12 Prestigious Business Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in business and wish to explore the field beyond the classroom, there’s multiple ways to go about it.
One such solid way is participating in a business program!
What are business programs? How did we shortlist the best business programs for this blog?
At the high school level, business programs are a focused way to gain an in-depth understanding of business theory or work on a real-world problem, in a short and structured manner.
Business programs for high school students can include
Pre-college business programs that focus on college-level business education,
Business research programs that enable you to gain exposure to academia and develop research skills in the field, and
Business internships that help you work on real-world problems under the mentorship of an organization.
When we say prestigious, we have included business programs that
Are fully–funded and offer a stipend
Have a rigorous curriculum/structure
Allow you to network with professionals in the field
Are hosted by prestigious organizations, such as national banks and corporations that will help you get ahead in your career. Meeting like-minded peers and professionals will allow you to learn from others and expand your network.
Typically hosted during the summer, the programs below should not interfere with your academics and make for great additions to your resume and college application.
Here are 12 prestigious business programs for high school students:
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 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 it a great opportunity for students interested in business and related fields.
Location: Various locations across the country.
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 legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship until September.
2. Chicago Summer Business Institute Internship
The Chicago Summer Business Institute Internship aims to teach high school students about the financial services sector and prepare them for a business career. Corporate sponsors will set goals and evaluate and guide you during the six-week program. You will attend workshops, guest lectures, and panel discussions. This program may also involve company tours, during which you will discuss various topics, including leadership skills, interpersonal communication, management styles, and elevator pitches.
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost: None. Stipend provided
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who are residents of Chicago, maintain a “B” or 3.0 average, have a family household income of less than $80,000 per year, and can commit to the program’s daily requirements.
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.
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops. Cost: $2,900 (team-based program) or $3,500 (individual program). There is need-based financial aid. Program Dates: Varies according to cohort Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here! Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Business Track
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high-school students 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 choose research topics from subjects such as business and entrepreneurship, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world! Cost: Full financial aid is available! Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year. Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
5. Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP)
YEP allows high school juniors and seniors to build business acumen and entrepreneurial skills through internships with Kansas City-based companies. While remote options are available, most internships require in-person participation, including Friday company visits. You will gain experience in real-world business environments, engage with professionals in diverse industries, and cultivate leadership, communication, and critical-thinking skills essential for future entrepreneurial endeavors. The program emphasizes professional growth and networking to prepare you for higher education or career paths in business and entrepreneurship.
Location: Various locations in Kansas City, MO Cost: Fully funded; compensation varies by company. Program Dates: Varies according to internship Application Deadline: February 17 Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are available for in-person work in Kansas City.
6. Ladders for Leaders Summer Internship Program
Ladders for Leaders allows New York City high school and college students to participate in paid internships with corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. The program offers 30 hours of pre-employment training, where you will learn key skills such as resume writing, cover letter crafting, and interview techniques. You will then gain experience in various industries, with opportunities tailored to your interests. You will join a growing alumni network that offers post-internship opportunities and exclusive networking events.
Location: New York City Cost: Fully funded, stipend offered Program Dates: Usually take place in the summer (specific dates will vary by internship) Application Deadline: January 20 Eligibility: Must be between the ages of 16–24 and must be a resident of one of New York City's five boroughs.
7. KPMG Empower High School Experience
This program is a three-week paid internship that introduces high school students to careers in business, public accounting, and professional services. This program is part of KPMG’s Community Impact initiative, aimed at creating equitable access to career opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. You will develop essential business skills, gain exposure to the accounting industry, and expand your professional network through mentorship. This experience offers a solid foundation for students interested in pursuing future business, finance, and consulting careers.
Location: One of the following locations depending on your assignment - Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Hartford, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, and St. Louis. Cost: Fully-funded Program Dates: Winter Internship: January to Mid-March | Summer Internship: June to August Application Deadline: Not specified. Eligibility: High school students graduating between spring and summer.
8. PNNL High School Business Internship Program
This program allows you to gain professional experience in a business and research environment while earning elective credits toward graduation. This academic-year internship runs from August to May and is designed to provide meaningful work experience focusing on business operations, project management, and teamwork. You can work with your high school’s work-based learning program to earn school credits.
Location: PNNL, WA Cost: Fully funded, stipend offered Program Dates: August to May (academic year). Application Deadline: Applications open in early February. Eligibility: High school students enrolled in a work-based learning program.
9. Northwestern University’s College Bridge Program
Northwestern University offers summer programs for high school students to complete college-level courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics, among other subjects. As introductory courses, they cover key economic concepts while allowing you to earn college credit. The microeconomics course explores the behavior of individuals and firms in deciding prices and the allocation of scarce resources. It covers consumer preferences, production costs, equilibrium prices and output, different market types, potential market failures, and the role of government interventions and public policy. Both courses require you to have a background in basic algebra and graphing.
Location: Evanston, IL
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 23 – July 27
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school juniors enrolled in Chicago Public Schools with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
10. University of Colorado Boulder’s Business Leadership Program
The Business Leadership Program at the Leeds School of Business offers high school students hands-on experience. You will compete in teams in a case challenge to solve real-world problems. For the case study, you will create and implement a marketing campaign for the school’s corporate partners. The winning team will receive a $1,000 scholarship to the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business. During the program, you will interact with business leaders from major corporations to gain career insights. This program allows you to develop your business, teamwork, and leadership skills.
Location: Boulder, CO
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 22 – 28
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and incoming Leeds School of Business first-year students who identify as underrepresented, diverse, low-income, and/or first-generation. Priority consideration for Colorado residents and students enrolled in a Colorado High School.
11. NYU’s Innovation, Entrepreneurship and the Science of Smart Cities
The ieSoSC program blends innovation, entrepreneurship, and science to introduce you to the future of urban living. You will develop technical skills in coding and electronics fundamentals, including microcontrollers, circuit deployment, and sensor integration, and learn about smart cities technologies. You will also be trained in entrepreneurship and participate in theatre-based workshops to hone your communication skills to deliver business pitches. The entrepreneurial aspects include learning about project management and navigating patenting and copyrights.
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free
Program Dates: July 7 – August 8
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: 9th graders to graduating 12th graders who are at least 15 years old and are living in NYC or Nassau County
12. UCLA Bruin Ascent Summer Experience (BASE): Principles of Economics
Students interested in entrepreneurship, business, investing, and finance may consider participating in the Principles of Economics course. In the six-week online program, you will balance co-curriculars with coursework. The co-curricular components involve weekly workshops in college advising, academic and social-emotional skill sets, and financial education. By the end of the program, you will receive college credit. You will be paired with an undergraduate student who will be your mentor throughout the program. The mentor will provide insights into the college experience while becoming part of your network. In addition, you can collaborate with peers enrolled in the same course.
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: California high school students currently in grades 10 or 11 who have a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA (unweighted); have not been a recipient of Summer Scholars Support; and have a household adjusted gross income (AGI) equal to or lower than the amount in their relevant category in the Family Income Eligibility Tables.