TL;DR
This review covers Georgetown’s Entrepreneurship Academy, a two-week, non-credit program in Washington, D.C., and how it differs from the longer Business & Leadership Academy. The Entrepreneurship Academy focuses on building and pitching one business idea, while the other covers business more broadly. You can apply if you’re in 8th to 12th grade this school year and have a 2.0 GPA. The 2026 tuition was $6,465 residential or $5,075 commuter, and Georgetown hasn’t posted 2027 fees yet. If you’d rather build a real startup than attend a short course, Young Founders Lab is worth a look.
Georgetown runs several summer academies, and third-party programs also use its campus. You should know exactly which program you’re looking at before you apply. This review covers what you learn, how admission works, what the program costs, and whether the experience justifies the price.
If you’re comparing options, you can also explore entrepreneurship programs in Washington, D.C. for high school students and free business programs for high school students.
Which entrepreneurship programs does Georgetown offer?
This review covers the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy only, not Georgetown’s other academies or third-party programs on its campus.
The Entrepreneurship Academy. This is a two-week, non-credit program run by Georgetown University’s Summer Programs for High School Students. It teaches entrepreneurship through classroom sessions, activities, guest speakers, and a final team pitch competition.
The Business & Leadership Academy. This is a separate three-week Georgetown academy with a broader scope. It covers decision-making and strategy, investing and finance, marketing, business management, ethics and law, and AI for business.
Summer Springboard’s Business & Entrepreneurship program. This is a third-party program held on Georgetown’s campus. Summer Springboard’s own site says its university campus partners don’t run or control its programs, so the location doesn’t make it a Georgetown-run offering.
Check the program provider before you apply.
What happens in the program?
You spend weekdays in academic programming from about 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., mixing lectures, workshops, discussions, guest speakers, and off-site visits.
The program follows how an idea turns into a business plan. You work through choosing a startup, market research, testing prototypes, business operations, social innovation, and global entrepreneurship. You also learn design thinking and brainstorming, plus risk management and finance, ethical business, leadership, teamwork, networking, and communication.
Teamwork is a main part of the program. You work in a small group to develop a business plan and a pitch presentation, then present your team’s idea in a final pitch competition. Georgetown also highlights chances to hear from experienced entrepreneurs across different industries.
Here’s the published sample weekday schedule:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7 a.m.–9 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9 a.m.–12 p.m. | Lectures, off-site visits, or practical sessions |
| 12 p.m.–1:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. | Lectures, off-site visits, or practical sessions |
| 3:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. | Discussion sections and capstone project |
| 5 p.m.–7 p.m. | Dinner |
| 7:30 p.m.–11 p.m. | Student activities and supervised residential life |
When you complete the program successfully, you receive a Certificate of Participation. It isn’t an academic qualification or college credit.
6 things to weigh before applying
Before spending several thousand dollars on two weeks of entrepreneurship education, weigh these six points.
1. The cost is high for a two-week program.
The 2026 residential tuition was $6,465, including housing and 19 meals a week. The commuter rate was $5,075 and didn’t include housing or meals. Travel and other expenses come on top, and 2027 fees haven’t been posted.
2. Commuting saves money, with conditions.
The commuter option saved $1,390 at 2026 prices. You must live with a parent, guardian, or another responsible adult they choose. Georgetown can deny a commuter request if your address is more than 45 minutes from campus, even at rush hour.
3. You don’t receive college credit.
The Entrepreneurship Academy is a non-credit program. If credit matters to you, look at Georgetown’s separate College Prep Program or Summer College.
4. The GPA requirement is modest.
You need good academic standing and at least a 2.0 GPA. A school official must be able to verify your GPA.
5. Getting admitted and getting a seat are two different things.
An offer of admission doesn’t reserve your place. Registration is first come, first served, and you must register and pay tuition to secure a seat.
6. You leave with a pitch, not necessarily a business.
The team project gives you practice brainstorming, researching, building, and presenting an idea. Two weeks is short for building a working company. If you want to register a business, our guide on how to start a business as a teenager covers the steps for minors.
Is the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy prestigious?
Georgetown’s name is well known, but this program accepts a broad group of students, and Georgetown doesn’t publish an acceptance rate.
No published selectivity numbers. Georgetown doesn’t share an acceptance rate for the Entrepreneurship Academy.
Broad requirements. You need a 2.0 GPA, a 300- to 500-word personal statement, and a School Official Reviewer Form.
Admission isn’t a seat. Georgetown approves applicants, who then register for programs while seats last.
Not a selective credential. Being admitted doesn’t mean you passed a highly selective process. Treat it as a paid pre-college experience.
The value lies in what you learn, who you meet, and how you use the experience afterward.
Who is eligible and how do you apply?
You can apply if you’re in 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade during the school year before the program and have at least a 2.0 GPA.
Your application has three parts:
Personal statement. Write 300 to 500 words on why you want to attend Georgetown’s Summer High School Programs.
School Official Reviewer Form. Give the contact details of a school counselor (preferred), advisor, teacher, or principal who can speak to your readiness and verify your GPA. Georgetown emails them the form.
Application fee. The fee is $50 and nonrefundable, but it’s waived if Georgetown receives your application by the early bird deadline.
Georgetown’s pages list January 31 as the early bird deadline and May 15 as the final deadline, with later applications reviewed case by case. Decisions can take up to three weeks after your application is complete. Don’t wait for the final deadline, because programs fill fast.
International students can apply too. Georgetown doesn’t require TOEFL scores or an I-20, F-1, or J-1 visa for its Academies. It does recommend strong enough English to follow lectures, discussions, and presentations, and international students pay a health insurance fee.
Who is the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy best for?
The program fits a high school student who wants to explore entrepreneurship on a university campus and can afford the cost.
| If you... | Is the academy a fit? |
|---|---|
| Are curious about startups | Good fit. You choose a startup concept and build a plan with your team, so you don’t need to arrive with an idea. |
| Live near campus | Good fit. The commuter option avoids housing costs, as long as you meet Georgetown’s commuting rules. |
| Want to try teamwork and pitching | Good fit. You’ll find out whether you enjoy solving problems with others and presenting ideas. |
| Want a selective achievement for your profile | Weaker fit. The program isn’t highly selective. |
| Already run a business | Weaker fit. A two-week intro is unlikely to give you the funding, individual mentorship, or ongoing support you need to scale. |
If price is your main concern, an expensive residential program isn’t the only way to build entrepreneurial skills. Our list of entrepreneurship programs for high school students covers a wide range of costs and formats.
Pros and cons of the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy
The academy gives you a structured, short introduction to entrepreneurship, but it’s expensive, carries no credit, and doesn’t promise a seat after admission.
Pros
A structured introduction. You get lectures, workshops, off-site visits, and a capstone project in two weeks.
Team and pitch practice. You build a business plan in a small group and pitch it in a final competition.
Exposure to entrepreneurs. Georgetown highlights guest speakers from different industries.
Flexible entry. The program is open from 8th to 12th grade with a 2.0 GPA, and it offers residential and commuter options.
Easier for international students. Georgetown doesn’t require TOEFL scores or a visa for its Academies.
Limited scholarships. Need-based scholarships are available for admitted students, though they’re competitive.
Cons
The price. The 2026 tuition ran $5,075 to $6,465 for two weeks.
No college credit. You earn a Certificate of Participation only.
Low selectivity. It isn’t a highly selective credential.
No guaranteed seat. You must register and pay after admission, and seats fill on a first-come, first-served basis.
A short timeline. Two weeks is enough for a pitch, not a working business.
Unconfirmed 2027 details. Fees and dates haven’t been posted yet.
Our review: Is it worth it?
The Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy can be worth it if you want a structured, short introduction to entrepreneurship and can afford it. It combines classroom learning, practical activities, guest speakers, and a final pitch competition. The two-week format also lets you explore the subject without a longer commitment.
The cost is hard to overlook. At the 2026 residential price of $6,465, you’re paying several thousand dollars for an experience with no college credit, no highly selective credential, and no finished business. Even the $5,075 commuter option is a substantial expense.
Our verdict: The program can be worthwhile if you’re truly interested in entrepreneurship, want to experience Georgetown’s campus, and have the financial support to attend. If your main goal is to launch a business, you may get more from a program with longer-term mentorship, startup resources, or funding opportunities. If affordability matters, explore free and lower-cost alternatives first. The Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy is best understood as a short educational experience that helps you explore entrepreneurship, not a guarantee of entrepreneurial success.
Frequently asked questions: Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy for high school students
1. How much does the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy cost?
The 2026 tuition was $6,465 for residential students, including housing and meals, and $5,075 for commuters. Georgetown hasn’t posted Summer 2027 fees and says to check back on November 16, 2026, so treat these as last year’s prices. The residential rate includes housing and 19 meals a week, while commuters can buy an optional meal plan separately. Applying costs $50, which is waived if you apply by the early bird deadline.
2. Do you receive college credit from the Entrepreneurship Academy?
No, the Entrepreneurship Academy is a non-credit program. You receive a Certificate of Participation when you complete it successfully. If you want college credit, Georgetown offers separate College Prep and Summer College programs.
3. Is financial aid available for the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy?
Yes, Georgetown offers a limited number of need-based scholarships to students admitted to its Academies. Scholarships cover tuition only, aren’t guaranteed, and require you to be admitted before you apply. Georgetown’s Costs & Scholarships page says the Academy scholarship application for Summer 2027 is scheduled to open in late December 2026, with March 2 listed as the deadline for non-credit Academies. Expect to answer two essay prompts, and check the page for updates.
4. Can international students attend the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy?
Yes, international students can attend. Georgetown doesn’t require an I-20, F-1, or J-1 visa or TOEFL scores for its Academies. It does recommend strong enough English to follow lectures, discussions, and presentations. You also pay a health insurance fee, which is $90 for two-week Academies, and you should check entry requirements for your country with Georgetown’s Office of Global Services.
5. How does the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy compare with other entrepreneurship programs?
It’s a short, university-run introduction to entrepreneurship, so compare it with other programs by cost, length, format, and the support you want afterward. Some programs run online, accept younger students, offer college credit, or give you longer mentorship. Our guide to online entrepreneurship programs for high school students covers virtual options that don’t require travel.
6. What skills do you gain from the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Academy?
According to Georgetown, you build public speaking and communication skills, networking strategies, and team-building techniques. You also learn design thinking and brainstorming, research and prototyping, and how risk management and finance affect a business. Your team puts these skills to work by building a business plan and pitching it in a final competition.
Want to keep building after two weeks, with a mentor guiding you one-on-one? The Young Founders Lab Individual Program pairs you with a one-on-one mentor for 12 hours of personalized coaching, with a flexible start date, while you build and launch your own revenue-generating startup. Apply here. You can also browse the YFL program brochure.