14 In-person Business Management Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 9 min read
If you see yourself leading a team, launching a startup, or working in corporate strategy, you need more than theory. Business management requires decision-making under pressure and structured problem-solving. An in-person business management program gives you the chance to experience that environment while you are still in high school.
As a participant, you may participate in simulations, work on team-based projects, or analyze how real companies approach strategy and growth. You see how decisions are debated, how risks are evaluated, and how outcomes are measured.
Why should I participate in an in-person business management program in high school?
An in-person program helps you develop practical skills that go beyond classroom learning. You build confidence in presenting ideas, collaborating with others, and managing deadlines in a structured setting. That experience also clarifies whether you genuinely enjoy leadership and strategic thinking.
From a college admissions perspective, participating in a business management program adds depth to your application. You can reference specific projects, simulations, or leadership experiences that shaped your understanding.
Below are 14 in-person business management programs for high school students!
If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: February 1 – March 31
Eligibility: Chicago residents who are high school sophomores or juniors, maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, meet household income requirements, and can commit to daily program expectations
The Chicago Summer Business Institute places you inside a paid summer internship with a Chicago-area company, where you report to professionals and follow daily workplace expectations. Alongside your placement, you attend structured sessions on financial services, professional communication, and long-term academic planning. The program focuses on access for low- and moderate-income students, which means compensation and mentorship are built into the design. You are evaluated on punctuality, teamwork, and work output, not just participation. Throughout the summer, supervisors and program staff provide direct feedback on how you present yourself, manage tasks, and prepare for business careers.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies by location and cohort; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small-group instruction (7–10 students per class)
Dates: Two weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions across multiple summer cohorts
Eligibility: Students aged 13–18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
Immerse Education’s Business Management Track offers you a residential, university-based introduction to core business concepts in a global academic setting. You live on campus and study in small seminar-style groups, learning directly from tutors affiliated with leading institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge. The curriculum emphasizes experiential learning, combining lectures with case studies, group discussions, and applied projects focused on management, strategy, leadership, and problem-solving. As part of the Academic Insights Program, you study alongside peers exploring a wide range of disciplines, creating an interdisciplinary learning environment that mirrors college-level study. Throughout the program, you receive individualized academic feedback and mentorship from instructors.
Location: University of Kansas School of Business, Lawrence, KS
Cost: $50 participation fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: July 19–July 24
Application Deadline: January 5 - February 13
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-grade students who meet GPA or test-based academic criteria; priority given to first-generation college students, Title I school students, and rural school students
The Summer Venture in Business at the University of Kansas introduces rising juniors and seniors to business management through classroom instruction and applied activities at the School of Business. Faculty explain how management functions across departments such as marketing, finance, and operations. You participate in discussions and exercises that show how decisions move from planning to execution. The residential format places you in campus housing, where you follow a structured daily schedule. College readiness sessions clarify what studying business management at the university level actually requires.
Location: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $11,899
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; limited cohort
Dates: June 7–June 27, June 28–July 18, or July 19–August 8
Application Deadline: Priority: January 28, Final: March 18
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
Leadership in the Business World at the Wharton School centers on management strategy and organizational leadership through a three-week residential experience. Classes revolve around case analysis, where you examine how executives evaluate competition, allocate resources, and respond to market pressures. Frameworks such as SWOT and Porter’s Five Forces are used to break down management decisions. Team projects and simulations mirror boardroom-style problem-solving. The final case competition requires you to present a management strategy backed by structured analysis.
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $6,100 per session; $75 non-refundable application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small classes of 12–18 students
Dates: June 21–July 2, July 5–17, or July 19–31
Application Deadline: Opens December 1; rolling admissions until filled
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Harvard’s Pre-College Program allows you to take an in-person business or economics course that emphasizes management concepts within a college classroom. Daily sessions require close reading, structured discussion, and written assignments that test your understanding of leadership and organizational decision-making. Class sizes are limited, so participation is expected. Living in Harvard dorms introduces you to the discipline required to balance academic workload and residential responsibilities. The focus remains on understanding how business management is taught at an undergraduate level.
Location: Penn State University Park Campus, State College, PA
Cost: $350 program fee (paid after acceptance)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited cohort
Dates: June 14–June 26
Application Deadline: October 20 - March 20
Eligibility: Rising seniors from the U.S. or Puerto Rico interested in pursuing a business degree
The Business Opportunities Summer Session at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business introduces you to management fundamentals through interactive classes and team-based business projects. Faculty guide you through how organizations structure teams, define roles, and measure outcomes. Site visits expose you to operational management beyond the classroom. You live on campus and follow a schedule that blends academic sessions with collaborative work. The program is selective and geared toward students considering a business management degree.
Location: University of Michigan, Ross School of Business, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $5,500 program fee (full and partial need-based scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~70 students per session
Dates: June 7–June 17 or June 21–July 1
Application Deadline: Early January
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA (preference given to U.S. citizens or permanent residents)
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy is a two-week, residential pre-college program that introduces you to business education through the lens of a top undergraduate business school. Hosted by the Ross School of Business, the program immerses you in college-level coursework led by faculty across key functional areas, including strategy, leadership, and organizational behavior. You engage in collaborative, action-based learning through classes, workshops, group projects, and real-world business challenges. Beyond the classroom, you interact with Ross faculty, company partners, and industry experts, gaining insight into how leaders make decisions and solve complex problems.
Location: Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO
Cost: Free; winning case competition team earns a $1,000 scholarship to the Leeds School
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 21–June 27
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Colorado residents or students currently attending a Colorado high school who are able to commit to the full residential program
The Business Leadership Program at the Leeds School of Business in Boulder centers on a management-focused case challenge. You are assigned to a team and tasked with designing a marketing campaign for a real corporate partner, which requires planning, delegation, and strategic alignment. Faculty and industry professionals critique your management approach throughout the week. Presentations are formal and evaluated on clarity and feasibility. The program is fully funded and hosted on campus.
Location: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; seats are limited
Dates: In person: June 12, June 26, July 10, or July 24 (one-day sessions); Virtual: April 22 & April 29 (two evenings)
Application Deadline: January 5 - March 20
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a minimum 3.5 GPA, in-person sessions open to rising juniors and seniors
The Kelley Women’s Leadership Institute at Indiana University introduces management and leadership through faculty-led case discussions and a structured business project. You analyze how managers guide teams, make strategic decisions, and respond to organizational challenges. Collaboration with peers is central, and you present your conclusions in a formal setting. Admission requires a strong academic record, and seats are limited. The experience takes place in Kelley classrooms, reflecting how business management is taught at Indiana University.
Location: New England Innovation Academy (NEIA), Marlborough, MA (in person) or Online
Cost: $6,295 (online); $9,295 (in-person day); $12,995 (in-person residential); financial aid available; $95 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: July 8–28
Application Deadline: Rolling (space-limited; early application recommended)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Babson Summer Study is a rigorous, three-week experiential entrepreneurship program designed to help you develop an entrepreneurial mindset and become a changemaker. During the program, you enroll in EPS 1110: Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Experience, a Babson College course that allows you to earn 4 college credits while exploring real-world social, economic, and environmental challenges framed by the United Nations Global Goals. The curriculum introduces core concepts in entrepreneurship, leadership, marketing, finance, and business communication, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and problem-solving. In the in-person format, hosted at the New England Innovation Academy, you attend morning classes taught by Babson faculty and spend afternoons in NEIA’s Kreate Summer AI for Business Program, where you build hands-on skills in artificial intelligence, innovation, and venture design.
Location: New York University, Washington Square Campus, New York City
Cost: Tuition-based; $8,008 for a 4-credit course (Summer rates); additional program and housing fees may apply
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited to NYU Precollege students
Dates: July 1 – August 12 (Second Six-Week Session)
Application Deadline: June 15 (U.S. students); earlier deadlines apply for international and residential students
Eligibility: Rising 11th or 12th-grade high school students with a minimum 3.0 GPA
BUSN1-UC 504 is a college-level management course that introduces you to the core principles of effective leadership and organizational performance. Through lectures and discussions, you explore how managers plan, organize, staff, and lead organizations across different industries and sectors. The curriculum covers strategy formulation, decision-making, leadership styles, and social responsibility, with an emphasis on building motivating, high-performance workplaces. As an NYU Precollege student, you study alongside undergraduates, earn 4 college credits, and gain firsthand exposure to the academic rigor and expectations of university-level business education in an in-person campus setting.
Location: Tufts University, Medford/Somerville, MA
Cost: $4,225 (commuter); $5,750 (residential); limited need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: July 19–July 31
Application Deadline: December 1 - May 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 or high school graduates
Tufts Pre-College Business Essentials is a two-week, in-person program designed to introduce you to core business concepts and leadership skills in a college-level environment. Through case studies, debates, role-playing exercises, and business simulations, you explore how modern organizations operate and how different business roles, from management and strategy to ethics and innovation, interact in today’s global economy. The curriculum emphasizes connecting purpose with profit, helping you understand how businesses can drive positive social impact while remaining financially successful. Developed in partnership with the Tufts Gordon Institute, the program exposes you to real-world perspectives through guest speakers from diverse industries, including technology, finance, biotech, and entrepreneurship.
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Cost: Varies by program; some events are free or low-cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective for competitive programs; cohort size varies
Dates: Varies by program
Application Deadline: Program-specific deadlines
Eligibility: High school students (programs typically open to grades 10–12)
The Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland offers in-person programs and case competitions that emphasize leadership and business management. Events such as the Future Women in Business Conference require analyzing a business problem and presenting a management solution before judges. Summer offerings introduce teamwork, innovation, and operational planning in campus classrooms. You interact directly with Smith faculty and students. Each program has specific deadlines and eligibility criteria.
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost: $4,498 (commuter); +$3,000 (residential option); optional weekend excursions for commuters at $125/day
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: July 5–17
Application Deadline: Rolling; space-limited
Eligibility: Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders, and graduating high school seniors
The Business and Leadership Program at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business runs for two weeks on campus and focuses on management strategy and leadership. You attend academic sessions led by Foster faculty and participate in a team-based case competition analyzing a real company. Workshops emphasize communication and structured decision-making within organizations. Residential students live in campus housing, while commuters follow the same academic schedule. Final presentations are evaluated by a panel of business professionals.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.