15 Entrepreneurship Courses for Seniors in High School
Senior year is a good time to start thinking beyond college applications. If you've ever wanted to launch a business, build a startup, or simply understand how companies grow, an entrepreneurship course is one of the easiest ways to get started. Unlike a degree program, a course lets you explore the subject over a few weeks while learning the fundamentals of turning an idea into something people actually want.
Why should high school seniors take an entrepreneurship course?
Entrepreneurship courses introduce students to the practical side of building a business. Depending on the course, you might learn how to identify a problem worth solving, validate an idea, understand customers, create a business model, build a marketing strategy, or pitch your venture to others. Many courses also include case studies, startup exercises, or guidance from founders who have built businesses themselves.
For seniors, these courses can also make the transition to college much smoother. You'll arrive with a stronger understanding of how startups work, a clearer sense of whether entrepreneurship interests you, and, in some cases, an idea or project that you can continue developing during college.
To help you get started, we've compiled a list of 15 entrepreneurship courses for high school seniors! If you're still exploring your options, our blogs on business programs and business internships for high school students are good places to start.
Quick Look
1 free program: Houston Community College's Inventathon@HCC and IDEAS Pitch Competition, which runs as a two-day hackathon rather than a semester-long course.
4 fully virtual/remote options: Young Founders Lab, the Ladder Internship Program, Harvard's Pre-College Business and Leadership program, and Wake Forest's Business Strategy & Innovation course.
Costs range from $50 to $8,299, with need-based aid available at BOSS, Young Founders Lab, SVB, Ladder, Wharton, and Babson.
2 courses restricted by residency or gender: Summer Venture in Business (excludes international students) and Invest in Her (female students only, no international eligibility).
Young Founders Lab is the only option focused on building a real, revenue-generating startup rather than coursework or case studies, with full financial aid available.
15 Entrepreneurship Courses for Seniors in High School
1. Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS)
Location: Penn State University Park, PA (Residential)
Cost: Free to apply; $350 program fee due only after acceptance
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Program Dates: June 14–26
Application Deadline: March 20 (application opens October 20)
Eligibility: High school juniors from the U.S. and Puerto Rico interested in pursuing a business degree
The Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS) is a highly selective, two-week residential program hosted by Penn State's Smeal College of Business that introduces you to college-level business education through a combination of academic coursework and experiential learning. During the program, you will take classes taught by Penn State faculty covering core business concepts while also participating in college readiness workshops designed to prepare you for higher education. Beyond the classroom, you will engage in hands-on activities such as business pitch competitions, team-based projects, and visits to corporate and operational sites that demonstrate how organizations function in practice.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,900 (need-based financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: 4-week program starting June 5 (tentatively)
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 four-week startup accelerator designed to help you transform an idea into a viable business while learning directly from experienced entrepreneurs. Founded and led by Harvard entrepreneurs, the program combines hands-on venture creation with instruction in core business topics, including ideation, market validation, customer discovery, and growth strategy. Throughout the program, you will work to build a startup that addresses a real-world problem, receiving mentorship from founders and professionals at companies such as Google, Microsoft, and X. In addition to developing your venture, you will participate in live workshops, case studies, panel discussions, and skill-building sessions that provide practical insight into the startup ecosystem.
3. Summer Venture in Business (SVB)
Location: University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS (Residential)
Cost: $50 participation fee (need-based waivers available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: July 19–24
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Rising high school 11th- and 12th-grade students meeting specific academic criteria (minimum 3.4 GPA or 5.55+ Business Index score; not open to international students)
The Summer Venture in Business (SVB) program at the University of Kansas is a residential pre-college academy that provides an introduction to business education and helps you prepare for the transition to college. During the program, you will explore foundational business concepts through interactive workshops, faculty-led sessions, and collaborative projects that encourage critical thinking and problem-solving. In addition to business-focused learning, you will develop college-readiness skills by learning to navigate academic resources, prepare competitive university applications, and plan for future career opportunities. Living on campus allows you to experience university life firsthand while connecting with peers who share similar academic and professional interests.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
The Ladder Internship Program offers you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by working directly with a high-growth startup on meaningful business projects. Depending on your interests, you may contribute to initiatives in fields such as technology, artificial intelligence, healthcare, marketing, journalism, consulting, and business strategy. Throughout the internship, you will collaborate closely with startup leaders while receiving guidance from both a company manager and a dedicated Ladder Coach. The startups participating in the program are often venture-backed companies led by experienced founders, including Y Combinator alumni and professionals from major technology firms. Rather than completing simulated assignments, you will work on real projects that address actual business challenges and conclude the program by presenting your work to company leadership.
5. Essentials of Entrepreneurship – Wharton Global Youth
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (On Campus)
Cost: $8,299; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: June 7–19, June 21–July 3, July 12–25, July 26–August 8
Application Deadline: Priority deadline January 28; final deadline March 18
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 9–11
Wharton's Essentials of Entrepreneurship introduces you to how new businesses move from an idea to an actual venture. Over two weeks, you will study topics like innovation, marketing, business models, and startup strategy through faculty sessions and practical workshops. You will research a real problem, interview potential customers, test your assumptions, and build a minimum viable product based on feedback. Throughout the program, you will keep refining your idea before presenting it during a final startup pitch. It is a good introduction to how early-stage companies are actually built.
6. Entrepreneurship Academy – Georgetown University
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. (Residential or commuter options)
Cost: $6,465 (residential) | $5,075 (commuter)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: June 7–19
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort (early application recommended)
Eligibility: High school students interested in entrepreneurship and business
If you want to understand what it takes to launch a startup, Georgetown's Entrepreneurship Academy walks you through the process from idea to business plan. You will explore market research, product development, design thinking, and business strategy while working on a startup concept with a small team. Case studies and guest speakers add practical context to classroom discussions. As your idea develops, you will refine it through feedback before presenting a final business pitch. The program gives you a structured look at how entrepreneurs test and shape new ventures.
7. Rice University Pathfinder Summer High School Program
Location: Rice University Campus, Houston, TX
Cost: $6,000 (Early Bird) | $7,000 (Regular)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: July 12–25
Application Deadline: February 15 (Early Bird); April 1 (Final rolling deadline)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Hosted by Rice University's Liu Idea Lab, Pathfinder focuses on building a startup around a real problem rather than a hypothetical business idea. You will interview potential customers, test assumptions, develop prototypes, and build a business model using the same iterative process followed by many early-stage companies. Workshops cover topics like funding, marketing, sales, and venture growth. Your idea evolves throughout the program as you receive feedback from mentors and peers. The experience ends with a startup pitch based on the work you have developed over two weeks.
8. Inventathon@HCC and IDEAS Pitch Competition – Houston Community College
Location: Houston Community College, Houston, TX (Stafford, West Loop, Brays Oaks, and Missouri City campuses)
Cost: Free to participate
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open registration (subject to venue capacity)
Program Dates: Varies by semester (typically held as weekend events)
Application Deadline: Varies by event
Eligibility: High school and college students
The Houston Community College Centers for Entrepreneurship offer hands-on youth programs, including the citywide IDEAS Pitch Competition and Inventathon@HCC, a dynamic two-day rapid prototyping hackathon. Instead of a semester-long credit course, these intensive programs allow high school students to work in teams to solve pressing global challenges, build product prototypes, and pitch their business ideas to industry judges for cash prizes. Participants also receive access to one-on-one small business mentoring and digital skills training workshops throughout the academic year.
9. Babson Summer Study for High School Students
Location: Online or New England Innovation Academy (NEIA) in Marlborough, MA
Cost: Online: $6,295 | Day Student: $9,295 | Residential Student: $12,995; plus a non-refundable $95 application fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: July 8–28
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Babson Summer Study lets you earn college credit while exploring entrepreneurship through Babson's Entrepreneurial Thought and Action methodology. You will examine how businesses tackle social, economic, and environmental challenges while studying topics like leadership, finance, marketing, and business communication. Rather than working through textbook exercises, you will apply what you learn to real business scenarios and project-based activities. The program uses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for many discussions. By the end, you will have a clearer understanding of how entrepreneurs identify opportunities and turn ideas into action.
10. AEM 3991: Global Business Strategy – Cornell Precollege Studies
Location: Online
Cost: $1,940 per credit hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment (subject to course availability)
Program Dates: Offered during Winter and Summer sessions
Application Deadline: Varies by term
Eligibility: High school students eligible through Cornell Precollege Studies; additional restrictions may apply by location
Cornell's Global Business Strategy course looks at how companies operate across different countries and markets. Through case studies and discussions, you will examine how businesses respond to changing regulations, competition, economic conditions, and political environments. A major part of the course involves developing an international expansion strategy for a real company using established business frameworks. Along the way, you will practice analyzing complex business decisions instead of simply memorizing concepts. The course offers a solid introduction to strategic thinking in a global business setting.
11. Learn How to Become an Innovator: Business Strategy & Innovation – Wake Forest University
Location: Online
Cost: $1,595
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment (non-selective)
Program Dates: Multiple 1-, 2-, and 4-week sessions offered throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by session (typically one week before start date)
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and older
If you are curious about how companies stay ahead, this Wake Forest course introduces you to the ideas behind business strategy and innovation. Using case studies from companies like Netflix and Apple, you will examine how businesses build competitive advantages, respond to changing markets, and create value for customers. The course also covers business models, customer experience, and organizational growth through interactive assignments. Along the way, you will apply strategic frameworks to analyze real companies and business decisions.
12. Becoming an Entrepreneur: An Inside Look at Innovation – Georgetown University
Location: Online
Cost: $1,895
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment (non-selective)
Program Dates: Multiple 1-, 2-, and 4-week sessions offered throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by session (typically one week before start date)
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and older
Georgetown's Becoming an Entrepreneur course explores how new businesses move from an idea to a functioning company. You will learn about customer discovery, business models, funding, networking, and venture growth while studying examples from real startups. The course also asks you to develop your own business pitch and launch plan, giving you a chance to apply what you learn through practical assignments. It is a flexible online option if you want an introduction to entrepreneurship without committing to a longer program.
13. Harvard Pre-College Program: Business and Leadership
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,750 per session (financial aid available) + $75 non-refundable application fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; classes typically limited to 12–18 students
Program Dates: Session I: June 22–July 3; Session II: July 6–18; Session III: July 20–August 1
Application Deadline: April 9
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Harvard Pre-College Program: Business and Leadership is a virtual academic experience that helps you develop foundational business knowledge while strengthening leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. Through small, discussion-based classes led by Harvard-affiliated instructors, you will explore key business concepts and examine how leaders make strategic decisions in complex organizational environments. The curriculum incorporates case studies, collaborative projects, and real-world business scenarios that encourage you to analyze challenges, evaluate solutions, and develop evidence-based recommendations. Throughout the program, you will refine practical skills in areas such as market research, data analysis, public speaking, negotiation, and teamwork.
14. Invest in Her: Financial Literacy and Leadership for Women
Location: Rose Hill Campus, Bronx, New York
Cost: $1,300 total ($100 non-refundable deposit)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 13–17
Application Deadline: Priority registration before April 1
Eligibility: Female high school students; international students are not eligible
Hosted by Fordham University's Gabelli School of Business, Invest in Her introduces you to finance through practical topics rather than technical theory. Over one week, you will learn about personal finance, investing, financial systems, and leadership while working through interactive activities and group exercises. Guest speakers from business and finance also share their career experiences throughout the program. It is designed to help you build a solid foundation in financial decision-making at an early stage.
15. Harvard Pre-College Program – Business & Economics Courses
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (On-Campus, Residential)
Cost: $5,550 per 2-week session (includes tuition, room, and board); financial aid available; $75 non-refundable application fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; small cohorts of 12–18 students per class
Program Dates: June 21–July 2; July 5–17; July 19–31
Application Deadline: Opens December 1; rolling until filled
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
If you want to experience college-level business and economics classes before graduating from high school, Harvard's residential Pre-College Program offers two-week seminars on campus. You will examine topics like markets, economic decision-making, global business, and resource allocation through discussions, case studies, debates, and projects. Outside class, you will join residential activities with students from around the world while getting a taste of campus life. The program concludes with a presentation or research project along with a written evaluation from your instructor.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there affordable entrepreneurship courses for high school seniors?
Yes. The Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS) at Penn State costs just $350, and Houston Community College's Inventathon@HCC and IDEAS Pitch Competition is free to participate.
2. Which programs are fully virtual?
Young Founders Lab, the Ladder Internship Program, Harvard's Pre-College Business and Leadership program, and Wake Forest's Business Strategy & Innovation course all run entirely online. Young Founders Lab stands out since it has you build an actual revenue-generating startup with mentorship from professionals at Google, Microsoft, and X, rather than working through case studies alone.
3. Which course is best if I want to build a real business instead of studying business theory?
Young Founders Lab is designed specifically for this, guiding you through market validation, customer discovery, and go-to-market strategy as you build a real venture, led by Harvard entrepreneurs with need-based financial aid available.