Business programs can help you develop critical leadership, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship skills while gaining exposure to real-world business scenarios. Whether you aspire to launch your startup, explore the intricacies of marketing and finance, or explore artificial intelligence in business, these programs offer something for everyone.
From hands-on internships at startups to academic courses at top-tier universities, each program equips you with experiences beyond traditional classroom learning. These programs can strengthen your resume, build relationships with like-minded peers, and gain insights into potential career paths. Below are 14 curated programs for high school students:
Ladder Internships allow high school students to work alongside startups, gaining real-world experience in a professional setting. Spanning eight weeks, the program will enable you to collaborate directly with startup teams on projects tailored to your interests and abilities. You will take on responsibilities such as developing business strategies, analyzing data, crafting marketing campaigns, or even contributing to cutting-edge machine learning models, depending on your area of focus.
You receive coaching and training to enhance your communication, project management, and problem-solving skills, preparing you for future academic and career endeavours. With a commitment of 10-15 hours per week, you will have to balance the program alongside your school responsibilities.
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Program Dates: December 16 - 10 February, 2025
Location: Virtual
Subject Areas: Healthcare, Medicine, Health Technology
Cost: $1,990 program fee, with financial assistance available.
Application Deadlines: November 4, 2024
The Deep Dive: AI + Finance program by Veritas AI is a 10-week experience that enables high school students to explore the role of artificial intelligence in the financial sector. The curriculum blends foundational learning with hands-on application, equipping you with the skills to understand and solve real-world financial challenges using AI tools and techniques.
You begin with an introduction to essential concepts in AI and finance, including machine learning basics and the functioning of financial markets. As the program progresses, you explore advanced topics such as Exploratory Data Analysis, Regression Models, and Convolutional Neural Networks. You learn to analyze financial data, predict market trends, and design AI-driven solutions through interactive workshops and guided lessons
The program emphasizes collaboration and innovation. You will work in teams to apply what you have learned, developing AI models tailored to address current issues in finance. This program culminates in presentations where you showcase your work to peers and mentors, gaining feedback and experience in problem-solving and communication.
Eligibility: Open to grades 8-12; prior coding experience or completion of AI Scholars is recommended.
Program Dates: Runs for 10 weeks with weekend sessions; dates announced online.
Application Deadline: Cohort-specific; check the program's website for details.
Location: Fully online, accessible worldwide.
Cost: $2290; financial aid is offered.
Young Founders Lab offers an incubator experience for high school students looking to launch their revenue-generating startups. This program mirrors the structure of top-tier incubators like Y Combinator, guiding participants through the entrepreneurial process, from ideation to execution. Throughout the program, you work in teams or individually to create solutions to real-world problems, culminating in developing a viable startup.
The curriculum is divided into three key phases. In Phase 1, you explore business fundamentals, ideation, and problem-solving strategies to generate impactful startup ideas. Phase 2 focuses on market research, user feedback, and building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Finally, in Phase 3, you learn about growth strategies, marketing, sales techniques, and effective pitching. The program concludes with a Demo Day, where you present your startups to seasoned entrepreneurs and investors for feedback and potential funding opportunities.
Throughout the program, students receive mentorship from accomplished entrepreneurs and professionals with experience at companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft. This approach ensures you gain critical leadership, innovation, and problem-solving skills while building a robust portfolio to strengthen college applications and future endeavours.
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in entrepreneurship.
Program Dates: Team-based program runs from December 21, 2024, to January 5, 2025. The individual program offers flexible start dates; the next cohort begins on December 16, 2024.
Application Deadline: The regular deadline for both programs is November 24, 2024.
Location: Online.
Subject Areas: Entrepreneurship, business development, technology, marketing, and sales.
Cost: $2,900 for the 3-week team-based program; $3,500 for the 12-week individual program. Financial aid is available.
The Wharton Pre-Baccalaureate Program, offered by the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, is an opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to engage in college-level business education. This program allows students to enrol in credit-bearing courses that span the breadth of Wharton's business curriculum, providing a foundation in business principles and practices.
In addition to academic coursework, you have access to academic advising, university learning resources, and the opportunity to forge connections with a diverse group of peers from around the globe. This approach ensures that participants are well-prepared for the challenges of highly selective colleges and future careers in business.
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA or equivalent.
Program Dates and Application Deadlines:
- Spring 1, 2025 : Program Dates: January 21 – March 3, 2025 | Application Deadline: November 27, 2024
- Summer 1, 2025: Program Dates: May 26 – July 2, 2025 | Application Deadline: March 26, 2025
- Summer 2, 2025: Program Dates: July 3 – August 8, 2025 | Application Deadline: April 30, 2025
Location: Virtual
Subject Areas: Finance, Economics, Statistics, Entrepreneurship and more
Cost: $4,230
The LaunchX Entrepreneurship Program is a summer initiative for high school students to develop real-world business ventures. This program provides an experience in entrepreneurship, guiding you through the full startup journey from ideation to execution. You will identify pressing problems, validate business ideas through market research, and design practical solutions, fostering an understanding of the entrepreneurial processes.
The curriculum includes workshops, hands-on activities, and lectures from entrepreneurs and industry professionals. You also receive individualized mentorship, enabling you to refine your strategies, develop prototypes, and craft business pitches. The program emphasizes applying theoretical knowledge to practical challenges, culminating in a pitch competition judged by seasoned business experts.
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Program Dates:
- Online Entrepreneurship Program: June 30 – August 1, 2025
- Online Innovation Program: June 9 – June 27, 2025
- Online BootCamp: May 19 – June 6, 2025
- In-Person Entrepreneurship Program 1 (USA): June 16 – July 12, 2025
- In-Person Entrepreneurship Program 2 (Bay Area): July 13 – August 9, 2025
Application Deadline: November 15, 2024
Location: Programs are offered both online and in person.
Subject Areas: Entrepreneurship, including ideation, market analysis, product development, business modelling, pitching, leadership, and teamwork.
Cost:
- Online BootCamp: $1,995
- Online Innovation Program: $4,995
- Online Entrepreneurship Program: $6,995
- In-Person Entrepreneurship Program 1 (USA): $9,995
- In-Person Entrepreneurship Program 2 (Bay Area): $9,995
The Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes introduce high school students to innovation and entrepreneurship. This program equips you with the skills to address real-world challenges through creative problem-solving and sustainable business development. The curriculum, centered around design thinking, empowers students to identify customer needs, create value-driven solutions, and build effective business models. You will explore business concepts, such as customer insight, marketing strategies, product development, and entrepreneurship frameworks, offering an overall understanding of modern business practices.
Throughout the program, you collaborate in diverse teams to tackle real-world problems and engage in a capstone project where you develop and pitch innovative business ideas. Workshops and interactive exercises bring theoretical knowledge to life, while exposure to Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurial ecosystem offers insights into the dynamics of successful startups.
Eligibility: Open to high school students in grades 9 through 11
Program Dates: The program is offered in two sessions during the summer:
- Session One: June 16 – June 27, 2025
- Session Two: July 7– July 18, 2025
Application Deadline: March 30, 2025.
Location: Virtual
Subject Areas: The program covers key areas of innovation and entrepreneurship, including design thinking, customer insight, marketing strategies, product development, and business model creation.
Cost: $2,500; Financial aid is available.
The Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP) offers high school students an opportunity to conduct college-level academic research under the guidance of professors from universities worldwide. This trimester-long online program allows you to explore your interests and subjects of your choice. Through personalized mentorship, you develop a detailed research proposal, engage in a thorough academic inquiry, and produce a 20-25 page research paper by the end of the program. The program emphasizes critical thinking, self-driven exploration, and advanced writing skills, helping you build a portfolio that showcases your abilities and acumen for a business career.
By the end of the program, you can present your findings in a professional setting, apply for external recognition, and even secure letters of recommendation for college applications.
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.67 or higher typically in 10th or 11th grade. Some tracks may have specific prerequisites.
Program Dates:
- December 2, 2024 – February 19, 2025
Location: Virtual
Subject Areas: Medicine, with opportunities to explore related fields such as biology, chemistry, neuroscience, and psychology.
Cost: Program fees are available upon inquiry; financial aid options may be available.
Application Deadlines:
- Winter Cohort: December 1, 2024
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program’s Business Track allows high school students to explore business concepts and develop an academic research project under the guidance of PhD mentors from top global universities. Spanning 12 weeks, the program allows you to focus on topics such as economics, marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, and management. You work closely with your mentor to identify a unique research question, conduct a detailed literature review, and produce a rigorous research paper by the end of the program. The curriculum is tailored to your interests, providing personalized guidance throughout the research process.
By the end of the program, you can present your work at the Lumiere Research Symposium, showcasing your research to an audience of peers, educators, and experts. This hands-on approach helps you create a portfolio of work that can strengthen your college applications.
Eligibility: High school students with a strong academic record and a keen interest in medicine.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, with the upcoming Winter Cohort 2024 starting December 16, 2024.
Location: Virtual
Subject Areas: Medicine and related fields such as biology, neuroscience, and public health.
Cost: $2,800; financial aid available. Please visit the website for the most accurate information.
Application Deadlines:
- Winter Cohort 2024: November 24, 2024
- Spring Cohort 2025: February 9, 2025
The Babson Summer Study program introduces entrepreneurial leadership to high school students. For three and a half weeks, you will engage with Babson College faculty, industry experts, and near-peer mentors to explore the process of creating impactful and sustainable business solutions. With a curriculum grounded in the United Nations Global Goals, the program challenges you to address pressing social, economic, and environmental issues through innovation and entrepreneurship.
You earn four college credits through the course "EPS 1110: Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Experience," which provides a foundation in entrepreneurship, leadership, marketing, finance, and business communication. The program features live class discussions, group projects, and collaborative activities to develop creative problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. You also work in diverse teams to build, present, and refine business ideas. The program culminates in project presentations, allowing you to showcase your learning and creativity.
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors who will graduate in 2025 or 2026.
Program Dates: July 8 - 29, 2024
Application Deadline: March 15, 2024
Location: Virtual
Subject Areas: Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Marketing, Finance, Business communication, and more
Cost: $6295; Financial aid available
The "Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Changing the World via Venture Creation" course at Columbia University offers high school students an experience of transforming ideas into ventures. You will explore every stage of venture creation, from identifying opportunities and analyzing markets to developing sustainable business models and strategic plans.
Through interactive lectures, case studies, and collaborative workshops, you gain hands-on experience in critical aspects of entrepreneurship, including market research, financial planning, and customer validation. The program emphasizes teamwork, encouraging you to collaborate with peers to ideate, refine, and pitch their business solutions. Guest speakers and industry professionals share insights into the innovation landscape, providing mentorship and exposing you to entrepreneurial trends.
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Program Dates: June 30 to July 18, 2025; Various sessions exist so please visit the website to find the best-suited one to your requirements!
Application Deadline: April 2, 2025. Please consult the program's website for the most current information.
Location: Programs are offered both online and in person.
Subject Areas: Entrepreneurship, innovation, business model development, market analysis, financial planning, and strategic thinking.
Cost: Program costs vary by session and format. For example, the 3-week residential program cost for Summer 2023 was $12,449 per session, which included housing, dining, and activity fees. The 1-week online program cost was $2,810 per session. Financial aid is available for qualified applicants to ensure accessibility.
B-BAY is a comprehensive summer program hosted by the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. It equips high school students with a robust understanding of business principles through a hands-on, immersive learning experience. The curriculum is designed to challenge you with real-world applications of business topics such as finance, marketing, economics, accounting, and organizational behaviour.
You will collaborate in small groups to tackle case studies, develop entrepreneurial business plans, and simulate real-life business scenarios. The program integrates interactive lectures, workshops, and mentorship sessions led by Haas faculty and industry professionals. These activities emphasize critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and strategic decision-making. One of the program highlights is the opportunity to present your business ideas to a panel of experts, who will give you feedback and a platform to refine your professional communication skills.
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Program Dates: The program is typically offered during the summer months. Specific dates are announced annually on the program's website.
Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
Location: UC Berkeley campus in Berkeley, California
Subject Areas: Business management, Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Economics, and Organizational behavior.
Cost:
- California Resident $6,292
- Out of State Resident $7,332
- Financial aid and scholarships are available.
The Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS) offers high school seniors a two-week immersion in business education. This residential program comprehensively introduces core business disciplines, including marketing, finance, management, and entrepreneurship. You will attend lectures, participate in workshops, and work collaboratively on group projects, gaining practical experience and skills critical to academic and career success.
A key feature of the program is its focus on experiential learning, where you develop and present business plans, analyze case studies and engage in simulations that mirror real-world business challenges. Team-based activities and mentorship from Penn State faculty and current Smeal College of Business students foster leadership and communication skills. Additionally, you are exposed to the college application process, with dedicated sessions on essay writing, resume building, and interview preparation to prepare you for higher education.
Eligibility: Open to high school students entering their senior year
Program Dates: July 15-27, 2025
Application Deadline: March 19, 2025.
Location: Penn State University, University Park campus, Pennsylvania.
Cost: Free
The "Business Is Global" program is a two-week immersive summer experience for high school students hosted by the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. The program blends international business education with language and cultural exploration, offering an opportunity to develop a global perspective while acquiring foundational business knowledge.
You will explore key topics such as global marketing, supply chain management, international finance, and entrepreneurship. Through interactive lectures, workshops, and team projects, you gain hands-on experience in addressing global business challenges. The program also incorporates Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, and Turkish language instruction, providing students with cross-cultural communication skills.
You will also visit international companies, explore cultural landmarks, and engage in activities that highlight the intersection of business practices and cultural nuances. By the end of the program, you will have a deeper understanding of how businesses operate in a globalized world and how cultural diversity shapes international commerce.
Eligibility: Open to high school students.
Program Dates: June 23- July 6, 2024
Application Deadline: April 14, 2025
Location: Indiana University Bloomington campus, Bloomington, Indiana.
Cost: $1900
The Kelley Women's Leadership Institute (KWLI) offers young women an opportunity to explore business education and leadership development. You will engage in workshops led by Kelley School of Business faculty, work collaboratively on real-world business case studies, and receive guidance from alumni and current students. Networking opportunities with industry professionals and Kelley alumni can help you grow professionally and better understand business trends. The institute also includes panels and discussions addressing challenges faced by women in leadership, fostering a supportive and empowering environment.
In addition to hands-on activities, you learn about the Kelley School of Business’s academic offerings and student life, giving you an inside view of a business education.
Eligibility: Open to current high school students with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Program Dates: The institute offers both in-person and virtual events. In-person events are one-day programs, while virtual events are spread over a few days. Specific dates are announced annually on the program's website.
Application Deadline: Application deadlines vary depending on the session. Prospective applicants should consult the program's website for the most current information.
Location: Programs are offered both online and in-person.
Cost: Free
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.