If you’re planning to build a startup one day or study business in college, business programs in California for high school students can help you explore the field beyond classroom theory. Business is shaped by decision-making, testing ideas, solving problems, and understanding why some companies succeed while others struggle. These programmes give you the chance to see how those concepts are applied before choosing a university pathway.

You might spend part of your summer developing a startup idea, working through business cases, building a marketing strategy, speaking with entrepreneurs, or pitching your ideas to mentors. Along the way, you’ll begin to think like a founder, consultant, or business student while gaining a clearer sense of the skills different career paths require.

California offers an especially strong environment for this kind of exploration. From Silicon Valley and the Bay Area to Los Angeles and San Diego, the state brings together renowned universities, fast-growing startups, investors, and global companies. Many programmes connect participants with this ecosystem through guest speakers, company visits, collaborative projects, and practical startup challenges.

What kind of business programs are available for high school students in California?

California offers programs across nearly every area of business. Some focus on entrepreneurship and startup development, while others introduce students to finance, economics, leadership, marketing, business analytics, or innovation. Many are hosted by universities, while others are organized by research institutions, nonprofit organizations, or startup accelerators.

Because of California’s strong connections to technology, venture capital, and entrepreneurship, many programs also include mentorship, company visits, guest speakers, or practical projects that help students see how business concepts are applied outside the classroom.

To help you explore your options, we’ve compiled a list of 12 business programs in California for high school students!

Key takeaways

The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth Summer Entrepreneurship Residency admits 50 students per cohort globally and costs $7,450 for California residents or $7,950 for out-of-state students.
Immerse Education’s San Francisco Summer School takes place at UC Berkeley, costing between £5,995 and £9,516 depending on housing option, with an average of seven participants per class.
USC’s Summer Program courses, including Introduction to Business and Building Sustainable Businesses, cost $11,570 for domestic residential students and $12,208 for international students plus additional visa fees.
UC Berkeley’s High School Startup Launchpad runs throughout the academic year rather than just the summer, costing $5,450 for California residents or $6,450 for out-of-state students.
Program costs for California business programs range from $3,800 at the Pacific Summer High School Institute to over $12,208 for USC’s international student tuition.

12 Business Programs in California for High School Students

1. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY): Summer Entrepreneurship Residency

Location: Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost: $7,450 (CA residents) | $7,950 (Out-of-state); limited needs-based scholarships are available. A non-refundable $100 application fee is required at submission.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 50 students per cohort globally
Dates: Session I: July 5th – July 18th | Session II: July 19th – August 1st
Application Deadline: February 13th
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th-grade students worldwide with an interest in business and entrepreneurship

The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) is one of the most selective business programs in California for high school students, admitting just 50 participants per global cohort. During this two-week entrepreneurship experience at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, you’ll work in a team to develop an idea and turn it into a detailed business plan with guidance from Haas faculty and industry professionals.

You’ll attend lectures, computer lab sessions, and engage in independent research and collaborative projects. The program concludes with a final business plan presentation, where teams pitch their ideas and share their work. You also get to experience campus life and participate in admissions workshops and essay guidance sessions.

Why it stands out: You’ll develop and pitch a business plan with support from business faculty, and train in entrepreneurship and college readiness.

2. Immerse Education’s San Francisco Entrepreneurship Summer School

A group of students walking towards the steps of a church-like structure as part of a tour.

Location: University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco, California
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: 15-18-year-old students; open to international students

Joining the Immerse Education Entrepreneurship Summer School will expose you to business development and startup strategies. You’ll gain knowledge about a range of topics, including innovation, business planning, and financial management. You’ll participate in interactive workshops, work on startup projects, and gain insights into real-world case studies. The programme will allow you to gain a range of entrepreneurial skills, including strategic thinking and creativity required to launch successful businesses.

You’ll receive guidance from established entrepreneurs and explore different industries and business models. The program will prepare you for a future career in entrepreneurship through hands-on challenges and real-world experience. You’ll also earn a recognised certificate on the completion of the program.

Why it stands out: It will give you hands-on exposure to startup strategy through real projects, expert mentorship, and practical challenges, while also earning you a recognised certificate.

3. USC Summer Program – Introduction to Business

Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Domestic Residential: $11,570 | Domestic Commuter: $8,130 | International Students: $12,208. Plus a mandatory non-refundable $85 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective. Specific cohort size not published
Dates: June 22nd – July 17th
Application Deadline: Domestic: May 8th; International: March 13th
Eligibility: Open to rising 10th – 12th grade high school students (or international equivalents) who have completed 9th grade by the program start date of June 22nd

The Introduction to Business program is a summer course at USC for high school students interested in business, entrepreneurship, and leadership. You’ll study accounting, finance, marketing, data analytics, and business strategy while examining how companies grow and compete. You will attend faculty-led sessions on key business concepts and participate in case studies and discussions. The program also explores entrepreneurship, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility.

Throughout the course, you’ll work with a team to analyze a company, evaluate its business challenges, and develop data-driven recommendations. The experience concludes with a Capstone Case Competition, in which teams present their solutions.

Why it stands out: You get to work on a team-based case competition that culminates in a presentation for a real company challenge.

4. UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth: Summer Founder Bootcamp

Location: Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost: Solo Founders: $7,950/ Teams: $7,450 per person
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 14th – June 27th
Application Deadline: February 22nd
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th-grade students worldwide. Students should be building ideas in teams or as solo-founders with demonstrated traction of 250+ active users or $1,000+ in revenue. Both solo founders and established student teams are welcome

The B-BAY High School Summer Bootcamp is a two-week startup accelerator at UC Berkeley for high school founders who have already launched a product, service, or venture and are looking to grow it further. You will participate in Growth Labs, where the focus is on user acquisition, revenue growth, and product development. Throughout the program, you receive feedback from entrepreneurs, startup operators, and mentors connected to Berkeley’s startup ecosystem.

You will also work closely with a community of founders from around the world and explore how startups scale beyond early stages. By the end of the program, you will present the progress you’ve made and leave with a clearer plan for the next phase of your venture.

Why it stands out: Instead of building a startup from scratch, you spend two weeks actively growing an existing venture with feedback from founders and mentors in Berkeley’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

5. USC Summer Program – Exploring Entrepreneurship

A participant conversing with a professional during a field trip, gaining insight into entrepreneurship

Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Domestic – Residential: $11,570; Commuter: $8,130 | International students: $12,208 + $185 visa application fee + $350 SEVIS I-901 fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective. Specific cohort size not published
Dates: June 22nd – July 17th
Application Deadline: Domestic: May 8th; International: March 13th
Eligibility: Domestic: Students who have completed at least 9th grade by June 15th | International student eligibility can be found here

The USC Summer Program in Entrepreneurship is a four-week residential program for high school students interested in business and startups. You will learn how new ventures are developed and managed, and explore finance, business planning, ethics, and human resources. You will work in teams on a business idea, refine it with feedback, and present it to others.

Beyond the classroom, you visit startups, venture firms, and business hubs across Los Angeles. There are scheduled sessions by guest speakers where you interact with entrepreneurs and professionals, while communication workshops help you strengthen professional skills.

Why it stands out: The program combines startup-focused coursework with visits to entrepreneurial organizations across Los Angeles, helping you connect classroom concepts to real business environments.

Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $6,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selectivity. Cohort size not published
Dates: (Residential): July 6th – July 17th | July 20th – July 31st
Application Deadline: Session A: June 13th | Sessions B & C: June 6th | Session D: July 25th
Eligibility: Students in 10th – 12th grade by Spring | 17+ for residential sessions. Open to international students

The Startup UCLA Social Entrepreneurship Summer Institute is a pre-college program for high school students interested in entrepreneurship and social impact. You’ll learn how social enterprises are created, funded, and managed. You begin by researching community needs, identifying problems, and developing ideas for ventures that address social challenges.

Then, you will work in a team to design your own nonprofit or social enterprise and prepare a five-minute pitch for a panel of entrepreneurs and industry leaders. Students in the residential track live on UCLA’s campus and participate in evening and weekend activities alongside their coursework.

Why it stands out: The program centers on nonprofit and social enterprise models, allowing you to build a venture to address a real community need.

7. UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth: High School Startup Launchpad

Location: Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, CA
Cost: $5,450 (California residents) | $6,450 (Out-of-state). A non-refundable $85 application fee is required
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: The program runs throughout the academic year. For a detailed breakdown, check here
Application Deadline: Round 1 Deadline: June 7th, Recommendation Deadline: June 12th| Round 2 Deadline: August 9th, Recommendation Deadline: August 14th
Eligibility: High school students worldwide, in rising 10th – 12th grades, and gap year students

The UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth Academic Year Startup Launchpad is an entrepreneurship program for high school students interested in developing and testing business ideas. You will work in teams, learn core business concepts, identify problems, research customers, and build a venture concept. The program introduces the Business Model Canvas and guides you through customer discovery and prototype development.

Throughout the year, you’ll receive feedback from Berkeley Haas faculty, students, alumni, and industry mentors. A major part of the experience is the independent research and weekly coursework. The program concludes with showcase events where teams present their business models and prototypes.

Why it stands out: You spend an academic year developing a business idea, testing it with potential customers, and refining it with guidance from the Berkeley entrepreneurship community.

8. USC Summer Program – Building Sustainable Businesses

The Building Sustainable Businesses program at USC is a summer course for high school students interested in business and environmental sustainability. Through the course, you’ll examine how companies are responding to climate change and changing consumer priorities.

You’ll study emerging business models and strategies for improving the efficiency of existing organizations. You will also explore the impact of changing regulations and technologies on innovation and entrepreneurship. Through case studies and applied activities, you learn how business decisions can influence both economic and environmental outcomes.

Why it stands out: Instead of focusing on traditional business topics alone, the program examines how entrepreneurship and innovation can be used to address environmental challenges.

9. Pacific Summer High School Institute – Business Camp

Location: University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
Cost: $3,800; $500 discounts are available for eligible families; financial aid and scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selectivity. Cohort size not published
Dates: June 1-11 or June 16-26
Application Deadline: Typically in May (based on previous years)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students (grades 9-12) worldwide

The Building Your Own Business program is a two-week entrepreneurship course offered through the Pacific Summer High School Institute at the University of the Pacific. You’ll work with a team to develop a business idea, explore the nine components of the Business Model Canvas, and learn how entrepreneurs turn concepts into viable ventures.

Faculty and guest speakers share how they built their own companies, giving you a practical look at entrepreneurship beyond the classroom. You will refine your ideas, test strategies, and prepare a business pitch for judges at the end of the session. Evening activities include esports, karaoke, sports, and movie nights, among others.

Why it stands out: You’ll build and pitch a business plan while learning directly from business faculty and entrepreneurs, all within a residential pre-college experience.

10. NSLC Business & Entrepreneurship

Location: University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco, CA
Cost: $4,295 residential. Scholarships are available. Learn more here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Medium selectivity. Class size varies by location
Dates: June 12-2 or June 24th – July 2nd
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9-12). Open to international students

The NSLC Business & Entrepreneurship program introduces you to the challenges of building and running a business through simulations, team projects, and industry exposure. You’ll step into the role of a business leader and make decisions about customers, employees, and company strategy through real-world scenarios.

Along the way, you’ll collaborate with peers to develop an original business concept and pitch it to a panel of investors. Talks and discussions with entrepreneurs give you a closer look at different paths in business. You will observe how businesses operate through site tours.

Why it stands out: The program places you in decision-making roles through business simulations and investor-style pitch challenges.

11. USC Summer Program – Analytics: The Power of Data for Businesses

The USC Summer Program – Analytics: The Power of Data for Businesses introduces you to the tools a company uses to make decisions, understand customers, and solve complex problems. You’ll work with real datasets, organize and visualize information, and explore market segmentation, predictive analysis, and A/B testing.

You’ll use Python and AI-assisted coding tools to build your own analytical models and investigate patterns within data. Company visits and case-based activities show how organizations use analytics in technology and operations. You’ll also complete projects, including data visualizations, business presentations, and applied analytics challenges.

Why it stands out: You’ll work directly with data, building analytical tools, and exploring how major organizations use data-driven decision-making in practice.

12. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies – Innovation and Entrepreneurship

A group of students working together on a mathematical model

Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,200 (additional course materials may cost up to $100); need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective. Specific cohort size not published
Dates: June 15th – June 26th | Session II: July 6-17
Application Deadline: March 13th
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-11 at the time of application. Open to international students

The Innovation and Entrepreneurship course is a two-week online program from Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies for high school students interested in business, startups, and problem-solving. You’ll explore customer discovery, marketing, and business models and understand how companies turn ideas into successful ventures.

Using design thinking frameworks, you’ll learn how to identify real-world problems and develop solutions that meet customer needs. You will engage in class discussions and startup case studies to draw connections between business concepts and companies operating in Silicon Valley. Throughout the program, you’ll collaborate with peers on a team startup project and explore career paths in entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation.

Why it stands out: You’ll learn entrepreneurial thinking through a startup project while examining how Silicon Valley companies approach innovation, product development, and customer needs.

Frequently asked questions: Business programs in California for high school students

Are business programs in California open to international students?

Yes, most business programs in California explicitly welcome international students, including the Berkeley Business Academy for Youth, and USC’s Summer Programs. Immerse Education’s San Francisco Summer School is also open globally, hosting students from over 100 countries. A few programs, like the Summer Founder Bootcamp, require demonstrated traction such as active users or revenue, which applies regardless of citizenship.

How much do business programs in California cost?

Costs vary considerably by program length and prestige. Shorter or more accessible options, like the Pacific Summer High School Institute at $3,800, sit at the lower end, while intensive multi-week programs like USC’s Summer Programs cost over $11,570. International students often pay additional fees on top of base tuition, such as visa application and SEVIS fees at USC. Financial aid and scholarships are available for several programs, so cost alone shouldn’t rule out an option.

What is the difference between an entrepreneurship program and a general business program in California?

Entrepreneurship-focused programs, like the Berkeley Business Academy for Youth’s Founder Bootcamp, have you build and pitch an actual startup, sometimes with existing traction required. General business programs, like USC’s Introduction to Business or NSLC’s Business & Entrepreneurship, instead cover broader concepts like finance, marketing, and analytics through case studies and simulations without requiring you to launch a real venture. If you already have a startup idea, an entrepreneurship-focused program offers more hands-on venture-building; if you want broad exposure, a general program is the better starting point.

How selective are business programs in California?

Selectivity varies considerably. The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth is described as highly selective, admitting a limited global cohort each session. Other programs, like the Pacific Summer High School Institute or NSLC’s Business & Entrepreneurship, have medium selectivity with more available seats. Regardless of selectivity, meeting GPA and English proficiency requirements matters as much as the strength of your application essay or pitch.

Do business programs in California award college credit?

Most of these programs provide a certificate of completion rather than transferable college credit, since they’re structured as enrichment rather than accredited coursework. None of the programs listed here explicitly advertise transferable credit, though some, like USC’s Summer Programs, may offer credit-equivalent experiences depending on the specific course. If earning credit matters to you, confirm this directly with the program, since policies can change year to year.

Is Immerse Education a good option for exploring business in California?

Immerse Education’s San Francisco Summer School at UC Berkeley is a strong choice if you want direct exposure to Silicon Valley’s startup ecosystem without needing US residency. The two week program covers startup development, market analysis, and innovation strategy through workshops, case studies, and site visits, with an average of just seven participants per class. You’ll build analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills relevant to future business or economics studies, with financial aid available through the program’s bursary scheme.

Find the Business Path That Inspires You

From pitching startup ideas to analysing real datasets, these experiences can show you how business decisions take shape beyond school and which challenges genuinely hold your attention.

These 12 business programs in California for high school students span entrepreneurship, social impact, sustainability, analytics, marketing, and venture growth at institutions including Berkeley, USC, UCLA, and Stanford.

Compare each option’s projects, format, location, cost, and requirements to identify the paths worth exploring further.

Ready to discover where your strengths could lead? Explore our Career Exploration blogs for practical guidance, fresh ideas, and next steps towards a future that feels right for you.