As a high school student curious about business, you might scroll past TikTok reels of entrepreneurs, pitches, and start-up stories, feeling excited but unsure where to begin. Business summer programs for high school students help turn that curiosity into something real, giving a clear first step.

Imagine spending your mornings developing pitches, your afternoons building startup prototypes under the guidance of university professors, and then your evenings exploring new neighborhoods with like-minded classmates. Business summer programs for high school students let you explore your interests, connect with global peers, and glimpse college life.

What kinds of business summer programs for high school students are available?

There are countless programme options, and not all offer meaningful instruction. However, some are costly or too basic, so the right guidance matters when choosing the business programme for your goals.

Across the world, top universities offer summer programmes that build core skills in leadership, communication, budgeting, market research, and strategic planning while encouraging critical thinking.

Led by industry professionals and renowned faculty, these programmes involve teamwork, real business challenges, and insights from the field, and in many cases, help students grow their skills and confidence for future business studies.

To help you decide, we’ve curated a list of 15 Business Summer Programs for High School Students. They’ve been picked for their academic rigor, industry connections, and opportunities for hands-on learning.

15 Business Summer Programs for High School Students

1. Cardinals in Command: A Business Camp for Future Leaders

Location: Lamar University (Galloway Business), Beaumont, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 26 students
Dates: June 16th – 18th
Application Deadline: Not publicly available
Eligibility: 10th to 12th graders

This three-day summer camp is for you if you aspire to start your own business or simply understand it. Your sessions will include participation in hands-on workshops where you create business-related reels, participate in marketing challenges, analyze investment strategies, and more, along with other campmates.

These group assignments give you an insight into how actual businesses work. Some of the business concepts that you can expect to learn at this camp are leadership, marketing, management, information systems, and finance.

Why it stands out: It introduces you to core business skills through hands-on leadership training, helping you understand how real organizations operate.

2. Immerse Education’s Business Management Summer School 

Location: Suffolk University, Boston, USA (Miller Hall – Downtown Boston)
Cost/Stipend: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Average of 7 students per class
Dates: 28th Jun – 11th Jul, and 12th Jul – 25th Jul
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 15-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school

At this Boston-based programme, you’ll study Business Management in a real US university environment while staying at Suffolk’s Miller Hall. You’ll live in the heart of the city, surrounded by historic streets, green spaces, renowned museums, and major business districts. Your academic experience includes small, discussion-led classes and case studies inspired by leading business schools. You’ll evaluate business ideas, explore marketing strategy, develop leadership skills, and analyse organisational challenges. Over the two weeks, you’ll complete an independent project that applies your learning. Beyond that, you’ll take part in excursions that immerse you in Boston’s academic and cultural energy.

Beyond the classroom, you’ll take part in excursions that help you experience Boston’s academic and cultural energy. You might explore Harvard Square and the Longfellow House to uncover the city’s historic roots, visit world-class institutions like the Harvard Art Museums or the MIT Museum, or enjoy a scenic Charles River cruise that brings the city’s skyline and history to life.

If you want to broaden your focus, you can choose other business-related pathways offered in Boston, including Banking & Finance, Economics, Entrepreneurship, and Marketing & Entertainment.

Why it stands out: You’ll learn from world-class tutors in classes of around seven students, follow a practical case-study curriculum, and live in a real university residence as part of a global community of 20,000+ alumni.

3. Global Business Academy

Location: CSU College of Business, Fort Collins, CO
Cost/Stipend: $3,750 per student (limited scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 12th – 22nd
Application Deadline: May 1st
Eligibility: Domestic and international students in the 10th to 12th grades from ages 15 to 18

Organized by Colorado State University, this Global Business Academy teaches you various skills that are essential to run a business. These include international business, leadership, teambuilding, cross-cultural communication, entrepreneurship, decision-making, negotiation, ethics, financial literacy, and innovation.

Over the ten days of the program, you will attend lectures conducted by CSU’s College of Business professors. You will visit business enterprises, network with business leaders, and learn about the different roles involved in running a business. The program also includes interactive activities that will give you the confidence to become a businessperson. 

Why it stands out: It strengthens your global business perspective, helping you learn how culture and international markets shape strategy.

4. Immerse Education’s Business Management Career Insights

Location: New York or San Francisco
Cost/Stipend: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Average of 7 students per class
Dates: 2 weeks during Jun – Aug
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students from around the world aged 15-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school

If you want one of the most immersive business summer programs for high school students, the Career Insights Business Pathway blends academic learning with real industry exposure in two major economic hubs: New York City and San Francisco.

In New York, you’ll study at Barnard College, part of Columbia University, exploring strategy, leadership, innovation, and global thinking. In San Francisco, you’ll live and learn at UC Berkeley, developing skills in management and entrepreneurship through hands-on projects. Together, these cities offer a powerful combination of academic challenge and real insight into how modern companies operate.

Furthermore, you’ll also join industry visits that bring your learning to life. In New York, sessions like the Business of Broadway and Financial Quotient Training reveal how major industries operate. In San Francisco, you’ll live and learn at UC Berkeley, developing skills in management and entrepreneurship through hands-on projects.

Why it stands out: You gain hands-on exposure in two global business centres, learn from university-level tutors and industry experts, and develop career-ready skills through real projects and professional workshops.

5. Inspire Summer: McIntire Business Institute

Location: UVA Fairfax Campus, Fairfax County, VA
Cost/Stipend: $3,700 until March 1 and $4,000 for anyone who applies after
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June 22nd – July 2nd, or July 13th – 24th
Application Deadline: Opens December 1st
Eligibility: Rising 10th to 12th graders

Over this two-week programme, you’ll push your creativity to develop new business ideas and build them with an entrepreneurial mindset. You will work on group projects to apply theories you learn in marketing, strategy, finance, and accounting.

At this institute, you’ll also strengthen your presentation skills, enabling you to confidently pitch your idea on the last day. You will also learn business fundamentals that strengthen your creativity and problem-solving skills.

Why it stands out: It gives you exposure to UVA’s business curriculum, helping you understand core disciplines like marketing, finance, and management.

6. Invest in Her: Financial Literacy and Leadership for Women

Location: Rose Hill Campus, Bronx, NY
Cost/Stipend: $1300 includes the $100 deposit you will make while applying for the program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: July 13th – 17th
Application Deadline: Priority given to applicants who apply before May 1st
Eligibility: Female high school students; international students are not eligible

The Gabelli School of Business began this programme to equip female high school students with skills, training, and confidence. When you participate in the program, you will learn some of the core concepts in financial markets, financial statements, and accounting principles.

You will discover the importance of creative and analytical thinking in a business environment. Other than that, you will also be taught how to present yourself in a professional setting. 

Why it stands out: It builds both financial confidence and leadership skills, helping young women take charge of economic decision-making.

7. Tufts Pre-College Intensive: Entrepreneurship & Innovation Bootcamp

Location: Tufts University (Medford/Somerville campus), Greater Boston
Cost/Stipend: Commuter: $4,225, and Residential: $5,750
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: July 5 – July 17, 2026
Application Deadline: Applications open December 1, 2025; rolling through the cycle
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10-12 or a 2026 high school graduate; international students accepted

This two-week, in-person bootcamp teaches business and entrepreneurship through venture creation. You’ll work in teams to develop a new venture, test ideas against real-world problems, and build the foundations of a business model, from customer needs to value proposition and pitching. Through workshops and guided teamwork, you’ll practise decision-making, communication, and leadership, while learning how entrepreneurs validate ideas and adapt fast.

It’s run in partnership with Tufts’ Derby Entrepreneurship Center, so you get a campus-led entrepreneurship experience with practical mentoring, rather than a generic summer workshop focused on theory.

Why it stands out: It’s run with Tufts’ Derby Entrepreneurship Center and ends with an accelerator-style Demo Day pitch to judges, with mentoring from Tufts students and alumni and access to the same campus entrepreneurship spaces and resources where Tufts ventures are built.

8. Loyola Marymount University – Intro to Entrepreneurship

Location: Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: $6,500 + $65 application fee; limited financial aid may be available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; typically limited cohort size
Dates:  June 21st – July 3rd
Application Deadline: March 15th
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders (sophomores–seniors) from around the world, ages 14–18

In this programme led by the LMU College of Business Administration faculty, you’ll learn to start a business from scratch. You will learn how to conceptualize business ideas and create value propositions.

The program also gives you the opportunity to share your business ideas with local entrepreneurs from Los Angeles. Moreover, your schedule will include lectures and seminars by guest entrepreneurs from whom you will learn essential concepts such as market research, budgeting, and marketing strategies. 

Why it stands out: It guides you through the startup-building process, helping you turn ideas into viable business concepts.

9. UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth Summer Entrepreneurship

Location: University of California (Berkeley) campus, Berkeley, CA
Cost/Stipend: $7,450 for California high school students. $7,950 for out-of-state students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 12%; 50 students
Dates: HSEN 1st – 5th July 2026 to 18th July 2026; HSEN 2nd – 19th July 2026 to 1 August 2026.
Application Deadline: Decisions released in March
Eligibility: High-school students (typically grades 9–12, ~ages 15–18)

This summer entrepreneurship programme will teach you to think up new business concepts and develop a strategy for them. For this, your daily schedule will consist of a mix of theoretical classes, independent research, computer lab activities, and team projects. These lectures will be led by UC Berkeley staff and corporate professionals, who will share their expertise in business.

You’ll join college preparedness sessions led by the admissions committee and undergraduates, getting guidance on essays and personal statements. At the end of the program, you will present your business plan. 

Why it stands out: It teaches innovation using Berkeley’s problem-solving frameworks, helping you develop entrepreneurial thinking early.

10. Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS)

Location: Smeal College of Business, State College, PA
Cost/Stipend: $250
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June 14th – 26th
Application Deadline: March 20th
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders (current 11th graders) from the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

In this two-week program, you will have the opportunity to connect with Penn State professors, industry experts, and various business operations, thus familiarizing yourself with the ins and outs of the business world.

Rather than just sticking to textbook content, the program gives you a perspective of how actual businesses work. BOSS focuses even on the smallest things, teaching you how to tie a tie. Moreover, this is a residential program that provides you with a good college experience while educating you on business fundamentals. 

Why it stands out: This program is designed to help you understand what a business major entails and whether a business school environment is the right fit for your academic goals.

11. The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy

Location: Ross School of Business, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Cost/Stipend: an application fee of $75 plus program fee is $5,500; full and partial need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 70 students per cohort
Dates: June 7th – 17th, or June 21st – July 1st
Application Deadline: November 4th – January 8th
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders both domestic and international with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 

This is yet another business program that helps you thoroughly understand how real businesses work. It also schedules you for college-level classes and workshops, thus giving you a taste of Michigan Ross’s experience.

Through these classes, you will particularly learn everything from how businesses operate day to day to how people in leadership roles make decisions to solve problems within the company.  Also, this business academy offers field trips, guest lectures, community meetings, and more, all designed to prepare you for business roles.

Why it stands out: You’ll get a sense of large-scale, research-oriented business schools, so you’ll be better prepared for studying business at competitive universities.

12. Sotheby’s Summer Institute: Art Business Course

Location: Sotheby’s Institute of Art, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Day program fee: $6,195 | Residential program fee: $7,695; $50 non-refundable application fee; discounts and scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: July 5th – 17th or July 19th – 31st
Application Deadline: TBA; opens in fall
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders and graduating seniors, including eligible international students.

In its Summer Institute programme, Sotheby’s offers pre-college courses, including this one, focused on the arts industry’s commercial aspects. This Arts Business course will delve into the creation, sale, and purchase of art in the market. Also, you will focus on some contemporary topics and how art is shifting toward a more digitalized form while exploring concepts like blockchain, NFTs, and digital art commerce.

The program also covers the impact the arts marketplace and the nonprofit sector have on each other, especially in museums. Overall, your schedule includes lectures and site visits, providing a deeper understanding of the arts industry’s business side.

Why it stands out: You’ll get access to galleries, auctions, curators, and collectors, providing help for future arts, humanities, or business applications.

13. Youth About Business Camp

Location: Owen Graduate School of Business, Nashville, TN, and Columbia University’s Business School, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: $3,000 | $1,500 for students eligible for partial scholarship | $750 for students eligible for full scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 50 students
Dates: June 23rd  – 27th in the Tennessee location and July 7th – 11th in the New York location
Application Deadline: May 31st
Eligibility: Domestic and international students in grades 9 to 12, ages 14-17, who are part of business/leadership clubs

You’ll understand different aspects of business through mock negotiations, group panels, and activities focused on exposure to executive roles. You will also get to network with professionals who work in the marketing, human resources, tech, finance, or accounting departments.

Through this camp, you will also discover career opportunities while building your confidence and leadership skills. You will also discover how finance, law, marketing, tech, and operations work within a company. 

Why it stands out: It immerses you in high-level dealmaking simulations, helping you understand how private equity evaluates and grows companies.

14. Bossgirls

Location: The City College of New York, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June 29th – July 30th
Application Deadline: Three rounds of applications with deadlines on January 31st, February 28th, and March 31st
Eligibility: High school students who identify as girls or nonbinary and live in the tri-state area

In this one-month programme, you’ll begin by identifying a problem and developing a business solution with customer needs in mind. As a participant, you will conduct market research, compare competitors, decide pricing structures, and create a brand. The program is designed to help you develop a better understanding of the business world.

Throughout the program, Standard Chartered experts will coach you and provide networking opportunities with entrepreneurs. You will also have the chance to pitch your ideas to industry experts. 

Why it stands out: It supports young women in entrepreneurship and finance, helping you gain confidence and leadership in male-dominated fields.

15. Summer Venture in Business (SVB)

Location: The University of Kansas School of Business, Lawrence, KS
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~22 students per cohort
Dates: June 15th – 20th or July 13th – 18th
Application Deadline: March 31st or until full
Eligibility: Rising 11th- and 12th-grade US students

Hosted by the University of Kansas School of Business, this five-day residential programme is for high school business students. For this, you will be participating in engaging workshops that help you understand essential business-related topics, such as marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship.

Additionally, the program includes industry tours by their corporate sponsors and academic sessions with KU’s faculty. Additionally, this program also gives you guidance on how to stand out in college applications, especially if you are applying to the University of Kansas. 

Why it stands out: It introduces you to business fundamentals through collaborative projects, helping you explore future majors in a supportive setting.

16. Business Education for Talented Students (BETS)

Location: Haslam College of Business, Knoxville, TN
Cost/Stipend: Program, accommodation, and food are all free, but you need to pay a $20 reservation fee once selected
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 30 students
Dates: June 3rd – 12th
Application Deadline: December 15th – March 31st
Eligibility: Designed for rising seniors; applicants need at least a 3.0 GPA.

The ten-day residential BETS (Business Education for Talented Students) program introduces you to basic business disciplines. You will explore career opportunities in various fields such as accounting, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, supply chain management, and business analytics.

In addition, you will be taught by Haslam’s faculty and industry professionals. The program also offers marketplace stimulation games, guidance on networking with professionals, and sessions on college and career preparation. 

Why it stands out: It supports high-achieving underrepresented students with business exposure, helping you access college pathways and professional development.

17. Leadership in the Business World (Wharton Global Youth Program, University of Pennsylvania)

Location: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: $11,899 (All-inclusive: housing, meals, activities)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 120 students per session
Dates: Session 1: June 7th – June 27th; Session 2: June 28th – July 18th; Session 3: July 19th – August 8th
Application Deadline: Priority deadline: January 28th; Regular deadline: March 18th
Eligibility: Current high school juniors from around the world (11th grade) with a minimum 3.5 GPA

Leadership in the Business World (LBW) is one of the most competitive business summer programs for high school students, where you study core areas of business taught by Wharton instructors. You attend lectures on management, marketing, finance, and leadership while participating in workshops that mirror Wharton’s undergraduate curriculum. Additionally, students work in teams to develop an original business idea, supported by market research and financial analysis.

Moreover, the program includes company visits and guest speakers who discuss their work in finance, consulting, and entrepreneurship. You receive guidance from Wharton undergraduates and gain first-hand exposure to the expectations of a top-tier business school. LBW is designed to prepare motivated students for rigorous business studies by combining academic content with applied entrepreneurial work.

Why it stands out: You’ll be working with students from around the world, giving you global peer exposure and networking opportunities.

18. Oxford Saïd Business School – Teen Leadership & Entrepreneurship Summer Academy

Location: Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Cost/Stipend: £8,750 (approx. US $11,050)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 40-60 students
Dates: July 18th – Aug 1st
Application Deadline: Early spring (tentatively)
Eligibility: Students aged 15–18 worldwide

Over 12 days, this program at Saïd Business School introduces students to leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurial thinking through seminars led by Oxford instructors, making it one of the most academically rigorous business summer programs for high school students in the UK. You will​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ complete group projects, workshops, and case studies that closely resemble university business courses. The program includes problem-solving frameworks, leadership principles, and hands-on methods for starting up new ventures.

Moreover, you will stay in Oxford accommodation and are allowed to use the university facilities throughout the program. As a result, you gain structured exposure to business concepts in a university environment and understand expectations for future study.

Why it stands out: You’ll get early exposure to Oxford’s tutorial-style teaching, university-level business studies, and student life at Oxford.

19. Harvard Pre-College Program – Business & Economics Courses

Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: $6,100 (residential) + $75 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Average class size is 15
Dates: Session I June 21 – July 2, 2026; Session II July 5 – 17, 2026; Session III July 19 – 31, 2026
Application Deadline: Early + priority aid Jan 7, 2026; Regular + aid Feb 11, 2026; Late Apr 1, 2026
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors; international students accepted

Harvard’s Pre-College Program offers non-credit courses in business-related fields such as economics, entrepreneurship, and global markets, positioning it among the most well-known business summer programs for high school students worldwide. You will participate in seminar-style classes taught by Harvard instructors and complete readings, assignments, and discussions that mirror college-level expectations.

Residential students live in Harvard dormitories and engage in co-curricular workshops and activities. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking and analytical writing. You will understand the structure of university-level business courses and determine whether economics or management aligns with your academic interests.

Why it stands out: You’ll be staying on Harvard’s campus and interacting with undergraduates and faculty, so you’ll have opportunities to build important connections and learn about college life at a leading university.

20. Business Leadership Program (University of Colorado Boulder — Leeds School of Business)

Location: University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June 21st – June 27th
Application Deadline: March 13th
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (11th grade) who are Colorado residents or attending a Colorado high school

The Business Leadership Program introduces high school students to foundational business topics, including entrepreneurship, ethics, accounting, and marketing. You attend lectures taught by Leeds School of Business faculty and participate in leadership activities facilitated by trained mentors.

Moreover, the curriculum is centered on collaboration, critical thinking, and communication through team-based challenges. In addition, students have opportunities to meet business professionals and discuss how leadership skills apply in corporations and startups.

Why it stands out: You’ll gain insight into university-level business expectations and the skills required for business-related majors.

21. Economics for Leaders (Foundation for Teaching Economics)

Location: Various university campuses across the U.S. (e.g., Rice, Duke, Yale) and Virtual options
Cost/Stipend: ~$2,800 (Residential, includes room and board) | ~$900 (Virtual)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25–40 students accepted per site
Dates: Weekly sessions throughout June, July, and August
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores (10th) and juniors (11th) worldwide

Economics for Leaders is one of the more analytical business summer programs for high school students, teaching you how to apply economic reasoning to leadership, decision-making, and public policy. Faculty from universities across the U.S. lead lectures on core microeconomic concepts such as opportunity cost, incentives, and market behavior. In addition, you participate in leadership workshops where you practice negotiation, collaboration, and problem-solving using economic frameworks. Instead of textbook learning, the curriculum uses interactive simulations that help you practically understand how economic decisions are made.

Essentially, you gain a stronger foundation in analytical thinking and see how economics applies to business and policy-related jobs. This combination of leadership training and economic analysis supports students exploring future studies in business, economics, or public policy.

Why it stands out: It combines academic rigor and public speaking/leadership training, so you’ll develop both intellectual and soft skills.

22. NYU Stern School of Business – Summer @ Stern (through NYU Precollege)

Location: NYU Campus, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Tuition is equivalent to 4 college credits (approximately $8,000+)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: July 5th – August 11th
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors around the world with a strong academic record (minimum 3.0 GPA)

Summer @ Stern is not a separate program but a track within the NYU Precollege Program where you enroll in an actual 4-credit undergraduate business course taught by Stern faculty. Course options may include an Introduction to Business, Marketing, or Finance. In addition, you attend regular college classes, complete university-level assignments, and take exams alongside current NYU students.

As a result, you earn transferable college credit, clearly demonstrating your readiness for college-level business studies upon course completion. This program simulates the full academic and social experience of an NYU undergraduate.

Why it stands out: You’ll be exposed to an urban, globally-connected business school, giving you a sense of business dynamics in a real-world, high-profile environment.

23. Brown University – Summer@Brown

Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost/Stipend: Residential (includes meals + housing) is $3,748 (1-week), $5,786 (2-week), $8,372 (3-week), and $10,858 (5-week hybrid).
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Nearly 6,000 participants each summer (programme-wide)
Dates: Multiple 2-, 3-, and 4-week sessions plus a 5-week hybrid option from June 15th – July 25th (tentatively)
Application Deadline: May 22, 2026
Eligibility: Students worldwide completing grades 9-12 or aged 14-18

Summer@Brown allows high school students to explore Brown’s open-curriculum model through courses taught by university faculty. You can select from a range of subjects, including humanities, sciences, social sciences, arts, business/economics, and more. Moreover, the program focuses on discussions and critical thinking skills instead of exams, reflecting Brown’s typical undergraduate teaching style.

You’re accommodated in university housing and take part in workshops on time management and academic strategies. In addition, collaborative assignments and seminar discussions provide feedback within an environment that closely resembles university-level learning. You’ll explore academic interests, refine independent study skills, and experience the expectations of university coursework.

Why it stands out: By interacting with Brown faculty, you’ll get a deeper understanding of your subject interests and an idea of what studying it at the university level might look like.

24. Columbia University – Summer Programs for High School Students

Location: Columbia University, New York City, NY
Cost/Stipend: ~$12,764 for a 3-week residential session
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June 29 – July 17, 2026, and July 21 – August 7, 2026
Application Deadline: Early Registration Deadline: Feb 2, 2026; General Application Deadline: Mar 2, 2026
Eligibility: Rising 9th through current 12th grade domestic and international students.

This program serves as an extensive introduction to essential business themes and leadership ideas based on the viewpoint of Columbia Business School, making it one of the more academically intensive business summer programs for high school students. Instructors from the university and professionals from the industry guide your learning in such areas as marketing strategy, financial decision-making, negotiations, and ethical leadership. The courses are designed to be a mix of lectures, involvement in the workshops, and real-world case ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌studies.

As a result, you develop critical analytical skills and learn to apply business theories through collaborative projects and engaging discussions. This program helps you gain insight into the academic and professional demands of a leading business school environment.

Why it stands out: You’ll experience what university-level academics involve through their independent work components and mentoring by esteemed academics.

25. Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy (Georgetown University)

Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C
Cost/Stipend: Residential tuition: $6,465, Commuter tuition: $5,075
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available.
Dates: June 7 – 19, 2026
Application Deadline: Early Bird: January 31st, and Final deadline: April 15th
Eligibility: Must be a current 8th – 12th grader from around the world

This academy introduces you to entrepreneurship fundamentals through lectures, hands-on workshops, and mentorship from Georgetown faculty and industry guests. In the process, you learn how business models function, practise customer discovery, and assess overall market feasibility confidently. Students work in small teams to develop, prototype, and refine their own startup ideas through collaborative, hands-on project work.

The course content is mainly centered around ethical leadership, financial decision-making, and the role of entrepreneurship in addressing real-world challenges. Finally, you also complete a capstone pitch, which helps develop public speaking and analytical skills. The experience provides early exposure to university-level business coursework and the structure of entrepreneurship programs at the college level.

Why it stands out: You’ll be living in a university, get access to college-style resources and peer networks, so you can evaluate how well you’ll fit in with future business college programs.

26. USC Exploring Entrepreneurship (University of Southern California)

Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: ~$11,570 (Residential, estimated based on 2025 rates: Tuition $7,401 + Room/Board ~$3,440 + Fees) | ~$8,130 (Commuter)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available.
Dates: June 22nd – July 17th
Application Deadline: International deadline: March 13, 2026; Domestic deadline: May 8, 2026
Eligibility: Students worldwide who have completed at least 9th grade; typically requires strong academic standing

The USC Exploring Entrepreneurship program introduces you to the lifecycle, from identifying market needs through developing and pitching ideas. You study core concepts such as value proposition design, customer research, and financial modeling through faculty-led lectures and case-based sessions. The program includes collaborative group work where you develop a startup idea and receive feedback from instructors and peers.

In addition, you also practice presentation and communication skills by preparing a professional pitch deck. Throughout the course, you gain exposure to how entrepreneurs solve problems and evaluate business opportunities. By the end, you will have a clearer understanding of whether entrepreneurship or business studies align with your college plans.

Why it stands out: You’ll have a chance to dive into entrepreneurship and startup thinking while still in high school, so you can test your interest in businesses & startups. 

27. Babson College – Babson Summer Study for High School Students

Location: Babson College (hosted at NEIA and Babson campus), Wellesley Hills, MA
Cost/Stipend: $12,995 (residential in-person format) plus a $95 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available.
Dates: July 8th – 28th (four-week session)
Application Deadline: Early bird Round One: February 13th; Standard: March 13th
Eligibility: Must be a rising high school junior or senior from around the world and at least 16 by the start date

Babson’s Summer Study program offers high school students opportunities to engage in entrepreneurship and business courses led by Babson faculty. In addition, you will complete project-based learning tasks, pitch business ideas, and receive feedback from mentors in a residential environment.

The​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ courses concentrate on creating new ventures, business strategy, and financial modeling, which is in line with Babson’s undergraduate program focused on entrepreneurship. Residential students stay either on campus or at NEIA and can use Babson facilities and ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌resources. 

Why it stands out: You will get meaningful exposure to business education and determine whether an entrepreneurship-oriented path aligns with your academic and career interests.

28. LaunchX San Diego Flagship Entrepreneurship

Location: U.C. San Diego (UCSD campus), San Diego, CA
Cost/Stipend: $11,495 tuition; +$250 international fee for non-US participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~30% for Flagship Programs; around 120 spots
Dates: July 12th – August 8th
Application Deadline: Four deadlines: Nov 12 (Priority), Jan 7 (Early), Feb 11 (Financial Award), Mar 4 (Final)
Eligibility: High school students around the world aged 14–18

This four-week, in-person programme focuses on launching a real start-up on a university campus, unlike traditional business summer programs. You’ll join a global cohort, get matched into a team, and work through the core business foundations behind turning an idea into something people actually want, from customer discovery to positioning and pricing.

Across the month, you’ll build, iterate, and pitch with continuous mentor feedback, sharpening your thinking as your start-up develops. You’ll practise teamwork, leadership, and persuasive communication while refining your concept into a clearer business model. The pace is intense and practical, mirroring how early-stage founders test assumptions, respond to setbacks, and keep improving.

Why it stands out: It’s a full residential, four-week start-up sprint at UCSD with a selective admissions rate and a clear focus on building and launching, not just learning theory.

29. Rice University Pathfinder Summer High School Program

Location: Rice University campus, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: $6,000 (Early Bird) or $7,000 (regular)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available; spots are limited
Dates: July 12-25, 2026
Application Deadline: Early Bird deadline February 15, 2026; then rolling admissions until April 1st
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors

Rice Pathfinder is a two-week residential entrepreneurship programme where you learn business by building, not just listening. You’ll form a team, choose a problem worth solving, and turn it into a venture through customer discovery, prototyping, and business modelling. Along the way, you’ll test assumptions, refine your value proposition, and practise pitching with feedback from mentors, strengthening core business skills like strategy, communication, and decision-making.

You’ll also step into Houston’s start-up scene through visits to innovation hubs like Ion and Greentown Labs. The experience culminates in a Demo Day, where you pitch to local entrepreneurs and showcase what you’ve built. You’ll leave with practical business experience and clearer next steps.

Why it stands out: You build and pitch a venture end-to-end, with real ecosystem exposure in Houston and a culminating Demo Day judged by entrepreneurs.

30. Business and Leadership Program (University of Washington Foster School of Business)

Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Residential tuition $7,498; commuter tuition $4,498
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available; spots are limited
Dates: July 5-17, 2026
Application Deadline: Rolling enrolment until full via Summer Springboard
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, 12th, and graduating seniors worldwide

This two-week programme introduces you to business and leadership through workshops, corporate insights, and a team-based case competition. You’ll build skills in strategy, problem-solving, marketing, basic finance, teamwork, leadership, and presentation, then apply them under pressure as you analyse a real company scenario and defend your recommendations to judges.

You’ll also visit two leading Seattle corporations and see how teams decide, communicate across departments, and turn ideas into results. Set in one of the world’s strongest start-up ecosystems, it helps you connect classroom thinking to modern business careers.

Why it stands out: You get a genuine Foster-style case competition experience, plus corporate visits, so you learn business by doing it, not just studying it.

Make This Summer Your Launchpad

Business summer programs for high school students offer more than classes. They let you step into exciting cities, learn from inspiring tutors, and explore what a future in business could look like.

The programmes featured here give you hands-on projects, real industry insights, and chances to discover strengths you hadn’t realised.

Think of this summer as a preview of the path you want to build for yourself.

And if you’re intrigued by the opportunities these US cities offer, explore our Career Exploration blogs to find your next step.