(YFL) 15 Business Summer Programs for High School Students in Illinois
Explore 15 top summer business programs in Illinois for high school students. Gain valuable experience and insights to kickstart your career in business.
If you’re a high school student in Illinois looking for a way to explore business before high school, there’s multiple ways you can go about it! One way to do that is by applying to and participating in business summer programs.
Illinois is home to the HQs of major banks, corporations, startups, and consulting firms. If you're a high school student in the state thinking seriously about business, summer is a chance to take that interest further, without missing school. Business programs running across Illinois during the break are built to do exactly that. They give you structured time to work on real-world problems, learn how decisions are made, and see what it takes to move an idea forward.
Some of the summer programs we’ve covered below are based at universities. Other summer programs are tied to local industries. You might work in teams to build a pitch, design a product, create a marketing plan, or analyze data. You’ll hear directly from people working in finance, branding, entrepreneurship, or strategy. These experiences not only help you build practical skills but also stand out on college applications or resumes, especially if you're aiming for business school or internships down the line.
To get started, here’s a list of 15 business summer programs in Illinois for high school students!
15 Business Summer Programs for High School Students in Illinois
Young Founder’s Lab
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 startup program created by Harvard entrepreneurs. As a student, you’ll learn how to build a real business that solves a real problem and work toward making actual revenue. You’ll be mentored by professionals from companies like Google, Microsoft, and X.
Throughout the program, you’ll take part in hands-on classes that teach business basics and help you develop your startup idea. You’ll join workshops, learn how to pitch, explore case studies, and hear directly from experienced founders. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
Illini Summer Academies
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Cost: $400 (includes housing, meals, and program materials)
Dates: June 22-26
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12
Illini Summer Academies gives high school students a chance to explore careers through hands-on learning. In the Business Academy, you’ll explore topics like entrepreneurship, marketing, and financial literacy while working in teams to solve real business challenges. Sessions are led by university staff and professionals from the field. You’ll visit labs, tour the campus, and take part in group activities that help you build leadership and communication skills. You’ll also present your work to peers and mentors.
Chicago Summer Business Institute
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Cost: Paid internship
Cohort Size: Approximately 100 students
Dates: Mid-June to early August (typically 6–7 weeks)
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Chicago high school sophomores and juniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA
The Chicago Summer Business Institute offers paid internships for high school students in finance, law, accounting, marketing, and more. You’ll work four days a week in a real-world setting and spend Fridays in professional development seminars. You’ll attend resume workshops, learn about financial literacy, and hear from business leaders. The program also includes community service projects that help you build civic awareness and give back.
Digital Scholars Program
Location: Discovery Partners Institute, Chicago, Illinois
Cost: Free; students receive a $500 stipend upon completion
Cohort Size: 100 students (approximate)
Dates: June 23–August 1
Application Deadline: Applications open February 28, close on May 1
Eligibility: Chicago Public School juniors and seniors
The Digital Scholars is a five-week summer program that helps Chicago high school students build tech and business skills. You’ll learn coding, digital marketing, data analysis, and how to present your ideas. The program includes hands-on projects, resume building, and training on tools like Canva and LinkedIn. You’ll meet tech professionals through weekly speaker sessions and explore Chicago’s tech scene through field visits. At the end, you’ll present a final capstone project to show what you’ve learned.
Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Internships take place at local nonprofit or charitable organizations within eligible U.S. counties and cities, including Illinois
Cost/Stipend: Pays a stipend
Cohort Size: 300
Dates: Begins soon after the end of the school year and runs through late July
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program gives high school juniors and seniors a paid summer internship with a focus on community work and leadership. You’ll spend eight weeks at a local nonprofit, helping with daily tasks and real projects that make a difference. You get to see how nonprofits work from the inside and also take part in a week-long summit in Washington, D.C., with students from across the country. Travel and stay are covered. The main goal is to help you understand how communities function and how businesses can support social progress.
Summer Investment Challenge
Location: DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July – August
Application Deadline: Typically early June
Eligibility: High school students, primarily from underrepresented communities
The Summer Investment Challenge, run by DePaul’s Arditti Center, teaches high school students the basics of investing and portfolio management. Over four weeks, you’ll work in teams to research stocks, study market trends, and build a virtual portfolio. Each group gets support from industry mentors who offer feedback and advice. Weekly speaker sessions with finance professionals help you connect what you’re learning to the real world. At the end of the program, you’ll pitch your investment strategy to a panel of judges.
Redbird Risk Management Challenge
Location: Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 - July 18
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: High school students interested in business and risk management
The Redbird Risk Management Challenge is a one-day business program for high school students hosted by Illinois State University. You’ll work in teams to solve a real-world case study focused on risk, insurance, and financial planning. Faculty and business professionals will mentor you as you build your strategy and prepare your presentation. You’ll pitch your ideas to a panel of judges and compete for prizes and recognition. The day also includes a campus tour and a chance to meet college students studying business.
Emerging Business Leaders
Location: Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Cost: Free; includes housing, meals, and materials
Cohort Size: 25–30 students
Dates: June
Application Deadline: April
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from underrepresented backgrounds
Emerging Business Leaders is a weeklong residential program that helps high school students build skills in business, leadership, and college readiness. You’ll attend workshops on entrepreneurship, ethics, finance, and teamwork while working in groups on projects and simulations. You’ll visit corporate offices, meet industry professionals, and get mentorship from faculty and college students. At the end of the week, you’ll present your team’s ideas in a final showcase.
Future Leaders in Business (UIC Business)
Location: University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC Business), Illinois
Cost: Free
Dates: June to July (5-week program), or mid-July (1-week version)
Application Deadline: May 1 (main program), May 16 (Junior version)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors (with FLB Jr. for underclassmen)
UIC’s Future Leaders in Business program gives you the chance to explore college-level business topics while building leadership and communication skills. The main 5-week program is for rising seniors and includes business workshops, career development sessions, and a week living in campus dorms. If you’re a sophomore or junior, you can apply for the one-week Junior version. Both versions include faculty-led training and networking with college students and professionals. If you end up enrolling at UIC Business later, you can qualify for a $5,000 scholarship.
Virtual Summer Program for Teens
Location: Online (Virtual)
Cost: $250–$450 per course
Dates: Weekly sessions from June – August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 13–19
The Virtual Summer Program for Teens by Teach Me Wall Street offers online camps that help high school students learn about investing, budgeting, Wall Street, and cryptocurrency. Each week focuses on real-world finance through interactive lessons and group discussions. You’ll learn how the stock market works, how to manage your money, and how digital currency is changing business. Instructors use everyday examples to make complex topics easy to understand, and no prior experience is needed.
UIC Business Future Business Tech Leaders
Location: University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July – July
Application Deadline: June
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
UIC’s Future Business Tech Leaders program is a one-week summer experience that helps high school students explore how technology shapes modern business. You’ll learn about data analytics, digital marketing, and information systems through team projects and workshops led by UIC faculty. You’ll also meet professionals from Chicago’s tech and business sectors, present your work, and get feedback from mentors. The program takes place on a college campus, giving you a mix of classroom learning and real-world insight.
Online Entrepreneurship Summer Program
Location: Online (Virtual)
Cost: $6,995
Cohort Size: 80-100 students
Dates: June 30 – August 1
Application Deadline: July 16
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18
LaunchX’s Online Entrepreneurship Summer Program helps high school students launch real startups over five weeks. You’ll learn how to build a business model, do market research, design a product, and pitch your idea. You’ll work in teams to solve real problems and create actual products or services. Mentors and industry experts guide you through the process, and you’ll present your startup at a virtual Demo Day to a panel of professionals.
Babson Summer Study
Location: Online (hosted by Babson College)
Cost/Stipend: $3,695 (financial aid available)
Cohort Size: Approximately 80 students
Dates: July – August
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–18
Babson Summer Study is a four-week online program where students explore entrepreneurship through Babson’s Entrepreneurial Thought & Action framework. You’ll learn how to develop business ideas, evaluate markets, and create action plans. Classes are interactive and project-based, with faculty guidance and team collaboration. You hear from guest speakers, join group discussions, and work toward a final business pitch. The program builds leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills in a flexible online format.
Snider Enterprise and Leadership Fellows (SELF) Experience
Location: University of Maryland, College Park (online or residential)
Cost: Tuition for a 3‑credit BMGT 262 course; residential package and some scholarships available
Cohort Size: Limited spots (typically ~100–200)
Dates: Typically mid‑June to early July
Application Deadline: Via the Terp Young Scholars application
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The SELF Experience is a three-week summer course for high school students offered by the University of Maryland’s Snider Center. You earn college credit while exploring marketing, personal finance, business strategy, and leadership. You’ll work in teams with faculty and mentors to solve real business problems and present venture pitches at the end of the program. The program is offered in both residential and online formats. If you attend in person, you’ll take classes on campus and work closely with peers and instructors. The program ends with team presentations to faculty and industry professionals.
Leapgap Business Internship
Location: Online or Residential – San Francisco (Silicon Valley)
Cost: Online: $6,450; San Francisco: $9,950 (need-based financial aid is available)
Cohort Size: 40 students per session
Dates: 4 weeks (Online: mid‑June–early July; SF: mid‑July–mid‑August)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 13–18 from around the world
LeanGap is a four-week business program where high school students build real startups from idea to launch. You start by pitching your idea, then join a team to test it, create a basic version of the product, and find early users. You’ll attend workshops, work on your project daily, and get guidance from mentors, startup founders, and technologists. The program ends with a Demo Day where teams pitch their ventures to investors. Each cohort has around 40 students. Both online and in-person options are available.