10 Best Business Summer Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in finance, entrepreneurship, leadership, and administration, consider applying to a business summer program!
Why should I apply to a business summer program as a high school student?
Business summer programs for high school students offer a solid opportunity to gain practical skills, industry insights, and invaluable networking connections.
These programs are structured during the summer months, which means they don't interfere with your usual school year, and allow you to fully commit to the opportunity.
Business programs also help you engage with rigorous coursework, gain mentorship from industry leaders, and work on real-world projects - all of which are great additions to your resume and portfolio!
Whether it’s through site visits, collaborative projects, or community involvement, these programs usually promise a well-rounded experience.
In this list, we highlight 10 of the best business summer programs for high school students, programs that are fully funded, have a low acceptance rate (of 10-12% or lower), and are offered by prestigious institutions.
How did we identify the best business summer programs for high school students?
When selecting the best business summer programs for high school students, we focused on several key criteria:
Fully-funded nature: Programs that are 100% free or offer stipends are a lot more competitive than programs that require a student to pay, making it a prestigious addition to your resume if selected!
The rigor of program content: Programs that offer intensive, well-rounded exposure to academics and mentorship/networking opportunities.
Acceptance rate: We have only included programs with a low acceptance rate (10-12% or lower). While a few of these programs haven’t published their exact acceptance rates, we have ascertained it from other publicly available information such as the cohort size, size of applicant pool, as well as acceptance stats from previous cohorts!
Prestige of affiliated organization: The programs in the list below are either hosted by some of the most popular business schools in the US, or prestigious organizations, like Bank of America.
1. Bank of America Student Leaders
Location: Various locations across the country.
Acceptance Rate: 4-8%
Cost: Fully-funded
Dates: 8 weeks in June-July, with the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. from July 21–26.
Application Deadline: January 15.
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship till September.
The Bank of America Student Leaders program offers high school juniors and seniors an 8-week paid internship at a local nonprofit organization. This program focuses on addressing critical community issues while providing you with practical work experience with non-profits.
While it's a nonprofit internship backed by the Bank of America, the experience mirrors real-world business operations, from budgeting to marketing and organizational strategy. While the program focuses on community impact, it gives you firsthand experience in how organizations balance financial sustainability with social responsibility—a key concept in modern business - making for a great opportunity for students interested in business and related fields.
2. Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS)
Location: Penn State, Smeal College of Business, PA.
Acceptance Rate: 6-8%
Cost: Subsidized, with a $250 fee for accepted students. Needs- and merit-based scholarships are available.
Dates: June 15–27.
Application Deadline: Applications open on October 1, with a deadline of March 19.
Eligibility: High school juniors residing in the U.S. or Puerto Rico who are interested in pursuing a business education in college.
The Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS) at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business offers high school juniors a head start in their business education. This two-week program introduces you to the fundamentals of business through college prep and business courses taught by Penn State faculty. You will study topics like management, supply chain complexities, ethics in business, business writing, presentation, and communication skills.
The program emphasizes corporate innovation and entrepreneurship, through interactive classes and activities. The program lets you experience the challenges of college life, preparing you for future academic and professional success. The BOSS program offers a dynamic blend of academic rigor, practical skill-building, and exposure to the college environment, making it an excellent opportunity for students passionate about business.
3. UT Austin’s McCombs Business School Summer Program
Location: University of Texas, Austin, TX.
Acceptance Rate: Selective.
Cost: Fully-funded, with all educational, food, and boarding costs covered by sponsors.
Dates: MFEA: June 1–6; Subiendo: June 8–12; DYNAMC: June 22–27.
Application Deadline: Applications open on November 1.
Eligibility: Open to current high school sophomores and juniors. Subiendo is specifically for Texas high school juniors.
The University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business offers several free summer programs designed to provide high school students with a deep dive into business and leadership. Each program features a mix of workshops, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
McCombs Future Executive Academy (MFEA): This week-long program introduces you to various fields in business through engaging workshops and activities.
Subiendo: The Academy for Rising Leaders: Exclusively for Texas high school juniors, this five-day leadership development program focuses on cultivating leadership skills and addressing real-world challenges.
Discover Yourself in Accounting Majors and Careers (DYNAMC): This program focuses on accounting, providing career opportunities within this field and helping you develop key skills for success.
4. KeyBank Business Leadership Program
Location: Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado Boulder, CO.
Acceptance Rate: While the exact acceptance rate isn’t available on the website, around 50 students are accepted each year, making it fairly selective
Cost: Full-funded
Dates: June 22–28.
Application Deadline: March 30.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors entering their senior year.
The KeyBank Business Leadership Program at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business is designed for high school juniors, particularly those from underrepresented and first-generation backgrounds. This program helps you with business concepts and diversity through a hands-on approach.
You will study a business case challenge where you will work in teams to develop a marketing campaign for corporate partners. The program ends with a presentation, and the winning team is awarded a $1,000 scholarship to the Leeds School of Business. The program also includes activities that develop problem-solving and leadership skills. This program offers a valuable opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in solving real-world business challenges and is a great opportunity to network - past corporate sponsors and partners have included KeyBank, EY & Leeds Accounting Department, Apex Business Consulting LLC, and more.
5. The University of Houston's EXPLORE Business Summer Institute
Location: University of Houston, TX.
Acceptance Rate: No official stats, but lies somewhere around 10%
Cost: Fully-funded
Dates: 5-7 days in summer.
Application Deadline: TBD.
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in business or accounting.
The EXPLORE Business Summer Institute at the University of Houston’s Bauer College of Business offers high school students knowledge in business through two distinct programs. These fully funded opportunities provide practical experiences and guidance from industry experts.
EXPLORE Entrepreneurship Institute: This program focuses on teaching you how to start your own business.
Accounting Careers Awareness Program: This segment introduces basic accounting concepts and explores diverse career opportunities within the accounting field, helping you understand the foundational elements of business finance.
This program is an excellent opportunity for students to gain a comprehensive introduction to entrepreneurship and accounting, guided by seasoned professionals while exploring potential career paths.
6. Harvard Business School Summer Venture in Management
Location: Harvard Business School, Cambridge, MA.
Acceptance Rate: 11%, based on stats from previous cohorts
Cost: Fully-funded
Dates: June 9–12.
Application Deadline: April 9.
Eligibility: Rising seniors and recent graduates.
The Harvard Business School Summer Venture in Management is a prestigious program designed for high school students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. This intensive one-week program centers around the case method, an interactive teaching approach that simulates real-world management challenges.
You will analyze Harvard’s renowned case studies, covering various business areas and complex issues, and work collaboratively to recommend solutions. This program provides a taste of the rigorous academic environment at HBS, into business management and decision-making processes. All costs, including room and board, are fully covered. This program offers exposure to college-level academics and is ideal for students aiming to understand business and management through a practical lens.
7. Wharton Global Youth Program - Essentials of Leadership
Location: Virtual.
Acceptance Rate: Not enough information on the website, but the program is quite selective
Cost: Fully-funded
Dates: June 16–27 and July 7–18.
Application Deadline: May 1.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and recent high school graduates.
The Wharton Global Youth Program: Essentials of Leadership is a two-week virtual summer program from the Wharton School of Business, designed for high school students who want to learn undergraduate business education. The program combines lectures, small group discussions, collaborative projects, and individual assignments to enhance leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.
You will collaborate with Wharton faculty, guest speakers, and a global cohort of peers in case competitions and interactive digital simulations. This program is a solid opportunity for students to gain leadership experience, network with global peers, and learn from one of the world’s top business schools, without the logistical hassles that an in-person program would demand.
8. Caminos al Futuro Pre-College Program at George Washington University
Location: George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Acceptance rate: No official stats available, but the program is super selective
Cost: Fully-funded
Dates: July 3-19
Application deadline: Applications open on December 15, and close on February 28
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors can apply.
Caminos al Futuro is a fully-funded pre-college summer program for rising high school seniors, offered by the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute at George Washington University. This 3-week intensive program explores the social, economic, and political transformations affecting the Hispanic/Latino community, through expert lectures that empower you to initiate community projects.
As a participant, you will learn from university professors and leaders from various fields in business, learn about pressing contemporary issues, and work on creating a project that focuses on solving a problem your community faces. To apply, you should have a strong academic background and a commitment to Hispanic/Latino community service and leadership.
9. Business Summer Institutes for High School Students at the University of Houston
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Acceptance rate: Not enough information to be asserted, but only 40 students are accepted from around the country each year
Cost: Fully funded. Full scholarships are provided to all participants.
Dates: June 11 - 14
Application deadline: April 3
Eligibility: All high school students can apply
Offered by the university’s C. T. Bauer College of Business, the Business Institutes are a solid option for students interested in financial planning, money management, budgeting, and goal setting. You should note the program only accepts 40 students from its applicant pool and is fully funded! This is a great opportunity to engage in advanced coursework, and explore college-level business education! The program is mostly taught by finance faculty from the University of Houston and industry professionals.
Note - You can also check out this program offered by CT Bauer for high school students that allows you to explore pathways in finance and accounting!
Another selective option - Young Founders Lab
If you’re looking for a rigorous incubator program that helps you establish a developed startup in high school, consider the Young Founders Lab!
The Young Founders Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
You can access the application link here!