11 Best Business Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 1 hour ago
- 8 min read
Exploring business programs for middle school students is one of the most effective ways to gain early exposure to college-level academics, practical skills, and real-world industry insight. These programs bridge the gap between classroom learning and applied experience, offering hands-on projects, mentorship, and opportunities to collaborate with peers who share similar ambitions. They also provide a first taste of campus life and access to valuable connections that can guide your academic and career path later on, all without being a prohibitively expensive option for families seeking enrichment.
For students curious about entrepreneurship, finance, or management, an online summer program can be an excellent starting point. Virtual programs open doors to prestigious institutions and global instructors, often blending rigorous coursework with interactive, real-world business challenges. In narrowing down this list of the best business programs for middle school students, we focused on key factors: competitive selection or low acceptance rates, strong networking opportunities, structured mentorship, and backing by respected universities or organizations. Here’s a curated selection of programs that balance challenge with opportunity, giving you a meaningful head start in the world of business while making every week count.
11 Best Business Programs for Middle School Students
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies, financial aid available
Program dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: August 24 (Fall Cohort deadline, multiple cohorts running year-round)
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an online mentorship-based research experience tailored for middle school students who want to create an academic project in a field they’re passionate about. You’ll work closely with a mentor from universities like MIT, Harvard, or Stanford, who supports you throughout the research and project development process.
Throughout the program, you learn to conduct independent investigations, think critically, and complete a final project that reflects your area of interest. The program balances academic challenge with scheduling flexibility, featuring multiple application rounds during the year. Need-based scholarships are available, encouraging students from diverse backgrounds to participate.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective. Exact cohort size is not published
Location: Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, CA.
Cost: $3,640 (California residents); $4,160 (out-of-state)
Dates: June 9 – June 20 (two-week commuting program; no session on June 19 due to holiday)
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising 6th–8th grade students who demonstrate maturity, academic motivation, and an interest in business.
The B-BAY Middle School Entrepreneurship Program introduces you to the fundamentals of business and entrepreneurship through a two-week, hands-on experience at UC Berkeley. Guided by Haas professors, PhD candidates, and real-world entrepreneurs, you’ll learn finance, marketing, and accounting while developing leadership and teamwork skills. One of the program’s highlights is creating, running, and closing down your own business within the two-week session, giving you a complete entrepreneurial lifecycle experience. Guest speakers from the corporate world provide insights into real business challenges, and you’ll use essential business software as part of your projects. The program concludes with a showcase where you present your business, reinforcing communication and presentation skills critical for future success.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies, financial aid available
Program dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines
Financial assistance: Need-based financial aid is available
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Students learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous projects done by students have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective. Exact cohort size is not published.
Location: University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco, CA.
Cost: $2,895 (Residential); $2,495 (Commuter). Scholarships are available; NSLC awards over $500,000 in aid annually.
Dates: July 14 – July 19; July 23 – July 28 (6-day sessions).
Application Deadline: Rolling admission until sessions are filled. Applications generally close by mid to late March, depending on session popularity and enrollment limits
Eligibility: Open to rising 6th–8th-grade students interested in exploring business and leadership.
The NSLC Middle School Summer Business Program introduces you to the world of business through engaging, hands-on workshops in ideation, marketing, and pricing strategy. You’ll participate in active simulations that mirror real-world product development and learn how companies bring new ideas to market. Beyond classroom sessions, the program integrates a leadership curriculum covering communication, goal-setting, and team collaboration, helping you build skills applicable across academics and future careers. Campus life at UC Berkeley and off-campus trips to museums and landmarks add to the immersive experience, blending business education with cultural exploration.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open-enrollment program; space is limited
Location: UC San Diego, San Diego, CA
Cost: $275
Dates: July 7 – July 11 (1-week in-person program)
Application Deadline: Enrollment closes when capacity is reached; early registration is recommended
Eligibility: Rising 6th–8th grade students interested in entrepreneurship and creative problem solving.
This one-week summer program at UC San Diego guides you through the full entrepreneurial cycle, from brainstorming ideas to launching a mini-business. You’ll learn how to craft a business plan, conduct customer research, and understand key concepts like budgeting and marketing strategy. The program emphasizes creativity and critical thinking while fostering teamwork and leadership. By the end of the session, you’ll present a working business concept in a mini-showcase, gaining early experience in pitching and real-world application. Its accessible cost and project-based learning approach make it a strong option for middle school students eager to explore business fundamentals in a university setting.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective. Exact cohort size not publicly available.
Location: Bay Area, CA (various locations in partnership with the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center).
Cost: Varies by program (many programs are low-cost or subsidized through grants and donations)
Dates: Seasonal cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed per session; early application is recommended as spots fill quickly.
Eligibility: Girls ages 8–18; middle school students (grades 6–8) are the core audience.
Girls Crushing It offers entrepreneurship programs designed to build leadership and business skills for young girls during a critical confidence-building age. You’ll learn how to develop, launch, and manage a small business, with hands-on experiences like pop-up markets to showcase and sell your products. The curriculum integrates core business fundamentals with soft skills such as public speaking, financial literacy, and problem-solving. With more than half of the participants from historically underrepresented groups, the program also emphasizes economic empowerment and inclusivity. Guided by mentors and supported by strategic partnerships like the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, you’ll gain early exposure to entrepreneurship in a supportive, real-world setting.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective; class sizes are kept small to ensure hands-on learning
Location: Offered through partner schools and community organizations across the U.S. (in-person and hybrid options available).
Cost: Varies by school or district; many programs are grant-funded and free to participating students.
Dates: Semester-long course (typically runs for 12–16 weeks during the academic year; some summer sessions available)
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by partner school or community site; early enrollment is recommended.
Eligibility: Designed for middle school students (grades 6–8) with an interest in entrepreneurship and business fundamentals.
Project ECHO’s Middle School C.E.O. program is a semester-long, project-based introduction to entrepreneurship tailored for middle schoolers. You’ll brainstorm, plan, and launch a real-world business concept in a collaborative team environment, learning essential skills like market research, budgeting, marketing, and product development. The curriculum emphasizes creativity, leadership, and problem-solving while linking classroom learning to solving tangible community problems. With its experiential approach and focus on developing an entrepreneurial mindset early, it’s a good program for building confidence and business acumen in a supportive, age-appropriate environment.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohorts to ensure mentorship and hands-on experience.
Location: Loveworks Leadership, Norman, OK
Cost: Free to low-cost depending on community funding; scholarships and sponsorships available
Dates: After-school program runs during the academic year; select summer intensives are offered
Application Deadline: Rolling admission; early registration recommended due to limited spots
Eligibility: Open to middle school students (grades 6–8) interested in leadership, entrepreneurship, and personal growth
Loveworks Leadership is an after-school program designed to develop middle school students into confident leaders with entrepreneurial skills. You’ll explore business fundamentals through hands-on projects, including launching student-led ventures like Wristworld, a nationally recognized augmented reality business created by participants. The curriculum combines leadership training, personal character development, and practical business experience, with a strong focus on mentorship and community involvement. By emphasizing real-world application and personal identity development, Loveworks helps students unlock their potential and prepares them for future academic and career success.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open to participating schools and community organizations; small group sizes for hands-on learning.
Location: Available nationwide in the U.S. (classroom, afterschool, and virtual formats).
Cost: Free to students; funded through Junior Achievement and community partners
Dates: Flexible; typically delivered as six 45-minute sessions during the school year or as part of a summer program.
Application Deadline: Enrollment is coordinated through local JA chapters; deadlines vary by region.
Eligibility: Designed for middle school students (grades 6–8).
JA It’s My Business!® is a hands-on entrepreneurship program that takes you through the process of turning an idea into a real business concept. You’ll explore design thinking, conduct market research, build a prototype, and prepare a product pitch for potential funders. The volunteer-led sessions emphasize teamwork, innovation, and problem-solving while aligning with national and state education standards. The program culminates in a pitch competition, giving you an authentic experience in presenting and selling your idea to others. Offered nationwide through Junior Achievement, it provides a widely accessible introduction to business fundamentals in a structured, age-appropriate format.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohort; maximum 6 students per class for personalized instruction.
Location: Online (live, synchronous classes)
Cost: $2,995
Dates: June 9 – June 20
Application Deadline: Rolling admission until seats are filled; early application advised due to limited class size
Eligibility: Designed for students ages 12–14 interested in business, economics, and entrepreneurship.
Discover Business Academy is a two-week online course introducing middle schoolers to the foundations of business and economics. With live, interactive classes and two one-on-one tutorials, you’ll explore topics such as branding, marketing, finance, macroeconomics, and leadership. The program includes a Business Start-up Challenge, allowing you to apply what you learn in a practical project. Class sizes are capped at six students, providing a highly personalized experience and direct mentorship from a world-class instructor. Participants receive a course completion certificate, take-home study resources, and a letter of recommendation upon satisfactory participation, making it a rigorous and credentialed option for early business education.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open-enrollment; small group sessions for mentorship.
Location: Online (virtual, live camp)
Cost: Varies by session; typically around $300–$400 per week
Dates: Weeklong sessions offered throughout the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling; spots fill quickly due to limited session sizes
Eligibility: Open to students ages 9–14 interested in entrepreneurship and hands-on business experience.
Moolah U’s Online Kid Business Camp is a one-week virtual program where you’ll brainstorm, plan, and launch a real business right from your home. You’ll create an actual product or service, bring it to market in your neighborhood or online, and make real revenue by the end of the week. The program blends mentorship from startup founders with practical financial education and daily workshops in marketing, planning, and pitching. You’ll finish camp not just with a business plan but with a fully launched venture, early income, and hands-on entrepreneurial experience. It’s designed to make business education tangible and fun while teaching critical life skills like problem-solving, resilience, and confident communication.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. 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.
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