Everything You Need to Know About the McCombs Future Executive Academy in 2026
TL;DR
This guide covers the McCombs Future Executive Academy (MFEA), a free six-day business program at UT Austin, plus its sister programs Subiendo and DYNAMC. MFEA covers your classes, housing, and meals, but it only accepts current sophomores and juniors at Texas high schools. It fits you best if you're curious about business but unsure which part of it suits you. The 2027 session runs June 6 to 11, and applications are due February 1, 2027. If you're outside Texas or want to build a real venture, Young Founders Lab's online startup incubator is worth a look.
The McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin is a long-standing business school known for education across many areas of business. A week at this school as part of the free McCombs Future Executive Academy is enough to give you a strong idea of what it's like to study business in college and whether it's the right choice for you. The program combines workshops and speaker sessions with a team case competition, so you build business skills as you learn.
If you're looking to apply to more business programs for the summer, check out our guides on summer business camps for high school students and business summer programs in Texas.
What is the McCombs Future Executive Academy?
The McCombs Future Executive Academy (MFEA) is a free, six-day summer program at UT Austin that introduces Texas high school students to multiple fields of business. It's run by Texas McCombs, UT Austin's business school, and you live on campus for the full week.
During the week, you'll learn from faculty and keynote speakers, network with industry professionals, and get mentorship from current UT student leaders. It all leads up to a team case competition that puts your new skills to the test.
MFEA is one of three free McCombs summer programs, and each has a different focus and eligibility. Subiendo: The Academy for Rising Leaders is a five-day leadership program for Texas juniors. Discover Yourself in Accounting Majors and Careers (DYNAMC) introduces you to careers in accounting and is supported by EY.
Why should you consider a program like MFEA?
A program like MFEA lets you test whether business is right for you before you build your college plans around it. Six days on a real business school campus can teach you more than hours of reading about majors online.
Business is a much wider field than most students expect. McCombs alone offers 10 undergraduate business majors, from accounting and finance to management information systems and supply chain management. A short program that covers several fields helps you see which ones actually hold your interest.
7 things to know before you apply
Before you start your application, here's what matters most.
It's completely free. McCombs' funders cover your educational, food, and housing costs. You only need to pay for travel to and from Austin.
MFEA is one of three program options. McCombs also runs Subiendo, a leadership program for juniors, and DYNAMC, an accounting program, so pick the one that matches your interest.
It lasts six days. The 2027 session runs June 6 to 11. That's long enough to get a feel for business school, but short enough that what you take away is direction rather than deep expertise.
The application has six parts. You'll submit an online application, a transcript, your extracurricular and leadership details, essay(s), a letter of recommendation, and a resume.
You'll live on campus. You stay at UT for the week and get time to explore Austin and make friends with the other students.
The curriculum spans several fields of business. Rather than going deep on one subject, MFEA introduces you to multiple areas of business through faculty sessions and keynote speakers.
The case competition is the centerpiece. You work with a team on a business problem, which is where you put everything from the week into practice.
How hard is it to get into MFEA?
MFEA is selective, but McCombs doesn't publish an acceptance rate or cohort size, so there are no official odds to go on.
The official criteria are broad. McCombs says the students it selects generally show an interest in business or leadership, plus a strong academic record and personal achievement.
There's no listed GPA minimum. Past cycles required at least a 3.5 GPA, and while the current page drops that cutoff, a strong transcript still matters.
Outside acceptance rates aren't confirmed. Some sites put MFEA's acceptance rate under 5 percent, but McCombs hasn't published that figure, so treat it with caution.
Your competition comes from Texas. Only Texas sophomores and juniors can apply, so you're up against other Texas students rather than a national pool.
Some backgrounds are especially encouraged. McCombs strongly encourages first-generation students and students who have overcome social or economic hardship to apply.
Your best move is a complete, careful application that shows a clear interest in business.
Who is eligible?
The McCombs Future Executive Academy is open to current sophomores and juniors at Texas high schools. Subiendo: The Academy for Rising Leaders is narrower and only accepts juniors at Texas high schools.
A major change from earlier application cycles is the GPA requirement. Past cycles required a minimum 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. The program still looks for a strong academic record, but the current page no longer lists a minimum GPA.
McCombs strongly encourages you to apply if you could be the first in your family to attend college, or if you've overcome social or economic hardship. All applicants are considered regardless of background.
You should also have a clear interest in business or leadership, since that's one of the qualities McCombs looks for. One more rule to note: you can't take part if you're enrolled in summer school during the program dates, since MFEA requires full-time attendance.
How do you apply?
Applications for the 2027 program are due Monday, February 1, 2027, at 11:59 pm, and decisions come out by mid-April. Supplemental materials have a separate deadline of February 8, 2027, at 11:59 pm. McCombs hasn't posted when the 2027 MFEA application opens, but its sister program Subiendo opens on November 1, 2026, so check the MFEA page around then. Earlier cycles required a minimum GPA of 3.5, but the current page doesn't list one. That gives you the chance to show your academic and personal achievements through the rest of your application.
Here is everything you need to apply to the McCombs Future Executive Academy:
Online application: The main form, where you fill out and upload each item before you submit.
Transcript: Your high school transcript, showing your courses and grades.
Extracurricular involvement and leadership: The activities, achievements, and roles you've held that show your leadership ability.
Essay(s): McCombs lists essays as a required item but hasn't posted the prompts or word counts, so read them closely once the application opens.
Letter of recommendation: A letter from someone who can speak to your work and leadership, like a teacher, counselor, or coach.
Resume: McCombs lists a resume as an application item, and it's a good chance to show your skills, experience, and volunteer work.
How is the program structured?
MFEA fits workshops, speakers, mentorship, and a case competition into six days on the UT Austin campus.
It runs for six days. The 2027 session is June 6 to 11, and you need to attend full time for the whole week.
You live on campus. Staying at UT gives you a preview of college life outside of class as well as inside it.
The case competition ties it all together. You work in a team on a business problem and test what you learned during the week.
Mentorship comes from current students. UT student leaders mentor you, and you also get to network with industry professionals.
Faculty and keynote speakers lead the learning. Their sessions introduce you to multiple fields of business, so you can compare them side by side.
Who is MFEA best for?
| If you... | How MFEA fits |
|---|---|
| Want to test business before you commit | Six days across several fields shows you whether the subject holds your interest. |
| Are thinking about McCombs or UT Austin | You'll see the campus, meet current students, and get a feel for the business school firsthand. |
| Can't afford a paid program | Your educational, food, and housing costs are covered, so your main expense is getting to Austin. |
| Enjoy teamwork under a deadline | The case competition suits students who like solving a problem with others and presenting the answer. |
| Would rather build a business than survey one | MFEA is a broad introduction, so if you already have an idea to launch, our guide to entrepreneurship programs in Texas covers options built around that. |
Pros and cons of the McCombs Future Executive Academy
Pros
It's free. McCombs' funders cover your educational, food, and housing costs for the week.
You sample several fields. The program introduces you to multiple areas of business, so you can see which one interests you most.
You get a real campus experience. Living at UT for a week shows you what college life is like before you apply anywhere.
You build a network. You meet faculty, current UT student leaders, industry professionals, and peers who share your interests.
The case competition gives you a concrete experience. Working through a team case is something specific you can talk about later.
Cons
It's only open to Texas students. You must be a current sophomore or junior at a Texas high school, so out-of-state students can't apply.
Six days is short. You'll leave with direction and contacts, not deep skills in any one field.
You pay your own travel. Unlike Subiendo, MFEA doesn't cover your travel to and from campus.
Your odds are hard to judge. McCombs doesn't publish an acceptance rate or cohort size.
The dates are fixed. The program runs June 6 to 11, 2027, and you can't attend if you're in summer school then.
Our review: should you apply in 2027?
If you're a Texas sophomore or junior curious about business, MFEA is worth applying to. It's free, so your main costs are travel and one week of your summer.
Be realistic about what six days can do. You won't master finance or marketing in a week. What you will get is a clearer sense of which parts of business pull you in, plus contacts at a business school you may apply to later.
That makes MFEA most useful early on, while you're still exploring. Treat it as a starting point and use what you learn to choose your next step, whether that's a longer summer program, one of the pitch competitions for Texas high school students, or a venture of your own.
If you already know exactly what you want to study or build, a broad survey program may feel too general. In that case, a program focused on your area will likely serve you better.
Frequently asked questions: the McCombs Future Executive Academy for high school students
1. Is the McCombs Future Executive Academy really free?
Yes, MFEA is free for you and your family. McCombs' funders cover all educational, food, and housing costs for the six-day program. You do have to pay for your own travel to and from the UT Austin campus, and the same goes for DYNAMC. Subiendo is the only one of the three McCombs programs that also covers travel costs.
2. Do you have to be from Texas to apply to McCombs Future Executive Academy?
Yes, you need to be a current sophomore or junior at a Texas high school to apply. McCombs opens its summer programs only to Texas high school students. Subiendo is even narrower, since it only accepts Texas juniors. If you live outside Texas, you'll need to look at programs that accept students nationally.
3. What's the GPA cutoff for McCombs Future Executive Academy?
McCombs doesn't list a minimum GPA for MFEA on its current page. Earlier cycles set a minimum of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, so you may still see that number elsewhere. McCombs says the students it selects generally have a strong academic record and personal achievement, so your grades still carry weight. If your GPA is below 3.5, use your essays, recommendation, and leadership section to show what your transcript doesn't.
4. What's the difference between MFEA, Subiendo, and DYNAMC?
MFEA introduces you to multiple fields of business, while Subiendo focuses on leadership and DYNAMC focuses on accounting. Subiendo is a five-day program for Texas juniors where you work on issues in healthcare, energy and the environment, and education, and it covers your travel. DYNAMC introduces you to careers in accounting and is supported by EY. MFEA and DYNAMC are both open to Texas sophomores and juniors.
5. Can international students apply to McCombs Future Executive Academy?
Only if you attend a high school in Texas. McCombs limits its summer programs to current sophomores and juniors at Texas high schools, so students living outside Texas, including those abroad, aren't eligible. If you're an international student at a Texas high school, email the McCombs summer programs team at SummerPrograms@mccombs.utexas.edu to confirm your eligibility before you apply.
6. Is there a similar alternative if you don't get into McCombs Future Executive Academy?
Yes, you have options both inside and outside McCombs. If you're a Texas junior, Subiendo is a free McCombs leadership program with its own application timeline. Beyond UT, our roundup of the best business summer programs for high school students compares free and paid programs across the country. That makes it easier to find one that fits your budget, schedule, and interests.
If MFEA works out for you, it also gives you a specific, selective experience to write about on your college applications, especially if you apply to McCombs.
Not in Texas, or want more than six days to build something of your own? The Young Founders Lab Program pairs you with a one-on-one mentor for 12 hours of personalized coaching, with a flexible start date, as you build and launch your own revenue-generating startup. Apply here.