15 Leadership Pre-College Programs for High School Students
Leadership shows up in almost every field, whether you are starting something of your own, working in business, or moving toward finance. For high school students thinking about these paths, leadership pre-college programs offer a way to see what leadership looks like before it becomes a job requirement.
What do leadership pre-college programs for high school students involve?
Leadership pre-college programs often place students in roles where they are expected to speak up, organize others, and make choices that affect a group. You may work through leadership challenges, manage small teams, or respond to real-world scenarios tied to business or social impact. The focus stays on how leaders communicate, handle pressure, and take responsibility when outcomes are uncertain.
How can leadership pre-college programs be useful for a high schooler?
Since pre-college programs are hosted by universities, they carry more academic weight than local workshops or clubs. They show colleges that you have worked in a university environment and handled higher expectations. These programs also provide access to faculty, mentors, and peers who are serious about leadership paths, which strengthens applications and gives students clear experiences to discuss in interviews.
If you’re looking for more options to consider, you can also look into virtual leadership programs for high school students. For a social impact focus, you can consider nonprofit leadership programs for high school students.
With that in mind, here are 15 leadership pre-college programs for high school students!
15 Leadership Pre-College Programs for High School Students
1. MIT Leadership Training Institute (LTI)
Cost: Free (fully funded through donations and grants)
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA
Program Dates: Spring program; 9 weeks, meeting every Sunday
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Boston-area high school students; must be able to attend weekly in-person sessions on MIT’s campus
MIT Leadership Training Institute runs as a weekly commitment rather than a short burst experience. You return to campus every Sunday for leadership workshops that focus on communication, judgment, and working with others over time. The core of the program is your own community project, which you design, plan, and carry through with peer support. Mentorship from an MIT student keeps you accountable and grounded as challenges come up. Leadership here is treated as follow-through, and responsibility is built slowly through action.
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. University of Notre Dame Leadership Seminars
Cost: Free tuition, housing, and meals
Location: University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Program Dates: July 18–29
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Rising seniors (current high school juniors), age 16+ by August 1; strong academics and demonstrated leadership
The University of Notre Dame runs these seminars as focused academic experiences for students with established leadership records. You enroll in one intensive course taught by faculty and spend days in discussion centered on real-world problems. Topics vary but always require careful reading, argumentation, and ethical consideration. The format mirrors college seminars with high expectations for preparation and engagement. Leadership is treated as judgment, discipline, and responsibility expressed through ideas.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Application deadline: Varies 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. Through this program, you will gain leadership and problem-solving skills under the guidance of your mentor. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company.
5. Brown Leadership Institute
Cost: On campus (2 weeks): $6,052 (residential) or $4,748 (commuter); Online (4 weeks): $5,778; Need-based scholarships available for eligible U.S. students
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI (on campus) or online
Program Dates: On campus (2 weeks): June 21–July 2 or July 12–July 24; Online (4 weeks): June 22–July 17
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Grades 9–12; ages 14–18 by mid-June; no prior leadership experience required
Brown Leadership Institute is built around the idea that leadership shows up in action, not titles. You choose a course area and spend your time in discussion-heavy seminars where social issues are examined from ethical, civic, and practical angles. Classes are paired with workshops that focus on how groups work, how decisions are made, and how ideas are communicated. A central part of the experience is developing an Action Plan that responds to a real issue you care about and can realistically carry forward after the program ends. Working closely with peers from different backgrounds sharpens listening, collaboration, and judgment.
6. Leadership in the Business World (LBW)
Cost: $11,899 program fee; need-based scholarships and financial aid are available
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Program Dates: June 7–June 27; June 28–July 18; July 19–August 8
Application Deadline: Priority: January 28; Final: March 18
Eligibility: Rising seniors (current grade 11); minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA; demonstrated leadership experience; international students eligible
Leadership in the Business World places you inside a fast-paced residential business environment modeled on Wharton coursework. You work in teams on case studies and simulations that require structured thinking and clear communication, necessary for leadership. Business frameworks are introduced as tools for analysis. A capstone competition pulls together research strategy and teamwork into a formal presentation. Faculty lectures and guest sessions add context around finance negotiation and emerging business issues. The program expects sustained focus and collaborative effort throughout.
7. Sports Management & Leadership – Boston Leadership Institute
Cost: $699 tuition + $699 residential fee (residential optional)
Location: Gann Academy / Bentley University area, Waltham, MA
Program Dates: July 27–July 31
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment until seats fill
Eligibility: High school students; interest in business, sports, or leadership; no prior coursework required
Boston Leadership Institute approaches leadership through the business side of sports and entertainment. You study how teams, brands, and events are managed while working through real scenarios drawn from the industry. Group projects focus on marketing strategy, athlete branding, and decision-making under pressure. Guest speakers share how leadership plays out in professional sports settings. The structure is short and intensive with emphasis on participation, communication, and initiative.
8. Great American Leadership Program
Cost: Not specified
Location: Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA; Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum, Simi Valley, CA
Program Dates: Summer sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling interest-based application
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12; interest in civic leadership, public service, or values-based leadership
The Great American Leadership Program frames leadership through values, history, and public responsibility. You examine decision-making using historical case material tied to American governance. Much of the learning happens through simulations, challenges, and small group discussions. Visits to national institutions ground ideas in a physical context. The program emphasizes confidence, communication, and ethical judgment shaped by real examples of leadership under pressure.
9. Wake Forest Summer Immersion Leadership Institute
Cost: $3,500 (overnight, one-week residential); Tuition subject to change per year
Location: Wake Forest University Reynolda Campus, Winston-Salem, NC
Program Dates: Week of June 7–12 and week of June 21–26
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Grades 9–12; current high school students; overnight residential program
Wake Forest University runs this institute as a concentrated week of practice and reflection rather than a lecture-driven program. You live on campus and spend your days working through communication, trust building, and decision-making in group settings. Sessions focus on how leadership shows up in relationships, especially when navigating difference, failure, or pressure. Case discussions and simulations ask you to respond in real time and adjust based on feedback. Service work with local nonprofits grounds the experience outside the classroom, while resume and strengths workshops keep it practical.
10. Tufts University Leadership for Social Change
Cost: $5,750 (residential); $3,800 (virtual); Financial aid available for select students
Location: Tufts University, Medford/Somerville, MA (residential or virtual options)
Program Dates: Session 1: July 5–17
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Entering grades 10–12; must be at least 15 years old by the start of the program; no older than 19 before the program end date
Tufts University Tisch College of Civic Life treats leadership as something rooted in community rather than position. The first part of the program introduces different ways people create change through service policy advocacy and social enterprise, using faculty talks and conversations with practitioners. The second part shifts into applied work where you and a small group focus on a real issue from your home community. You research causes, stakeholders, and existing responses before proposing concrete steps forward. Student mentors stay with the group throughout, which creates continuity and space for reflection.
11. Fordham Summer Leaders Academy
Cost: $1,358–$5,885, depending on course and session length; credit-bearing courses available; financial aid may be available
Location: Fordham University, New York City (Rose Hill Campus, Bronx)
Program Dates: Multiple one-week and two-week sessions; June 22–26 (1-week); July 6–10 (1-week); July 6–16 (2-week); July 20–24 (1-week); July 20–30 (2-week)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors; open to high school students
Fordham University frames leadership through academic study, professional preparation, and community engagement. You enroll in a single course and follow a daily class schedule that blends discussion, writing, and applied projects. Course themes change each year, but often connect leadership to communication service or social innovation. Outside class time is structured around college preparation, career exploration, and shared activities across campus and the city. Admissions and career staff offer direct guidance while New York itself becomes part of the learning through visits and excursions.
12. Harvard Pre-College Summer School Program
Cost: $6,100; limited need-based financial aid is available
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Program Dates: Session I: June 21–July 2; Session II: July 5–July 17; Session III: July 19–July 31
Application Deadline: April 1 (earlier deadlines for priority financial aid)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors; must be at least 16 years old by mid-June; non-credit program.
Harvard Pre-College Program places you inside a short but demanding academic routine without the pressure of grades. You enroll in a single college-level course and meet in small classes where discussion, reading, and writing drive the work. Faculty guide conversations around leadership, ethics, policy, and economics using case material rather than lectures alone. Outside class time is intentionally open, which pushes you to manage your schedule and priorities. The residential setting adds to the experience by surrounding you with peers who are equally focused on ideas and debate.
13. Leadership & Service - American University
Cost: $3,095; scholarships available
Location: American University, Washington, DC
Program Dates: June 16–June 21; June 26–July 1; July 5–July 10
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (until sessions fill)
Eligibility: High school students; no prior leadership or service experience required
American University runs this program as a short, intensive experience that links leadership to service. You spend part of the week in workshops focused on communication, teamwork, and self-awareness, and the rest applying those ideas through community-based projects. Designing a service initiative forces you to move from discussion to planning and persuasion. Direct work with local organizations grounds leadership concepts in real constraints and responsibilities. Time in Washington adds context to conversations about public service and civic roles. The structure is fast-paced and practical rather than academic.
14. Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS)
Cost: $7,000; need-based financial aid and access to scholarships covering up to the full cost of tuition are available
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Program Dates: Session I: June 21–July 3; Session II: July 5–July 17; Session III: July 19–July 31
Application Deadline: January 7
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors (or international equivalent); ages 16–18 by mid-July; graduating in the next two years; must be fluent in English; first-time YYGS participants only (previous YYGS attendees not eligible)
Yale Young Global Scholars approaches leadership through interdisciplinary study and global comparison. You join a thematic track and spend your days in seminars, simulations, and group discussions that tackle complex international problems. Faculty push you to argue with evidence, consider trade-offs, and question assumptions. Living and working with students from many countries shapes how conversations unfold and forces constant perspective shifting. Residential life is structured and demanding, which mirrors the intensity of the academic schedule. Leadership here is treated as analysis, judgment, and collaboration rather than authority.
15. Harvard Secondary School Program (SSP)
Cost: $4,180–$15,735 depending on format and number of credits; need-based financial aid available for eligible U.S. students
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA (residential, commuting, or online options depending on format)
Program Dates: 7-week session: June 20–August 8; 4-week session: July 12–August 7
Application Deadline: April 1 (earlier deadlines for priority financial aid)
Eligibility: High school students graduating in the next three years; must be at least 16 years old by late June; academically prepared for college-level, credit-bearing coursework
Harvard Secondary School Program places you directly into credit-bearing university courses with the same expectations faced by undergraduates. You manage heavy reading, writing, and discussion-based classes that require independence and discipline. Subjects span areas closely tied to leadership and public decision-making, but the program does not frame them as leadership training. Growth comes from handling workload, meeting deadlines, and sustaining focus over weeks. Residential options add another layer of independence and self-regulation. Earning credit signals readiness for academic environments where leadership is expressed through rigor and follow-through.
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