Internships
Start With Potential. Achieve Real-World Results.
Books and lectures are a solid starting point. But at Drake University, you’ll notice that learning happens everywhere—including in local school districts, industry labs, startup organizations, and creative agencies.
Seeing classroom concepts come to life in an internship isn’t just an asset—it’s central to being a student at Drake. Our location in Des Moines, Iowa’s fast-growing capital, makes it easy to connect with companies that can provide vital experience. In fact, many Bulldogs secure internships as soon as their first year.
Nurture Your Dreams to Create Your Reality
You're ready to stand out. To put your strengths to work and gain new skills that will shape your future. At Drake, nearly every student earns an internship, and many complete more than one. Drake gives you the real-world experience to launch your career with confidence.
%
Of students who graduated in May 2025 had at least one internship or field experience.
#
Des Moines’ ranking among all metros for Gen-Z students right out of college (Rent Café, 2025).
%
Of 2025 undergraduates found a job or entered grad school within six months of graduation, compared to the national average of 55%.
How to Find an Internship
From online databases stocked with listings exclusive to Drake, to professors who provide direct access to their contacts locally, across the country, and around the world—your biggest challenge won’t be finding an internship, but narrowing down your choices.
Internships by School
Internship requirements vary by program, and our colleges and schools maintain their own lists of opportunities. Begin your search here:
How Internships Benefit College Students
There’s no substitute for experience. Internships are one of the best ways to put classroom lessons to the test in a real-world setting. If you’re looking at numbers, paid interns are twice as likely to land a job after graduation as non-interns. Whether you find an internship or practical experience near campus, in another city, or even in another country, you’ll build the confidence and perspective to tackle challenges you can’t even imagine.
Gain Experience
Critical thinking, collaboration, communication—these are just a few of the True Blue skills that will carry you far, and they’re also the same things you’ll cultivate in an internship.
Build Your Network
Your talent and passion can create new paths forward. Sometimes, though, it helps to know someone who can send an opportunity your way. Internships help you meet professionals who will support you in your career.
Focus on Your Future
The best time to question your career goals is before you start a job. Internships give you a close-up look into the working world and can help you decide whether you’re on the right track—or if you should rethink it.
Using Career Services
Maybe you know exactly what you want to do after graduation. Maybe you’re still figuring it out. Wherever you are, Drake’s Career Services is here for you. It’s never too soon to check in with us. Ask us for career guidance, to help craft a winning résumé, or how to ace your upcoming interviews.
Past Internship Placements
Our location in Des Moines is a not-so-secret weapon when it comes to finding a great opportunity. Iowa’s capital city gives you easy access to experiences in a wide range of industries. (And with about 25,000 Drake alumni in the Greater Des Moines area, you’ll find it easy to make connections that work.)
ABC, Iowa Caucus Coverage, Des Moines- BBC, Iowa Caucus Coverage, Des Moines
- Better Business Bureau, Des Moines
- BHG.com Food Channel, Des Moines
- Mercy Hospital, Des Moines
- Department of Human Rights, Des Moines
- Des Moines Community School District
- Des Moines Radio Group, Des Moines
- Des Moines Register, Des Moines
- Ernst & Young, Des Moines
- Governor of Iowa, Des Moines
- Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau, Des Moines
- Head Start, Des Moines
- Iowa Attorney General’s Office, Des Moines
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines
- John Deere, Ankeny, Iowa
- Kemin Industries, Des Moines
- Meredith Corporation (Better Homes & Gardens, Country Life, WOOD Magazine), Des Moines
- MidAmerican Energy, Des Moines
- Office of U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Des Moines
- Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Urbandale, Iowa
- The Principal Financial Group, Des Moines
- The World Food Prize Foundation, Des Moines
- Vote Smart, Des Moines
- Wellmark, Des Moines
0040ABC News, New York, New York- Disneyland, Orlando, Fla.
- Ernst & Young, Minneapolis, Minn.
- FDIC, Chicago, Ill.
- Feeding America, Chicago, Ill.
- Hearst Corporation (Seventeen, Elle, Woman’s Day, Popular Mechanics), New York, New York
- Ingram’s Business Magazine, Kansas City, Mo.
- Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
- Milwaukee Magazine, Milwaukee, Wisc.
- Monster Worldwide, Chicago, Ill.
- MTV, Chicago, Ill.
- NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Tex.
- National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Mo.
- Office of Rep. Leonard Boswell, Washington, D.C.
- Office of Sen. Chuck Grassley, Washington, D.C.
- St. Louis Cord Blood Bank, St. Louis, Mo.
- SUPER VALU Pharmacies, Franklin Park, Ill.
- Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, D.C.
- Teen People, New York, New York
- The Huffington Post, Washington, D.C.
- U.S. Olympic Committee, Colorado Springs, Colo.
- United States Public Health Service, Yuma, Ariz.
Churchill Museum, London, United Kingdom- Grazia Daily Magazine, London, United Kingdom
- Hillside International, Belize
- Kemin Industries, Brussels, Belgium
- Oxfam Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Pioneer Hi-Bred Switzerland S.A., Lugano, Switzerland
- Prague TV, Prague, Czech Republic
Take the Next Step
Show the world what you’ve got. Learn more about internship opportunities through Drake’s Career Services.
