Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy: Acceptance Rate, Cost, Admissions, and How to Get In

Updated October 2026

TL;DR

The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy is an in-person pre-college business program for rising high school seniors at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business in Ann Arbor. 2027 sessions will take place in June. Applications open in November 2026 and are due January 10, 2027, with decisions released at the end of March 2027. You need a minimum 3.0 GPA, and the application includes two short essays, a recommendation, a transcript, and a $75 fee. If you want a research-based way to explore business from anywhere, you can apply to the Horizon Academic Research Program.

If you’re a high school junior thinking about majoring in business, the summer before senior year is a good time to test that interest. The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy lets you do that at a business school whose BBA program is ranked fourth in the country by U.S. News & World Report. You take classes from Ross faculty, work on a team project, and live on campus with other students who share your interest. This guide explains what the academy involves, what it costs, who can apply, and how to make your application stand out. If you want to compare it with other options in the state, see our list of summer business programs for high school students in Michigan.

What is the Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy?

The Summer Business Academy (SBA) is a residential pre-college program run by the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. It introduces rising high school seniors to key areas of business through faculty-led classes, interactive workshops, group projects, and company visits.

You learn from Michigan Ross faculty, company partners, and industry experts. Throughout the program, you work with a team to understand a real business challenge, build a solution, and present it. The academy also covers what it means to lead a business with purpose.

Two points are worth knowing before you apply. The academy does not award college credit. Participation also does not secure or influence admission to the Michigan Ross BBA program.

When are the Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy 2027 dates and deadlines?

The 2027 sessions will take place in June, and Michigan Ross has not yet announced exact dates. The most recent cohort ran two sessions of about two weeks each, so you can expect a similar length.

Here are the key dates for the 2027 cycle:

• November 2026: The application opens. You can fill out the interest form to get a notification when it goes live.
• January 10, 2027, 11:59 p.m. EST: The application is due.
• End of March 2027: Admissions decisions are released.
• June 2027: The program runs, with exact dates TBA.

What will you do at the Summer Business Academy?

The academy follows a learn-by-doing model. According to Michigan Ross, a typical weekday may include:

• Morning class or workshop: A session led by a Ross faculty member.
• Lunch and group work: Time to work on your team project.
• Afternoon class or workshop: A second faculty-led session.
• Field trip or workshop: An organized activity, often connected to a company or business topic.
• Dinner and group work: More time to move your project forward.
• Evening activities: Community meetings, study time, or social activities planned by counselors.

The program also includes evening programming, and the program fee covers all planned activities. Along the way, you build skills that carry into college, such as analyzing a business problem, working in a team, and presenting a recommendation to an audience.

How much does the Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy cost?

The 2027 program fee has not been announced. The most recent fee Michigan Ross published was $5,500, which covered program events, speakers, course materials, and Michigan Ross apparel.

You also pay a non-refundable $75 application fee. If the fee is a barrier, you can email the SBA team here to ask about a waiver.

In past cycles, the academy has offered a number of full and partial need-based scholarships to accepted students. Michigan Ross also encourages applications from students in resource-limited households and first-generation students. If cost is a deciding factor for you, these free business programs for high school students are worth a look alongside your SBA application.

Who is eligible for the Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy?

According to the official eligibility requirements, you must:

• Be a rising 12th grader at the time of the program.
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Preference is given to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The University of Michigan does not sponsor visas for this program, so international applicants must be able to enter and stay in the United States on their own.

You do not need a business background to apply. Michigan Ross especially encourages students who have had little exposure to business leadership concepts, experiences, or networks.

What is the Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy acceptance rate?

Michigan Ross does not publish an acceptance rate for the Summer Business Academy. The program is selective: it admits only rising seniors and asks for essays, a recommendation, and a transcript. Treat it like a competitive application and give yourself time to prepare. To see how it compares with other selective options, read our guide to competitive business programs for high school students.

How do you apply to the Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy?

To apply for the program, you need to:

1. Confirm your eligibility. Make sure you will be a rising senior with at least a 3.0 GPA.
2. Write two essays. Each essay must be 300 words or less.
3. Request a recommendation. Your recommender completes a form for you.
4. Submit your transcript. An unofficial transcript works for the admissions decision, but you need an official one to enroll.
5. Pay the $75 application fee. Ask about a waiver if needed.
6. Submit by January 10, 2027. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. EST.

Michigan Ross does not allow you to use generative AI tools to complete any part of your application. The admissions team wants to hear about you, in your own words.

Tips to get into the Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy

1. Start your essays early.

You only have 300 words per essay, so every sentence counts. Starting in November gives you time to write several drafts, cut what doesn’t help, and get feedback before the January deadline.

2. Show a specific interest in business.

Describe a moment that made you curious, such as running a school fundraiser, noticing why a local store closed, or following how a company handled a product launch. A specific story tells the committee what drives your interest.

3. Connect your interest to the academy’s format.

The academy is built around teamwork, company visits, and solving real problems. Explain why that kind of learning appeals to you. If you have worked on a group project or helped solve a problem in a club or part-time job, describe what you did and what you learned.

4. Ask the right person for your recommendation.

Choose a teacher, counselor, or mentor who knows how you work with others and how you handle challenges. Ask early, explain what you’re applying to, and give them a few examples they can mention.

5. Share your background honestly.

Michigan Ross encourages first-generation applicants, students from resource-limited households, and students who haven’t had much exposure to business. If that describes you, you can explain how it has shaped your interest. You don’t need a long list of business activities to be a strong applicant.

6. Write in your own voice.

Because generative AI tools are not allowed, your essays should sound like you. Use clear, simple sentences and read your answers aloud before submitting. Then check that everything is accurate and that you answered each prompt fully.

How does the main academy compare with the Data-Driven Decision Lab?

In its most recent cycle, Michigan Ross also offered the Data-Driven Decision Lab, a shorter Summer Business Academy session focused on business analytics. Students acted as junior business analysts and worked with a dataset based on real operations at the Michigan Theater. They studied how weather, film genres, and game days affected revenue, then presented an “insight brief” to simulated theater management.

Both sessions share the same eligibility requirements and the same $75 application fee. The Data-Driven Decision Lab page lists faculty Sanjeev Kumar and Jean-Paul Baldwin as instructors and notes that no prior skills are required beyond a quantitative mindset.

Is the Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy worth it for high school students?

The academy is a strong fit if you are a rising senior who wants to see what studying business at a top business school is like before you choose a major. You get faculty-led classes, a team project connected to real companies, and about two weeks of campus life with other students interested in business. It also gives you concrete experiences to write about in your college essays.

Keep its limits in mind, too. You won’t earn college credit, and attending doesn’t affect your BBA admission. The program fee is also significant, so look into scholarship options early. If you’d like to weigh it against similar options, our list of the best business summer programs for high school students is a useful place to start.

Another option: research business with a mentor

If you want to go deeper into one business question, the Horizon Academic Research Program is a great fit. You work with a professor or PhD mentor to write a college-level, 20-page research paper on a topic you choose. For advice on applying, read these tips from the Horizon admissions committee.

More related guides from Horizon

10 Paid Business Programs and Internships for High School Students: If the SBA program fee is a concern, these options let you gain business experience while earning money.

Business Programs for High School Students to Add to Your Resume: A broader list of programs, from entrepreneurship to college-level business courses, that you can apply to alongside SBA.

Fall Business Programs for High School Students: If you want business experience during the school year while you wait for summer decisions, these programs run in the fall.

What students often ask about this business academy

Image source: University of Michigan