14 Business Management Programs for High School Students in Boston
- Stephen Turban
- May 14
- 9 min read
If you’re a high school student interested in business management, joining a structured program can help you understand how leadership, strategy, and organizational decision-making actually work in practice. Instead of only learning business concepts in theory, you may analyze case studies, develop mock ventures, work in teams to solve management challenges, or explore how companies approach growth and operations. These programs often emphasize skills that are useful whether you pursue business, economics, public policy, or another field.
Why should I do a business program in Boston?
Boston is a strong location for exploring business management because of its concentration of universities, startups, consulting firms, and established corporations. Many in-person programs are hosted on university campuses or through reputable organizations, offering access to faculty, industry speakers, and motivated peers.
Here are 14 business management programs for high school students in Boston. Some are selective or fully funded, making them both rigorous and accessible.
Location: Boston, MA
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: May 13 (application); May 30 (all documents submitted)
Dates: July 7 – August 22; Orientation on July 1
Eligibility: Students aged 14–18 enrolled in Boston Public Schools or residents of Boston
The Summer Learning Institute is a summer program open to students ages 14–18 who attend Boston Public Schools or live in Boston. Through the program, you take part in job placements with local community organizations, where you gain hands-on work experience in a structured setting. You can also enroll in dual enrollment courses that offer college credit through partnerships with Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology and Roxbury Community College. Academic coursework is combined with practical learning to help you see how classroom concepts apply beyond school. The program also includes workshops and civic engagement activities that focus on building leadership, communication, and everyday life skills.
Location: Remote, you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a structured research experience designed for high school students who want to explore academic research in depth. In this program, you work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor on an independent research project over the course of 12 weeks. The focus is on guiding you through the research process, from refining a question and reviewing existing literature to analyzing results and presenting your findings in written form. By the end of the program, you produce a completed research paper that reflects your work and understanding of the topic. You can choose a research area that aligns with your interests, including fields such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, or international relations. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Local nonprofits in Boston (or other eligible cities) and Washington, DC, for the summit
Cost: Paid internship with all summit expenses covered
Application Deadline: January 15
Dates: 8-week internship, including a week in DC for the Student Leaders Summit
Eligibility: Current high school junior or senior who is legally authorized to work in the U.S.
The Bank of America Student Leaders® program is an eight-week paid internship for high school juniors and seniors interested in community involvement and leadership. In the program, you work full-time at a local nonprofit organization, where you gain practical experience in a professional environment and contribute to community-focused projects. Alongside the internship, the program includes a fully funded, week-long national summit in Washington, DC. During the summit, you meet other students from across the country and take part in discussions and workshops centered on leadership and civic engagement. The experience combines workplace learning with structured reflection on community issues.
4. Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Pathway — Business Management/Boston track
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions.
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 13–18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. Participants work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4–10 students. They attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with their tutor. The program includes practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, robotic arm building in engineering, or moot courts for law. Students can choose from over 20 subjects, including architecture, artificial intelligence, business management, computer science, economics, medicine, philosophy, and more. By the end of the program, they complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Suffolk University, Boston, MA
Cost: Fully funded
Application Deadline: March 13
Dates: July 7 – 24
Eligibility: High school rising juniors/seniors with a GPA of 2.7 or higher
In this program, you work through the process of developing a business idea, from initial concept to a structured pitch. You collaborate in small teams to study topics such as entrepreneurship, marketing, and management, with instruction and feedback from Suffolk faculty. The curriculum emphasizes applying ideas through group work and discussion rather than only lectures. You also take part in visits to companies in the Boston area to better understand how local startups and businesses operate. Toward the end of the program, you prepare and present a business plan to an audience.
Location: Various locations nationwide, including Quincy, MA (about 30 minutes from Boston)
Cost: Free (paid internship)
Application Deadline: Varies; internships start in June
Dates: Summer internships, typically starting in June, duration varies by location
Eligibility: Students aged 16 to 18 currently in high school
CLA’s High School Internship Program offers paid summer internships that allow you to explore fields such as accounting, business, and professional services. During the program, you work on structured projects, observe how client work is managed, and practice skills commonly used in professional offices. The experience is designed to help you better understand different career options and how your interests and strengths may align with them. You receive guidance and feedback from professionals who support your learning throughout the internship. The program also emphasizes networking and career exploration for students considering business- or accounting-related paths.
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost: $7,095; financial aid available
Application Deadline: March 15 (latest)
Dates: July 12 – 24
Eligibility: High school rising juniors and seniors
In this program, you work through the stages of creating and evaluating a business venture. You acquire essential entrepreneurship skills via workshops and mentorship, while working with other students on a common startup project. The structure centers on applied learning, with time spent developing, testing, and revising a product or service. You are encouraged to assess feedback and make adjustments as the project evolves. At the conclusion of the program, you present your business concept in a pitch that reflects your work and learning throughout the experience.
Location: Get Girls Going, Boston/Worcester area, MA (on college campus)
Stipend: $15/hour
Application Deadline: 6 weeks; typically in the summer
Dates: Not specified
Eligibility: Black/brown high school girls (Grades 10–12) in the Boston/Worcester area
In this program, you participate in a six-week summer incubator on a college campus. You attend entrepreneurship courses that focus on applying business concepts to real-world situations. The program includes workshops that examine racial and gender challenges faced by Black women and provide space to discuss strategies for addressing them. Alongside coursework, you receive training and guidance designed to support entrepreneurship as a tool for community impact. Sessions cover topics such as professional development, self-identity, collaborative problem-solving, and introductory business principles.
Location: Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $2,400 (includes learning materials and catered lunches)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates: Twelve alternating Saturdays from October through May, 10 AM-3 PM
Eligibility: 9th-12th grade students interested in entrepreneurship, STEM, or business
In this program, you create a real startup with a team by leveraging modern skills, tools, customer feedback, iteration, and lightweight business models. You gain insights directly from startup founders and industry experts, and a dedicated mentor supports and coaches your team. You also attend professional development workshops on networking, professional writing, interviewing techniques, and LinkedIn. Additionally, you compete for seed funding, pitch to entrepreneurs at the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), and have the chance to represent Boston at the TYE Global Competition.
Location: CATS Academy Boston, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $4,460 (includes tuition, single en-suite accommodation, meals)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: June 28 – July 11 | July 12 – 25
Eligibility: Ages 14–17 (intermediate to advanced English)
This program combines lectures, workshops, and project-based lessons on business management, marketing, and project management. It includes case studies, guest speakers, and visits to local businesses for projects related to product design, company creation, and investment pitches. Participants develop leadership and communication skills through entrepreneurship, innovation, and resilience training. Class activities include the Marshmallow Spaghetti Challenge, role-playing games, and SWOT analysis. Excursions feature a Boston Harbor boat trip, Harvard and MIT tours, and visits to historical sites.
Location: Boston, MA (placements at local businesses, public agencies, and nonprofits)
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; wages vary by placement
Application Deadline: Usually in spring; varies by employer and organization
Dates: Typically early July to mid-August
Eligibility: Boston Public Schools students; some positions may require a minimum age or grade level
The PIC Summer Internship Program places Boston Public Schools students in paid internships and job opportunities throughout the city. Through partnerships with a wide range of private-sector companies, community organizations, and city agencies, you can explore fields such as business, finance, technology, healthcare, law, and architecture. During the internship, you develop workplace skills, gain experience in a professional setting, and earn income. The program is designed to help you explore various career options through practical work. Support is available via collaboration among the City of Boston, Boston Public Schools, and PIC, ensuring you receive guidance and resources throughout the process.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,985; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Varies yearly
Dates: July 13 – 24
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores to seniors
This online program introduces essential principles of business and entrepreneurship. You will explore how organizations function across management, finance, and marketing. Through assignments and class discussions, you'll connect these concepts to real-world examples and current events. Topics covered include economics, management, globalization, marketing, finance, accounting, operations, and business careers, with a dedicated unit on entrepreneurship and startups. By the end, you'll gain a clearer understanding of how businesses operate and make decisions in a global economy.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,500
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March
Dates: Typically held in June; exact dates vary annually
Eligibility: Current high school juniors
The LEADing for Life Global Summer Learning Institute is a three-week virtual program offered through university partners such as the Kellogg School of Management, Harvard, NYU Schack, and MIT’s Center for Real Estate. In this program, current high school juniors explore the basics of leadership, entrepreneurship, and engineering across three focus areas: Business & Entrepreneurship, Engineering, and Commercial Real Estate & Urban Development. You participate in live lectures, work through case studies, join collaborative masterclasses, and prepare a final pitch presentation to apply what you’ve learned. The structure emphasizes practical learning and exposure to real-world challenges in each subject area.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $529 (early application discount); $679 (regular tuition)
Application Deadline: February 8
Dates: Entrepreneurship: June 1 – 5, June 29 – July 3 | Management & Strategy: July 20 – 24, August 3 – 7
Eligibility: High school students
In the Entrepreneurship academy, you create an innovative startup idea and adapt it to the current market. You advance financial literacy and analytical skills through market and customer research. You learn components of a business plan and create one. You conduct a SWOT analysis and assess product-market fit. You craft elevator pitches to mock investors. You review a business school case study and implement its insights into your own business. In the Management & Strategy Academy, you tackle corporate issues such as declining profits or limited market penetration of new products. You serve as consultants, analyzing business data to develop solutions. Your work includes studying mergers, acquisitions, pricing strategies, income statements, and balance sheets.
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.
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