(YFL) 12 Online Business Programs Accepting International High School Students

 Explore 12 online business programs that accept international high school students. Unlock your potential and gain a global perspective in business education.

If business is something you want to build a career in, joining an online business program during high school can give you a strong head start. These programs allow you to learn from U.S. universities and business schools, without needing to travel or take time off from your regular classes. Since they’re fully online and accept international students, you can join from anywhere and still get the same kind of training you'd get on campus.

Most of these programs last just a few weeks. You’ll spend that time learning how startups work, how products are built, how teams handle challenges, and how to present business ideas to mentors or faculty. You may also work with case studies, participate in group projects, or hear from guest speakers who run companies.

Since you're attending remotely, the costs are often lower. These programs can also strengthen your college applications by showing that you’ve explored your interest in business in a structured, academic way.

With that, here are 12 online business programs that accept international high school students!

12 Online Business Programs Accepting International High School Students

Young Founders Lab

Cost: Varies by program; financial aid is available

Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. Apply here!

Program Dates: There are multiple cohorts in the summer, fall, winter, and spring!

Eligibility: Currently open to all high school students. Open to international applicants.

The Young Founder’s Lab is a virtual program where you can develop and launch a startup that addresses real-world problems. Throughout the program, you’ll work with mentors who have experience in entrepreneurship and backgrounds at companies such as Google and Microsoft. You’ll take part in sessions that introduce key business concepts and help you build practical skills needed to run a venture. 

The program also includes case study discussions, panels with industry professionals, and collaborative activities designed to deepen your understanding of startups and business strategy. By the end, you’ll have experience working on a project that connects business ideas with real challenges. Find more details here.

Ladder Internship Program

Cost: Varies by program

Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). 

Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

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 an 8-week remote program where high school students work with startups in fields such as technology, AI, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. You are matched with a startup, some led by Y Combinator alumni or professionals from companies like Microsoft, Google, and Meta. You contribute to projects that reflect the daily work of a growing company. You receive guidance from a startup manager and support from a Ladder Coach. The program includes coaching sessions focused on communication and time management. 

Wharton Global Youth Program: Essentials of Leadership

Cost: $4,099

Application Deadline: April 2 (priority) and May 1 (final)

Program Dates: June 16–27 and July 7–18

Eligibility: Rising seniors and recent high school graduates. Open to international applicants.

The Wharton Global Youth Program: Essentials of Leadership is a two-week online course for high school students interested in leadership, communication, and teamwork. You take part in lectures, group discussions, team projects, and individual assignments that introduce business and leadership concepts. You work through case studies, simulations, and sessions led by Wharton faculty and guest speakers. The program includes recitations led by Penn students that help you apply ideas from lectures through practical exercises. 

Harvard Business School Online Business in Society Courses

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. Open to international applicants.

Harvard Business School Online offers several short-term courses in business that can be completed in 3 to 6 weeks. These courses, led by Harvard faculty, are open to a wide audience and may appeal to high school students looking for an academic challenge and exposure to college-level material. In the Business in Society track, ‘Sustainable Business Strategy’ looks at how companies can address social and environmental issues through their operations. 

‘Global Business’ focuses on the strategic and operational challenges companies face when working across international markets. ‘Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability’ examines how business leaders make decisions involving ethical considerations and organizational responsibility. These courses offer a structured way to study real-world business issues and build skills useful for future academic or professional goals.

Babson Summer Study

Cost: $6,295 + $95 application fee. Full and partial need-based scholarships are available.

Application Deadline: March 14

Program Dates: July 7–28

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who will be at least 16 or old by the start of the program. Open to international applicants.

Babson Summer Study is a three-week virtual program for high school students interested in entrepreneurship and business. You learn about leadership, marketing, finance, and communication while applying these skills to global challenges based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. You join live sessions, complete independent assignments, and work with students from different countries. The program includes discussions and presentations led by Babson faculty and alumni that explore different areas of business. At the end of the course, you earn 4 college credits from Babson.

USC Online Pre-College Business Program

Cost: $1,990 + $35 application fee

Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines based on program start date; more information here

Program Dates: Various sessions from June to December

Eligibility: Students aged 14 or older currently enrolled in high school or a secondary program; recent graduates, gap year students, or those over 18 can request an exemption by emailing precollegeonline@usc.edu. Open to international applicants.

The USC Marshall School of Business offers an online summer course for high school students called Building Blocks of Business. You learn about strategy, customer targeting, operations, finance, and data analytics by working through case studies, simulations, and exercises. In some activities, you take on roles like an investor to evaluate business models and outcomes. The course takes 20 to 25 hours and can be completed over two to four weeks, giving you flexibility with your schedule. After finishing the course, you receive a participation certificate.

Columbia University Online Summer Immersion

Cost: 1-Week: $2,810 per session and 2-Week: $3,960 per session (single course registration)

Application Deadline: Varies. Check more details here.

Program Dates: Session A: July 7–18; Session B: July 21–August 1; Session C: August 11–15

Eligibility: High school students (grades 8-12) with strong academic performance and an interest in business. Open to international applicants.

Columbia University’s Online Summer Immersion program lets high school students study business topics in a virtual classroom. You join live classes, take part in discussions, and work on group projects while learning about entrepreneurship, finance, economics, and investment strategy. Courses such as Becoming an Entrepreneur, Introduction to Business, and Investment Portfolio Management help you build skills in analysis, decision-making, and problem-solving. 

Cornell SCE Pre-College Online Business Courses

Cost: $1,840 per credit

Application Deadline: May 5 for summer courses (tentative, based on previous year dates)

Program Dates: Multiple three-week sessions in June, July, and August

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors over the age of 15. Open to international applicants.

Cornell University’s School of Continuing Education (SCE) provides online business courses for high school students interested in earning college credit. Courses include Introduction to Business Management, Global Business Strategy, and Financial Accounting, and cover a range of topics relevant to business and related fields. 

Classes are delivered through the Canvas platform and are available in both live (synchronous) and on-demand (asynchronous) formats, offering flexibility depending on your schedule. You’ll engage with course material through video lectures, assignments, discussion boards, and occasional live sessions, while interacting with Cornell instructors and classmates. Upon completion, you’ll receive an official transcript from Cornell, reflecting the credits earned.

NYU Future Business Leaders Webinar Series

Cost: $350

Application Deadline: July 1

Program Dates: August 9–30

Eligibility: High school students are eligible.

New York University’s Stern School of Business offers a 9-part webinar series for high school students who want to explore different areas of business. Led by the Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, each session features industry professionals and focuses on fields like entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, and management. 

You learn how business concepts apply in industries such as fashion, sports, and entertainment. Each webinar introduces a specific topic and outlines related career paths. By completing the full series, you gain a broader view of business across sectors. At the end of the program, you receive a certificate of completion.

Columbia SPS Academic Year Weekend Program

Cost: $2,810 per session (single course registration); each additional course costs $2,700

Application Deadline: December 5

Program Dates: Fall: September 19–December 7; Spring: January 23–March 29

Eligibility: Students must be in grades 9–12 while the program is running. Open to international applicants.

Columbia University’s SPS Academic Year Weekend Program gives high school students a way to study business topics during the school year in a virtual format. You can choose from courses that explore how psychology influences business decisions, how ventures drive social and economic change, how game theory applies to strategy, and how finance and investment planning work

Classes are held on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays, so you can participate while keeping up with other school responsibilities. Courses are small and discussion-based, led by faculty and professionals with experience in their fields. You learn with peers from different backgrounds in an interactive setting. 

Yale Online: PLSC 270 - Capitalism: Success, Crisis, and Reform

Cost: Free

Program Dates: Self-paced

Application Deadline: Rolling basis

Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Open to international applicants.

Yale Online offers the course Capitalism: Success, Crisis, and Reform for high school students who want to study capitalism in depth. This self-paced program covers the basic principles of capitalism, its major achievements, and the crises it has faced. You work through interactive modules, case studies, and real-world examples to understand how capitalism has influenced business and economies around the world. The course also asks you to think critically about its limitations and explore ideas for reform that address inequality and fairness.

Brown Pre-College: Leadership in Changing Business - Social Entrepreneurship

Cost: $3,000–$5,000 (2–4 weeks)

Program Dates: June 23–July 18

Application Deadline: Rolling basis

Eligibility: Open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Open to international applicants.

Brown University’s Pre-College course Leadership in Changing Business: Social Entrepreneurship helps high school students learn how business can respond to social and environmental challenges. You study how to create sustainable solutions in areas like health, education, and environmental sustainability. As part of the course, you complete a capstone project where you design and present a business plan for a social enterprise.