience supporting a mission-driven real estate and urban development organization. Over the summer term, you’ll assist with planning and executing programs and events such as networking events, site tours, and educational workshops while helping manage logistics, including outreach communications, presentation materials, and event setup. You’ll also support marketing efforts by recapping events, creating photo/video content, updating digital listings and contact databases, researching best practices from ULI district councils, and helping organize digital files and resources to keep operations running smoothly. This experience equips you with real-world insight into the business side of urban planning, event management, and nonprofit operations while building valuable professional relationships in the Northwest Arkansas built-environment community.
8.World Trade Center Arkansas Student Internship Program
Location: World Trade Center Arkansas, Little Rock, AR
Stipend: May be paid or unpaid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not disclosed
Dates: TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Undergraduate students interested in international business, trade, or business development
The World Trade Center Arkansas Student Internship Program allows you to immerse yourself in business development and international trade support work. You’ll collaborate closely with professionals who assist Arkansas companies in expanding into global markets, contributing to market research, client outreach, event planning, and strategic business initiatives. Throughout your internship, you’ll learn how trade policies, economic trends, and strategic partnerships shape international commerce while building practical skills that include trade data analysis, project coordination, and professional communication. This experience not only enhances your resume but also broadens your understanding of global business operations and how organizations support export growth for local companies.
9.Executive Leadership & Vision Internship – Purpose Brands 414
Location: Northwest Arkansas (Bentonville & Fayetteville area)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Tentative start date late January / Early February (part-time; ~8–15 hrs/week)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Undergraduate students pursuing business, management, entrepreneurship, organizational leadership, or nonprofit administration
The Executive Leadership & Vision Internship at Purpose Brands 414 places you in an organization where you’ll work closely with the Founder & CEO and leadership teams. In this role, you’ll contribute to strategic planning, organizational vision-casting, and day-to-day operations that connect business strategy to real-impact work. Your tasks may include supporting leadership initiatives, assisting with priority planning, contributing to systems organization, and participating in executive communications. This internship helps you strengthen strategic thinking, organizational management, professional communication, and leadership skills while gaining firsthand exposure to executive decision-making and nonprofit business processes.
10.Recreation and Sport Management (RESM) Internship – University of Arkansas
Location: Host organizations across Arkansas (sports organizations, recreation departments, event management companies, and facilities)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Determined by program enrollment and host organization placements
Dates: Flexible internship periods depending on host organization and academic schedule
Application Deadline: Determined through the University of Arkansas internship registration process
Eligibility: Undergraduate students enrolled in the Recreation and Sport Management program at the University of Arkansas who have completed prerequisite coursework
The Recreation and Sport Management (RESM) Internship Program at the University of Arkansas allows you to gain practical business experience within the sports and recreation industry. As part of the program, you’ll complete a supervised professional placement where you’ll contribute to the operations of organizations involved in sports administration or recreation management. You will often work on tasks such as event planning, facility operations, marketing initiatives, and program coordination while collaborating with professionals in the field. The internship is designed to prepare you for careers in sports and recreation management by combining academic learning with hands-on professional training, which will help you build industry skills, professional networks, and a deeper understanding of how sports and recreation organizations operate.
11.Rankin College of Business Internship Program – Southern Arkansas University
Location: Southern Arkansas University and participating businesses across Arkansas (Magnolia and surrounding regions)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Determined by a faculty selection committee and host business needs
Dates: Typically a 12-week internship period
Application Deadline: Determined by the university internship application cycle
Eligibility: Undergraduate business students with at least 75 completed credit hours and a minimum GPA of 2.5 before enrolling in the internship course
The Rankin College of Business Internship Program at Southern Arkansas University connects undergraduate business students with companies across Arkansas for supervised professional placements. Through this internship, you’ll work with a participating organization where you’ll gain hands-on experience in areas such as business operations, management, marketing, finance, or administration while applying concepts learned in your coursework. The internship is structured as both a professional and academic experience: you complete weekly progress reports, receive evaluations from your host employer, and submit a final report summarizing your work and learning outcomes. Participating companies provide meaningful exposure to day-to-day business activities and professional environments, helping you build workplace skills such as communication, teamwork, and organizational problem-solving.
12.DFA Internship Program – Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration
Location: Offices of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration across Arkansas
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship (rate varies by division)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Internships offered in spring, summer, and fall
Application Deadline: Varies depending on available positions
Eligibility: College students or recent graduates pursuing fields such as accounting, finance, business administration, analytics, communications, marketing, or technology
The DFA Internship Program provides practical experience inside one of Arkansas’s major government agencies responsible for budgeting, taxation, and financial oversight. As an intern, you may assist with financial analysis, administrative projects, data reporting, and policy research while learning how large-scale financial and administrative systems operate. The program emphasizes mentorship and training to help students build professional skills and understand the real-world applications of business and public administration.
13.Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce Internship Program
Location: Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce – Little Rock, Arkansas
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: TBA
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the internship cycle
Eligibility: Undergraduate students interested in business, communications, public policy, marketing, or economic development
The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce Internship Program allows you to gain firsthand experience in statewide business advocacy and economic development. During the internship, you may assist with policy research, communications, event coordination, member outreach, and data analysis that support the Chamber’s initiatives to promote business growth across Arkansas. You will often work with staff on projects related to legislative tracking, business policy analysis, and the preparation of reports or presentations for member companies. This experience helps you build skills in professional communication, business policy analysis, and organizational strategy, while also giving you exposure to how business organizations collaborate with government leaders and industry partners. By working in a statewide business organization, you can expand your professional network and gain insight into how public policy and economic development shape the business climate in Arkansas.
14.Community & Economic Development Internship – Center for Community and Economic Development
Location: Conway, Arkansas (projects and collaborations across the state)
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Internships offered fall, spring, and summer, depending on project needs
Application Deadline: Varies by semester
Eligibility: Undergraduate students interested in business, public administration, communications, geography, political science, or economic development
The Community & Economic Development Internship allows you to gain experience working on projects that support regional economic growth and community initiatives. You will assist with tasks such as conducting research, managing databases, supporting marketing initiatives, and helping plan programs such as the Community Development Institute. In addition to project work, you’ll interact with professionals and public leaders involved in economic development initiatives, giving you valuable exposure to how business, policy, and community organizations collaborate to support local economies. The internship also provides networking and professional development opportunities that help prepare you for careers in business consulting, nonprofit management, economic development, or public policy.
15.Virtual Internship Program – Progrentures
Location: Remote (work from anywhere, including Arkansas)
Cost/Stipend: Free internship option available | Stipend based on performance
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective (interview-based selection process)
Dates: Flexible (2 - 6 months)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Undergraduate students and freshers interested in business, marketing, data analysis, and related fields
The Progrentures Virtual Internship Program allows you to work on real, company-oriented projects in a fully online setting. During the internship, you can choose domains such as business development, social media strategy, data analytics, and research, and contribute to structured project modules instead of only theoretical training. Interns are selected through a screening and virtual interview process and are assigned live project work where they collaborate with mentors and teams.Throughout the program, you’ll build practical skills by working on real tasks, maintaining project records, and completing assigned deliverables. The internship emphasizes hands-on learning, mentorship, and professional skill development rather than passive training. High-performing interns may receive a performance-based stipend and experience certificate, making it a useful option if you want flexible, remote business experience without paying any program fee.