Learning leadership is useful no matter what you want to study or do later on. If you’re a high school student who wants to get better at it while still in school, a summer leadership program can be a strong place to start. If you’re a high schooler in Pennsylvania, there’s multiple options that you can consider. These programs give you a chance to build skills like communication, planning, teamwork, and decision-making by actually putting them into practice.
Pennsylvania is home to universities, nonprofits, and youth organizations that offer leadership programs each year. Some focus on business or government, others on research or public service. Joining a local program can also be a more affordable option if you already live in the state, since you won’t need to spend on travel or housing.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 leadership programs for high school students in Pennsylvania!
15 Leadership Programs for High School Students in Pennsylvania
1. Young Founders Lab
Cost: Varies depending on program type
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. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
3. Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week (PFEW)
Location: Lycoming College and Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA
Cost: $295 (covers housing, meals, and materials)
Program Dates: June 29 – July 4; July 6 – July 11; July 20 – July 25; July 27 – August 1
Deadlines: Rolling admission based on availability
Eligibility: Open to current Pennsylvania high school sophomores and juniors
In this immersive, week-long program, you’ll work in a team of peers and a business mentor to rescue an underperforming manufacturing company. Through 12 rounds of a college-level simulation, you’ll manage decisions across marketing, R&D, production, and finance. At the same time, you’ll create a full marketing campaign and pitch it to a panel of professionals. The experience blends business strategy, leadership, and public speaking with social activities and life on a college campus.
4. Leadership in the Business World (LBW) – Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Location: Philadelphia, PA (University of Pennsylvania campus)
Cost: $11,399
Program Dates: June 8 – June 28; June 29 – July 19; July 20 – August 9
Deadlines: April 2
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (current 11th graders) with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA
LBW is Wharton’s premier pre-college leadership program designed to immerse high-achieving high school students in the fundamentals of business and leadership. Over three weeks, you’ll attend lectures led by top Wharton faculty, take part in recitations, simulations, and case competitions, and explore topics like negotiation, strategy, and customer-centric design.
You’ll also connect with industry leaders from fields like finance, real estate, and entrepreneurship. Outside the classroom, the program includes site visits, collaborative group projects, and access to the Wharton Global Youth Speaker Series. Admission is highly selective, with only 120 students accepted per session.
5. Black Female Leadership Development Institute (BFLDI)
Location: Hybrid (Virtual sessions + in-person workshops in Pittsburgh, PA)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: September–June (biweekly Wednesday sessions and monthly Saturday workshops)
Deadline: Rolling admissions; apply as early as possible
Eligibility: Black female high school students, ages 13–17, currently enrolled in grades 9–12
Hosted by the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, BFLDI empowers you with the tools and confidence to lead in your school, community, and future career. You’ll explore topics like identity development, college readiness, personal branding, and global advocacy through interactive workshops and peer collaboration. You’ll also take part in monthly Saturday Leadership Institutes led by professional women in the region, where you’ll learn about financial literacy, professional networking, and STEM careers. As a participant, you’ll become a Girl Scout and complete badges focused on leadership and service.
6. Black Male Leadership Development Institute (BMLDI)
Location: Summer program at Robert Morris University (Moon Township, PA); year-round programming in Pittsburgh
Cost: Free
Program Dates: 7-day summer residential program + monthly Saturday sessions during the school year
Deadline: Rolling admissions; early applications recommended
Eligibility: Black male high school students in grades 9–12
Co-sponsored by the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and Robert Morris University, BMLDI is a year-long leadership journey for Black male high school students. It starts with a weeklong, on-campus residential program where you’ll take part in intensive workshops focused on leadership, academics, and personal growth. During the school year, you’ll attend monthly Saturday Institutes that reinforce core values and offer opportunities for networking, mentoring, and hands-on leadership coaching.
7. LEAP (Learning, Empowerment, and Advocacy Program)
Location: Carnegie Mellon University campus, Pittsburgh, PA (plus occasional citywide field trips)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Year-round with a week-long intensive in December and monthly workshops
Deadline: Not specified (students are selected by City Charter High School)
Eligibility: Only open to students from City Charter High School
LEAP is a year-round program at Carnegie Mellon University for students at City Charter High School in Pittsburgh. It focuses on storytelling, self-reflection, and civic engagement through workshops and creative projects. You meet one to three times a month for sessions that last four to six hours. In December, you take part in a five-day intensive. Throughout the year, you work with local artists, activists, and scholars on projects that explore topics like identity, equity, and social change. The program helps you build creative and leadership skills. You are also paid for your time in the program.
8. COYHL Summer Program – Penn State School of Hospitality Management
Location: University Park Campus, Penn State, Pennsylvania
Cost: $1,750
Program Dates: July 13–18
Deadline: April 4
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors in good academic standing with demonstrated interest or aptitude in hospitality (jobs, volunteering, or teacher recommendation)
This six-day residential program introduces you to hospitality management through lectures, hands-on sessions, and visits to hotels and restaurants. You learn from Penn State faculty, meet alumni working in the field, and explore how hospitality businesses operate. Topics include guest experience, service models, entrepreneurship, and industry trends. You stay in campus housing, attend classes, and get a feel for college life. At the end of the program, you earn a Penn State digital badge and a certificate.
9. Economics for Leaders (EFL) – Foundation for Teaching Economics
Location: University of Pennsylvania
Cost: $2,600
Program Dates: Vary by campus; typically one-week sessions across the summer
Deadline: Rolling admissions; early application encouraged for preferred site
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors with leadership potential and a strong interest in economics or public policy
Economics for Leaders is a selective program that helps you build leadership skills while learning how to apply economic thinking to real-world problems. You take part in workshops on micro and macroeconomics, work through case studies, and practice decision-making in group activities and simulations. If you have already taken AP or high school economics, you can apply for the advanced track. The program has a competitive admission process, with about two applicants for every seat. It is also well recognized by college admissions officers.
10. Summer Academy– York College of Pennsylvania
Location: York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA
Cost: $350 per week plus fees
Program Dates: Drawing for the Graphic Novel: June 23–27; Pre-Med: July 7–11
Application Deadline: May 1 (subject to cancellation if not fully enrolled)
Eligibility: Rising high school students in grades 9–12
Youth Sports Leadership is a week-long, half-day summer program at York College of Pennsylvania for students in grades 9 through 12. The program focuses on leadership in athletic settings and includes structured sessions on teamwork, communication, and decision-making. You’ll participate in group-based activities and learn how leadership applies during practice, competition, and team management. The sessions are led by York College faculty and take place on the college campus. This track is part of the larger Spartan Prep program and is intended for students who want to understand leadership in a sports context.
11. Essentials of Leadership – Wharton Global Youth Online Program
Location: Online
Cost: $4,099
Program Dates: June 16 – June 27; July 7 – July 18
Deadline: Priority: April 2; Final: May 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 with demonstrated leadership potential
Essentials of Leadership is a selective online program run by the Wharton School that helps you strengthen your leadership abilities for the global economy. You’ll attend live lectures and TA-led recitations daily, where you’ll learn emotional intelligence, interpersonal communication, and problem-solving. You’ll take part in business simulations, team-based projects, and small-group discussions that apply leadership theories in real-time. By the end of the two-week program, you’ll complete a group capstone project and earn a Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion.
12. Brown Leadership Institute
Location: Online
Cost: $5,528
Program Dates: June 23 – July 18
Deadlines: Rolling admissions; in-person seats are nearly full as of now
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9–12
At the Brown Leadership Institute, you’ll join a global cohort of socially conscious students to explore what it means to lead with purpose. Whether you attend on campus for two weeks or online for four, the program emphasizes collaborative leadership, public speaking, critical thinking, and problem-solving. You’ll choose from interdisciplinary courses on topics like law, gender equity, intercultural communication, and social entrepreneurship. You’ll also create a personalized Action Plan to address a social issue in your home community.
13. Wharton Sports Business Academy (WSBA)
Location: Online
Cost: $4,799
Program Dates: July 7 – July 25
Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: High school students currently in grades 10–11 with strong academic standing and an interest in sports and business
Sponsored by the Wharton Sports Analytics and Business Initiative, WSBA offers a rigorous online introduction to the global sports industry through a business lens. Over three weeks, you’ll explore how management, law, negotiation, marketing, and leadership connect with professional, Olympic, and collegiate sports. You’ll take part in lectures, live sessions, group discussions, and hear from guest speakers like sports agents and league executives. You’ll analyze real-world issues and participate in hands-on simulations. The program ends with a team project where you’ll design a sports-focused business.
14. PASC Summer Leadership Camps
Location: Mount Aloysius College, Pennsylvania
Cost: $290 (Blue); $390 (Gold); $475 (Advanced)
Program Dates: Blue: July 13–15; Gold: July 13–17; Advanced: July 13–18
Deadline: June 6
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students in Pennsylvania; out-of-state students occasionally accepted
Run by the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils (PASC), this long-standing camp series is designed to help you build confidence, leadership, and community impact skills. With three tracks: Blue, Gold, and Advanced. You can join at your level and grow over time. Programs include team-building workshops, leadership simulations, and mentorship from experienced educators and trained college student staff. Sessions are hosted on a college campus, creating an immersive experience for students across the state.
15. Lead4Change Student Leadership Program
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Flexible, self-paced
Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Middle and high school students working with a teacher or facilitator
Lead4Change is a free, self-paced online leadership program designed to equip you with real-world leadership and service skills. Through a flexible curriculum of easy-to-teach lessons, you’ll learn how to lead teams, solve real problems, and execute community service projects. You’ll complete a team-based project that identifies and addresses a need in your community, and you can optionally submit it for a chance to win up to $10,000 in grant funding. The program is backed by a service-learning model that encourages empathy, communication, and project execution.
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 – Lead4Change