If you are a high school student interested in exploring the world of business, a program in the field can be a great way to get started! Business programs are designed to help you get some exposure to business-related concepts and functions through instruction and hands-on activities. As a participant, you will also find opportunities to learn from and connect with business leaders, professors, and other experts in the industry. In the process, you will gain insight into pursuing a business degree and/or various roles in the field.
For those residing in New York City, the city is home to various universities and organizations that offer local high schoolers opportunities to gain business skills and knowledge. Joining a local program can help you save time and money on travel and housing.
To help you shortlist the right options, we have come up with a list of 15 business programs for high school students in NYC.
1. UPenn’s Wharton Global Youth Program: Future of the Business World
Location: Online
Cost: $4,099 tuition fee + $100 application fee; need-based scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 16 – 27 | July 7 – 18 | July 21 – August 1
Application deadline: Priority deadline: April 2; final deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 12
In this online UPenn program, Wharton School professors introduce you to key business concepts, such as planning, strategizing, and design thinking for businesses. You will explore various areas of research within the business industry and learn about the issues that businesses face today. You will spend two weeks engaging in online classes and individual assignments, which include simulation-based assignments that allow you to practice making business-related decisions. You will also work on a project, where you share your predictions about the future of the business world based on your understanding.
14. Sotheby’s Summer Institute: Art Business Course
Location: Sotheby’s Institute of Art, New York, NY
Cost: Day program fee: $6,195 | Residential program fee: $6,990; $50 non-refundable application fee; discounts and scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 5 – 18 | July 19 – 31
Application deadline: TBA; opens in fall
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 12 who are at least 15 years old
The Summer Institute, run by the auction house Sotheby’s, offers various art-based pre-college courses, including the Art Business, which allows high school students to discover the commercial side of the arts industry. As a participant of this course, you will learn how art is created, sold, and bought in the market. The curriculum will focus on current topics such as blockchain, NFTs, and digital art commerce, and how the art industry is adapting to an increasingly digitalized world. You will also learn about the link between the arts marketplace and the nonprofit sector with a focus on museums. Over the course of two weeks, you will attend lectures from industry experts and visit different art sites to develop an understanding of the business of art.
3. Young Founders Lab
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
The Young Founder’s Lab is a 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 complex 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. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
2. Veritas Deep Dive: AI + Finance
Location: Online
Cost: Varies; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Multiple cohorts; upcoming cohort: December 14 – February 15
Application deadline: Winter I: October 19 | Winter II: November 30; several cohorts available each year
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the Veritas AI Scholars program or have prior Python experience
This Veritas AI program is designed for high school students who are curious about exploring the interconnection between finance and artificial intelligence and how one field can impact the other. As a participant, you will attend lectures, coding sessions, and group activities that cover AI concepts and the role of this emerging tech in finance. Using what you learn, you will collaborate with peers on a project, which could involve predicting future financial changes using AI & ML. You will also explore the applications of AI in finance, banking, wealth and asset management, and fraud detection. You can find out more here.
3. School Construction Authority’s High School Summer Internship Program
Location: NYC; exact location varies by host company or assigned SCA department
Stipend: $16.50/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by placement
Dates: Six weeks; dates vary by placement
Application deadline: March 7; applications open on January 3
Eligibility: High school students who are enrolled in a New York City public high school and have the authorization to work in the U.S.
New York City’s School Construction Authority offers high school students paid internships within its office or its partner companies. Opportunities are typically available across sectors, including business, public administration, architecture, engineering, construction management, and information technology. The program combines work and learning, allowing you to work within the assigned companies for four days a week, 30 hours in total, and participate in educational activities one day during the week. Through this program, you will have the chance to network with industry professionals and participate in workshops that prepare you for your future college and career. The program assigns every participant a guide who offers support throughout the program.
4. Vogue Winter Break
Location: Vogue College of Fashion, New York, NY
Cost: Residential program: $3,945 (includes tuition, accommodation, and materials); $3,100 for the non-residential program (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: January 4 – 9
Application deadline: Applications open in August and are reviewed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 to 12, ages 15 – 18
Offered by Vogue, the Winter Break course is a five-day program designed for high school students who would like to explore fashion from a business perspective. This NYC program offers the opportunity to visit fashion exhibitions, ateliers, flagship stores, and other places where you will directly learn about fashion businesses from experts. You also explore topics like fashion business strategy, marketing, branding, and promotion, all of which you will use to contribute to a team project: creating a fashion brand. The program also offers insights into careers within the creative and commercial fashion industries.
5. Columbia Business School’s Youth About Business Camp
Location: Columbia University’s Business School, New York, NY
Cost: $3,000 | $1,500 for students eligible for partial scholarship | $750 for students eligible for full scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 50 students
Dates: July 7 – 11
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 12, ages of 14 – 17, who are part of business/leadership clubs
In this five-day camp, you will explore different aspects of business through mock business negotiations, group panels, and activities focused on offering exposure to the role of an executive. The program offers opportunities to network with professionals from marketing, human resources, tech, finance, and accounting, explore career opportunities, and build confidence and leadership skills. In the process, you will gain insights into how finance, law, marketing, tech, and operations work within a company. Additionally, you learn how to work within a team and present your ideas.
6. NYU’s Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York City, New York
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: July 7 – August 8
Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 8 to 12 living in New York City
This five-week summer program combines STEM and entrepreneurship exposure. Over the course of five weeks, NYU professors will teach you how to use technology and engineering to create your own smart city solutions while building entrepreneurial skills. You will gain practical experience in coding, using microcontrollers, deploying circuits, and integrating sensors. You will also work in a team to create an app or a device that uses smart technology to improve city life within an allocated budget. Through this experience, you will learn how to pitch your ideas and develop a useful product.
7. New York Institute of Technology’s High School Business Bootcamp
Location: Online and New York Institute of Technology’s Long Island campus or New York City campus, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by session; six sessions offered in a year
Application deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students
The New York Institute of Technology’s Business Bootcamp consists of six sessions that cover a wide range of business-related areas, such as personal marketing, real estate investments, and financial literacy. You can either attend all the sessions or just the ones that align with your interests. Each session is structured like a college-level workshop, offering you exposure to advanced curriculum and skills to pursue a career in business. While all sessions take place on Zoom, Resolving Conflict in a Culturally Diverse Business Environment takes place additionally on the New York Campus.
8. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Multiple locations in the country, including NYC + trip to Washington, D.C.
Stipend: Paid; amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: Eight-week summer internship starting after the end of the school year
Application deadline: January 15; application opens on October 14
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Bank of America offers high school students opportunities to work with local nonprofits through the Student Leaders Program. As a participant, you will explore various aspects of running a nonprofit, engage in community service initiatives, and build a clearer understanding of social issues. In the process, you will refine your social and business leadership skills. Additionally, the program offers a week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., where you will get insights into the collaborative efforts of the government, business, and non-profit sectors to address critical community needs.
9. iStart Valley High School Internship
Location: Online
Cost: $700 plus taxes
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: January 24 – May 8
Application deadline: November 28
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 12
As an iStart Valley intern, you will spend five months engaging in virtual interactions to gain work experience and insights into becoming a successful entrepreneur. You will collaborate with business professionals to explore how to thrive in today’s business industry, which is highly influenced by technology. With a typical commitment of two to four hours per week, you will work on various assignments that will help you prepare for launching a business. You will present your ideas to entrepreneurs, lead a team of peers, explore the Lean Startup methodology to build business models, and gain experience in developing market strategies. The program is designed to offer a foundation for studying at an Ivy League college or pursuing careers in business.
10. Fordham University’s Exploring Entrepreneurship
Location: The Fordham Foundry at Fordham University, New York City, NY
Cost/: $100 application fee + $1,800 program fee (can vary each year)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23 – 27
Application deadline: Opens in January; applications accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Students in grades 10 to 12
Fordham’s Gabelli School of Business offers a startup incubator experience to high schoolers. Over the course of a week, you will take on the role of an entrepreneur alongside peers and collaborate to launch a business idea. You will explore concepts like financing strategies and customer discovery, engage with real customers, and conduct market research for your business idea. The program also offers insights into MVP and prototyping. The experience ends with a pitch competition, where you share your work with other teams and entrepreneurs.
11. CCNY Zahn Innovation Center’s Bossgirls
Location: The City College of New York, New York City, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 30 – July 31
Application deadline: Three rounds of applications with deadlines on January 31, February 28, and March 31
Eligibility: High school students who identify as girls or nonbinary and live in the tri-state area
During this one-month program, you will identify a problem and come up with a business idea to resolve it. You will learn about the world of business while engaging in activities like conducting market research, comparing competitors, deciding on the pricing structure, and creating a brand. The program focuses on a human-centered design approach to problem-solving, allowing you to come up with ideas based on customer needs. You will connect with entrepreneurs and get guidance from Standard Chartered experts throughout the program. You will pitch your industry experts at the end of the program.
12. Barnard College’s Athena Summer Innovation Institute
Location: Barnard College, New York City, NY
Cost/: $75 application fee for students who apply after February 10; Residential program: $10,171 | Commuter program: $8,160; need-based financial aid available for domestic students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 21 – August 8
Application deadline: Applications open in January and are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, or gap year students
This bootcamp is designed to help you explore entrepreneurship while focusing on creativity, collaboration, and your product’s impact. Over three weeks, you will work with peers to come up with start-up businesses, nonprofit organizations, or advocacy campaigns. You will explore entrepreneurship concepts through theory-focused classes, mentorship, and tours of different companies. Additionally, Barnard’s Speaking Fellows will provide you with training in public speaking and presentation skills, which are essential for aspiring entrepreneurs. The institute concluded with a final “Pitchfest” where you will present your ideas to peers and receive feedback, while also sharing your insights on other teams’ pitches.
15. Noble Desktop’s FinTech Summer Program NYC
Location: Noble Desktop, New York City, NY; also available online
Cost: $3,495
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Typically 8 – 12 students/class; may admit up to 20 students
Dates: June 29 – July 30 | July 20 – August 14; you can also choose a custom schedule
Application deadline: Open all year round
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 13 and 18
This program offers high schoolers opportunities to build technical skills essential in business, finance, and similar fields. You will learn about key business concepts and tools, like Microsoft Excel, Python, and data science, and their applications in finance, business, real estate, entrepreneurship, and other related fields. The syllabus will cover finance and investment-related topics such as stocks, market cap, financial statements, and the importance of valuation. You will also explore how you can use a company’s recent earnings data to conduct research for future investments based on examples of real companies like Google and Apple. Additionally, you will gain exposure to Python programming and data science concepts using Pandas, Matplotlib, and scikit-learn, which will help you input, analyze, and graph data.
One more option—Horizon Academic Research Program
If you are looking for a competitive mentored research program in an area of your choice, you can consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! It is a selective virtual research program that allows you to engage in advanced research and come up with a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1,000+ high school students so far, offering 600+ research specializations to choose from. You can find the application link here!
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