11 Online Business Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in business, online business programs provide an accessible mix of practical skills, industry exposure, and networking opportunities. These programs are structured to fit into your school year or summer break without requiring you to travel or move cities, which can be logistically and financially demanding! They can help refine your understanding of entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, and leadership, and add to your profile for college applications.
Many of the programs in this blog are quite competitive, with low acceptance rates, and hosted by prestigious institutions, making them a highlight in your resume. The others are fairly welcoming, and come with a cost, making them moderately prestigious!
Note: Online programs, unless super competitive with a small cohort size, may not have the same prestige that comes with in-person, fully-funded programs. However, they’re a great way to engage in advanced academics and networking opportunities in a flexible format!
In this list, we’ve compiled 11 online business programs for high school students that offer hands-on experiences, mentorship opportunities, and the chance to work on real-world projects. Let’s dive in!
How did we identify the best online business programs for high school students?
We evaluated programs based on the following criteria:
Rigor and Value: Programs offering solid learning opportunities, like startup boot camps or comprehensive business fundamentals.
Selectivity: Programs with low acceptance rates or competitive applications that can serve as an impactful mention on your resume.
Affordability: Many of the programs below are either fully funded or offer financial aid, making them accessible for students from diverse backgrounds.
Below is a list of the top 10 programs, offering opportunities to high school students:
1. Young Founders Lab
Cost: $2,900 (need-based financial aid available)
Dates: Starts June 5 (4-week program)
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines; refer to the brochure for specifics
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s 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.
Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more.
The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
2. Wharton Global Youth Program: Essentials of Leadership
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 16–27 and July 7–18
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising seniors and recent high school graduates
The Wharton Global Youth Program: Essentials of Leadership is a two-week virtual program from the prestigious Wharton School of Business. It is for high school students looking to develop foundational leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. Through interactive lectures, small group discussions, collaborative projects, and individual assignments, you get a solid idea of business and leadership concepts.
You will participate in case competitions, interactive simulations, and discussions with Wharton faculty and guest speakers. At the end of the program, you will earn a Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion. The program offers recitations that serve as skill-building workshops that help you deepen your understanding of lecture content through practical application exercises. They also allow you to connect with current Penn students (the TAs) and gain insights into college life and essential skills.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities in business, economics, finance, and related subjects for high school students.
The program pairs you with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can find more details about the application here.
4. Columbia University Online Summer Immersion
Cost: 1-Week: $2,810 per session and 2-Week: $3,960 per session (single course registration)
Program Dates:
Session A : July 7–July 18
Session B: July 21–August 1
Session C: August 11–August 15
Application Deadline: Check program-specific details
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–11) with strong academic performance and an interest in business
Columbia University’s Online Summer Immersion program offers high school students a chance to explore business topics and experience college-level academics remotely. This program encourages you to participate in interactive classes, discussions, and projects led by expert faculty.
You can study topics such as entrepreneurship, finance, economics, and investment portfolio management. Courses like Becoming an Entrepreneur, Introduction to Business, and Investment Portfolio Management foster critical thinking, creativity, and independence. You will gain valuable skills required for business, preparing you for higher education and future leadership roles.
This online option allows you to benefit from Columbia’s faculty and resources while enjoying the flexibility of virtual learning. You can check out all business-related courses offered by Columbia here.
5. Cornell University Online Pre-College Summer Programs
Cost: $1,840 per credit
Dates:
Three-week session 1: June 2– June 20
Three-week session 2: June 23–July 11
Three-week session 3: July 14–August 1
Six-week session: June 23–August 1
Application Deadline:
Three-week session 1: May 5
Three-week session 2: May 19
Three-week session 3: June 16
Six-week session: May 19
Eligibility: High school students in grades 11–12 with strong academic performance and an interest in business
Cornell University’s Online Pre-College Summer Programs provide high school students with a robust academic experience in business, offering the flexibility to participate from anywhere. These programs allow you to earn college credit while exploring business topics taught by Cornell faculty.
Courses include AEM 1200: Introduction to Business Management, AEM 3991: Global Business Strategy, NBA 2650: Strategic Management of Tech & Innovation, etc.It also promotes co-curricular activities such as networking events, field trips, and guest speaker sessions with industry professionals.
You will earn 3 to 12 credits & an official Cornell transcript on successful completion of the program.
6. Yale Online: PLSC 270 - Capitalism: Success, Crisis, and Reform
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Yale Online’s course Capitalism: Success, Crisis, and Reform provides high school students with a thorough exploration of capitalism, one of the most influential economic systems in history. You will learn the foundations of capitalism, its successes and crises, and its role in shaping business models and economic systems worldwide.
The program allows you to examine the achievements, challenges, and crises of capitalism.
This self-paced course uses interactive modules, case studies, and real-world examples to help you understand the benefits and shortcomings of capitalism. It also challenges you to think critically about potential reforms to address inequalities and create a more equitable future.
7. Brown Pre-College: Leadership in Changing Business - Social Entrepreneurship
Cost: $3,000–$5,000 (2–4 weeks)
Program Dates: June 24 – July 19
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Brown University’s Pre-College course, Leadership in Changing Business: Social Entrepreneurship, introduces high school students to the role of business in addressing pressing societal challenges. This program focuses on creating sustainable, impactful business solutions in sectors like health, education, and environmental sustainability.
You will also be required to submit a capstone project, which involves designing and pitching a business plan for a social enterprise, allowing you to apply what you have learned in a way that contributes to your portfolio.
8. Babson Summer Study
Cost: $6,295 + $95 application fee (full and partial need-based scholarships available)
Program Dates: July 7 – 28
Application Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (must be 16+ by the program start date)
Babson Summer Study offers you an opportunity to develop an entrepreneurial mindset while gaining essential knowledge in leadership, marketing, finance, and business communication. With a curriculum guided by the United Nations Global Goals, you can work on addressing real-world challenges that drive meaningful impact.
The program has live daily sessions with asynchronous coursework and assignments, giving you flexibility while maintaining a structured learning environment. You can earn 4 college credits from Babson College upon completing the program.
The program includes a Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® methodology session where you’ll gain practical skills and an in-depth perspective on real-world business challenges.
9. Wake Forest’s Business Strategy & Innovation
Cost: $1,495 per course
Program Dates: Multiple 2- and 4-week sessions available year-round
Application Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: High school students completing grades 9–12, ages 13+
The course on Business Strategy & Innovation helps you learn how businesses drive innovation, make strategic decisions, and adapt to an agile environment. Topics include case studies of game-changers like Netflix and Apple, guided by Wake Forest experts, including former CEO Dr. Dan Fogel and business leader Lee Weiss. This program is a convenient and affordable way for you to gain hands-on knowledge and prepare yourself for a future in entrepreneurship or business.
10. Rice University Pre-College Business Programs
Cost: $1495 per course
Program Dates: Multi-length courses throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open to high school students interested in business and entrepreneurship
Rice University’s Pre-College Business Programs offer high school students an opportunity to explore the world of entrepreneurship and financial technology (Fintech).
You can conduct hands-on experience through interactive coursework and projects, learning about key concepts in entrepreneurship and innovations in finance and tech. By
Upon successful completion, you will earn a Certificate of Completion at the end of the course from Rice University.
11. Harvard Pre-College Program: Business and Leadership
Cost: $4,750 per session (financial aid available) and $75 nonrefundable application fee
Program Dates:
Session I: June 22–July 3
Session II: July 6–July 18
Session III: July 20–August 1
Application Deadline: April 9
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
Harvard's Pre-College Program in Business and Leadership offers you an introduction to fundamental business concepts and leadership skills. With class sizes ranging from 12 to 18 students, the program emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, and practical problem-solving. You can participate in discussions, practice public speaking and negotiation, and real-world business challenges, under the guidance of Harvard-affiliated instructors.
You will analyze business case studies, work on hands-on projects, and present your research at the end of the program to your peers and mentors.