If you’re interested in learning more about business through an academic lens, a business research program is a great place to start. These programs teach you to gather and analyze data to solve problems and make better decisions. Whether you want to start your own business, focus on marketing and finance, or explore AI in business, there’s something for everyone.
You’ll learn how to assess business performance, conduct market research, and identify trends. You’ll also develop skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and presenting your ideas. Some programs even teach you tools like Excel, Google Sheets, or business analytics software to prepare for future projects.
Here are 10 business research programs to explore your business interests and build essential skills!
10 Business Research Programs for High School Students
1. Horizon Academic Research Program – Business track
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It’s one of the few programs that lets you choose between quantitative and qualitative research. In the business track, you can explore topics like behavioral economics and market trends.
Once you choose a subject and research focus, you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar from a top university. They’ll mentor you through the process of creating a 20-page, university-level research paper, which you can submit to prestigious journals as a high school student.
This program is a great way to dive into specialized fields while working closely with an expert. You’ll also receive a letter of recommendation and detailed project feedback, which can help with future research and college applications. Apply here!
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Spring: February 16; Summer: February 16 (early), March 23 (priority), April 20 (regular-I), May 18 (regular-II)!
Program Dates: Spring: March 3; Summer: June 16! Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
2. Young Founders Lab
The Young Founder’s Lab is a start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you’ll work on building a revenue-generating start-up that solves a real-world problem. You’ll also get the chance to be mentored by professionals from top companies like Google, Microsoft, and Meta.
Along with building your start-up, you’ll take part in interactive classes covering business fundamentals, business ideation, workshops, skill-building sessions, case studies, and panel discussions. You will present your startup at a demo day, which offers you an opportunity to pitch to potential investors. You can find the application here!
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: 12-week Individual Program (June 2 start) or Group Program (June 9-29| August 4-24)
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year
Cost: $2,900 (3 weeks). Need-based financial aid is available
Eligibility: All high school students
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Business Track
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a challenging research program designed for high school students. It offers personalized 1-on-1 research opportunities across a variety of subjects you can explore at this stage of your education.
In this program, you’ll be paired with a Ph.D. mentor to work closely on an independent research project. By the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed your research paper. You can select a subject track, like business, and focus on specific areas such as entrepreneurship during your research journey.
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Spring Cohort application deadline is February 9!
Program Dates: Summer: June – August, fall: September – December, winter: December – February, spring: March – June.
Cost: 100% Financial aid available!
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA
4. KeyBank Business Leadership Program
The KeyBank Business Leadership Program (BLP) is a fully funded, week-long residential experience where you’ll explore business concepts through case studies and team projects. You’ll work in diverse groups to create and present a marketing campaign for corporate partners, with the top team winning a $1,000 scholarship to the Leeds School of Business.
The program also offers leadership development, teamwork experience, and networking opportunities with Leeds faculty and industry professionals, helping you gain the skills and confidence to tackle modern business challenges.
Location: University of Colorado Boulder, Leeds School of Business, Boulder, CO
Program Dates: June 22 – June 28
Application Deadline: March 30
Cost: None.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors, with priority for Colorado residents and underrepresented, diverse, low-income, or first-generation students.
5. Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy is a two-week residential program for rising high school seniors. You’ll learn about business through workshops, classes, and hands-on projects led by Ross faculty.
The program focuses on action-based learning, where you’ll work on real-world business scenarios, and develop skills in leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving. You’ll also participate in field trips to local businesses and interact with industry professionals, gaining practical insights into business operations.
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $5,500 (scholarships available for need-based applicants)
Program Dates: June 13 – June 27
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; U.S. citizens or permanent residents preferred
6. Drexel Camp Business
Drexel’s Camp Business introduces you to collegiate and corporate business education through workshops, lectures, and hands-on activities. You’ll explore areas like accounting, finance, marketing, and management while developing leadership, teamwork, and professional skills.
The program also covers practical tools such as financial documents and stock market insights to enhance your understanding of business operations. Open to both residential and commuter participants, the program offers a certificate of completion to recognize your experience and newly acquired skills.
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Program Dates: Residential Session I: July 13–July 18; Commuter Session: July 20–July 25; Residential Session II: July 27–August 1
Cost: Tuition details will be announced later; a $250 deposit is required upon acceptance
Application Deadline: May 1 (priority deadline; rolling admissions until capacity is met)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
7. Penn State Business Opportunities Summer Session
Penn State’s Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS) is a two-week residential program for rising high school seniors interested in business education. During the program, you’ll take college preparatory courses focused on business fundamentals, taught by Penn State faculty. You’ll also have the opportunity to experience college life, staying in campus dorms and dining at the dining commons, giving you a feel for university life while learning.
In addition to the academic sessions, you’ll gain hands-on experience in business-related activities, improving your leadership and teamwork skills. The program offers a great opportunity to explore various aspects of business, all while receiving a certificate of completion to highlight your experience.
Location: Penn State University Park Campus, State College, Pennsylvania
Program Dates: June 15 – June 27
Cost: $250.
Application Deadline: March 19
Eligibility: High school juniors (rising seniors) residing in the U.S. or Puerto Rico with a strong interest in pursuing a business education
8. Bank of America Student Leadership Program
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program offers an 8-week paid internship at a local nonprofit, where you’ll gain hands-on experience working to address community needs. During this time, you’ll also develop key leadership, civic, and business skills. The program includes an all-expenses-paid week at the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you’ll learn about the collaboration between government, business, and nonprofits to drive social impact.
Location: Local nonprofit organizations (varies by student location) and Washington, D.C. (Student Leaders Summit)
Program Dates: Summer (exact start dates vary by location)
Cost: Fully funded (students are paid for their internship, and all summit expenses are covered).
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors, legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Application Deadline: January 15 (Recommendation letter deadline: January 16)
9. Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy
The Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy is a two-week program that introduces you to business creation and management. Through interactive lectures, group discussions, and activities like prototyping and market research, you’ll learn the essentials of entrepreneurship. The program focuses on your personal development, with sessions on communication, leadership, and networking, and concludes with a team-based pitch competition. You’ll also earn a Certificate of Participation upon completion.
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Program Dates: June 16 – June 27
Cost: Residential: $5,950; Commuter: $4,145
Application Deadline: Early Bird: January 31 (application fee waived); Final Deadline: April 15(reviewed on a case-by-case basis)
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 and older with a minimum 2.0 GPA
10. UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth
UC Berkeley’s Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) is a two-week program that introduces you to entrepreneurship and business fundamentals, led by Haas faculty and industry experts. You’ll explore areas like marketing, financial literacy, and organizational management through team projects, culminating in detailed business plans. The program focuses on leadership, teamwork, and public speaking, while also covering advanced topics such as game theory and corporate social responsibility. It ends with a business plan showcase, and participants receive a UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth Certificate of Completion.
Location: Berkeley, CA.
Program Dates: Session I: July 5 – July 19; Session II: July 19 – August 2
Cost: California Residents: $6,292; Out-of-State Residents: $7,332
Application Deadline: March (rolling until filled)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12) with a passion for business
Image source – University of Colorado Boulder logo
