For high school students curious about entrepreneurship, finance, management, or innovation, summer can be the ideal time to take a deeper dive into the world of business. While the school year is often filled with required coursework and scheduled activities, summer offers rare flexibility—an open space to explore emerging interests, develop new skills, and gain experience in areas not typically covered in the classroom.
This is especially valuable for students considering a future in business. Whether you're interested in launching a startup, understanding the stock market, or exploring leadership and organizational strategy, a well-designed summer program can help you move from curiosity to clarity. These programs allow you to engage directly with professionals, tackle real-world challenges, and learn the fundamentals of business in dynamic, hands-on settings.
In this guide, we've curated 10 of the most compelling summer business programs for high school students. These opportunities stand out for their academic rigor, mentorship quality, and real-world application. Some are selective and prestigious, hosted by top business schools. Others are accessible and affordable, offering entry points for students from a range of academic backgrounds. A number are even fully funded or offer need-based financial aid.
Whether you're aiming to refine your entrepreneurial mindset, build a professional portfolio, or gain early exposure to business concepts before college, these programs provide high-impact opportunities that can inform your academic path and future goals.
Why Join a Business Summer Program?
Gain Real-World Experience and Practical Skills
Business summer programs allow students to move beyond theoretical learning and into applied, hands-on experiences. Whether you’re pitching a startup idea, analyzing market data, designing a product prototype, or participating in simulations of financial markets, these programs emphasize active problem-solving.
Through this kind of immersive learning, students build essential skills in:
- Critical thinking and analysis
- Team collaboration
- Public speaking and leadership
- Strategic decision-making
These skills are transferable across industries and will serve students well whether they pursue entrepreneurship, economics, finance, or broader business leadership roles.
Strengthen Your College and Career Portfolio
Top universities and business schools value students who pursue their interests beyond the classroom. Participating in a rigorous business summer program signals initiative, intellectual curiosity, and the willingness to engage with complex material.
These experiences can strengthen your college application by:
- Demonstrating a clear academic focus and direction
- Showing evidence of leadership and teamwork
- Adding standout projects or presentations to your resume or portfolio
Whether you're applying to undergraduate business programs or undecided about your future major, these programs add depth and clarity to your college narrative.
Connect with Mentors and Expand Your Network
A major benefit of business-focused summer programs is the opportunity to connect with mentors and industry professionals. Many programs feature:
- Guest speakers from major companies or startups
- Pitch competitions judged by investors or faculty
- Mentorship from entrepreneurs, consultants, or professors
These relationships offer more than short-term advice—they often open doors to future opportunities, whether that’s a research project, internship, or college recommendation. You'll also work alongside motivated peers who share your drive, creating a valuable network that extends beyond the program itself.
Top 10 Business Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Wharton Global Youth Business Programs
Location: University of Pennsylvania
Cost: $8,000 to $11,000 depending on your program choice
Program Dates: Two- or Three-week sessions in June-August
Application Deadline: Different deadlines for different courses
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-11 (program-specific eligibility applies)
The Wharton Global Youth On-Campus Programs offer high school students an introduction to business through hands-on learning experiences. Designed by the faculty and staff at Wharton, these programs integrate research and teaching to provide real-world business skills. For students interested in product development, the Product Design Academy covers design thinking, product creation, and customer-centered development. The Essentials of Entrepreneurship program takes a deep dive into the entrepreneurial process, helping you develop innovative ideas and understand the skills needed to become an entrepreneur. Check out their website to see the full range of programs available.
2. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY)
Location: UC Berkeley
Cost: California Resident $6,292 | Out-of-State Resident $7,332
Program Dates: July 5 - 19 or July 19 - August 2
Application Deadline: January 17
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
B-BAY invites high school students from around the world to learn about business at UC Berkeley. Led by Berkeley Haas professors and complemented by corporate guest speakers, this program covers the fundamentals of business formation and development. You will engage in independent research, computer lab assignments, and collaborative projects. One of the highlights of B-BAY is the opportunity to work in teams to develop a complete business plan, which you will present at the end of the program. Through interactions with Berkeley undergraduates and admission advisors, you will gain insights into college life and the application process, including tips on crafting a strong personal statement and application essay for UC schools.
3. Georgetown University Entrepreneur Academy
Location: Georgetown University, Washington D.C
Cost: $5,950
Program Dates: June 15 - June 27
Application Deadline: Early Bird Deadline: January 31; Final Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Open to current or rising high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a minimum GPA of 2.0
Georgetown University's Entrepreneur Academy offers high school students a two-week program focused on the fundamentals of entrepreneurship. This program covers various topics: startup ideation, prototype testing, market research, social innovation, and global business strategies. The program introduces you to skills like design thinking and brainstorming techniques that can turn ideas into actionable business plans. Throughout the program, you will work in teams to develop a business plan and pitch presentation, which you’ll present during a final pitch competition. The curriculum includes guest lectures and case studies. Upon completing the program, you will receive a Certificate of Participation.
4. Young Founders Lab
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more.
The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business.
Cost: The total cost to attend the 4-week program is $2900. There is need-based financial aid. Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
Program Dates: Vary according to cohort.
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort.
5. Harvard Student Agencies Business Academy
Location: Harvard University Campus
Cost: Virtual: $450; On Campus: $1,800
Program Dates: Five-day sessions offered between June and August
Application Deadline: January 26th
Eligibility: Open to 9th–12th grade high school students, ages 14+ at the time of the program
This program introduces entrepreneurship and business management through two specialized tracks: the Business Entrepreneurship Academy and the Business Management and Strategy Academy. In the Business Entrepreneurship Academy, you’ll explore the startup ecosystem, learning how to create, refine, and pitch a business idea. This track emphasizes building financial literacy, developing analytical skills, and understanding the market landscape. The program culminates with a startup pitch simulation. The Business Management and Strategy Academy looks at corporate challenges and strategies. As consultants, you’ll tackle problems such as improving profitability, navigating mergers and acquisitions, and understanding market entry strategies.
6. The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
Location: University of Michigan Ross Campus
Cost: $5,500; scholarship available
Program Dates: June 13 – 27
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Open to rising high school seniors with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Preference is given to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy is a two-week program introducing students to business and leadership fundamentals. Tailored for motivated rising seniors from diverse backgrounds, this academy offers an opportunity to explore the core aspects of business operations, discover potential career paths, and experience college life at Michigan Ross. You will work with Ross faculty, industry leaders, and company partners through interactive sessions, workshops, and projects. A hallmark of the program is its emphasis on purposeful leadership, helping you consider the societal and ethical dimensions of business decision-making. The coursework is modeled after college-level academics.
7. LaunchX Summer Entrepreneurship Programs
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan | UC Berkeley | Online
Cost: Varies (financial aid available)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: Specific dates vary for in-person and online options (see website for details)
LaunchX equips high school students with the skills to create and launch their own startups. With an acceptance rate of just 10-20%, this selective program allows you to collaborate with driven peers and build a business from the ground up. The program blends aspects of a startup accelerator, internship, and conference while offering mentorship from industry leaders, including CEOs, entrepreneurs, and academic professionals. 70% of alumni continue to work on entrepreneurial ventures, and 15% of startups initiated during the program remain active and successful. Developed initially under MIT’s Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship, LaunchX has since become an independent educational institution.
8. Columbia Business Summer Programs: Introduction to Business, Finance, and Economics
Location: In-person at Columbia University’s Morningside Campus, with an online option available
Cost: NYC Residential 3-Week Program: $12,750
Dates: June 30 – July 18
Application Deadlines: Early Registration: February 2; General Application: March 2
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 and older (for residential programs)
This program introduces high school students to the principles of corporate finance, investment strategies, and economic behavior. You will explore core topics like financial markets, valuation models, stock trading, and risk analysis. The curriculum blends lectures, case studies, and independent projects, offering insights into how financial systems and microeconomic models shape firm decisions. Beyond classroom learning, you can participate in extracurricular opportunities, including workshops and social events.
9. Introduction to Macroeconomic Theory and Policy @Cornell University
Location: Online
Cost: $5,520
Program Dates: June 24 – July 12
Application Deadline: June 23
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors aged 15 or older at the program start
Cornell University’s School of Applied Economics and Management offers the Introduction to Macroeconomic Theory and Policy course, ideal for students keen to explore large-scale economic principles. This program delves into macroeconomic fundamentals, focusing on critical topics like GDP, employment, inflation, and economic growth. Through lectures and projects, you will analyze real-world challenges using macroeconomic models. The course offers an opportunity to understand how policy decisions influence national and global economic trends, making it an excellent foundation for students interested in economics or public policy.
10. McCombs Future Executive Academy
Location: McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin, TX
Program Dates: First week of June
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores and juniors
Application Deadline: March 1
The McCombs Future Executive Academy is a free, competitive six-day program hosted by the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. Designed for high school students interested in entrepreneurship and leadership, the program provides a valuable experience in business education. You will participate in workshops, collaborative projects, and keynote sessions led by McCombs students, faculty, and prominent industry professionals. The curriculum focuses on building business fundamentals, entrepreneurial strategies, and leadership skills. Through networking opportunities, you will gain practical insights into launching and managing ventures.
Beyond Traditional Programs: Creating a Customized Business Path
While structured summer programs at universities and academies offer high-quality instruction and peer collaboration, they may not meet every student’s goals or fit every schedule. Some students thrive in environments that offer more autonomy, subject depth, or schedule flexibility. For those individuals, designing a personalized business project under expert guidance can be just as impactful—if not more so.
Personalized Mentorship for Business Exploration
Structured mentorship models like Nova Research and Nova Patent empower high school students to build customized experiences tailored to their business interests. These programs—mentored exclusively by scholars from Stanford, Harvard, MIT, Yale, and Princeton—allow students to pursue deep inquiry into advanced topics such as:
- Market research and consumer behavior
- Entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems
- Business ethics and sustainable capitalism
- Public-private partnerships and policy impact
- Financial modeling and strategic planning
Depending on their goals, students can conduct a literature review on global markets, build an original business plan grounded in economic research, or even prototype a new product with the intention to pursue a patent.
Why Customized Mentorship Matters
Unlike traditional group-based programs, personalized mentorship provides:
- Flexible pacing, so students can work around summer commitments or travel
- Focused subject alignment, allowing exploration of niche or interdisciplinary business ideas
- One-on-one feedback, ensuring students receive tailored guidance throughout their project
- Tangible outcomes, including publication-ready research papers, portfolios, or patent drafts
For motivated students, this type of mentorship offers not just academic enrichment, but also the opportunity to create portfolio-ready work that demonstrates initiative, intellectual depth, and long-term vision—qualities that resonate strongly with competitive college admissions officers.
Final Thoughts: Invest in Business Skills Early
Business isn’t just a potential college major—it’s a lens through which students can understand the world and shape it. At its core, business involves solving real problems through innovation, strategic thinking, and collaboration. For high school students, early exposure to this mindset can be transformational.
Summer offers a rare window to dive deep without the constraints of a packed academic year. Whether through a top-tier business program at a university, a startup accelerator simulation, or a one-on-one mentorship that guides you through building your own venture or economic research project, these experiences build lasting skills and perspective.
If you’re interested in business, don’t wait until college to explore it. Use your summer to:
- Gain hands-on experience through workshops, simulations, or mentorship
- Develop a strong portfolio with research, pitch decks, or original business plans
- Connect with mentors and like-minded peers who can support your growth
- Clarify your academic and career goals by testing ideas in real-world contexts
No matter your long-term ambitions—whether as a startup founder, policy analyst, sustainability strategist, or investment banker—these formative experiences will help you build confidence, resilience, and direction.
Your business journey doesn’t begin after graduation—it starts the moment you begin asking bold questions, designing creative solutions, and acting on your curiosity. With the right mindset and opportunities, this summer could be the launchpad to something extraordinary.
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