10 Entrepreneurship Courses for High School Students
If you're curious about entrepreneurship, innovation, or leadership as a teen, high school is a great time to start exploring business and entrepreneurship. Early exposure in the field helps you figure out what areas you're drawn to—whether it's marketing, finance, product design, or management—and can give you a head start in building the problem-solving and communication skills that business demands.
One such way to do this is an online course!
You don’t need to attend a specialized school or spend thousands of dollars—many high-quality platforms like Coursera and EdX offer flexible courses with financial aid, or free certificates. These courses can let you learn how to identify problems, design solutions, and even build your own startup or pitch deck. Many of the courses on the list are taught by university instructors or industry professionals and include group projects that mimic real business challenges.
Why should high school students take entrepreneurship courses?
These courses offer the chance to explore business by learning how to identify challenges, design solutions, and even create your own startup. They offer a rigorous curriculum and instruction from professors and industry experts. Taking entrepreneurship courses can demonstrate your interest in the field to colleges, which is especially helpful if you’re applying to competitive undergraduate business programs.
Here’s a curated list of 10 excellent (and some free!) college-level courses that can help high schoolers build entrepreneurial knowledge.
This online entrepreneurship course, offered by the University of Southern California, is designed for high school students interested in starting their own ventures. Throughout the course, you’ll explore the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, from identifying your market to understanding your competition and creating value for customers. Guided by USC faculty and industry professionals, you'll learn practical strategies in small business finance, effective pitching, and managing startups. This course offers recorded lectures, business case studies, and expert insights, allowing you to work flexibly at your own pace over two to four weeks. The USC Pre-College certificate you earn will enhance your college applications and showcase your dedication to entrepreneurship.
Location: Online
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is moderately selective. Information on exact cohort size and acceptance rates is not available.
Cost: $1,990 (plus a $35 application fee)
Dates: Multiple sessions available between April 14 and August 18; each session is 2-4 weeks
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by session (e.g., April 9 for April 14 session, July 30 for August 4 session). Check the official website for detailed information.
Eligibility: Open to students aged 14 and older currently enrolled in high school
2. NYU SPS High School Academy: Entrepreneurship and Business Startups
This summer program, offered by New York University, is designed for high school students interested in exploring entrepreneurship. Through exercises, interactive case studies, lectures, and discussions, you’ll explore the lean startup model, a modern approach that emphasizes experimentation and flexibility over traditional business planning. You'll learn to analyze startup challenges systematically and develop solutions that matter in the marketplace. Beyond learning theoretical frameworks, you’ll engage in projects that prepare you for college-level coursework and future entrepreneurial endeavors. You will also participate in group activities, gaining insights into business innovation and startup dynamics.
Location: New York University, New York City (Residential and Commuter options available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: The program is moderately selective. Information on the exact cohort size and acceptance rate is not publicly available.
Cost: Fees vary by session and residential status; contact NYU SPS for exact tuition information at sps.hsacademy@nyu.edu
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions from June 23 to August 8
Application Deadline: International Students: March 15 | Residential U.S. Students: May 15 | Commuter U.S. Students: June 13
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have completed grades 9, 10, or 11.
3. Colorado State University: Venture Validator Summer Camp
The Venture Validator Summer Camp by Colorado State University is an entrepreneurship experience for students entering grades 7–10. Over a week of half-day sessions, you'll identify problems, develop creative solutions, and learn essential business principles, including market research, competitive analysis, and prototyping. Working in small groups, you'll craft your own business ideas and pitch them, gaining insights into career paths like marketing, innovation management, and international business. The program is hosted at CSU SPUR in Denver, offering scholarships to support students facing economic hardship.
Location: CSU SPUR, Denver, CO
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective; exact acceptance rate and cohort size not publicly disclosed.
Cost: $75 (Scholarships available)
Dates: June 9–13
Application Deadline: Typically early spring.
Eligibility: Open to students entering grades 7–10
4. Georgetown University: Becoming an Entrepreneur — An Inside Look at Innovation
Offered entirely online by Georgetown University, this course gives high school students a foundational experience in launching and leading a business venture. Over a flexible 1, 2, or 4-week period, you’ll learn how to identify customer needs, build business models, craft compelling pitches, and adapt to market changes. The program concludes with a Capstone Project where you present your business idea, applying the lessons learned throughout the course. Mentorship from Georgetown students and faculty will enhance your learning, helping you prepare for future entrepreneurial pursuits. Need-based scholarships are available to make this pre-college experience more accessible.
Location: Online (offered by Georgetown University)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; moderately selective
Cost: $1,795
Dates: May 4–June 1 (4-week session) | May 18–June 1 (2-week session) | May 18–June 15 (4-week session)
Application Deadlines: April 27 for May 4 session | May 11 for May 18 sessions (both 2-week and 4-week options)
Eligibility: Open to students ages 13 and up
5. Wharton Global Youth Program: Essentials of Entrepreneurship
Hosted on campus at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, this two-week intensive program offers high school students an introduction to launching a business venture. Through a mix of lectures, business simulations, team projects, and guest speaker sessions, you’ll learn essential entrepreneurial skills like opportunity testing, MVP development, scaling strategies, and customer discovery. You’ll also develop and pitch a startup idea, gaining experience under the guidance of Wharton faculty and PhD students. The program fosters an entrepreneurial mindset that you can apply to any future career path. Students who complete the program will earn a Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (on campus)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; based on academic excellence and demonstrated interest in entrepreneurship
Cost: $11,399; limited need-based scholarships available
Dates: June 8–June 21 | June 22–July 4 | July 13–July 26 | July 27–August 9
Application Deadlines: Priority Deadline: January 29 | Final Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in grades 9–11; international students welcome.
6. BerkeleyX: Entrepreneurship For All (Part I) — The UC Berkeley Startup Guide
Offered by UC Berkeley through edX, this online course delivers Silicon Valley insiders’ advice on launching and scaling successful startups. You’ll learn core skills like business model development, market sizing, team building, MVP design, fundraising, and growth strategies. The course features insights from the entrepreneurs behind YouTube, Khan Academy, Rotten Tomatoes, and more. It’s entirely self-paced, allowing you to balance learning with schoolwork, and offers an optional verified certificate to showcase your accomplishment.
Location: Online (offered through edX by UC Berkeley)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; no formal selection process
Cost: Free to audit; $199 for a verified certificate
Dates: Next session starts April 27 (self-paced; 6 weeks total)
Application Deadlines: Enrollment open until full or shortly after start date
Eligibility: Open to all learners; suitable for motivated high school students
7. Georgetown University: Entrepreneurship Academy
This two-week, in-person program at Georgetown University gives high school students a rigorous introduction to entrepreneurship. You'll work in teams to develop a startup idea, participate in a final pitch competition, and explore key business topics like design thinking, market research, leadership, networking, and social innovation. Guest speakers from diverse industries will guide you in understanding what it takes to run a successful business. The program also places a strong emphasis on personal development, offering practical exercises in public speaking, team-building, and communication skills. Students will earn a Certificate of Participation upon successful completion.
Location: Georgetown University, Washington D.C. (on campus)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderately selective; specific cohort size not published
Cost: Residential: $5,950; Commuter: $4,145
Dates: June 15 - June 27
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until full; early application encouraged
Eligibility: Open to high school students; no prior business experience required
8. UC Berkeley Haas: Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) High School Entrepreneurship Program
Hosted at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, this two-week entrepreneurship program introduces high school students to business fundamentals and startup thinking. You’ll work in teams to research, create, and present a full business plan while learning from Berkeley Haas professors and corporate guest speakers. The program emphasizes leadership, research skills, communication, and application, providing a strong foundation for future business studies. You'll also gain insights into the college application process, including workshops on personal statement writing and college essay preparation. Students who complete the program earn a UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth Certificate of Completion.
Location: UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California (on campus)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 50 students admitted annually
Cost: California Residents: $6,292 | Out-of-State/International Residents: $7,332
Dates: Session I: July 5–July 19 | Session II: July 19–August 2
Application Deadline: Final submission of all documents and fees by March 1. Rolling admissions until seats fill — early application strongly encouraged
Eligibility: Open to high school students globally; no prior business coursework required
9. Suffolk University – Summer Entrepreneurship Program for High School Students
The Suffolk University Summer Entrepreneurship Program is a three-week commuter experience that introduces students to the process of launching ventures and creating value through lectures, team projects, and visits to top Boston startups. You’ll meet business leaders, develop your own business concept, and pitch it at the program’s final event. The curriculum includes career development workshops and admissions support, helping you prepare for college applications. Participants will earn three Suffolk University college credits and access to Suffolk’s Center for Career Equity, Development & Success.
Location: Suffolk University, Sawyer Business School, Boston, Massachusetts (on campus)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not officially stated, but spaces are limited
Cost: Free (includes daily lunch and public transit passes)
Dates: July 7–24
Application Deadline: Formal application opens in January
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who are metro-Boston based (commuter program)
10. Northeastern University – Experiential Entrepreneurship Pre-College Program
Northeastern University's Experiential Entrepreneurship program offers high school students the opportunity to build a real startup from the ground up. Over two weeks, you’ll work in teams to take an idea from concept to business pitch, receiving mentorship from successful entrepreneurs and industry professionals along the way. The program focuses on developing an entrepreneurial mindset, creativity, innovation, team dynamics, and systems thinking. You’ll attend workshops on topics like business planning, product development, negotiation, and pitching, culminating in a live pitch to a panel of entrepreneurs.
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (on campus)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; exact cohort size not specified
Cost: $6,895 (includes tuition, housing, meals, and activities)
Dates: Session I: July 6–18 | Session II: July 20–August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until full
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors
Young Founders Lab
If you’re looking for an incubator program that helps you build a startup in high school, consider the Young Founders Lab!
The Young Founders Lab is a 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!