14 Leadership Programs for High School Students in NYC
- Stephen Turban
- Apr 28
- 10 min read
If you’re thinking about exploring leadership, starting a business of your own, or just want to build skills that actually matter, a leadership program for high schoolers is a great place to start. You get to work on real projects, meet professionals, and figure out how industries work without spending a ton on a college course. Leadership programs help you with teamwork, communication, and decision-making, which are useful no matter what career you choose.
NYC is home to a bunch of opportunities that you can apply to, and in this blog, we’ve put together a list of 14 top leadership programs for high school students in New York City!
When we say leadership programs in New York City, we’re talking about programs that are hosted in the city or ones that NYC students can apply to! Some are all about outdoor challenges, some focus on business and entrepreneurship, while others explore policy, social impact, or tech. If you’re into business, startups, or management, these programs give you a chance to see how decisions are made, how teams work, and how leaders think. It’s a solid way to test your skills and meet people who can help you down the road.
To help you explore the best options, 14 Leadership Programs for High School Students in NYC
Cost: $2,900. Financial aid available!
Location: Virtual with live interactive workshops
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. The Summer Regular Admission 1 application deadline is April 13!
Program Dates: Varies by cohort.
Eligibility: High school students Grades 9–12
The Young Founder's Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs that enables high school students in NYC to build skills in business leadership by working on a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem of their own! You will be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X and a demo day at the end of the program allows you to pitch your idea to potential investors and industry experts.
A core part of the program is participation in live, interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, and panel discussions, exploring multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
Cost: Free with a stipend
Location: Internship locations vary
Application Deadline: January 15
Program Dates: Internship dates vary by market (8 weeks, inclusive of the week spent at the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, DC.)
Eligibility: High school juniors/seniors who are permanent residents of select NY regions (find them here), can work in the U.S. through September, commit to a 35-hour/week, 8-week nonprofit internship, and attend a D.C. summit in July. Not for Bank of America employees or their families. Check other requirements here!
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program is a paid internship for high school students in NYC who want to build leadership skills while working at a nonprofit. You will gain hands-on experience in communication, problem-solving, and teamwork by contributing to community service projects.
At the end of the internship, you will attend an all-expenses-paid Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., where you will network with other student leaders, meet Bank of America executives and government officials, and explore key landmarks. The program also includes career workshops and college admissions guidance to help you plan your next steps.
Cost: Free with a stipend on completion
Location: Various in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Newark
Application Deadline: Priority deadline for summer cohort- March 24. Final deadline: April 14
Program Dates: 6 weeks, starting with a Nasher & Family orientation on June 28 for the summer cohort
Eligibility: Young women and gender-expansive youth who are enrolled in 9th - 12th grades in New York City and Newark high schools
The Sadie Nash Leadership Project is a six-week summer program for young women and gender-expansive youth to explore leadership, identity, and social change. You will take elective classes on topics like social justice, activism, and gender while working on projects that connect to your interests.
The program includes field trips to college campuses and museums, opportunities to meet activists, and chances to build connections with peers. Past trips have included the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the Brooklyn Museum. You’ll receive a stipend upon completing the program.
Cost: Free
Location: Zahn Innovation Center, The City College of New York, Convent Avenue, New York, NY
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: June 30 – July 31
Eligibility: Current high school girls and non-binary students (9th - 12th graders), including students currently in 12th grade and will be out of high school this summer, residents of the tri-state region who can commute to the CCNY campus
The Boss Girls Summer Program is an entrepreneurship boot camp for high school girls and non-binary students, hosted by the Zahn Innovation Center at The City College of New York (CCNY). Sponsored by Standard Chartered’s Futuremakers initiative, this program gives you hands-on experience in building a business from the ground up.
You will explore different aspects of entrepreneurship, including problem-solving, market analysis, marketing strategies, financial planning, and pitching ideas to investors. You will also visit businesses across NYC to see how companies operate in real life. Past field trips have included touring Harlem’s small businesses and visiting Mastercard’s office to learn about AI in finance. Throughout the program, you will work in teams to develop a startup idea, create a brand, and present your pitch at a final showcase. You will also attend sessions with founders and small business leaders to learn directly from their experiences.
Cost: Free with full scholarship available (snacks and lunch expenses not included)
Location: Tandon School of Engineering, NYU, Brooklyn, NY
Application Deadline: April 14
Program Dates: July 1 - August 2
Eligibility: 8th – 10th-grade high school students residing in NYC with a strong academic record and demonstrated interest in STEM.
Hosted by NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering, the ieSoSC program combines business, engineering, and research to help you develop STEM skills and design solutions for smart city challenges. You will build prototypes, learn entrepreneurship basics, and develop leadership skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork.
The program includes on-campus activities at NYU, field trips to local sites, and College 101 workshops for college admissions guidance. Working with a team and an assigned budget, you will create a device or app to address a smart city challenge. Before the final week, you will receive public speaking training with Irondale Theater and pitch your idea in a public presentation.
Cost: $300 for Early Spring I application deadline enrollment with need-based financial aid available
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Vary as per weekend and week-long sessions
Program Dates: June to August, dates vary for Business: Entrepreneurship & Business: Management & Strategy. You can confirm the dates here
Eligibility: Must be enrolling in grades 9-12 in the fall or must be 14+ at the time of attendance
These Harvard Virtual Academies boot camps introduce you to business through lectures by Harvard students, case studies, and hands-on projects. In the Entrepreneurship Academy, you will learn how to start a business, create a business plan, conduct a SWOT analysis, and pitch your idea to mock investors.
In the Management and Strategy Academy, you will explore how companies operate by analyzing real Harvard Student Agency case studies. You will work with business data, study mergers and acquisitions, and develop pricing strategies to solve corporate challenges.
Cost: Residential: $1,939, Commuter: $1,358 with need-based discounts available
Location: Fordham University, Rose Hill Campus, Bronx, NY
Application Deadline: Course and housing - April 15; Course only - May 15. Need-based discounts available if you apply by April 1
Program Dates: June 23 – 27 (5 days)
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their first year, recommended for those with a GPA of 3.0 or over
The Lead Like Ignatius: Civic Service & Public Speaking program is a 5-day leadership program in NYC for high school students. It covers leadership styles, civic service, and public speaking through the Jesuit educational tradition.
You’ll meet professionals, develop ethical leadership skills, practice argumentative defenses, and apply the Ignatian model (context, experience, reflection, action, evaluation). By the end, you’ll gain public speaking skills, civic engagement experience, and self-awareness as a reflective leader.
Cost: $5,935 (day students), $7,265 (residential). $500 discount for multiple terms. $50 non-refundable application fee. Need-based aid and scholarships are available.
Location: New York, NY, Residency at Fordham University's Lincoln Center campus
Application Deadline: March 26
Program Dates: Term 1: June 8 – 20, Term 2: June 22 – July 4, Term 3: July 6 –18, Term 4: July 20 – Aug 1
Eligibility: High school students in Grades 10 -12 and graduating seniors, 15 -18 years old on the first day of the program.
At The School of The New York Times Summer Academy, you can take courses in finance, entrepreneurship, sports, politics, multimedia, and more. Classes are small, so you get individual attention and hands-on learning with professionals from The New York Times and other industries.
You will visit different places and communities in NYC, gaining real-world experience while building communication skills, confidence in interviewing, and other key skills. Some courses also include visits to local universities as part of the curriculum.
Cost: $4,395 with scholarships available based on merit, financial need, and community involvement
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Application Deadline: March 12 for the summer cohort, with an extended date if seats are available or on a program's waitlist
Program Dates: Vary as per course (9 days in July for the summer cohort)
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in 9th-12th grades, completed at least one year of high school, and must be between the ages of 14-18
The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) offers eight summer leadership programs in NYC for high school students. You can explore Business & Entrepreneurship, Fashion Management & Design, Forensic Science, Graphic Design, Interior Design, International Business & Finance, Sports Management, and Theater.
Each program includes hands-on workshops, field trips, and leadership training. You will improve communication, decision-making, and teamwork skills while working with peers and industry professionals. The experience can also help you build strong college applications and prepare for job interviews.
Cost: $695 for food and activities (tuition and Board are free)
Location: Mercy University Westchester Campus, Dobbs Ferry, NY
Application Deadline: Rolling dates as per session
Program Dates: July 6 - July 12, July 13 - July 19, July 20 - July 26
Eligibility: High School Juniors (rising seniors) with cumulative, weighted GPA above 90, keen to pursue a business career, demonstrated leadership in extracurricular activities
The Mercy University School of Business Leadership Summer Academy is for rising seniors interested in business. You will take classes on business planning, marketing, and analytics, with a faculty mentor guiding you. Alumni and Business Honors students act as Student Ambassadors, sharing insights and leading hands-on activities.
You will visit Fortune 500 companies like Bloomberg and the United Nations, meet industry professionals, and explore different business sectors. You may also work in a team to pitch a new business idea in a Shark Tank-style competition for a chance to win prizes.
Cost: $625 with need-based scholarships available
Location: United States Military Academy, West Point, NY
Application Deadline: Priority deadline - March 15, Final application deadline - April 15
Program Dates: May 31 to June 6, June 7 to June 13
Eligibility: A high school junior (current year), U.S. citizen, age 16 by July 1 of the summer between junior and senior years, no serious medical issues, a strong academic background, participates in team sports and other extracurricular activities
The West Point Summer Leaders Experience (SLE) is for high school students interested in leadership and military training. You will take part in team-building athletic activities, work on academic and co-curricular challenges, and explore West Point’s campus and facilities. You will train with current West Point cadets, learn about military leadership, and prepare for the Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) with guidance from coaches. The program gives you a firsthand look at what it takes to be a cadet at West Point.
Cost: Residential - $10,171, Commuter - $8,160 with need-based financial aid available; $75 application fee waived until the priority date of February 10th
Location: Barnard College, Broadway, New York, NY
Application Deadline: April 15
Program Dates: June 29 - July 18
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school or Gap Year students who will graduate in the current year (women only)
The NextGen Leadership Institute at Barnard College is a leadership program for high school girls in NYC. You will explore gender dynamics and leadership through classroom discussions, workshops, and hands-on activities.
You can pick one of four tracks: STEM, Writing and Literature, Global Humanities, or Art Movement and Performance. You will also join the Leadership in Action Series at Barnard’s Athena Center for Leadership. The program includes field trips to women-led workplaces across NYC, where you will see how leaders develop ideas and create change.
Cost: $350
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Rolling dates as per cohort
Program Dates: Vary for Summer (August), Fall (December), and Spring (April) cohorts
Eligibility: High School students
New York University's Stern School of Business offers a 9-part webinar series led by Dr. Victor C. Mullins, Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion. You will explore different areas of business, including management, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, fashion, sports, and entertainment, while developing leadership skills relevant to these fields.
The webinars cover topics like leadership in investment banking, the role of IT in business, management strategies, and decision-making in a global marketplace. You will learn how business leaders approach problem-solving, strategy, and market analysis. It is a non-credit course, but you will receive a certificate when you complete it.
Cost: $5,528
Location: Virtual through Canvas, Brown's Learning Management System
Application Deadline: May 14
Program Dates: June 23 - July 18
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9 to 12, ages 14 to 18 by June 15
Brown University's Leadership Institute offers an online program where you can take a socially responsible leadership course in a field of your interest. Course options include art, ecology, politics, law, social justice, and more. The program combines independent study, live discussions, and assignments focused on leadership in real-world issues.
You can select a course of study from a diverse range, such as those related to art, ecology, politics, law, social justice, and more! You will attend twice-weekly live workshops, meet one-on-one with your instructor, and complete assignments that build toward an Action Plan addressing a challenge in your home community. Some courses also require a final presentation.
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.
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 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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