15 Marketing Programs in Massachusetts for High School Students
If you're a high school student interested in marketing, you're stepping into a field full of creativity and real-world impact.
What do marketing programs involve?
From advertising and branding to business strategy and social media, marketing influences how people discover and connect with products and ideas. Exploring marketing early can help you understand how campaigns are built, how brands communicate with audiences, and what different professionals in the industry actually do.
Why attend a marketing program in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts is home to many institutions and organizations that offer marketing programs specifically for high school students who want to learn about marketing. These programs let you explore emerging trends, work on marketing strategy projects, and network with professional marketers.
To get a better grasp of marketing and its implementation, you should check out marketing tools for running a business. For a detailed guide, you can look at how to build a marketing business in high school.
To help you get started, we've curated a list of 15 marketing programs in Massachusetts for high school students. These programs are offered across fields, allowing you to explore different aspects of marketing and understand where your interests might lead.
15 Marketing Programs in Massachusetts for High School Students
1. Babson Summer Study
Location: Virtual and in person at New England Innovation Academy, Marlborough, MA
Cost/Stipend: $6,295 online; $9,295 in-person day; $12,995 in-person residential; $95 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 8–28
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (must be at least 15 by start)
Babson Summer Study is a three-week program for high school students interested in exploring entrepreneurship and learning what it takes to build a business. During the program, you'll be introduced to core business concepts, including marketing, finance, business communication, and leadership, giving you an understanding of all aspects of running a business. A key focus of the program is developing an entrepreneurial mindset. You'll examine various problem areas through the lens of the UN Global Goals and explore how new ventures can be created to address these issues. Apart from classes, you’ll engage with peers and faculty through group activities, field trips, mentorship support, and professional networking opportunities.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies according to program. There is need-based financial aid
Dates: Varies by the cohort
Application Deadline: There are 3 application deadlines that you can choose from; more details in the brochure!
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up bootcamp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem, whether as a for-profit company or a non-profit. 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 participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals, business ideation, and venture development. 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 for the program here.
3. Harvard Pre-College (Marketing Course Options)
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: $6,100; $75 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 21–July 2; July 5–17; July 19–31
Application Deadline: February 11
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors or graduates; must be at least 16 by program start
Harvard's pre-college program gives high school students an opportunity to delve into a subject of their choice while experiencing life on a college campus. In this two-week program, you will live on the Harvard campus, engage with other passionate peers from around the world, and take classes taught by Harvard faculty. You can choose from a variety of course options, including business and leadership programs, marketing, digital media, management, and economics. You will delve deep into business topics through daily classes and presentations, discussions, lectures, projects, and homework assignments. As Pre-college programs typically have a smaller class size, you'll have opportunities to interact with faculty and peers, collaborate on projects, and participate in campus activities.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 10%; 70-100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students who can work for 8-12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for high school students interested in gaining experience with fast-growing start-ups. The start-ups offering internships span various fields, including finance, tech/deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies backed by leading accelerators such as Y Combinator and have raised an average of over $1 million in funding. These programs are often led by founders who bring experience from major organizations such as Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. Depending on your placement, you may assist with market research, social media strategy, content creation, customer outreach, analytics, or growth experiments.
5. Boston Leadership Institute Marketing & Social Media
Location: Boston Leadership Institute, Gann/Bentley campus, Waltham, MA
Cost/Stipend: $699; one-week deposit to secure your seat: $200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 29 – July 3
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students interested in brand identity, digital marketing, and social media
The Marketing and Social Media Program at Boston Leadership Institute introduces high school students to various pathways in marketing, whether it's building a business, becoming an influencer, or preparing for further study in business school. Over the one-week program, you will learn about digital marketing strategies, how brand identities are created, and how social media algorithms influence what people see online. You'll also discover how organic marketing can help businesses grow without spending on paid ads. You will gain hands-on experience by working with tools and platforms that marketers use, brainstorming content ideas, analyzing social trends, and working on building creative campaigns.
6. Tufts University Marketing Essentials
Location: Tufts University, Medford / Somerville Campus, MA
Cost/Stipend: Commuter $4,225; Residential $5,750
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12 or graduates; residential participants 15–19; English proficiency documentation required for non-native speakers
Marketing Essentials is a two-week program that introduces high school students to the core ideas behind modern marketing. Over two weeks, you will learn how to solve marketing problems by analyzing customer needs, evaluating marketing methods ranging from traditional to digital, and learning how to use various tools to design creative campaigns. Through a mix of hands-on projects and interactive workshops, you will work on real-world challenges, test out different ideas, and develop practical strategy skills. The program includes mentorship from professors and industry professionals, giving you insights into how marketing works in the real world. You'll also get to explore various pathways within marketing.
7. Suffolk University Summer Entrepreneurship Program
Location: Suffolk University, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Free (tuition, lunch, and local transit pass provided)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 7–24
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors; minimum GPA 2.7 (juniors on space-available basis)
Suffolk University's summer entrepreneurship program gives high school students an opportunity to explore how entrepreneurs turn ideas into real businesses and what goes into building a business strategy. In three weeks, you will gain exposure to key areas of business such as marketing, finance, operations, and product development. Learning happens through a mix of hands-on activities, team projects, and field visits to entrepreneurial organizations, where you will receive business insights from business executives and successful entrepreneurs. The program culminates in a final presentation where you will pitch your business idea.
8. Summer at Babson: The Psychology of Persuasive Marketing
Location: Babson College, Wellesley, MA
Cost/Stipend: Residential- $3,400/week; Commuter - $2,680/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6–31 (1–4 week flexible options)
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are 16 or older
This program at Babson delves into the psychology behind persuasive marketing, where you’ll study ads, campaigns, and how brands influence audiences through powerful messaging. During the program, you will study successful marketing campaigns and learn how businesses and brands use storytelling, strategy, and emotion to nudge customers to take purchasing action. Towards the end of the program, you'll apply what you have learned by developing your own marketing campaign. You will design a campaign around an issue that you care about, such as mental health, sustainability, or the environment.
9. CATS Academy Boston: Young Business Leaders
Location: CATS Academy Boston, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: $4,460
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort of 16 students
Dates: Session I - 28 June start date; Session II - 12 July start date (each session takes place over 2 weeks)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 14 and 17
The Young Business Leaders program is meant for high school students interested in learning about entrepreneurship and developing the skills needed to lead a business. Through lectures, case studies, workshops, and discussions, you will be introduced to core business concepts, including business management, competitive advantage, competitive analysis, and marketing strategy. Marketing is a key part of the program. You will learn to conduct customer research, design successful marketing campaigns, and use multi-channel strategies to reach different audiences. The program combines classroom learning with real-world exposure. You'll take part in field visits to see business operations in action, engage with guest speakers, and work on your own projects where you'll apply what you've learned.
10. Dean Pre-College Programs
Location: Dean College, Franklin, MA
Cost/Stipend: Commuter - $1,500; Residential - $1,800
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple summer program sessions that take place in July (varies by offering)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
Dean's pre-college programs give high school students the opportunity to delve into a subject of their choice while living on a college campus. You'll take part in college-level coursework and gain practical experience through project work. If you're interested in marketing, Dean offers courses on podcasting and social media influencing. In the Podcasting course, you will learn how to create, record, edit, and market your own podcast, while working with professional audio equipment, production tools, and advanced audio software. The social media influencer program delves into content creation and digital marketing strategies. You will gain experience in producing professional videos, working with brands, and partnering with businesses to create marketing content.
11. UMass Amherst Pre-College Entrepreneurship: Becoming a Game-Changer
Location: UMass Amherst campus, Amherst, MA
Cost/Stipend: $4,119 Residential; $2,337 Commuter
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 12 – 25
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
The UMass Amherst Pre-College Entrepreneurship program is designed for high school students interested in learning about entrepreneurship and how businesses are built from the ground up. In this program, you will explore the full startup process, from market research to working on ideation, pitching your idea, and getting funding for your venture. You will work in teams to implement and refine your venture ideas. Along the way, you'll have access to entrepreneurial resources, including local incubators and accelerators where you can receive mentorship, support, and sometimes even funding to bring your ideas to life.
12. Boston University High School Honors (Marketing Course Options Available)
Location: Boston University campus, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 28–August 7
Application Deadline: Applications processed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
The Boston University High School Honors program offers summer courses that let high school students delve into a subject through a college-level curriculum and gain practical experience via projects and assignments. If you're interested in marketing, you can opt for courses such as business strategy, management, and advertising. These marketing courses allow you to explore fundamental concepts in marketing and advertising, including media research, product analysis, marketing strategies, and business operations. You will gain hands-on experience by preparing your own advertising plan, creating a marketing strategy, and designing a speculative advertising campaign.
13. Artists for Humanity: Youth Enterprise Apprenticeship
Location: Artists For Humanity, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Paid employment (amount not specified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Rolling spring interviews; summer work
Application Deadline: Not specified (rolling until capacity)
Eligibility: High school students who are 14 or older (9th–11th graders prioritized); complete an unpaid foundation apprenticeship before a paid placement
Artists for Humanity is a creative program that allows high school students to work on art and design projects commissioned by clients while also participating in various community-related initiatives. You will work on creative art projects while exploring their business side, including development, marketing, and implementation. You will also develop your skills in public education, communication, teamwork, and critical thinking by collaborating with others and contributing to community initiatives.
14. Boston University AIM: Business
Location: Boston University campus, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: $5,640
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 28 – July 17; July 19 – August 7
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors; business focus track
The Boston University Academic Immersion program offers a business pathway for high school students interested in exploring what it takes to run a business. During the program, you will delve into essential business areas, including marketing, finance, operations management, stakeholder management, and human resources. You will practice what you learn in class by working in teams on product ideation, designing a business plan, and pitching your idea. The program includes field trips, case studies, and projects that deepen your learning experience. Along the way, you'll develop soft skills such as leadership, business writing, and public speaking.
15. Bentley University Writing and Producing Short Form Media
Location: Bentley University, Waltham, MA
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22–26; July 13–17
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
Bentley University offers a short-form media program that focuses on producing short-form content relevant to modern marketing, including advertisements, social media campaigns, and other digital promotional materials. During the program, you will collaborate on group projects, developing your storytelling skills, learning to craft compelling content, and using professional production software and equipment. Guest speakers will share their perspective on current media trends and career pathways in the field. You will also get a taste of college life by living on campus, exploring various media pathways, and building your professional skills in teamwork and communication.