10 Business Programs for Girls in High School
Discover 10 empowering business programs designed for high school girls. Equip yourself with skills and confidence to thrive in the business world.
If you’re a high school girl who wants to understand how business works, there are programs designed to help you start early. You don’t need to wait until college to explore leadership, entrepreneurship, finance, or marketing. These programs give you space to learn the basics, ask questions, try out ideas, and figure out what part of business interests you.
Many of these programs are led by people who work in business, so you’ll hear from founders, CEOs, and professionals who’ve built careers in the field. You might join a team to pitch a business idea, solve case studies, or design a marketing plan. These programs also add value to your college applications and show that you’re serious about learning outside school.
To help you choose, here’s a list of 10 business programs for high school girls!
10 Business Programs for Girls in High School
Camp Business | Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia
Cost: Residential Blue Session: $2,000; Commuter Session: $950; Residential Gold Session: $2,000
Application Deadline: May 1
Program Dates: Residential Blue Session: Sunday, July 13 — Friday, July 18; Commuter Session: Sunday, July 20 — Friday, July 25; Residential Gold Session: Sunday, July 27 — Friday, August 1
Eligibility: Exceptionally high school students entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year are encouraged to apply to LeBow’s Camp Business program
Camp Business at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business is a college-level program designed to introduce you to key business subjects such as accounting, marketing, finance, and management. You’ll explore how organizations function by learning to interpret financial statements, evaluate marketing approaches, and examine business operations.
The program includes activities like case discussions, simulations, and group work that allow you to apply concepts in practical ways. You’ll also gain experience with tools used in business analysis, including stock market tracking, data interpretation, and professional communication.
Young Founders Lab
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies depending on program type. There is need-based financial aid.
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 real-world 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 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. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
Wharton Global Youth Program
Location: The On-Campus program takes place at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia. Location options include the Wharton San Francisco campus and Cambridge University in the UK. The Online and Pre-baccalaureate programs are fully virtual.
Cost: Fees differ for each program, ranging from $329 to $9,099. You can check the fees for the program you wish to apply to here. Full and partial need-based scholarships are offered.
Application deadline: There are multiple subject and location-based programs offered under this program. Look through the application information for the application dates of the program you wish to apply to.
Program dates: Each program has different dates, though all are conducted over the summer, except the Pre-baccalaureate program, which has session options throughout the year.
Eligibility: The On-Campus and Location-based programs are open to students in grades 9–11, while the Online program is open to students in grades 9–12. The Pre-baccalaureate program is open to juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA.
The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania offers several pre-college programs for high school students. You can choose to study on campus, at a partner location, or online, depending on what works best for you. Courses cover topics like finance, management, entrepreneurship, data science, and product design.
There is also a more advanced Pre-baccalaureate program that includes subjects like economics, statistics, public policy, and marketing. This option lets you earn college credit and is more competitive. All programs include live classes, hands-on projects, and access to Wharton resources. You can pick a track based on your interests and how deep you want to go.
Bank of America Student Leaders
Location: Various locations across the country
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: January 15
Program Dates: 8 weeks in June — July with compulsory attendance at the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C. from July 21–26.
Eligibility: Junior or senior in high school
The Bank of America Student Leaders program is open to high school juniors and seniors who are interested in community involvement and leadership. As a participant, you’ll be matched with a local nonprofit organization for an eight-week paid internship, where you’ll work on projects that address local needs and challenges.
The program also includes a trip to Washington, D.C., where you’ll attend the Student Leader Summit. There, you’ll learn how businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies work together on social issues. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet with members of Congress to discuss topics that matter to you and your community.
Harvard Business School Online Business in Society Courses
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,850 per course, certificate of completion provided
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Program Dates: 3–6 weeks, depending on the course selected, self-paced
Eligibility: Students from any academic background can apply
If you’re a student from any academic background, you can take part in Harvard Business School Online courses. These are short business-focused programs, typically lasting between 3 to 6 weeks, and are taught by Harvard faculty. One area of study, the Business in Society module, includes courses like Sustainable Business Strategy, which looks at how companies can approach social and environmental issues.
In Global Business, you’ll learn about the challenges of operating in international markets and how businesses make strategic decisions across countries. Another course, Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability, covers ethical decision-making and the responsibilities that come with leadership roles in business. These courses are available online and can be accessed from anywhere.
Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS) at the Pennsylvania State University
Location: University Park campus, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA
Cost: $250
Application deadline: Applications typically open in winter. There is no information available on the application deadline at the moment.
Program dates: June 18 — 30
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors may apply.
This two-week residential program at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business offers high school students the chance to explore college-level coursework in business. Taught by Penn State faculty, the curriculum includes subjects such as finance, risk management, hospitality management, and organizational behavior.
The program is structured to reflect a typical college experience, combining lectures, seminars, independent study, and group work. You’ll also take part in team-based activities designed to strengthen collaboration and problem-solving skills. Students stay in campus housing for the duration of the program, giving a preview of college life.
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Campus
Cost: $5,500 plus a $75 application fee, but need-based scholarships are available
Application Deadline: Jan 21
Program Dates: June 13–27
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 also maintain a minimum, cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy is a two-week program designed to introduce you to key areas of business, including marketing, finance, strategy, and entrepreneurship. During the program, you’ll take part in classes, group projects, and workshops that reflect how business concepts are applied in real situations.
You’ll work with peers, work through case studies, and use simulations similar to those found in college-level business courses. Faculty members and business professionals will guide your learning, offering insight into both academic and practical aspects of the field. You’ll also have opportunities to develop your communication and teamwork skills while working on business challenges.
Kelley Women’s Leadership Institute
Location: Virtual and in-person options
Cost: None
Application Deadline: Different deadlines for different cohorts.
Program Dates: April 1 — July 25. Vary by cohorts
Eligibility: All applications are open to female sophomores rising juniors, and seniors who have maintained a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
The Kelley Women’s Leadership Institute at Indiana University Bloomington is a selective program for high school students who identify as female and are interested in learning about business. Led by faculty from the Kelley School of Business, the program introduces core business topics while helping you develop skills in leadership, communication, and critical thinking.
As part of the experience, you’ll work on a real business case, collaborating with peers to analyze the situation and present possible solutions. This process encourages teamwork and strategic thinking in a practical setting. You’ll also have opportunities to speak with current Kelley students and alumni to learn more about studying business in college and exploring related career options.
Babson Summer Study for High School Students
Location: Fully online or in-person at New England Innovation Academy
Cost: $6,295 (+ $95 application fee)
Application Deadline: February 14
Program Dates: July 7- July 28
Eligibility: Applicants must be a rising high school junior or senior, scheduled to graduate in the next two years, and be at least 16 by the start date of the program.
Babson Summer Study at Babson College is a program lasting just over three weeks that introduces you to entrepreneurial thinking through the course EPS 1110: Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Experience. You’ll explore global issues using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a starting point and apply business concepts to develop possible solutions.
The program covers topics such as finance, marketing, leadership, and venture creation, with an emphasis on collaboration and effective communication. With support from Babson faculty and mentors, you’ll work in teams to complete a project focused on social impact.
San Francisco Pre-College Entrepreneurship Summer School | UC Berkeley
Location: In person at UC Berkeley
Cost: Approximately $8,800 (boarding) | Approximately $7500 (day)
Application Deadline: First come, first served!
Program Dates: July 13 — 26
Eligibility: All applicants must be high school students between the ages of 15–18
The Entrepreneurship Summer Camp at UC Berkeley, run through the San Francisco Pre-College Summer School, gives you a hands-on introduction to building a startup. You will learn how to spot business opportunities, study real case studies, and explore topics like innovation, disruption, and startup strategy, all while learning in the heart of Silicon Valley.
The program includes workshops, sessions with industry professionals, and visits to local startups and tech firms. You will also work on your startup idea, build a plan, and present it for feedback. Along the way, you will learn how emerging tools like AI, blockchain, and financial technologies are changing how businesses grow today.