15 Competitive Business Management Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 11 min read
Joining a structured program in high school is a smart way to explore your interests and gain early exposure to the professional world. These programs offer you exposure to advanced academic and professional environments and college-level coursework, along with skill-building opportunities in your field of choice. If your interests lie in the world of business and management, a solid program in the field can help you dive into core business functions and roles, explore how leaders operate, and explore what it takes to sustain and grow ventures. Many programs are quite selective and limited to highly motivated high schoolers, ensuring participants join a cohort of talented, driven peers.
Why should I participate in a competitive business management program in high school?
Joining competitive business management programs in high school gives you early exposure to real-world concepts like strategy, finance, and leadership, skills that apply to almost any career path. Such programs often involve rigorous coursework and practical learning opportunities, such as team-based challenges and case competitions, which can help you build confidence, communication, and problem-solving skills in real-world settings. Competitive programs look strong on college applications and can help you figure out whether business is a field you genuinely want to pursue before committing to it in college.
To help you find the right option, here we have put together 15 competitive business management programs for high school students. For this list, we prioritized programs that offer academic rigor, strong networking opportunities, full funding or substantial financial aid, selectivity, and affiliation with respected organizations.
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.
Program 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.
Lumiere’s Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research opportunity designed for high school students who want to explore an area and topic of interest in absolute detail. Over 12 weeks or more, you will work one-on-one with a Ph. D.-level mentor on a research project. You can choose research topics from a wide range of subjects, including business management. You will finalize a research question with support from your mentor and also work with a writing coach to present your findings. At the end of the program, you will have developed an independent research paper in business! You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: The City College of New York, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 29 – July 30
Application deadline: Typically March
Eligibility: High school girls and nonbinary students in grades 9–12 who live in the tri-state area
Run by the Zahn Innovation Center at CCNY and supported by Standard Chartered, Bossgirls is a free five-week summer business program focused on product innovation, market research, pricing strategy, and branding. As a participant, you will use human-centered design to identify community problems, pitch solutions, and develop viable business concepts in a team. You will get hands-on experience in key functions such as market research, competitor analysis, product pricing, product prototyping, and brand creation. You will also attend workshops on competitor analysis and storytelling, and you will have access to the mentorship of working entrepreneurs.
Classes move quickly, and you are expected to come prepared, contribute clear arguments, and participate thoughtfully, much like in a college seminar. Outside the classroom, you follow a structured residential schedule filled with organized activities and peer discussions. Living and learning on campus gives you a realistic sense of academic life at a top university while helping you build independence, confidence, and meaningful connections.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts; rolling admissions.
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program lets high school students experience university life firsthand. You will live on campus and study in small groups of 7-10, and learn from tutors from eminent top universities like Oxford and Cambridge.
Participants can explore a wide range of subjects, spanning over 20 options, including Architecture, AI, Business Management, Computer Science, Economics, Medicine, Philosophy, and more. The courses are experiential and focus on hands-on learning. You may find yourself conducting dissections in medicine, designing a robotic arm in engineering, participating in a moot court for law, or building creative writing portfolios and business case studies.
By the end of the program, you’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback, and receive a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Wharton San Francisco Campus, San Francisco, CA
Cost: $8,959 tuition + $100 non-refundable application fee; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 5 – 17 | July 19 – 31
Application deadline: March 18
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11
This two-week residential program at Wharton's San Francisco campus offers exposure to the Bay Area startup ecosystem, where you will learn how entrepreneurs turn ideas into high-growth ventures. Through Wharton-led instruction, team projects, and site visits to real startups, you will build practical skills in idea generation, market research, business model design, and startup pitching. You will also explore how AI tools can support your ideation, communication, and collaboration throughout the venture creation process. Each day combines lectures with small-group activities and guest speakers from the local startup world, giving you direct exposure to real entrepreneurs and tech leaders. At the end of the program, you and your team of peers will develop and deliver a full startup pitch applying what you have learned. You will receive a Wharton certificate of completion and a digital badge credential upon completing the program.
Location: Various sites across the U.S.
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 150 students annually
Dates: Eight-week summer program starting in May/June; exact dates vary by company
Application deadline: September – April; reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders planning to attend a four-year U.S. college or university, minimum 3.0 GPA, at least 18 years old, authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship
The Emma Bowden Foundation Fellows Program offers high school students the opportunity to gain hands-on exposure across various fields, including business management. If selected, you will spend your summer as an intern at a local organization. You will take up roles in marketing, human resources, sales, public relations, or other business-related areas, undergo on-the-job training in the chosen field, and build connections with peers and mentors. The program also offers professional development workshops and one-on-one coaching. You will typically work 35–40 hours/week for eight weeks during the internship.
Location: Columbia University’s Business School, New York, NY
Cost: $3,000 | $1,500 with partial scholarship | $750 with full scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 50 students
Dates: July 7 – 11
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 12, ages of 14 – 17, who are part of business/leadership clubs
This five-day camp allows you to explore different aspects of business through mock business negotiations, group panels, and activities that provide exposure to the role of an executive. In the process, you will learn how units like law, marketing, finance, tech, and operations work within an organization. The program also offers opportunities to network with professionals from marketing, HR, tech, finance, and accounting, explore career paths, and build confidence and leadership skills. Additionally, you will learn how to work within a team and present your ideas.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $11,899 + $100 non-refundable application fee; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 7 – 27 | June 28 – July 18 | July 19 – August 8
Application deadline: March 18
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher
Leadership in the Business is a three-week program at the University of Pennsylvania campus that introduces you to management, strategy, and how companies compete. You will learn about business leadership through lectures, group discussions, and practical activities led by Wharton faculty. You will work on a final team project, where you will study a real company, come up with business recommendations, and present your ideas to faculty and professionals. Throughout the program, you will take part in simulations, debates, and leadership workshops that help you improve your communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. You will also learn about simple business tools like SWOT analysis and Porter’s Five Forces, and use them in group projects. At the end, you will receive a Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion.
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
Cost: $400; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 21 – 26
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with a GPA of 3.2/4.0 or higher and demonstrated leadership through extracurricular, volunteer, or work experience
This one-week summer program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Gies College of Business introduces rising high school seniors to various business disciplines. During the week, you will live on campus and explore different areas of business through sessions with faculty, current students, and alumni. You will work in groups to tackle real business problems and learn about the college admissions process. On completing the program, you will receive a University of Illinois application fee waiver, and if you are later admitted to and enroll at Gies Business, you may qualify for a renewable scholarship of up to $5,000.
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $5,500 + $75 application fee; need-based full and partial scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~70 students/session
Dates: June 7 – 17 | June 21 – July 1
Application deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; priority given to first-generation and resource-limited students.
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy is a two-week program hosted by the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. It introduces high school students to business fundamentals through Ross’s action-based learning approach. During the program, you will explore areas such as finance, marketing, leadership, and strategy through faculty-led workshops, interactive simulations, and collaborative case studies. You will also work in teams to develop solutions to real business challenges, refining your quantitative reasoning, problem-solving, and communication skills. The academy includes professional development sessions and site visits to regional companies, offering you firsthand exposure to different industries and workplace settings.
Location: Virtual or Indiana University Kelley School of Business, Bloomington, IN
Cost: Free; program covers breakfast and lunch
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited seats
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year (November, April, May, June, July)
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors who identify as women with a minimum GPA of 3.5/4.0
This one-day, in-person program at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business introduces you to business as a field of study, offering a look at what college life at IU looks like. During the program, you will attend workshops led by Kelley faculty, interact with current students and alumni, and work on a real-world business case project. You will engage in activities with peers to build teamwork and communication skills. You will also explore different areas of business during the program.
Location: University of Kansas School of Business, Lawrence, KS
Cost: $50 participation fee; need-based waivers available; travel not covered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 19 – 24
Application deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders with 3.4+ GPA or ACT/GPA Business Index ≥ 5.55; priority for first-generation, Title I, and rural students
This six-day residential program at the University of Kansas School of Business offers high schoolers a taste of what college and business academics actually look like, while covering topics across business and management. During the week, you will attend academic sessions with KU faculty, participate in workshops, go on an industry tour with program sponsors, and hear from current students and alumni on panels. You will stay in a campus residence hall with other participants. The program also includes a campus tour and evening activities led by student mentors, offering you a glimpse into life at KU beyond the classroom.
Location: Various sites in Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid; varies by company
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Six weeks in the summer; exact dates vary
Application deadline: March 31 (applications open February 1)
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders living in Chicago, with a “B” or 3.0 average, and household income under $80,000/year
The Chicago Summer Business Institute offers paid six-week internships to high schoolers. Through these paid opportunities, you will gain firsthand exposure to business and financial sectors while earning a stipend. Your responsibilities can vary by placement, but may typically include assisting with team-specific tasks, attending meetings, and collaborating with various teams. As an intern, you will also attend workshops, group discussions, and seminars to build professional knowledge and skills. The host organization will provide you with mentorship, evaluate your work performance, and help you set career goals.
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, New York/Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Option 1: July 6 – August 7 | Option 2: July 13 – August 7
Application deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 to 11, ages 15 and up, who are living in New York City
This five-week NYU program offers high schoolers exposure to the intersection of STEM and entrepreneurship. Over four to five weeks, you will attend sessions led by NYU professors who will teach you how to use tech and engineering to create your own smart city solutions while building business skills. You will also gain experience in project management, presentation, communication, coding, using microcontrollers, deploying circuits, and integrating sensors. You will work within a team to create an app or device that uses smart technology to improve city life within an allocated budget. Additionally, you will learn how to pitch your ideas and develop a valuable product.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,099 + $100 non-refundable application fee; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15 – 26 | July 6 – 17
Application deadline: Priority: January 28; rolling thereafter
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
This online UPenn program is designed for high school students interested in building personal and business-focused leadership skills. The curriculum combines leadership theory with practice, allowing you to learn through business simulations, case studies, and a final industry leadership project while building communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. You will also explore different leadership styles, assess your strengths, and learn about emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, the Johari Window, and strategic decision-making. Additionally, you will assess case studies and participate in simulations focused on crisis management and negotiation. You will also learn how to share your insights with a large audience.
Location: Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado Boulder, CO
Cost: Free; $1,000 scholarship opportunity
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 10 – 12
Application deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors; priority for underrepresented, low-income, first-generation, or Colorado residents
Hosted by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business, the Women in Business Case is a three-day competition that challenges you to analyze and present solutions to business issues through the lens of gender equity. You will work in a team, applying core concepts in management, leadership, strategy, and communication to a business case. The program can help you develop critical thinking, collaboration, and persuasive presentation skills as you work on your challenge. You will also connect with corporate partners, faculty, and peers through workshops and on-campus activities. Winners get a $1,000 scholarship to Leeds.
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 in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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