10 Business Camps for High School Students
If you’re looking for an accessible and focused way to engage with the field of business as a high school student, consider a business camp!
What are business camps? How are they different from business programs?
Business camps tend to be shorter and more hands-on than business programs. While programs last months, camps typically span a few weeks. Business camps help you build practical experience through activities such as pitch competitions, whereas programs are usually more structured and academic. Where a program would offer a curriculum and theory, a camp can provide opportunities to network with entrepreneurs and professionals. If you’re interested in learning how to launch your own startup or work in a fast-paced business environment, a camp may be a good choice for you.
Why should I participate in a business camp?
Beyond building practical skills, business camps offer a chance to meet like-minded peers, connect with industry experts, and build confidence. The networking opportunities these business camps provide can help you understand the field before you enter college. Even if setting up a business isn’t the end goal, the experience develops teamwork, critical thinking, and leadership—valuable in any career path you choose.
Business camps are a great way for high school students to develop real-world skills, from marketing and finance to leadership and problem-solving. Through hands-on projects and mentorship, you will learn to think strategically, communicate effectively, and tackle challenges. Business camps are especially useful if you want to start a business or stand out in college applications, but don’t want to commit to a program that spans months/quarters in the school year!.
Here are 10 great business camps for high schoolers:
Camp Business at Drexel University
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Commuter Session: $950 | Residential Session: $2,000. There is a small number of alumni-sponsored need-based scholarships available.
Program Dates: Commuter (July 9 - 14) | Residential (July 16 - July 21)
Application Deadline: There is no information on this at the moment. The deadline will be announced in the winter when applications open.
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors can apply, including international students.
Camp Business is a one-week residential program that aims to broaden your business understanding. This program offers the opportunity to experience collegiate-level business studies, where you will gain foundational business knowledge and experience life on a college campus. This program provides a insight into both collegiate and corporate business. The curriculum covers key business sectors, including accounting, marketing, finance, and management. During the program, you will also work on a team business pitch competition.
Location: Livingston Campus; Piscataway, NJ
Cost: $2,500 for the week, including room & board, meals, and field trips.
Program Dates: July 6 - July 12 | July 13 - July 19
Application Deadline: Applications close once all seats are filled, usually by the end of January.
Eligibility: Open to all high school students.
The Rutgers Business School Summer Camp introduces you to key business fields like marketing, management, accounting, finance, and supply chain. This residential camp takes place at the Livingston Campus in Piscataway, and it covers all fees, housing, and meals. You will explore business through faculty-led sessions, company visits, and a business plan competition while experiencing college life. This business camp is competitive, and application submission does not guarantee admission.
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: The total cost to attend the 4-week program is $2900. There is need-based financial aid.
Program Dates: Vary according to cohort.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 real-world start-up bootcamp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. Although not a traditional business camp, this program is a solid option for students who want to launch their own start-up in a focused manner. 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.
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.
University of South Florida’s Bulls Finance Camp
Location: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: $650
Program Dates: June 14 - June 18
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all the slots are filled.
Eligibility: Open to high school students (9th - 12th grade)
The University of South Florida’s Bull Finance Camp introduces finance, covering investments, corporate finance, financial planning, and FinTech. The camp highlights the importance of financial literacy in building a successful business. You will learn from experienced finance professionals, work on group projects, and connect with USF finance majors. Along with exploring the USF campus, you will discover various career paths in finance. Whether you’re interested in a finance career or starting a business, this camp is a great opportunity!
Georgetown University Entrepreneur Academy
Location: Georgetown University
Cost: $5,950
Program Dates: June 15 - June 27
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Be a current or rising high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior during the academic year before the summer program; have at least a 2.0 GPA
Georgetown University's Entrepreneurship Academy is a two-week program that covers entrepreneurship, market research, and global business operations. Designed to blend theory with hands-on learning, it teaches design thinking and brainstorming to help you turn ideas into business plans. You will work in teams to develop and pitch a business plan in a final competition, gaining experience in business planning and presentations. The program includes guest lectures, case studies, discussions, and activities to build critical thinking and teamwork skills.
Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) - High School Entrepreneurship
Location: UC Berkeley, CA
Cost: California Resident - $6,292 | Out of State Resident - $7,332
Program Dates: July 5 - July 19 (Session I) | July 19 - August 2 (Session II)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis; March 1 for submission of documents
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply.
The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) brings together 50 students from around the world to explore business at Berkeley. The program covers business formation, development, and real-world applications. You will work on research, computer lab assignments, and team projects, including creating a complete business plan and presenting it at the end. B-BAY also helps you prepare for college admissions, offering guidance from advisors and undergraduates on applications and essays. At the end of the program, you will receive a UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth Certificate of Completion. Spots fill up quickly, so applying early is a good idea.
Harvard Student Agencies Business Academy
Location: Harvard University Campus
Cost: $1,800
Program Dates: Five-day sessions between June and August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: 9th- 12th-grade high school students. Students must be 14+ years old at the time of the program to attend.
At Harvard Student Agencies Business Academy, you can explore entrepreneurship and business management through two programs. In the Business Entrepreneurship Academy, you will learn how to start and grow a business and understand the startup ecosystem. You’ll develop a business idea, refine it based on market research, and present it in a startup pitch. The program covers key skills such as business planning, SWOT analysis, crafting elevator pitches, and applying insights from case studies. The Business Management and Strategy Academy focuses on solving real business challenges, from increasing profits to launching new products. Acting as consultants, you’ll analyze data, develop strategies, and explore topics like mergers, acquisitions, pricing, and financial statements.
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
Location: University of Michigan Ross Campus
Cost: $5,500; scholarships are available
Program Dates: June 14 - 28
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: You must be a current rising high school senior to apply. Preference will be given to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. You must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy is a two-week program that introduces students to business. It’s designed for students who want to explore business development, how leaders solve problems, and what it’s like to study business at Michigan Ross. Through this program, you’ll gain insight into business operations and experience college life. You’ll connect with Ross faculty, industry experts, and company partners. The program emphasizes leadership with purpose, encouraging you to think about the impact of business decisions. The coursework is challenging and at a college level.
Location: Online
Cost: $2,750 - $3,000
Program dates: October 7 - December 16
Application Deadline: September 17
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 can apply.
BETA Camp is a 100% virtual startup incubator for high schoolers eager to work on their own business idea. The program employs a fully online format, including self-paced modules, live meetings, and mentorship sessions with entrepreneurs and industry leaders. Over four weeks, you will cover essential startup components such as market research, prototype development, fundraising, and marketing.
Bank of America’s Student Leaders Program
Location: Various nonprofit organizations across New Jersey; the summit is in Washington, D.C.
Cost: The program includes a paid internship and a fully funded trip to the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C.
Program Dates: 8 weeks during the summer, including the summit from July 21 - 26
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors with U.S. work authorization and permanent residence in one of the eligible locations
The Bank of America’s Student Leaders Program offers an opportunity to engage in an 8-week paid internship with local nonprofit organizations, gaining experience in community service and leadership. Although not strictly a business camp, this program allows you to build your leadership skills in a span of a few weeks, and is super focused as well! You’ll attend a national leadership summit and serve your community by working with organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Habitat for Humanity. This highly selective program has only 300 students making it to the final cohort yearly and an acceptance rate of 5-8%.