15 Free Business Analytics Programs for High School Students
If you’re interested in pursuing a future in business, business analytics, or entrepreneurship, free business analytics programs can be a powerful way to get started early.
What are free business analytics programs for high school students?
Business analytics programs give you hands-on exposure to how data is used to drive business decisions, whether that’s analyzing markets, evaluating financial performance, or solving real operational problems. Business analytics programs often cover topics like data-driven decision-making, basic statistics, financial and market analysis, spreadsheet modeling, and introductory data tools, helping you build a strong analytical foundation.
How is pursuing free business analytics programs for high school students helpful?
The skills you develop, such as interpreting data, identifying trends, and turning insights into actionable strategies, are directly useful if you plan to launch your own venture or contribute meaningfully to a business team. Just as importantly, these programs strengthen college applications by showing academic initiative, clarity of interest, and engagement beyond the classroom.
If you’re also interested in business analytics summer programs, check here, or go here for paid business analytics internship opportunities.
Below is a compiled list of 15 free business analytics programs for high school students.
Note: Some items below are not free, but provide financial aid.
15 Free Business Analytics Programs for High School Students
1. TCU Neeley Analytics Academy — Neeley School of Business
Cost: $1,950 program fee; need-based scholarships are available
Location: Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX (in-person, residential)
Program Dates: June 21–June 26
Application Deadline: March 8
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with strong math skills and interest in analytics
In this one-week residential academy, you work hands-on with real business data to understand how organizations use analytics to evaluate performance and drive profitability. The curriculum covers data collection, cleaning, visualization, and statistical modeling, including regression, clustering, and classification techniques used in business decision-making. You build analytical models, participate in team-based projects, and learn data-driven storytelling to communicate insights effectively. The program also introduces applications of machine learning and AI in business contexts, emphasizing pattern detection and prediction. Notable features include six hours of daily instruction from Neeley faculty, a certificate of completion in data analytics, and a full week of immersive college life on TCU’s campus.
2. Young Founders Lab
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s 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 complex 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.
3. 1435 Capital Management’s Venture Analyst High School Internship
Cost: Free; stipend paid
Location: Hybrid
Program Dates: Summer, 10-week full-time internship
Application Deadline: April 5
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors, U.S.-based students authorized to work without sponsorship.
The 1435 Capital Management Venture Analyst Internship is a competitive summer program designed for high school students interested in business analytics, venture capital, and entrepreneurship. You’ll work closely with a specialized venture capital firm, gaining hands-on exposure to how investment decisions are evaluated, analyzed, and supported using data-driven frameworks. During the internship, you’ll assist with market research, investment analysis, and portfolio monitoring, helping evaluate startups through financial projections, competitive analysis, and industry trend research. You’ll also support deal sourcing efforts by reviewing pitch materials, tracking startup performance data, and organizing insights for internal reporting. You’ll receive mentorship from experienced investment professionals and may also gain exposure to the Homeroom Fund, a student-led venture fund overseen by 1435 Capital.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Paid internship (varies by startup)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech, and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, you work closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. You are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills, and you will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in your cohort.
5. Explore Business: Analytics — Wharton Global Youth
Cost: Free
Location: Online (Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania)
Program Dates: Self-paced / On-demand
Application Deadline: No application required
Eligibility: High school students; no prior coursework required
This online analytics learning series places you in the role of a learner engaging with real-world business analytics problems through expert-led discussions rather than formal coursework. You explore how data, machine learning, and algorithms influence decision-making across finance, public policy, social impact, and sports through structured video panels and topic modules. You develop foundational literacy in concepts such as big data, predictive modeling, and applied analytics without needing advanced technical prerequisites. A notable feature is exposure to Wharton faculty and industry professionals through panel discussions led by the Dean of the Wharton School, offering insight into how analytics is applied in professional and institutional contexts.
6. Discover Yourself in Accounting Majors and Careers (DYNAMC) — McCombs School of Business
Cost: Free (all academic, housing, and meal costs covered)
Location: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Program Dates: June 21–June 28
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors with an interest in business or accounting
In this week-long immersive program, you step into the role of a pre-college business student exploring how accounting supports decision-making across organizations. You work through hands-on workshops, case-based exercises, and team activities that introduce financial statements, accounting pathways, and analytical thinking. The program emphasizes interpreting financial data, understanding business performance, and connecting accounting concepts to broader business strategy. You also participate in a case competition that tests your ability to analyze information, collaborate in teams, and communicate insights clearly. Notable features include mentorship from current UT McCombs students, exposure to faculty and industry speakers, and program support from Ernst & Young, offering early insight into professional accounting and analytics careers.
7. Think Like an Entrepreneur Summer Academy (TLAE) — Rowan University
Cost: Free (fully funded by the TD Charitable Foundation; students earn 3 transferable college credits)
Location: Business Hall, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ (in-person, non-residential)
Program Dates: June 23–June 26
Application Deadline: May 18
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors residing in the United States
In this four-day, immersive academy, you work in teams to develop data-informed venture ideas while tackling real-world problems aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The program introduces you to financial analysis, feasibility assessment, and resource evaluation as part of building viable business models. You apply analytical reasoning to assess costs, impact, and scalability while progressing from idea conception to prototyping and pitching. Faculty and student mentors guide you through structured frameworks used in early-stage business decision-making, requiring you to interpret and communicate quantitative and qualitative insights clearly. A notable feature is the opportunity to earn transferable college credit through a fully funded, AACSB-recognized program with limited seats and competitive selection.
8. Analytics: The Power of Data for Businesses — University of Southern California
Cost: $1,990 tuition (full scholarships available for eligible USC NAI students)
Location: Online (USC Pre-College Programs)
Program Dates: Multiple start dates year-round; self-paced over four weeks (90 days access)
Application Deadline: Rolling admission; typically one week before selected start date
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+; enrolled in a secondary program
In this online pre-college course, you learn how businesses use data to drive decisions by working through real datasets, case studies, and applied analytics exercises. The curriculum covers data organization, cleaning, visualization, and classification, with an emphasis on interpreting patterns and extracting insights relevant to business strategy. You explore how companies analyze challenging data and apply analytics across industries, while also examining emerging trends such as AI and neural networks. The course is delivered through recorded lectures, demonstrations, and applied activities led by USC Marshall faculty, requiring you to actively interpret and communicate analytical findings. A notable feature is the opportunity to earn a Certificate of Completion from USC while building foundational business analytics skills in a flexible, high-school–accessible format.
9. Summer Venture in Business (SVB)
Cost: Free
Location: University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Program Dates: July 19–July 24
Application Deadline: February 13
Eligibility: Rising 11th–12th graders from Kansas or the Kansas City Metro area; minimum GPA or test-based index required
The Summer Venture in Business is a pre-college summer academy hosted by the University of Kansas School of Business for high school students exploring careers in business. During this week-long, in-person program, you’ll be introduced to core business topics while gaining exposure to college-level coursework and campus life. The program also focuses on practical preparation for college, including guidance on admissions, academic success, and long-term career planning. In addition to classroom sessions, you’ll participate in interactive activities and presentations designed to build confidence, communication skills, and familiarity with business environments.
10. High School Summer Enrichment: Pre-Business Program (PBP)
Cost: $2,000; limited need-based tuition waivers and reductions available
Location: Howard University, Washington, DC
Program Dates: July 18–July 24 or July 25–July 31
Application Deadline: Early – March 16 | Regular – April 3
Eligibility: Rising 10th–11th graders with a strong interest in business
The Pre-Business Program (PBP) at Howard University’s School of Business is a residential summer enrichment program designed for high school students seriously considering a future in business. You’ll live on campus and explore foundational business disciplines such as accounting, finance, information systems, actuarial science, music business, and entrepreneurship through a dedicated track model. The program combines faculty-led classroom instruction with company site visits, group case studies, and hands-on team projects focused on solving real business problems. In addition to academic exposure, you’ll participate in leadership development, team-building, and college-readiness activities that offer a realistic preview of business education at a historically Black university.
11. Kelley Women’s Leadership Institute (KWLI)
Cost: Free
Location: Indiana University Kelley School of Business, Bloomington, IN, or Virtual
Program Dates: April 22 & 29 (virtual) or select in-person dates in June–July
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Current sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a minimum 3.5 GPA
The Kelley Women’s Leadership Institute (KWLI) is a selective pre-college program designed to introduce high school students to business education, leadership development, and the college experience at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. You attend faculty-led lectures, work through a real business case, and engage in discussions around leadership, communication, and career exploration in business. You’ll interact with peers who share an interest in business, gain exposure to how business problems are approached at a top undergraduate business school, and reflect on which areas of business align with your long-term academic and professional goals. While the program is short in duration, it offers meaningful mentorship, early college exposure, and a strong signal of interest for students considering business or leadership-focused undergraduate pathways.
12. Think Like an Entrepreneur Summer Academy (TLAE) - Rowan University
Cost: Free
Location: Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
Program Dates: June 23–26
Application Deadline: May 18
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (U.S. residents)
The Think Like an Entrepreneur Summer Academy (TLAE) is a selective, four-day, non-residential pre-college program hosted by Rowan University’s School of Innovation & Entrepreneurship. In this immersive experience, you work in teams to identify practical problems and develop viable business solutions from idea to pitch. The curriculum covers problem solving, customer discovery, design thinking, the Business Model Canvas, prototyping, financial analysis, storytelling, and pitching. TLAE introduces data-informed decision-making, financial reasoning, and structured problem analysis, making it a solid early option for students interested in business analytics, entrepreneurship, or strategy. Students who complete the program earn 3 transferable college credits, adding tangible academic value to the experience.
13. Business Strategy (Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies)
Cost: $3,200; financial aid available
Location: Online
Program Dates: June 15–26 or July 6–17
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Grades 9–11 at the time of application
This online Business Strategy course introduces you to how companies develop and sustain competitive advantages across global, industry, corporate, and functional levels. You study core strategy frameworks, including strategic vision, analysis, and formulation, and apply them to real-world business examples. The course emphasizes analytical reasoning, structured problem-solving, and strategic decision-making, which are foundational skills for business analytics, consulting, and economics pathways. Live online classes are combined with daily assignments and projects, offering a rigorous, discussion-driven academic experience within Stanford’s pre-college ecosystem.
14. Simplilearn SkillUp – Business Analysis Basics
Cost: Free (Certificate included)
Location: Online
Program Dates: Self-paced; 90 days of access
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: High school students; no prior coursework required
This short, self-paced course introduces you to core business analysis concepts that sit adjacent to business analytics, making it useful if you’re testing the waters before committing to a more technical program. You’ll study how businesses define problems, gather requirements, and use Excel-based analysis to support decision-making. The curriculum also clarifies the distinction between business analysts and data analysts, which is helpful if you’re exploring analytics-related career paths. While there are no large projects or datasets, you’ll gain foundational exposure to analytical thinking, structured problem-solving, and basic spreadsheet analysis.
15. Entrepreneurship For All (Part I): The UC Berkeley Startup Guide
Cost: Free to audit; paid certificate optional
Location: Online (via edX)
Program Dates: January 3–March 31
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Open to high school students; some prior exposure to business concepts recommended
This online course by BerkeleyX introduces you to the startup lifecycle through a data-informed, decision-driven lens. You’ll work through key stages such as idea validation, market sizing, product–market fit, and growth strategy, all of which rely heavily on analytical thinking rather than intuition. The curriculum emphasizes how founders use market data, customer signals, and performance metrics to make early-stage business decisions. Lessons are supported by practical case studies and insights from Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and investors, helping you understand how analytics shapes startup outcomes in practice. This course offers strong exposure to business analytics concepts used in entrepreneurship and strategy.
Image Source - Wharton logo