If you’re a high school student interested in business, participating in a business program can be a strategic way to deepen your knowledge and build real-world skills.
Why should I consider a fall program in business?
Fall programs typically take place between September and January, offering you the chance to explore areas like entrepreneurship, finance, strategy, innovation, and fintech. They are often shorter and more focused than summer ones, making them ideal for high schoolers who want to strengthen their academic profile, and gain early experience before college applications.
You can learn to analyze financial statements, evaluate investment opportunities, develop business models, or design a minimum viable product (MVP) for a startup.
Many of these programs are project-based. You could work on case studies from companies like Apple or Netflix, examine fintech disruptors such as PayPal and Robinhood, or create a capstone project that synthesizes business strategy, market research, and financial analysis. Some programs also emphasize expert guidance from university faculty, industry professionals, and mentors, providing insights into professional workflows and real-world business challenges.
Joining a business program for high school students can strengthen your academic profile while giving you exposure to advanced business concepts and practical applications. To help you explore the field, here are 12 fall business programs for high school students!
12 Fall Business Programs for High School Students
1. On The Money (OTM) Fall Internship
Location: Virtual and in-person at DePaul University’s Writing Center, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid (exact amount not specified)
Program Dates: September 30 – December 9
Application Deadline: Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications before the interview on September 16
Eligibility: Chicago high school students
During the OTM Fall Internship, you’ll research topics in finance and entrepreneurship, build skills for interviewing, and develop a publishable article for On the Money Magazine. The internship integrates structured sessions on financial literacy, resume building, business skills, and public speaking through weekly in-person and hybrid meetings. You will also have access to mentorship opportunities, guest speakers, structured feedback, and a collaborative work environment. The program concludes with the publication of your work, allowing you to gain work experience at the intersection of journalism, economics, and entrepreneurship.
2. Future Founders: Be Your Own Boss Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None; Paid (exact amount not specified)
Program Dates: October 7 – 30; Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: October cohort: September 26
Eligibility: High school students from public and charter schools across Chicago and nationwide
In Future Founders’ Be Your Own Boss Internship, you will examine how startups are built through project-based work that highlights the process of creating and pitching your own business idea. You will explore areas such as business model development, app prototyping, and venture pitching while receiving guidance from experienced entrepreneurs. Coursework may integrate STEM concepts, especially in developing a basic working app prototype for your project. The program concludes with a community showcase where teams pitch their prototypes.
3. Columbia University’s Academic Year Weekend Program – Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Changing the World via Venture Creation
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,810 + $80 application fee
Program Dates: September 19 – December 7
Application Deadline: August 27 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students
This ten-week online program introduces you to the process of building and evaluating new business or social ventures. You’ll study business model development, customer discovery, market and industry analysis, product-market validation, financing, and legal considerations, using frameworks consistent with formal venture-planning processes. Structured assignments require you to apply tools for research, financial analysis, and project management while refining a venture plan with feedback from instructors and peers.
4. Wharton Global Youth Program’s Pre-baccalaureate Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,230 (tuition) + $81 (online service fee) + $76 (course materials) + $100 (application fee); Tuition and fee waivers available for City of Philadelphia public or charter high school students
Program Dates: Fall 1: August 25 – October 6; Fall 2: October 20 – December 3
Application Deadline: Fall 1: July 23; Fall 2: September 10
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.5 (graduated seniors are not eligible to apply)
The Wharton Pre-baccalaureate Program is a college-credit opportunity that introduces you to foundational and advanced areas of business. Depending on the courses you choose, you might study principles of management, entrepreneurial decision-making, or the impact of artificial intelligence on business strategy. Coursework could also include social media analytics, where you use Python to collect and interpret digital data. Classes combine live lectures, case study discussions, and structured assignments that reflect Wharton’s academic rigor.
5. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) Academic Year
Location: Virtual
Cost: $5,450 (California residents); $6,450 (out-of-state residents); $85 (application fee); Limited need-based scholarships available
Program Dates: September 7 – November 22 (Fall Semester)
Application Deadline: June 15
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, as well as gap year students
The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) Academic Year program introduces high school students to core areas of business and entrepreneurship through project-based, online learning during the fall and spring. You’ll study topics such as business model design, product-market fit, go-to-market strategy, and financial viability while applying frameworks like the Business Model Canvas. Classes are led by Berkeley Haas faculty, MBA alumni, and undergraduate teaching assistants, with peer support from B-BAY alumni. By the end of the fall semester, you and your team might present a complete Business Model Canvas for your own business idea.
6. NYU Precollege (Fall Session)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $6,006 – $8,008
Program Dates: September 2 – December 11, with exam dates on December 15 – 19
Application Deadline: June 17 – August 15
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0
NYU Precollege allows you to take undergraduate-level courses in business, economics, and related fields while earning college credit. Depending on your choice, you might study organizational management, nonprofit business models, marketing principles, or accounting practices. Economics courses on microeconomics and macroeconomics might also be available, giving you the tools to analyze markets and policy decisions. Other courses might cover real estate finance and hospitality management, offering you insight into industry-specific business operations. Check here for available courses!
7. Textron Aviation High School Internship Opportunities
Location: Textron Aviation locations across the U.S., primarily Wichita, KS
Cost/Stipend: Free; Paid (exact amount not specified)
Program Dates: Varies by internship; opportunities are available year-round, including in the summer, fall, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to internship; Applications for the fall internships open in April
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old
Textron Aviation offers high school students paid, part-time internships across areas such as business management, finance, sales, human resources, communications, and customer experience. You might contribute to departmental projects by reviewing financial records, assisting with HR processes, or supporting event planning and client outreach. The program is designed to provide hands-on experience in a professional setting, along with ample mentorship and networking opportunities, building your exposure to career pathways in business and aviation.
8. Dartmouth Precollege Online Program – Entrepreneurship: Driving Change Through New Businesses
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895; Need-based scholarships available
Program Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year, including in the fall
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students aged 13-19; Gap-year students who are not yet enrolled in college and have no more than 1 year post-high school graduation
This pre-college course offers 20-30 hours of online, project-based instruction in entrepreneurship with a focus on problem identification, venture design, and market analysis. You’ll gain experience developing an MVP, analyzing customer needs, and drafting business model sketches using structured frameworks. Coursework also emphasizes value proposition design, branding, and pitch development, culminating in a final capstone project where you present a venture idea that addresses a real-world problem. The program includes ongoing feedback from a course mentor and flexible online delivery.
9. Wake Forest University Pre-College Program – Business: Strategy & Innovation
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,595; Need-based scholarships available
Program Dates: Multiple 1-, 2-, and 4-week sessions throughout the year, including in the fall
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students aged 13 and up, including those who are taking a “gap year” between high school and college
This online program introduces you to the foundations of business strategy and innovation through case studies of companies such as Netflix and Apple. You’ll analyze how firms design business models, evaluate competitors, and adapt strategies in response to market shifts. Coursework covers the use of 10-K filings for performance analysis, the role of leadership and workplace culture in strategic effectiveness, and the integration of ethics into decision-making. You’ll also study methods for assessing customer experience and creating product matrices to identify growth opportunities. The program concludes with a capstone project where you draft a memo and presentation outlining strategic threats facing a company of your choice and propose data-driven recommendations.
10. Rice University Online Business Programs – Entrepreneurship: From Ideas to Impact in Fintech
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795; Need-based scholarships available
Program Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year, including in the fall
Application Deadline: Varies by course
Eligibility: High school students (13+), along with graduated high school students who are yet to be enrolled in college and have no more than 1 year post-high school graduation
In this online course, the curriculum covers the impact of the 2008 financial crisis on the rise of fintech, the mechanics of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, and case studies of companies like PayPal, Venmo, and Robinhood. You’ll analyze how automation, algorithms, and digital platforms are disrupting credit, student loans, and investment advising, while also considering related regulatory and compliance challenges. The program concludes with a capstone project where you design a simple business plan for a fintech product or service, taking into consideration the potential market size, revenue, and technological feasibility.
11. Notre Dame Pre-College Online Program – Business: From Startup to Success
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795; Need-based scholarships available
Program Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year, including fall
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students (13+); Graduating high school seniors who are not yet enrolled in college and have no more than 1 year post-high school graduation
Notre Dame Pre-College Online Program’s Business: From Startup to Success course is a flexible online course that introduces you to the core principles of launching and growing a business. You’ll learn how to differentiate between corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and sole proprietorships, and analyze income statements and balance sheets to understand financial performance. The curriculum covers legal and tax considerations, growth strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, and the process of taking a company public. The program concludes with a capstone project where you design a business plan for a hypothetical startup, applying the concepts and frameworks you studied throughout the course.
12 Dartmouth Precollege Online Program – Finance: Investing & Market Insights
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895; Need-based scholarships available
Program Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year, including in the fall
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students aged 13-19; Gap-year students who are not yet enrolled in college and have no more than 1 year post-high school graduation
This online course introduces you to core concepts in finance through modules on financial markets, company valuation, and investment strategies. You’ll study frameworks for analyzing risk and return, the role of investment banks in IPOs, and techniques like discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis to estimate company value. The program concludes with a capstone project where you take on the role of a private equity analyst, assess an investment opportunity, and present an evidence-based recommendation, with feedback from a course mentor.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Dartmouth College