Summer business programs give high schoolers a practical look at entrepreneurship, finance, and leadership. Through workshops, team projects, and presentations, you pick up real business skills and a sense of whether the field is for you. Here are five worth knowing. Dates, costs, and deadlines change each year, so confirm the current details on each program’s site.
1. Wharton Global Youth Business Programs
A suite of programs at the Wharton School covering everything from product design to entrepreneurship and finance, taught by Wharton faculty. Specialized tracks include the Moneyball Academy (sports analytics) and Leadership in the Business World.
- Location: University of Pennsylvania
- Cost: roughly $8,000-$11,000
- Dates: June-August (2 or 3-week sessions)
- Deadline: typically early April; confirm on the site.
- Eligibility: grades 9-11
2. Young Founders Lab
Run by Harvard entrepreneurs, Young Founders Lab is a virtual incubator where students build a start-up around a real-world problem. It covers ideation, fundamentals, and practical frameworks, with mentorship from people at companies like Google and Microsoft. You finish by pitching your idea.
- Location: virtual
- Cost: around $2,900 (need-based aid available)
- Dates: a 4-week session starting in June
- Deadline: several rounds from spring; check the site.
- Eligibility: all high school students
Once you’re done with this list, check out our longer guide to the 50 best summer programs for high schoolers.
3. Harvard Student Agencies Business Academy
Two academies focused on entrepreneurship and business management. You learn the basics of launching a business and work corporate-style challenges as a mock consultant, with lectures, case studies, and startup pitch simulations.
- Location: Harvard University campus
- Cost: around $1,450
- Dates: five-day sessions between June and August
- Deadline: rolling
- Eligibility: grades 9-12, 14+
4. Babson College Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Experience
Babson, known for entrepreneurship, runs a program focused on building solutions to global challenges aligned with the U.N. Global Goals.
- Cost: around $6,295
- Dates: a three-week session in July
- Deadline: typically mid-March; confirm on the site.
- Eligibility: all high school students
- How to apply: a personal essay on your interest in entrepreneurship, transcripts, and possibly a recommendation letter, through Babson’s portal.
5. Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS)
BOSS, at Penn State, is a near-free introduction to business that preps students for college-level business work through a mix of theory and practice.
- Location: State College, Pennsylvania
- Cost: a small registration fee for accepted students (around $50)
- Dates: a roughly two-week session in June
- Deadline: typically late March; confirm on the site.
- Eligibility: U.S. or Puerto Rico students entering grade 12
- How to apply: an online application with academic records and an essay on your interest in business; a recommendation letter helps.
Here’s a bit more on some of the programs Rishab Jain, a Harvard student and ISEF top winner, recommends.
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The bottom line
A summer business program is a solid way to get a real feel for business and entrepreneurship and to build skills you’ll use later. Pick one that fits your interests and budget, and confirm the current dates and deadlines before you apply.
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