10 Best Online Business Programs for Middle School Students

If you are a middle schooler with the dream of starting your own business venture and becoming an entrepreneur, pursuing a business program might be a suitable option for you. Such programs typically take you through the entire process of starting a business, from ideation to launch. In some programs, you may also develop your own business plan. You may also get the opportunity to interact with and learn from entrepreneurs.

Online programs enable you to learn about business from the comfort of your home by providing flexibility. To help you in your search for such programs, we have compiled a list for you.

10 Best Online Business Programs for Middle School Students

1. Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program

Location: Virtual

Cost: Varies, financial aid available

Acceptance rate or cohort size: Highly selective

Dates: Eight weeks, varies by cohort

Application deadline: Varies by cohort

Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8

Academically inclined students who wish to pursue business research can opt for Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program. In this program, you will be paired with a PhD mentor from a reputed college who supports you throughout the research program. As you conduct research, you not only learn how to interpret academic texts, analyze data, present results, and so on but also expand your knowledge of the subject. You can opt for any academic subject of your choice or build your own, including one related to business. By the end of the program, you will have a complete research project. Lumiere also offers a Junior Research and Publication Program for students who wish to publish their research in academic journals.

2. Johns Hopkins CTY’s Economic Chaos: Understanding Volatile Markets

Location: Online

Cost: $1,365

Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified

Dates: January 28 to March 11 or March 25 to May 6

Application deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: Students in grades 7 to 11 with CTY-level math

The Economic Chaos: Understanding Volatile Markets program by Johns Hopkins CTY is a way for you to learn about the economic system that affects businesses. It adopts an individual financial perspective to understand global events. This course involves mathematics. You will learn about financial issues as well as how businesses can make sound investment decisions to minimize tax liability and increase dividends. The program also delves into personal finance topics that allow people to diversify their portfolio and minimize risk.

3. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers

Location: Virtual

Cost: Varies; financial aid available

Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified

Dates: Spring cohort runs 25 hours over 10 weekends. Summer cohort runs 25 hours over 2 weeks on weekdays.

Application deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8

A program that combines business with technology may be a good option for students looking for interdisciplinary options. For that, you can consider Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program. The program provides foundational knowledge about the basics of AI and machine learning. You will encounter topics such as Python, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. After the theoretical component, you will complete a practical project where you will apply your learnings to a business issue. The project must provide a technological solution to a real-world business problem. In the past, students have built a machine-learning model to classify music genres and a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.

4. Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA)

Location: Online

Cost or stipend: None

Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified

Dates: Self paced

Application deadline: Open enrollment

Eligibility: Students aged 10 to 16

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy is a 20-part learning series for middle schoolers interested in business. You will receive practical business tips that equip you with the skills needed to start your own venture. Viewing entrepreneur interviews and access to resources enables you to develop your own business plan and financial literacy. Towards the end of the program, you will have the opportunity to pitch your business to YEA Dragons and receive investments. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate.

5. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth Middle School After School

Location: Online

Cost: $1,895

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective

Dates: February 1 to April 15

Application deadline: December 20

Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8

This after-school online program is for you to discover business and entrepreneurship. You will learn the fundamentals of business in a virtual classroom setting. Working on group projects, you will not only gain practical experience but also develop collaboration skills. Each year, the program has a specific theme. In the upcoming year, the program will focus on artificial intelligence. Through the Business Model framework, you will learn to develop a business model, whereas practicing presentations equips you with communication skills.

6. Northwestern CTD’s Market Research: Customers, Competitors, and Your Brand

Location: Online

Cost: $575, financial aid available

Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified

Dates: April 8 to May 27

Application deadline: To be announced

Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8 who meet the Emerald Tier eligibility criteria specified here

To begin any business, you must understand the market you are selling in. This program on market research helps you learn about your customers, competitors and brand. You will learn the various methods to conduct market research, brand your product or service, and conduct competitor analysis. This program enables you to examine consumer behavior and economic trends to maximize business growth. This is a flexible course that you can complete as per your schedule, but you must expect 2 – 5 hours of coursework every week.

7. Moolah U’s Online Kid Business Camp

Location: Online

Cost: $425 per week

Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified

Dates: Several one-week sessions in the summer

Application deadline: To be announced

Eligibility: Students aged 8 to 16

Moolah U’s Online Kid Business Camp offers you the opportunity to build your first business. Instead of simply drafting business plans for fictional companies, you will launch a business that makes money. The program imparts financial knowledge and helps you convert your idea into an actionable plan. Meeting entrepreneurs provides insights into business and helps you build confidence. At the end of the program, you will present your plan to a panel. 

8. EXPLO 360°

Location: Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA

Cost: $6,295 overnight or $4,045 day, financial aid possible

Dates: Session 1: June 28 to July 11 overnight, June 29 to July 10 day | Session 2: July 12 to 25 overnight, July 13 to 24 day

Application deadline: To be announced

Eligibility: Rising 7th to 9th graders

EXPLO 360° gives you a taste of various subjects based on your interests. You can pick and choose 2 workshops and 2 electives that expand your knowledge. Workshops are project-based experiences, and electives are skills based. Students interested in business can opt for the Business + Investments, Business Negotiations, Entrepreneurship, and other tracks. Each course provides hands-on experience alongside theoretical knowledge. The Entrepreneurship track helps you develop a business plan while building leadership skills.

9. Discover Business Academy

Location: Online

Cost: 2,995 dollars

Acceptance rate or cohort size: 6 per class

Dates: June 22 to July 3

Application deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: Middle school students aged 12 to 14

Discover Business Academy is a 2-week course to help you learn the basics of business and economics. Some of the topics covered during the program are Introduction to Business, How Businesses Compete, Branding and Marketing, Business Start-up Challenge, and more. The 10th class is a capstone challenge. You will be part of small classes to ensure personalized and focused learning. Alongside recordings of the classes, you will take back study exercises and resources. At the end of the program, you receive a letter of recommendation from your tutor and a completion certificate.

10. Prequel Explore

Location: Online

Cost: $2,975, financial aid available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified

Dates: 8 months

Application deadline: To be announced

Eligibility: Students ages 9 to 13

Prequel Explore is a program for you to explore your passions and gain practical skills applicable in different fields. You will prepare for a future in the career you want. To cultivate your interest in business, you will complete a real-world project. Personalized coaching and feedback guide you throughout the program. The program allows you to collaborate with peers and mentors from diverse backgrounds.

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. 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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