14 Business Internships for High School Students in South Dakota
If you are a high school student interested in business, an internship can be a worthwhile way to explore this field. Business internships offer you the opportunity to develop professional skills, enhance your resume, and decide if business matches your interests before committing to a college major. These internships introduce you to key business areas like finance, marketing, operations, entrepreneurship, and customer relations. They connect you with mentors, supervisors, and peers who can support your college and career goals.
What business internships are available for high school students in South Dakota?
South Dakota offers a range of business internship opportunities for high school students that span corporate, nonprofit, entrepreneurial, and government sectors. You’ll find internships offered through major employers such as financial institutions, chambers of commerce, economic development councils, youth business leadership programs, startup incubators, and community organizations. These internships often include mentorship, professional development workshops, and networking with business leaders, which can prepare you for future careers in business.
To help you get started, we've put together a list of 14 business internships for high school students in South Dakota.
1. Dakota Corps Youth Apprenticeship – South Dakota Governor’s Office
Location: Statewide (varies depending on the placement)
Cost/Stipend: Paid apprenticeship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive selection
Dates: Summer or school year placements
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: High school students (16+ years old)
In this structured statewide apprenticeship program, students are placed with private businesses or nonprofit organizations. Interns complete real business tasks such as event planning, budget tracking, managing social media accounts, and customer service support. Mentors guide you through professional expectations and workplace communication. You will gain exposure to career pathways in marketing, operations, finance, and human resources while attending professional development workshops and leadership sessions. Upon completion of the program, you build both practical experience and professional references.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type | financial aid is available | no stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Between 10 - 25% | 70 - 100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts available throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies as per the cohort – spring (January), summer (May), fall (September), and winter (November)
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and gap year students who can work for 8 -12 weeks, devoting 10 - 20 hours/week
Ladder Internships offers remote, project-based business internships for high school students seeking real-world professional experience. This program is well-suited for students seeking flexibility and skill-based learning. Participants are matchedwith startups or organizations to work on structured business projects in areas such as market research, strategy, operations, and marketing. You receive mentorship from industry professionals and participate in regular check-ins to track progress and complete a final deliverable or presentation summarizing your work. The program emphasizes independent work, accountability, and professional communication. Apply now!
3. Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Business Internship
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Cost/Stipend: Paid or unpaid internship, depending on the host
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Summer or part-time school year
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: High school students (15+ years old)
In this internship, you’ll support chamber-led business development and outreach initiatives by assisting with event logistics, membership engagement, and communications. Interns assist with preparing newsletters, coordinating promotional materials, and helping plan networking events for local businesses. You gain experience in organizational operations, stakeholder communication, and project coordination. Regular check-ins with supervisors help you reflect on workplace skills and career interests while building professional relationships with business leaders in the community. This internship helps you understand how local commerce drives economic growth.
4. Dakota Prairie Bank Youth Banking Internship
Location: Aberdeen, SD
Cost/Stipend: Paid or stipend options
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Application required
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Early springEligibility: High school students (16+ years old)
In this internship, you will support daily operations at a community bank while gaining exposure to financial services. Intern responsibilities include assisting with customer service, supporting marketing initiatives, organizing financial literacy events, and shadowing banking professionals. Training introduces basic financial concepts, compliance basics, and client communication etiquette. Professional mentorship helps you build workplace communication and financial understanding while learning about business operations in a regulated environment. This internship is well-suited for students interested in finance, economics, or business operations careers.
5. Daktronics Youth Tech & Business Internship
Location: Brookings, SD
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: High school students (16+ years old)
This internship offers experience with a global technology company specializing in visual display systems. Business interns support project coordination, internal communications, and cross-functional team initiatives. Work may include assisting with market analysis, supporting proposals, and analyzing product usage patterns. Interns gain exposure to real commercial workflows, team collaboration, and integrated business systems while developing technical understanding alongside business acumen in an established corporate environment. Mentors provide guidance on career pathways and professional growth.
6. Sioux Empire United Way Youth Internship
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Application required
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: High school students
In this internship, you will support nonprofit program planning, fundraising campaigns, and community engagement initiatives. Intern responsibilities may include social media outreach, volunteer coordination, and support for public events. You gain experience in nonprofit operations, community partnerships, and organizational communication. Mentors from professional staff guide your learning and project contributions. Participation in this internship helps you understand mission-driven business operations, building transferable skills such as project management and stakeholder communication.
7. Chamber of Commerce Youth Business Intern – Regional Chambers
Location: Chambers across SD (Pierre, Watertown, Brookings)
Cost/Stipend: Paid or unpaid, depending on the host
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Application-based
Dates: Summer or school year options
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the chamber
Eligibility: High school students
In this internship, you will help chambers support local businesses through event planning, communications initiatives, and economic development research. Responsibilities often include assisting with promotional campaigns, coordinating business directories, and participating in business forums. You gain direct exposure to community business networks and leadership. Mentors guide you in professional communication and project development. Chamber internships build teamwork and organizational skills relevant to business environments.
8. South Dakota State University (SDSU) Entrepreneurship & Business Internship
Location: Brookings, SD
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship or course credit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Summer or academic year
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: High school students (with instructor permission)
In this internship, you will assist SDSU faculty and local business partners on applied business projects such as market research, financial analysis, and event coordination. Interns gain hands-on experience in academic-industry collaborative projects. Mentors provide professional development support and structured feedback, helping students to build insights related to business strategy and applied reasoning. The experience prepares participants for college-level business coursework and professional environments.
9. City of Rapid City Business & Economic Development Internship
Location: Rapid City, SD
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive application
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: High school students (16+ years old)
In this internship, you will support the city's economic development staff with tasks related to market research, development strategy, community outreach, and event planning. Interns participate in analytical projects that assess local business climate and identify growth opportunities while assisting with communications, data entry, and stakeholder engagement. Mentorship from professional staff helps you apply business principles to real community outcomes. Collaboration with public and private partners helps you to develop your understanding of economic ecosystems. This internship helps build foundational skills in business planning and public sector strategy.
10. South Dakota Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Intern Program
Location: Statewide with regional offices
Cost/Stipend: Paid or unpaid (as posted)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Based on the application
Dates: Summer and academic year options
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the office
Eligibility: High school students
This internship involves assisting SBDC advisors with small business support services, including client intake, research assistance, and resource creation. Responsibilities may include economic data collection, social media content development, and business plan support. Mentors guide interns in professional research and client communication, helping them understand entrepreneurship consulting and local business ecosystems. Work emphasizes organization, client support, and critical thinking, helping you build practical business understanding and collaborative skills.
11. Black Hills Works Youth Entrepreneurship Internship
Location: Rapid City, SD
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Application required
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Early spring
Eligibility: High school students
In this internship, you will collaborate on community business initiatives, program planning, and organizational support tasks. The internship builds practical work experience and professional confidence. Interns learn about nonprofit business models, operations coordination, and stakeholder engagement. Projects may include fundraising support, community research, and public presentation preparation. Mentors support skill development in planning and execution, allowing you to gain insight into organizational leadership and community impact.
12. South Dakota Retail Merchandising Internship
Location: Varies depending on the host retailer
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Dependent on the employer
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: High school students (15+ years old)
In this internship, you will work with retail business teams to support merchandising operations such as inventory analysis, sales tracking, visual displays, and customer engagement. Interns receive hands-on training in point-of-sale systems and merchandising strategy. You learn retail business fundamentals and customer service skills. Mentors help you understand business operations and sales analytics, helping you build your confidence in business environments and enhance communication and analytical reasoning. Retail internships often strengthen resumes for entry-level business roles.
13. South Dakota Youth Business Leadership Institute
Location: Statewide with in-person sessions
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Summer leadership sessions
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: High school students interested in entrepreneurship and leadership
In this internship, you will participate in workshops focused on business fundamentals, finance, entrepreneurship, and career development. Structured sessions include guest talks, real business case challenges, and team collaboration. You complete group projects that simulate startup ideation and strategic planning with feedback from mentors in local business communities. Leadership-focused modules help you develop communication, teamwork, and project planning skills, helping students build confidence in business reasoning and professional environments.
14. National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI)
Location: South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
Cost/Stipend: Free (full scholarship covering housing, meals, workshops, and activities)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified (limited cohort)
Dates: Late May - mid June (1-week residential program with two session options)
Application Deadline: Early May
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9 - 12 with a minimum GPA of 2.0 | completion of algebra (or eligibility to enroll)
The National Summer Transportation Institute at South Dakota State University introduces students to the business and management aspects of transportation systems. You will explore how infrastructure projects are funded, planned, and operated within public and private sectors. Interactive workshops highlight logistics, supply chains, budgeting, and transportation policy. A site visit to Brookings Regional Airport provides insight into real-world operations, revenue models, and safety management. Team-based projects challenge you to develop cost-effective and sustainable transportation solutions. The residential format also builds leadership, collaboration, and professional networking skills.
Image source - Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce logo