15 Summer Business Pre-College Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 31 minutes ago
- 13 min read
If you’re a high school student interested in business, entrepreneurship, finance, or economics, attending a pre-college program can help you explore these fields before starting college. Business pre-college programs give you the opportunity to study advanced topics beyond a typical high school curriculum while learning from university faculty, industry professionals, and experienced mentors. Many programs also include hands-on projects, case studies, startup simulations, and collaborative activities that help you better understand how businesses operate in real-world settings.
Why should I attend a business pre-college program?
Business pre-college programs help you develop practical and analytical skills while gaining exposure to entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, management, consulting, and business analytics. Depending on the program, you might work on startup pitches, conduct market research, analyze business cases, collaborate on team projects, or explore how organizations make strategic decisions. These experiences can help you strengthen communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills while also demonstrating academic interest and initiative on college applications.
To help you get started, here are 15 summer business pre-college programs for high school students.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Suffolk University, Boston, MA
Cost: Fully funded
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Unspecified
Application Deadline: March 13
Dates: July 7 – 24
Eligibility: High school rising seniors with a GPA of 2.7 or higher
In this program, you move through the steps of shaping a business idea from an initial concept to a formal pitch. You work in small groups to explore subjects such as entrepreneurship, marketing, and management, with guidance and feedback from Suffolk faculty. The structure focuses on discussion and collaborative work, allowing you to apply concepts rather than only listen to lectures. You also visit companies in the Boston area to observe how startups and established businesses operate. You get a realistic sense of studying at Suffolk, use key campus resources such as the Center for Career Equity, Development & Success, and receive guidance on navigating the college application process. The course also carries three Suffolk University credits. By the end of the program, you will have developed and presented a business plan to an audience.
Location: The City College of New York (CCNY), New York
Cost: None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Unspecified
Application deadline: February 28
Dates: June 29 – July 30
Eligibility: High school girls and non-binary students in grades 9 to 12 who are residents of the tri-state region and can commute to the CCNY campus during the summer, for the duration of the program
The Bossgirls Summer Program at the City College of New York is a five-week entrepreneurship course for high school girls and nonbinary students, supported by Standard Chartered. During the program, you participate in activities such as market research, prototyping, and brand planning, culminating in a final pitch presentation. The coursework focuses on developing problem-solving and design skills within an entrepreneurial setting. You work with mentors who have professional experience, giving you a clearer understanding of how entrepreneurship can function as a career path. Through team-based projects, you build and refine ideas while learning to approach business challenges with a user-centric focus.
Location: Columbia University, New York City, New York, USA (on‑campus, in‑person program).
Cost/Stipend: NYC Commuter Summer (1 Week): $2,883 per session
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Described as competitive with limited spots available; specific cohort sizes per section are not listed
Application Deadline: Summer AA: Limited spots; rolling/early close implied; Summer C: May 25
Dates: Summer AA: June 22 – 26; Summer C: August 3 – 7
Eligibility: High school students (generally upper‑classmen) with an interest in entrepreneurship, business, or social enterprise; participants must bring a laptop and have at least one entrepreneurial idea they want to develop
The Becoming an Entrepreneur course is a one‑week, on‑campus pre‑college program at Columbia University that gives high school students a hands‑on introduction to the entrepreneurial journey. You learn the full entrepreneurial process, from initial research and idea generation through to the legalities of setting up a venture, basic financial planning, and marketing strategies. The curriculum covers different enterprise models, including for‑profit businesses, nonprofits, and social‑enterprise ventures, and emphasizes how each type creates value and sustains itself. Class time blends interactive lectures with guided, project‑based work, so you spend much of the week developing a concrete business idea of your own. By the end of the course, you will have produced a business plan proposal and delivered a final presentation of your concept, simulating how real entrepreneurs pitch ideas to stakeholders. The program places you in a university‑level classroom environment where you engage with case studies of real‑world startups and analyze both successes and failures.
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (on‑campus program embedded in the Harvard Summer School Pre‑College Program)
Cost/Stipend: $6,100 (non‑credit tuition for the course)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; the Pre‑College Program is selective, and course sections are small (roughly 20–30 students per session).
Application Deadline: Part of the Harvard Summer School Pre‑College Program; applications for 2026 open in December and close in spring, with exact dates listed on the main Summer School page.
Dates: July 6 – 17; July 20 – 31
Eligibility: High school students entering or in their final years before college (typically upper‑classmen, 16–18 years old). Must meet Harvard Summer School’s age and academic requirements for the Pre‑College Program. International and U.S. students are eligible.
The Invention, Innovation, and Markets course is a two‑week, on‑campus pre‑college program that examines the micro‑ and macroeconomic effects of technological invention and innovation. You would study how advances in energy, medicine, and transportation alter productivity, trade, wages, and economic policy. The course emphasizes the consequences of innovation for consumers, firms, governments, and social‑security systems, using real‑world examples such as the impact of automation on labor markets and the interaction between engine technology and bilateral trade. Instruction is delivered through a combination of lectures, case studies, and group‑oriented activities led by Dr. Ashley Nunes, an economist affiliated with Harvard’s Department of Economics. The program is non‑credit, but structured to mirror early‑level university economics, focusing on how innovation affects markets, productivity, and policy rather than abstract models alone. You are expected to engage critically with both the positive and negative effects of technological change, develop analytical skills in interpreting economic outcomes, and connect these ideas to contemporary business and policy debates.
Location: Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Ithaca, NY
Cost: $5,700 (residential). For students in Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Onondaga, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, or Yates County, a reduced commuter rate of $1,300 is offered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Unspecified
Application Deadline: April 15; Early Bird Deadline: December 15
Dates: July 13 – 25
Eligibility: High school students. Non-U.S. high school students must provide proof of English proficiency.
This program allows you, as a high school student, to study subjects such as economics, finance, big data, and business analytics in a seminar format. You also work on group projects with other students, giving you a chance to apply concepts in a practical context. Foundational and elective coursework in business includes behavioral and environmental economics, global strategy, and sustainable business. Students can opt for an elective in either Big Data & Business Analytics or Engineering Economics & Systems Thinking. The program takes place on Cornell’s campus, so you experience a college academic setting and interact with faculty and professionals. Throughout the program, the curriculum is updated to reflect changes and developments in business analytics. Class time blends interactive lectures with guided, project‑based work, so you spend much of the week developing a concrete business idea of your own. By the end of the course, you will have produced a business plan proposal and delivered a final presentation of your concept, simulating how real entrepreneurs pitch ideas to stakeholders.
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (on-campus, residential)
Cost/Stipend: $5,500; need-based full and partial scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; small cohort of rising seniors
Application Deadline: January 8
Dates: June 7 – 17; June 21 – July 1
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students with a minimum 3.0 GPA, with preference given to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and strong encouragement for those from resource-limited households, first-generation backgrounds, or with limited exposure to business leadership opportunities
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy is a two-week program for high school students that introduces how businesses operate. The program follows an action-based learning approach, so you spend more time working through activities and projects than listening to lectures. You study topics such as finance, marketing, leadership, strategy, data analysis, financial modeling, and market research. A specialized option, the SBA Data-Driven Decision Lab, is available for rising high school seniors interested in quantitative analysis. Guided by Michigan Ross faculty, this intensive session focuses on data-driven decision-making in a real-world context, exploring how businesses use data to solve problems and make strategic choices while offering a closer look at the academic experience at Michigan Ross. The experience also includes professional development sessions and visits to local companies, where you can observe different industries and workplace settings more closely.
Location: University of Pennsylvania campus (residential), Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $11,899 (need-based financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Unspecified
Application Deadline: January 28 (priority); March 18 (final)
Dates: Session 1: June 7 – 27; Session 2: June 28 – July 18; Session 3: July 19 – August 8
Eligibility: Current high school juniors; minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA; demonstrated leadership experience
Leadership in the Business World is a three-week residential program at Wharton where you study core business concepts through group work, simulations, and case analysis. During the program, you collaborate with a team to evaluate companies using frameworks such as SWOT analysis, Porter’s Five Forces, and value chain analysis. These tools help you examine different aspects of business strategy in a structured way. The program includes lectures from faculty, guest talks from industry professionals, and smaller recitation sessions focused on applying what you learn. You also take part in a final case competition, where you present an analysis of a publicly traded company. At the end of the program, you receive a certificate of completion from Wharton Global Youth.
Location: University of Pennsylvania campus (residential), Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $8,299 (need-based financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Unspecified
Application Deadline: January 28 (priority); March 18 (final)
Dates: Session 1: June 7 – 19; Session 2: June 21 – July 3; Session 3: July 12 – 25; Session 4: July 26 – August 8
Eligibility: Current high school students in grades 9–11
Essentials of Entrepreneurship is a two-week residential program at Wharton that introduces you to the steps involved in starting a venture. You work in teams to take an idea from an early concept to a structured pitch, using approaches such as the Ikigai framework to connect it to market demand and your own interests. During the program, you conduct customer research, develop and test a minimum viable product, create prototypes, and think through branding elements. The curriculum includes lectures on topics like innovation, customer discovery, business models, A/B testing, and financing. You also attend sessions in the Wharton Global Youth Speaker Series, where faculty discuss current business topics. The program ends with a pitch presentation, where you share your startup idea with a panel and receive feedback.
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost: $7,095; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Unspecified
Application Deadline: March 15 (latest)
Dates: July 12 – 24
Eligibility: High school rising juniors and seniors
Experiential Entrepreneurship is a summer program designed to give you direct exposure to what it means to build a startup from an initial idea through to a final pitch. You will work in teams to develop a venture and present it to a panel of entrepreneurs at the end of the program. Throughout the experience, you will have access to industry professionals who will guide you in areas such as audience development, business planning, product development, negotiation, and pitch preparation. You will engage in activities that encourage both critical and creative thinking as you develop a go-to-market strategy for your idea, whether it is a commercial startup, a social enterprise, or a concept within an established business context. You will also focus on developing interpersonal skills. This includes learning how to communicate your ideas clearly and confidently, as well as practicing collaboration within a team setting. You will work through differences in perspective and gain experience in negotiation and conflict resolution.
Location: Rutgers Business School, Piscataway, NJ
Cost: $2,600 for the week and includes room & board, meals, and all field trips
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment
Application Deadline: Until slots are full
Dates: July 5 – 11; July 12 – 18; July 19 – 25
Eligibility: High school students
This one-week camp introduces high school students to business analytics, entrepreneurship, leadership, and related fields in a college-style environment taught by Rutgers University faculty. The program combines lectures with interactive learning, including group projects, case studies, and applied exercises that develop critical thinking and analytical skills. Students also engage with evolving curriculum content that reflects current developments in business analytics and related disciplines. A key component of the program is its hands-on, experiential structure, which includes team-based challenges, business proposal development, and a “Shark Tank”-style pitch competition. Students analyze target markets, value propositions, and business plans while working in groups supported by faculty, graduate students, and staff. The experience also includes field trips, guest speakers from industry, and opportunities to present final projects to peers, faculty, and family members. Emphasis is placed on networking, collaboration, and gaining early exposure to both college academics and real-world business environments.
Location: Haslam College of Business, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Not publicly available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Application Deadline: March 31
Dates: July 12 – 17
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors; self-identified female students interested in business and technology
Women Empowered Through Business (WEB) Institute is a six-day summer program designed to introduce you to the intersection of technology and business. As a rising high school junior, you will participate in workshops that expose you to topics such as coding, computer technology, entrepreneurship, personal branding, supply chain management, business analytics, and professional development. These sessions are taught by university faculty and staff, and you will also learn from women working in technology and business-related fields. During the program, you will engage with industry professionals, including women in technology and undergraduate students studying business information management, analytics, technology, and more. You will work with other students throughout the program, gaining experience collaborating in group settings and engaging with diverse perspectives.
Location: Wake Forest University Reynolda Campus, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: $3,500 (subject to change)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Unspecified
Application Deadline: Rolling until all programs are filled
Dates: June 7 – 12; June 14 – 19
Eligibility: Current 9th–12th grade students
This residential program at Wake Forest University introduces high school students to business analytics and related areas. You explore key topics such as finance, management, marketing, operations, and technology while developing practical skills and critical thinking. The program includes interactive case studies, workshops, and team projects, culminating in a final group presentation where you share your ideas. You work with Wake Forest faculty and industry professionals and have opportunities to connect with business leaders and visit local organizations. At the end of the program, you receive a Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion.
Location: Online
Cost: $3,115
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Application deadline: June 26
Program dates: July 6 – 23
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12, with a minimum 3.3 GPA
The BRIDGE course is offered through UC San Diego’s Research Scholars program, giving high school students the chance to engage in college-level research. In the course, you study the basics of business while exploring topics such as business innovation, entrepreneurship, and management. Learning takes place through lectures, case studies, and venture simulations. You examine areas such as venture financing, growth strategy, customer needs, business models, and business proposal development. Completing the course earns you 3 pre-college units.
Location: New England Innovation Academy, MA, or online
Cost: $12,995 (residential); $9,295 (day student)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Unspecified
Application Deadlines: February 13
Dates: July 8 – 28
Eligibility: Must be rising high school juniors or seniors who are at least 15 years old by the program start date and meet English proficiency requirements through a minimum TOEFL score of 90 (or equivalent on IELTS, Duolingo, or Cambridge exams), unless English is their native language or the language of instruction at their school
The Babson Summer Study for High School Students is a three-week program for rising juniors and seniors focused on entrepreneurship and innovation. Students take Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Experience, a four-credit college course that develops skills in identifying and addressing real-world business challenges through an entrepreneurial lens. The curriculum integrates key areas such as entrepreneurship, leadership, marketing, finance, and business communication to support venture creation. A central focus of the program is engaging with the United Nations Global Goals, as students work collaboratively with peers from around the world to explore social, economic, and environmental challenges framed by these goals. Through lectures, individual assignments, and group projects, participants build both independent thinking and teamwork skills while developing solutions to meaningful problems. The program takes place at NEIA, offering a structured environment to apply learning in real-world contexts.
Location: Online, delivered through Yale Summer Session (remote instruction).
Cost/Stipend: $5,480 tuition plus a $85 technology fee.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; described as a regular Yale‑style summer course with standard enrollment limits.
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – July 31
Eligibility: Open to pre‑college (high school) and college students who meet the prerequisite of ECON 1108, 1110, 1115, or AP Microeconomics with a score of 4 or 5
The Introduction to Macroeconomics course is a one‑semester‑equivalent, online summer class offered by Yale University that introduces students to the core concepts and models of macroeconomics. You study how economies function at the aggregate level, covering topics such as national income accounting, economic growth, inflation, unemployment, business cycles, fiscal and monetary policy, banking and finance, and economic crises, with added focus on the mechanics and aftermath of the recent financial crisis. Instruction is delivered by Marnix Amand, a senior lecturer in economics at Yale, through a combination of lectures, problem sets, and exams (midterm and final). The course assumes no advanced mathematical background but expects students to engage with basic algebra and graphical analysis to interpret economic relationships. The program is suited for students considering majors in economics, business, or public policy.
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.