15 Marketing Programs in California for High School Students
Marketing programs can be a valuable opportunity if you are interested in exploring careers in business, entrepreneurship, or analytics while still in high school.
What do marketing programs cover?
By joining a marketing program in California, you gain exposure to concepts like consumer behavior, digital marketing, branding, market research, and sales strategy, often through hands-on projects and collaborative startup simulations. Many programs combine workshops, case studies, and team projects, in which you might design a marketing campaign, analyze customer segments, or build a go-to-market strategy for a new product or venture.
Why participate in marketing programs in California?
These experiences help you understand how businesses attract customers, build brands, and grow in competitive markets. You develop practical skills such as data analysis, communication, presentation, and strategic thinking, which are valuable whether you plan to launch your own venture or pursue careers in consulting, marketing, product management, or entrepreneurship. Participating in a marketing program can also strengthen your college applications, especially if you are interested in business or economics.
For adjacent opportunities, you can check out marketing startup ideas and marketing courses for high school students.
Here is our list of 15 marketing programs in California for high school students.
15 Marketing Programs in California for High School Students
1. UCLA Anderson Summer Discovery – Digital Marketing & Social Media Academy
Cost: Paid program; tuition varies depending on program length
Location: UCLA Anderson School of Management, Los Angeles, CA
Program Dates: Program sessions typically run in 2–3 week blocks during the summer (exact dates vary each session)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until spots fill
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
In this program, you explore how brands use digital platforms to build audiences, launch campaigns, and measure marketing performance. In the Digital Marketing & Social Media Academy, you examine topics such as search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, social media strategy, mobile marketing, and web analytics through case studies and hands-on projects. You work through real marketing scenarios, analyzing how companies design campaigns across platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and online display advertising. The coursework also introduces you to campaign measurement tools and analytics frameworks used to track engagement and optimize marketing performance. Through group exercises and discussions with instructors and industry professionals, you develop skills in digital campaign planning, audience targeting, and content strategy.
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. Through live, interactive workshops, you learn how to conduct customer discovery, test value propositions, analyze competitors, and refine your messaging. 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. Cal Poly Summer Springboard – Marketing Bootcamp
Cost: $5,398 (Residential) / $2,998 (Commuter); need-based scholarships are available
Location: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA
Program Dates: July 19 – July 31
Application Deadline: Final general admission deadline: May 16; earlier waves close on February 23 and April 20
Eligibility: Rising high school students in grades 9–12; typically requires around a 3.0 GPA
In this marketing bootcamp, you work through the process of launching a product or online business from a marketing perspective. You begin by developing a business or product idea, then analyze the target audience by building consumer personas and evaluating the total available market (TAM). Throughout the program, you explore marketing fundamentals such as branding, distribution channels, advertising design, and campaign strategy. You also produce real marketing assets using tools like Adobe InDesign and variable data personalization techniques to design targeted promotional materials. Along the way, you interact with marketing professionals and industry speakers, giving you insight into how marketing strategies are developed and executed in real companies
4. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies depending on program type
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 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. Depending on your placement, you may assist with market research, social media strategy, content creation, customer outreach, analytics, or growth experiments. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
5. UCLA Summer Sessions – Summer Pre-college Programs for High School Students
Cost: Varies by course and program; scholarships available for eligible California high school students
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA (in-person and online options available)
Program Dates: Summer sessions run throughout June – August, depending on the selected course or program
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school students (typically grades 9–11) are eligible to enroll in approved UCLA summer courses
Through UCLA Summer Sessions, you can enroll in college-level courses while experiencing academic life at a major research university. High school participants may take one or two approved UCLA courses, studying alongside university students and earning transferable college credit. If you are interested in marketing or communications, you can choose relevant subjects such as marketing communications, media studies, entrepreneurship, or communication strategy, depending on course availability. In addition to academics, programs like the Summer College Immersion Program (SCIP) and Precollege Focus Series offer workshops, projects, and guest lectures designed to help you prepare for university study.
6. Warner Bros. Discovery – Reach Honorship Program
Cost: Free; includes scholarship and internship opportunities for selected students
Location: Warner Bros. Discovery Studios, Burbank, CA
Program Dates: Dates vary each year depending on the internship and scholarship schedule
Application Deadline: Typically announced annually for graduating seniors
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors with an interest in media, entertainment, and business careers
Through the Reach Honorship Program, you gain exposure to the business side of the media and entertainment industry while exploring career pathways in areas such as marketing, communications, operations, and content development. The program recognizes graduating seniors with a scholarship and internship package, giving you early access to professional environments within Warner Bros. Discovery. During the experience, you interact with industry professionals and learn how large entertainment companies promote films, shows, and digital content to global audiences. You also develop insight into how marketing campaigns, branding strategies, and audience engagement efforts operate within a major studio environment.
7. NSLC on Business & Entrepreneurship – UC Berkeley
Cost: $4,295
Location: University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco, CA
Program Dates: June 12 – June 20; June 24 – July 2
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until sessions are full
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
At the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) on Business & Entrepreneurship at UC Berkeley, you explore how businesses are built and scaled through hands-on simulations and collaborative projects. During the program, you work in teams to develop a business concept, identify target customers, and create a strategy for launching and pitching your venture. You participate in interactive workshops on entrepreneurship, leadership, and communication while learning how professionals analyze markets, build business models, and evaluate new opportunities. Guest speakers, including founders of Inc. 5000 companies and industry professionals in marketing and business strategy, share practical insights into how companies grow and compete. You also take part in site visits and industry tours around the Bay Area to see how startups and established businesses operate.
8. USC Pre-College – Digital Marketing: From Content Creation to Strategic Planning
Cost: $1,990
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (Online program)
Program Dates: Multiple start dates year-round; course typically completed in about 4 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines depending on the session (generally about five days before each start date)
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+ currently enrolled in a secondary school
In this USC pre-college course, you explore how companies build and execute digital marketing strategies across online platforms. Guided by faculty from the USC Marshall School of Business, you examine topics such as brand building, digital storytelling, customer experience design, and social media strategy. Through recorded lectures, campaign analysis exercises, and structured assignments, you learn how marketers develop digital marketing plans and evaluate campaign performance using analytics and data interpretation. You also explore how content creation, brand voice development, and platform selection influence audience engagement and online growth. Throughout the course, you analyze real marketing campaigns and apply marketing frameworks to understand how companies connect with target audiences online.
9. UC San Diego Extended Studies – Futures Marketing Series for High Schoolers
Cost: $390
Location: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA (Online program)
Program Dates: Self-paced courses typically run 3 weeks during summer sessions or about 10 weeks during fall, winter, and spring sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment while courses remain open
Eligibility: High school students interested in marketing and business fundamentals
In this marketing program, you explore how companies develop marketing strategies and communicate with target audiences across digital platforms. The Futures Marketing Series comprises multiple courses that cover concepts such as segmentation, targeting, and positioning (STP), the marketing mix, consumer decision-making, and digital marketing strategy. Throughout the coursework, you work on hands-on assignments, case studies, and marketing planning exercises that simulate real marketing scenarios. You also build practical skills in content creation, brand voice development, and social media marketing strategy. As you progress through the program, you analyze marketing data and analytics frameworks to understand how campaigns are evaluated and optimized.
10. California State University, Fullerton – Summer Leadership Institute
Cost: $999
Location: California State University, Fullerton, CA
Program Dates: July 7 – July 11
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students interested in leadership, business, and career development
At the Summer Leadership Institute, you explore core leadership and business principles through workshops, collaborative exercises, and practical group activities. During the program, you participate in hands-on leadership simulations and team-based problem-solving exercises that focus on communication, strategic thinking, and decision-making. You work alongside other high school students to analyze challenges and develop solutions while practicing presentation and leadership skills commonly used in business and marketing environments. The program emphasizes real-world skill development that can support future interests in business, marketing, management, and entrepreneurship. At the end of the institute, you receive a certificate from the Center for Leadership at CSUF recognizing your completion of the program.
11. Building Your Own Business – University of the Pacific Summer High School Institute
Cost: $3,800 (tuition, housing, meals, and program activities included)
Location: University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
Program Dates: June 1 – June 11; June 16 – June 26
Application Deadline: Rolling until sessions fill
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
In the Building Your Own Business program at the University of the Pacific’s Summer High School Institute, you explore how startups are designed and launched through hands-on projects and collaborative teamwork. During the program, you use the Business Model Canvas framework to develop a viable business idea by analyzing customer segments, value propositions, revenue streams, and operational structures. Working in small groups, you develop a mock food truck startup concept, researching the market, planning operations, and creating branding and marketing strategies for your venture. Sessions led by faculty from the Eberhardt School of Business and guest entrepreneurs introduce you to real-world topics such as opportunity identification, budgeting, customer discovery, and product positioning.
12. Business & Entrepreneurship – Summer Springboard @ UC San Diego
Cost: $5,998 (Residential); $3,298 (Commuter)
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA
Program Dates: June 28 – July 10; July 12 – July 24; July 26 – August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until sessions are full
Eligibility: High school students
In the Business & Entrepreneurship program offered by Summer Springboard at UC San Diego, you explore how entrepreneurs transform ideas into viable ventures through hands-on team projects and practical business exercises. During the two-week program, you work in groups to develop a startup concept, analyze financial performance, and create a comprehensive sales and marketing strategy for your venture. Instruction focuses on core business functions, including marketing, operations, finance, and strategic planning, and how these elements interact as companies grow. The program concludes with a Shark Tank–style pitch, where you present your business idea and marketing plan to a panel of judges.
13. The Intern Project (TIP)
Cost: Free; students receive a stipend and may earn college credit
Location: Los Angeles County, CA
Program Dates: June – August (8-week program)
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12 attending a public school in Los Angeles County
The Intern Project (TIP) connects you with an eight-week paid internship that provides hands-on experience in industries such as business, media, technology, government, and nonprofit organizations. During the program, you work with a host organization on real projects while learning how professional teams manage operations, communications, and organizational strategy. Depending on your placement, you may contribute to business research, marketing initiatives, communications projects, or program planning tasks while developing workplace skills such as collaboration, time management, and professional communication. The program also provides mentorship and structured support to help you navigate the workplace and build career awareness.
14. Exploring Entrepreneurship – USC Pre-College Programs
Cost: Tuition varies by format (residential/commuter)
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Program Dates: June 15 – July 12
Application Deadline: Domestic students: May 2; International students: March 14
Eligibility: Students who have completed at least 10th grade before the program begins
In the Exploring Entrepreneurship program at USC, you learn how entrepreneurs identify market opportunities and turn ideas into scalable businesses. During the program, you work in teams to develop a startup concept, analyze market trends, and design strategies for launching and growing a venture. You also take part in company visits and conversations with startup founders and venture capital professionals, gaining insight into real-world business ecosystems in Los Angeles. Throughout the program, you conduct market research, test ideas, and develop a go-to-market plan and value proposition for your venture. The program culminates in a final pitch presentation, where you present your business idea and strategy to instructors and peers.
15. Wharton Global Youth – MKTG 0001: Viral Marketing (Pre-Baccalaureate Program)
Cost: $4,230
Location: Online (The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania)
Program Dates: May 26 – July 1 / July 2 – August 7
Application Deadline: March 25 (Summer Session 1) / May 6 (Summer Session 2)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (grades 11–12) with a strong academic record and a minimum 3.5 GPA
In this credit-bearing Wharton course, you explore how ideas, products, and campaigns spread through social networks and digital platforms. You analyze concepts like word-of-mouth diffusion, social currency, emotional triggers, and network influence, using case studies and lectures from Wharton marketing professor Jonah Berger. During the program, you participate in weekly synchronous classes, discussion forums, written response assignments, and marketing exercises that examine why certain campaigns go viral. You also evaluate examples of real brands, media campaigns, and online content to understand the psychology behind consumer sharing behavior. Through these activities, you build skills in consumer psychology, digital marketing strategy, and marketing analytics, while learning frameworks commonly used in modern brand and social media marketing.