12 Business Programs for High School Students in NYC
If you’re a high school student based in New York City and looking to broaden your understanding of business, finance, and entrepreneurship you should consider business programs.
NYC has a ton of opportunities in this space and they are meant for or open to high school students. These opportunities include business internships, pre-college programs in finance and business, and even immersive mentorship programs.
These programs provide practical skills, industry exposure, and valuable networking connections, and are a solid option to consider if you’re looking to pad up your resume and college application profile.
Most of the programs in the list below are summer programs - good options if you’re looking for something that doesn’t interfere with your school year.
NYC is home to prestigious financial and business organizations, and gaining experience in such programs can be super helpful for your skillset!
1. Wharton Global Youth Program: Essentials of Leadership
Location: Virtual
Cost: Fully-funded
Program Dates: Session 1: June 16–27 | Session 2: July 7–18
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising seniors and recent high school graduates
The Wharton School of Business is a two-week virtual summer program for high school students interested in undergraduate business education. The program focuses on enhancing leadership, teamwork, and communication skills through lectures, small group discussions, collaborative projects, and case competitions.
You will work with Wharton faculty, guest speakers, and a global cohort of peers on leadership concepts and practice decision-making through interactive digital simulations. This program provides students with an invaluable opportunity to network globally, gain leadership experience, and learn from one of the world’s top business schools.
The program features daily live lectures on foundational leadership concepts, TA-led recitations to build business skills, and interactive simulations to apply knowledge in real-world contexts. You will also participate in experiential learning, collaborative projects, and discussions with peers and instructors to refine your leadership, communication, and teamwork abilities.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: Virtual (Live, interactive workshops)
Cost: Need-based financial aid available
Program Dates: Starts June 5, spans 4 weeks
Application Deadline: Early Decision: March | Regular Admission 1: April | Regular Admission 2: May
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founders Lab is a start-up boot camp designed and led by Harvard entrepreneurs. You will work on building revenue-generating start-ups that address real-world problems. You will get mentored by professionals from companies like Google and Microsoft throughout the program duration.
The program combines interactive classes on business fundamentals, ideation workshops, case studies, skill-building sessions, and panel discussions to provide a comprehensive entrepreneurial experience. This virtual program allows high school students to explore both theoretical and practical frameworks essential for launching a successful business. The program also offers you an opportunity to learn from industry leaders, develop practical business skills, and launch innovative projects, all in a supportive, mentorship-driven environment. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. Columbia University Summer Immersion
Location: Columbia University, Morningside Campus, New York, NY (options vary by program)
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Program Dates: Specific dates vary by program
Application Deadline: Check specific program pages for details
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–11) with a strong academic background and an interest in business based in the US can apply
Columbia University offers academic immersions in various subject areas under business and entrepreneurship, with most of them based at Columbia in NYC. These programs are solid options if you’re looking to experience college-level academics and engage in a structured format with lectures, fieldwork, networking opportunities, and co-curricular.
You can pick from residential, commuter, and online formats, making it an accessible program to pick, from both logistically and financially.
As a participant, you can explore topics such as entrepreneurship, business fundamentals, finance, economics, and investment portfolio management, gaining valuable insights into the world of business. Check out the course list, which contains topics like - Becoming An Entrepreneur, Introduction to Business, Finance, and Economics, Investment Portfolio Management etc.
Program options include:
NYC Residential Summer: Live on campus and immerse yourself in a collaborative academic community with direct access to Columbia’s facilities and the cultural richness of New York City.
NYC Commuter Summer: Reside off-campus in New York City or nearby areas and commute to classes, activities, and events at Columbia’s Morningside Campus.
Online Summer: Participate in interactive classes, and activities, and use Columbia’s online resources from anywhere in the world.
4. Bank of America Student Leaders
Location: Varies depending on the company assigned to you.
Cost: Fully funded, stipend provided on an hourly basis.
Program 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 is an 8-week paid internship at a local nonprofit organization for high school juniors and seniors. The program makes you address critical community issues while providing you with practical work experience.
The internship also allows you to attend the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. This is an all-expense paid trip, where you can interact with Congressional representatives, and business and nonprofit leaders to explore collaborative approaches to societal challenges. This is a prestigious opportunity, with an acceptance rate of 4-8%.
Your internship will be at a nonprofit organization that is located in your county/state. The organizations assigned to you are partners of the Bank and are selected by Bank of America.
5. Business Leadership Academy at Mercy University
Location: Mercy University, NY
Cost: $695
Program Dates: The BLA has 3 sessions -
Session 1: July 6 - July 12
Session 2: July 13 - July 19
Session 3: July 20 - July 26
Application Deadline: Rolling, depending on the session you apply for
Eligibility: High school juniors based in NCY with a cumulative, weighted GPA above 9.
Mercy University's Business Leadership Academy offers a week-long program designed for high school juniors to explore business concepts and develop leadership skills. Topics covered through interactive sessions include developing a career mindset, exploring the four leadership archetypes, building a personal brand, and discovering career paths in finance, accounting, and marketing.
The program includes corporate Visits in NYC, previous years' visits included companies like LinkedIn, ESPN, MTV, Google, The Walt Disney Company, PWC, Viacom, and Microsoft. The curriculum focuses on essential skills like communication, teamwork, and career exploration, while hands-on activities help students explore various business sectors.
At the end of the program, you will participate in the Leadership in Action ceremony where a Career Panel and Q&A will be held, along with student presentations and a Graduation Ceremony. The program is a good option for students looking for a short, structured program that dives into the academic + theoretical side of business, as opposed to an internship.
6.Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom
Location: Rose Hill Campus, Bronx, NY
Cost: $100 deposit + program cost $1100
Program Dates: June 16 – 25
Application Deadline: April 1 (priority deadline), rolling thereafter
Eligibility: High school students
The Finance Institute at Fordham University offers a one-week summer program for high school students passionate about finance. Led by industry experts and Fordham alumni, the program covers economic fundamentals, investment strategies, and personal finance.
You will learn about topics like alternative investments in hedge funds and private equity, asset allocation, and risk management theory, and an introduction to cryptocurrency.
The prestige of this program is limited, as it requires you to pay a fee to attend, but it is a great learning opportunity for high school students interested in advanced theory in business and finance!
7. Futures and Options Internship Program
Location: Various locations across NYC
Cost: Paid internship
Program Dates: 6 weeks from July to August
Application Deadline: January 24
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-19 attending school in NYC
The Futures and Options Internship Program offers paid internships across various industries, including business and nonprofit organizations. Beyond hands-on work experience, you will participate in career readiness workshops, covering skills such as resume writing, interview preparation, and good professional conduct.
This internship offers hands-on work experience and is a good entryway to working with small businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and multinational corporations. While the acceptance rate of the internship cannot be asserted from information provided on their website, this internship is quite selective.
If selected as an intern, you will attend orientation sessions and a series of career readiness workshops. These sessions focus on communication, interview techniques, financial literacy, and resume writing. The internship also involves Career Exploration, i.e., field trips to organizations like BlackRock, Infor, UpSlide, etc.
8. Bossgirls Summer Program
Location: The City College of New York (CCNY)
Cost: Fully-funded
Program Dates: June 30 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Girl students in grades 9–12 based in NYC can apply
The Bossgirls Summer Program, sponsored by Standard Chartered and hosted at the City College of New York, is a 5-week initiative for high school girls and nonbinary students. You can learn entrepreneurship through hands-on activities, including market research, prototyping, brand creation, and pitch presentations.
As part of a team, you’ll tackle a real-world problem, develop an innovative solution, research the market, analyze competitors, price your product, prototype it, and build a brand around your idea. At the end of 5 weeks, you’ll pitch your concept to an audience, similar to a Shark Tank/pitch presentation. You will be receiving guidance and insights from entrepreneurs and expert mentors, including professionals from Standard Chartered, the program sponsor.
9. Young Entrepreneurs Academy
Location: Staten Island, NY
Cost: $4,600 (includes tuition, room, and board)
Program Dates: Runs through
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Open to high school students based in the US
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy hosted at the University of Rochester is a business program for high school students to enhance their creative and leadership skills through courses in marketing, teamwork, and strategy. It offers high school and middle school students the opportunity to explore entrepreneurship by starting and running their own real business or social movement.
Additionally, top young entrepreneurs from YEA! classes nationwide compete annually in the prestigious Saunders Scholars Competition, vying for college scholarships and cash prizes. You will develop business plans, practice pitching ideas, and visit local businesses to gain real-world insights as a YEA! participant.
10. Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC)
Location: New York University (NYU)
Cost: Fully-funded
Program Dates: July 1 - August 2
Application Deadline: April 14
Eligibility: High school students living in NYC can apply
The Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC) program offers high school students a hands-on, business-focused learning experience. Over five weeks, you will learn design thinking, prototyping, and entrepreneurship to address real-world smart city challenges.
The program integrates key concepts and processes in entrepreneurship and design thinking. In the second half of the program, you will collaborate in small teams to apply your skills and knowledge, developing, prototyping, and presenting a device or app that leverages an Internet of Things (IoT) approach to tackle a “smart cities design challenge”. The program culminates in a showcase where you will pitch your solutions to a panel - which can make for a great addition to your portfolio!
11. Athena Summer Innovation Institute at Barnard College
Location: Barnard College, NYC
Cost: $4,850
Program Dates: July 21 - August 8
Application Deadline: Not announced, is expected to be around mid-April
Eligibility: High school students based in the US can apply
The Athena Summer Innovation Institute is a 3-week boot camp designed to equip students with the practical skills and knowledge to develop impactful ideas. You will work in teams to launch innovative ventures like start-ups, non-profits, or advocacy campaigns. The program aims to challenge conventional practices and drive meaningful change.
The program requires no prior business knowledge and can be attended by complete beginners in this field. You will learn concepts for products, services, or experiences that can disrupt norms and promote social good. It promotes collaboration and learning in depth about the startup process.
You will get guidance through personalized coaching and mentorship from the Program Manager, Lead Instructor, and Mentor-in-Residence. Workshops on topics like financing, negotiation, and branding further enhance the experience.
Bonus business programs for NYC high school students
If you’re a high school student based in NYC looking for other business programs in New York that allow you to participate, check out the bonus program below!
11. Cornell University Pre-College Summer Programs
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (varies by program option)
Cost: Varies by program ($10,239–$5,520, with financial aid options available)
Dates: Summer and Winter sessions (exact dates vary by program)
Application Deadline: Check Cornell’s website for specific deadlines
Eligibility: High school students in grades 11–12 with strong academic performance and an interest in business based in NYC can apply
Cornell University’s pre-college summer programs provide high school students with an immersive academic experience in business courses taught by renowned faculty. These programs allow you to explore potential majors, investigate career paths, and earn college credit. You can choose from three flexible formats: residential, commuter, or online, catering to diverse needs and preferences.
Program Options:
Residential Program: Live on campus, study alongside college students, and experience the Ivy League environment.
Commuter Program: Commute from Ithaca or surrounding areas to attend in-person classes and activities.
Online Program: Participate remotely in interactive courses and earn college credit.
Courses include options such as AEM 1200: Introduction to Business Management, AEM 3991: Global Business Strategy, and NBA 2650: Strategic Management of Tech & Innovation. Alongside rigorous academics, students engage in co-curricular activities like networking events, field trips, and guest lectures by industry professionals, fostering both personal and professional growth.