15 Marketing Bootcamps for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in marketing, attending a boot camp is a useful way to explore the field in greater detail. Marketing bootcamps often combine workshops, group projects, and mentorship from instructors or industry professionals, allowing you to build practical skills and gain exposure to real marketing work.
What do marketing bootcamps involve?
As a participant, you may learn about branding, advertising, consumer behavior, social media strategy, market research, and digital content creation while applying these concepts to campaigns and business ideas. Many bootcamps also give you the chance to work with like-minded students, receive guidance from mentors, and build connections with professionals in business and media.
Why attend a marketing bootcamp in high school?
Marketing bootcamps give you a concentrated look at how brands are actually built and communicated, covering skills that take years to pick up otherwise. You leave with tangible outputs like campaign plans, portfolio pieces, or real client work that demonstrate what you can do, not just what you have studied. Many programs also connect you to professionals and peers who are already working in the field.
To help you get started, we've put together 15 marketing bootcamps for high school students. For related opportunities, check out our guides on marketing internships for high school students in Chicago and entrepreneurship summer programs in Chicago.
Quick Look
1 fully virtual program open to all high school students: Young Founders Lab (financial aid available, multiple cohorts year-round)
2 programs focused specifically on digital or social media marketing: Social Media Marketing Summer Program (in-person NYC or live online) and Boston Leadership Institute Marketing & Social Media (Waltham, MA)
Paid programs: range from $260 (SKEMA Sales Foundations, 2 days) to $9,599 residential (UCLA Summer Discovery); financial aid available at Young Founders Lab and Columbia University Pre-College
4 programs in New York City: NYU Integrated Marketing, Columbia Digital Media and Advertising, FIT Introduction to Advertising, and NSLC Marketing & Public Relations (at Columbia)
1 program restricted to graduating seniors or older: Emma Bowen Foundation (minimum 18 years old, graduating high school seniors or undergraduates only)
Earliest deadlines: UCLA Summer Discovery (December 16 for discount), Columbia Digital Media (March 2), and NYU Integrated Marketing (March 14 for international students)
15 Marketing Bootcamps for High School Students
1. Advertising, Marketing, & Public Relations by UCLA Summer Discovery Programs
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $9,599 (residential) | $4,699 (commuter)
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 28 – July 17 | July 19 – August 7
Application Deadline: December 16 for a $250 discount on your tuition fees and to receive your first-choice course preference
Eligibility: Grades 9-12
In this marketing bootcamp for high school students, you will learn how advertising, marketing, and public relations work together to help companies communicate with customers. You will study consumer behavior, marketing research, branding, product management, pricing, promotion, and competitive analysis. Through case studies, practical exercises, and real-world applications, you will build marketing plans and examine communication strategies. You may create a brand with a logo, slogan, and message, design advertisements, and develop social media content. The class encourages teamwork, discussion, and critical thinking. You will also complete portfolio-building work and receive a Course Completion Certificate and Letter of Recognition after successfully finishing the program.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: 100% virtual, with live interactive workshops
Cost: Varies depending on program type (need-based financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: 4-week program starting June 5th, tentatively
Application Deadline: Early Decision: March | Regular Admission 1: April | Regular Admission 2: May
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founders Lab is a real-world startup bootcamp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. You will work towards building a revenue-generating startup that addresses a real-world problem, mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. Alongside building your startup, you'll participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and ideation, workshops, skill-building sessions, case studies, and panel discussions. Through live, interactive workshops, you learn how to conduct customer discovery, test value propositions, analyze competitors, and refine your messaging. You can check out the brochure here and access the application here.
3. Marketing & Personal Branding Academy
Location: Georgetown University Main Campus, Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: $50 (application fee), $6,465 (residential) & $5,075 (commuter); None
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – July 3
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 8-12 with at least a 2.0 GPA; international and homeschooled students are welcome to apply
At Georgetown’s Marketing & Personal Branding Academy, you will study marketing through both business and personal branding. You will attend lectures, join group discussions, complete hands-on assignments, and take part in off-site visits. Industry speakers share their career paths across areas such as content creation, data analytics, and social media. By working in small teams, you will develop a marketing plan for a real Washington, D.C.-based client and build an integrated pitch. You will also create your own brand strategy, strengthen networking and communication skills, and examine ethical marketing practices.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote — work from anywhere in the world
Cost: Varies by program type (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective startup internship program for ambitious students. You'll work with a high-growth startup on real projects across industries, including tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder's startups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars: past founders include YCombinator alums and former employees of Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. Depending on your placement, you may assist with market research, social media strategy, content creation, customer outreach, analytics, or growth experiments. You can apply here.
5. Integrated Marketing: Innovation and Strategy
Location: New York University, Washington Square Campus, NY
Cost: $50 (non-refundable application fee), $2,579 (tuition), & $684 (housing & dining fees)
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 10, July 13 – 17, July 20 – 24, July 27 – 31, August 3 – 7
Application Deadline: International student deadline (non-US citizen/resident): March 14, residential student deadline (living on campus): April 29, commuter student deadline (living off campus/own arrangements): June 12
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grades 9, 10, or 11
In this NYU marketing bootcamp for high school students, you will examine how brands build communication strategies across industries such as fashion, entertainment, healthcare, and finance. You will learn how integrated marketing combines tactical planning with broader business goals. Through lectures, discussions, site visits, and guest speakers, you will study current industry practices and marketing trends. Working with classmates, you will create marketing plans that can be added to your portfolio, explore digital and interactive marketing, and consider how communication strategies change over time. By the end of the program, you will gain practical knowledge of branding, campaign planning, audience engagement, and measurable marketing communication.
6. Summer Springboard Marketing Bootcamp
Location: California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo, CA
Cost: $99 (application fee) | $5,398 (residential); $2,998 (commuter)
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students who have completed 8th grade of high school by program start date with a 3.0 Grade Point Average (or local equivalent); international students must demonstrate proficiency in English via a telephone interview.
At Cal Poly’s Marketing Bootcamp, you will spend two weeks building a marketing campaign around an online business idea. You will research customer needs, create consumer personas, estimate market size, and study distribution channels. As you shape your campaign, you will learn branding principles and produce personalized marketing materials using Adobe InDesign and variable data techniques. The program combines classroom instruction with visits to marketing agencies and conversations with industry professionals. You will also examine how companies position products and evaluate advertising strategies.
7. Digital Media and Advertising by Columbia University Pre-College Programs
Location: Columbia University, New York City, NY
Cost: $80 (application fee), $6,381 (financial aid available)
Cohort Size: 24 students
Dates: July 21 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 2
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12 and freshman year of college; homeschooled and international students are welcome to apply
In Columbia’s Digital Media and Advertising course, you will study how companies use digital platforms to promote products and shape consumer decisions. You will examine search, video, social media, display advertising, gaming, and other marketing channels while learning how AI supports advertising strategies. Through class discussions and applied coursework, you will explore audience targeting, consumer influence, data ethics, privacy concerns, and digital communication methods. The program also asks you to consider the responsibilities that come with using consumer data. As the marketing bootcamp for high school students progresses, you will work toward a final project presentation where you apply advertising concepts and present your ideas to others.
8. Introduction to Advertising and Marketing Communications
Location: Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City, NY
Cost: $540
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 21
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High School students entering grades 9 through 12
At FIT’s Introduction to Advertising and Marketing Communications course, you will explore how brands connect with audiences through advertising, publicity, and events. You will learn by storyboarding TV commercials, creating publicity campaigns, and developing special event concepts. The course introduces the fundamentals of effective advertising, media communication, and brand messaging. Through project-based work, you will practice creative thinking, campaign planning, and communication skills used across the industry. FIT professionals teach the class and share insights from their fields. The program is designed for students interested in careers such as brand management, media buying, advertising account management, journalism, or copywriting.
9. Vogue Summer School: Fashion Business
Location: Vogue College of Fashion, New York City, NY
Cost: $7,695 (residential), $6,195 (commuter)
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 7 – 19, June 21 – July 3, July 5 – 17, July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12 and graduating seniors; students must be in the age group 15-18
In this marketing bootcamp for high school students, you will study how branding, marketing, promotion, and business strategy shape the fashion industry. You will learn from Vogue staff, fashion academics, and industry professionals while exploring topics such as retail, sustainability, beauty, and creative services. Working in small teams, you will create a business concept and pitch it to industry professionals. The program also includes visits to Vogue HQ, designer studios, museums, galleries, and flagship stores across New York City. Guest speakers include fashion designers, entrepreneurs, journalists, and curators. Along the way, you will build presentation, collaboration, marketing, and business planning skills.
10. Psychology of Marketing August Internships
Location: Online
Cost: $2,395
Cohort Size: 6 students
Dates: 4 weeks only Saturdays: August 1st, August 8th, August 15th, August 22nd
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Ages 15-18
Through the Psychology of Marketing internship, you will examine how consumer decisions are shaped by cognitive biases, emotions, social proof, scarcity, and cultural influences. You will work in a small group with a mentor to study real marketing campaigns and evaluate how psychological theories operate in practice. Across four weeks, you will conduct original research, review academic literature, and contribute to a co-authored research paper intended for publication. Live online sessions encourage discussion and collaboration, while independent project work helps strengthen research and analytical skills. You will also receive a certificate of completion and be eligible to enter the WSR Best Review Award competition.
11. NSLC Marketing & Public Relations
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $4,495 (residential)
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 8 – 16, July 20 – 28
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in the age group 14-18 who have completed at least one year of high school
At NSLC Marketing & Public Relations, you will study how ideas, strategy, and storytelling help brands connect with audiences. You will create a marketing campaign from concept to launch and examine how companies stay relevant as trends and conversations change. Through interactive projects and simulations, you will learn how communication strategies shape public perception, trust, and credibility. Guest speakers from organizations such as NBC Studios, Inc. Magazine, Nike, and Sephora share industry perspectives. The program also includes visits that may feature advertising agencies, Edelman Public Relations, The Paley Center for Media, Poster House Museum, and Times Square.
12. Boston Leadership Institute - Marketing & Social Media
Location: Gann/Bentley or Waltham, MA
Cost: $699 (tuition) & $200 (to secure your seat)
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – July 3
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
At Boston Leadership Institute’s Marketing & Social Media program, you will learn how brands build an audience and communicate online. During the one-week program, you will explore topics such as brand identity, social media algorithms, organic reach, SEO, ROI, and calls to action. You will work with marketing tools and platforms used by professionals, brainstorm content ideas, study social media trends, and analyze what makes campaigns effective. You may also create a marketing deck to give a brand a consistent look and message. This marketing bootcamp for high school students includes hands-on activities, collaborative projects, and opportunities to strengthen your communication, presentation, and creative thinking skills.
13. Sales Foundations: Building Your Core Selling Skills
Location: SKEMA Business School, Raleigh, NC
Cost: $260
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – 30
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students who want to boost their communication, persuasion, and confidence
At SKEMA Business School, you will spend two days learning the basics of sales through practical exercises and live activities. The program introduces AI tools used in modern sales and teaches you how to respond to objections during conversations. Through live roleplays and sales call simulations, you will apply what you learn in realistic situations. You also take part in a final pitch challenge where you present your ideas and receive feedback. By the end, you will leave with a sales toolkit, a certificate of completion, and stronger communication skills.
14. The Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship
Location: Various locations across the United States
Cost/Stipend: None; Paid
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Internships generally begin in May or June and last at least 8 continuous weeks
Application Deadline: September
Eligibility: High school senior OR an undergraduate college student who is graduating in Spring with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 and at least 18 years of age before the start of the internship
Through the Emma Bowen Foundation Summer Internship, you will work with partner companies in media, entertainment, and technology while building practical career experience. You will join a full-time internship and contribute to projects in areas such as marketing, public relations, journalism, digital media, sales, engineering, or software development. Along the way, you will learn workplace skills, gain industry exposure, and receive guidance from professionals. The program includes mentorship, career coaching, professional development opportunities, and access to industry events. You will also become part of a network of fellows, alumni, and partners. The experience continues through college, providing you with consistent, career-focused support.
15. Social Media Marketing Summer Program
Location: In-person at Madison Avenue, New York, NY or Live Online
Cost: $1,299
Cohort Size: Small class sizes
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
In this marketing bootcamp for high school students, you will learn how to build an online audience and create content for platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. You will work on real-world projects while developing skills in branding, content planning, audience engagement, and social media strategy. The program teaches you how to create written, visual, and video content suitable for different platforms and for reaching target audiences. You will also learn how to use analytics and market positioning to improve results. Expert instructors will guide your work, and small class sizes allow for individual attention. The program includes project-based training, mentoring support, and a certificate of completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which marketing bootcamps are open to freshmen or sophomores?
Most programs on this list accept students from grades 9-12. Georgetown's Marketing and Personal Branding Academy accepts students from grade 8 upward. Summer Springboard at Cal Poly accepts students who have completed 8th grade. NSLC Marketing and Public Relations accepts anyone who has completed at least one year of high school, which includes rising sophomores. Young Founders Lab accepts all high school students regardless of grade, with financial aid available and rolling cohorts throughout the year.
2. Are there free or low-cost marketing bootcamps for high school students?
There are no fully free programs on this list aside from the Emma Bowen Foundation, which is free and paid but is restricted to students aged 18 or older who are graduating seniors. The most affordable paid options are SKEMA Sales Foundations ($260, two days), Boston Leadership Institute ($699), and FIT's Introduction to Advertising ($540). Young Founders Lab offers need-based financial aid and includes substantial marketing curriculum, customer discovery, brand positioning, and go-to-market strategy as part of its startup-building program.
3. Which marketing bootcamps include hands-on project work rather than purely lectures?
Several programs emphasize applied learning. Columbia Digital Media and Advertising concludes with a final project presentation on advertising concepts. Cal Poly's Marketing Bootcamp has you build a full marketing campaign for an online business using Adobe InDesign. Georgetown's Marketing Academy has you develop a marketing plan for a real D.C.-based client. NYU Integrated Marketing produces portfolio-ready campaign plans. The Psychology of Marketing program includes co-authoring an original research paper. Young Founders Lab goes furthest in this direction by having you build and market an actual venture throughout the entire program.