15 Business Summer Programs for High School Students in Michigan
Discover 15 enriching summer business programs for high school students in Michigan. Enhance your skills and prepare for a successful future in business.
If you're a high school student in Michigan thinking about a business degree, joining a summer business program can help you build an entrepreneurial mindset and learn topics you might not cover in school. Many Michigan universities and financial organizations offer programs that introduce you to key business areas like finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, economics, and leadership.
You’ll create business plans, work on team ideas, give presentations, and develop essential soft skills such as teamwork, networking, and communication. You might also learn how to compare performance with industry standards and spot areas for improvement. These programs can also help you clarify your academic and career goals and enhance your college applications by demonstrating your interest and initiative.
To help you find the right option, here’s a list of 15 business summer programs for high school students in Michigan!
15 Business Summer Programs for High School Students in Michigan
Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy at the University of Michigan
Location: Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $5,500 + a $75 non-refundable application fee; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 72 students
Dates: June 13 – June 27
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA can apply. Preference is given to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy is a two-week program for rising high school seniors interested in pursuing a business career. Led by faculty from different areas of business, you'll explore what drives the success of high-performing companies. You’ll learn how businesses work, explore market research and problem-solving, and experience what it’s like to be a student at Michigan Ross. During the program, you’ll team up with peers, meet Michigan Ross faculty and industry professionals, and learn about business careers and college life. There’s a focus on ethical, purpose-driven leadership, and you’ll complete college-level classes and workshops, though you won’t earn credit, and it doesn’t impact admission to the Ross BBA program.
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.
Cohort Size: 6–12 students for the summer group 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 boot camp for high school students, created by Harvard entrepreneurs. You'll build a real startup aimed at solving a real-world problem, with mentorship from professionals at companies like Google, Microsoft, and X. The program combines hands-on startup development with interactive sessions on business basics, idea generation, market research, prototyping, and launching your product. It ends with a demo day where you pitch to potential investors. You can view the program brochure here.
Summer Entrepreneurship Institute at the University of Michigan
Location: University of Michigan-Flint campus, MI
Cost: $50; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 20–25 students
Dates: June 17 – June 19
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Summer Entrepreneurship Institute is designed for students interested in business and entrepreneurship. Through a series of sessions, you’ll gain a better understanding of what the field entails, learn how new ventures are established and developed, and begin to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset. You’ll learn what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur, how to come up with new business ideas, and how to decide if those ideas are realistic. Activities include a field trip to local businesses, interactive lectures with faculty from the School of Management, a guest lecture by an entrepreneur, group projects, presentations, and creative thinking exercises.
NSLC’s Business & Entrepreneurship High School Program
Location: Multiple locations, including the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $4,095 (Residential Program)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: June 16 – June 24 | June 29 – July 7
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 14–18 who have completed at least one year of high school are eligible to apply. You can also participate in NSLC the summer after graduating.
NSLC’s Business & Entrepreneurship Program gives high school students a hands-on look at building a business from the ground up. You’ll learn how to meet the needs of customers, employees, and stakeholders while building key skills for a future in business. Through simulations, workshops, and team projects, you’ll explore business models, product development, marketing, and strategy. You’ll create and pitch a business idea to Inc. 5000 entrepreneurs and get direct feedback. The program includes company visits, management simulations, and branding exercises.
Entrepreneur Leadership High School Camp
Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Around 55 students
Dates: June 23 – June 26
Application Deadline: April 11
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Entrepreneur Leadership High School Camp is a free, four-day program hosted by MSU's Broad College of Business, Multicultural Business Programs, and Burgess Institute. It provides hands-on experience in building a startup and helps you develop an entrepreneurial mindset. During the camp, you'll learn how to navigate challenges related to your identity, grow as a young professional, connect with mentors who share your background, and experience MSU and college life. You’ll also meet entrepreneurs, strengthen your business and entrepreneurship skills, learn about the creative side of entrepreneurship, and explore MSU’s campus and the Broad College of Business.
Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Local nonprofit organizations in Kent, Oakland, Macomb, Ottawa, and Wayne counties in Michigan. You can check out the available sites here.
Cost: The program is free and includes all costs associated with the Leadership Summit. Interns are paid; rates vary by internship.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: The program is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 5–8%. Each local group consists of 2–5 students, comprising over 300 juniors and seniors from around 100 communities.
Dates: The internship usually lasts about eight weeks over the summer and includes a week in Washington, D.C., for the Leadership Summit from July 21 to 26.
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are in good academic standing, legally authorized to work in the U.S., live in one of the eligible locations, and have not previously participated in the program
Bank of America’s Student Leaders Program gives high school juniors and seniors the chance to do a paid, eight-week internship at a local nonprofit, like the Boys and Girls Clubs or Habitat for Humanity. You'll work about 35 hours a week on real projects that support your community, while building leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
If selected, you’ll be matched with a local nonprofit partner of Bank of America. Along with gaining hands-on experience, you’ll learn how nonprofits tackle community challenges and how they work with government and businesses. The program also includes a week in Washington, D.C., for the Student Leaders Summit, where you’ll explore how different sectors come together to create change.
Summer Springboard’s Business & Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $5,698 (Residential tuition) | $2,998 (Commuter tuition) + a non-refundable application fee starts at $99
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified, but they are moderately selective
Dates: July 13 – July 25
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Summer Springboard’s Business & Entrepreneurship program at the University of Michigan gives students a hands-on look at what it takes to start and run a business. You’ll build a startup idea, work in teams, and pitch your plan to real investors. You’ll learn how operations, marketing, sales, and finance all fit together, how to read financial statements, and how to create a marketing and sales plan.
You'll also explore R&D, business growth strategies, and what it takes to maintain high quality while scaling a business. The program features talks from entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals from organizations such as Goldman Sachs and McKinsey. You’ll also explore different career options and how to prepare for them.
The Foundation for Teaching Economics’ Economics for Leaders (EFL)
Location: Multiple locations and virtual options are available, including the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $2,300 + a $35 non-refundable application processing fee; need-based scholarships usually range from $100 to $1,800
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Each site accepts around 25–40 students, depending on campus-specific limits
Dates: July 28 – August 3
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors
Economics for Leaders, run by the Foundation for Teaching Economics, is a six-day program that will allow you to learn key economic concepts and leadership skills. The program aims to help you understand how to apply economic thinking to everyday choices and public policy decisions, while also building your leadership abilities. You’ll learn about topics like economic growth, open markets, scarcity, opportunity costs, money, incentives, and inflation.
These concepts are taught through a mix of discussions and hands-on simulations where you apply what you've learned in real-world scenarios. You’ll also get leadership training based on the Leadership Pyramid Matrix, a model used in college-level courses. You’ll also work on team-building and learn how leadership connects with economic thinking. The program is highly competitive; only one student from each high school is admitted.
Western Michigan University’s Dollars and Sense Camp
Location: Greenleaf Trust Trading Room at WMU's Haworth College of Business, Kalamazoo, MI
Cost: $299
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: August 4 – August 8
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students who have completed grades 8–12 by June 15
Western Michigan University’s Dollars and Sense is a one-week camp that helps high school students prepare for the future by learning how to manage money and plan for life after graduation. You'll explore different careers, plan for college or skilled trades, and build a financial strategy to pay for your education. You’ll learn about saving, budgeting, investing, risk management, insurance, and newer topics like cryptocurrency and blockchain.
You’ll also compete in finance games, explore real estate, and interact with business professionals to explore real-world workplaces. The camp includes activities like creating a financial plan from high school through retirement and making presentations to finance experts. Sessions are taught by professionals and faculty from the Haworth College of Business.
Georgetown University's Pre-College Online Program — Becoming an Entrepreneur: An Inside Look at Innovation
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795 (enrichment courses) | $3,995 (college credit courses); need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not listed
Dates: Programs are offered as 1-week intensives, 2-week, and 4-week sessions between July 6 and August 31
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and above
Georgetown University's Pre-College Online Programs let high school students explore subjects at their own pace through self-guided courses. You can take 20–30 hour enrichment classes or 130-hour college credit courses, or both. Each course includes videos, simulations, assignments, mentor or TA support, and ends with a capstone project and feedback. Topics include Psychology, Business, Cybersecurity, Journalism, Surgery, Law, and more.
If you're interested in business, the Becoming an Entrepreneur: An Inside Look at Innovation course shows you what it takes to launch a startup. You’ll define your target customers, craft your product story, write a pitch, and practice leadership skills to guide a team, test ideas, and build your brand. It’s a great fit if you want to learn how to take an idea from concept to market.
NSLC’s Leadership & Service High School Program
Location: Multiple locations, including the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $3,095 (Residential Program)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Dates: July 15 – July 20 | July 25 – July 30
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 14–18 who have completed at least one year of high school are eligible to apply. You can also participate in NSLC the summer after graduating.
The NSLC’s Leadership & Service High School Program offers high school students the opportunity to give back to the community while developing their leadership skills. You’ll explore your strengths, set goals, and practice skills such as public speaking and time management that can benefit any future career. Through workshops and hands-on activities, you’ll work on communication, team building, and leadership while discovering what you're good at and where you want to go.
You’ll also earn service hours by taking part in local community projects and gain insight into how leaders make a difference. The program includes city trips, tours, and service opportunities, and you'll meet with community leaders, government officials, and nonprofit professionals to learn how they lead and create change.
Summer Discovery’s Business Programs at the University of Michigan
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $3,999–$15,899
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: High acceptance rate
Dates: Multiple courses are available between June 29 and August 2
Application Deadline: December 16 (early deadline) | January 28 (regular deadline I) | March 25 (regular deadline II)
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
Summer Discovery at the University of Michigan allows high school students to explore subjects of interest through week-long courses taught by industry experts. Courses run one week at a time, with a minimum two-week commitment. You can take a different course each week in areas like business, medicine, psychology, sports management, and STEM. You’ll get a Certificate of Completion and a letter of recognition for each course that you take. If you're interested in business, the Business & Entrepreneurship Academy with NFTE will teach you how to build a business using a lean canvas model.
You'll write a business plan, pitch your idea, and get feedback from real entrepreneurs. Another option is Personal Finance & Investment, where you'll learn about saving, investing, stocks, bonds, and financial planning. You'll explore how starting early impacts your future finances, compare stock markets like the NYSE and NASDAQ, and practice managing money with mock investments to find your risk tolerance.
Michigan Indian Leadership Program (MILP)
Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 30 students
Dates: July 13 – July 18
Application Deadline: April 11
Eligibility: Native American students in grades 8–11, as well as other students interested in exploring Native American culture and community
The Michigan Indian Leadership Program (MILP) is a one-week summer program at Michigan State University for Native American students in grades 8 through 11. The program will allow you to build leadership skills, explore educational pathways in agriculture, food sciences, and natural resources, and connect with Native culture. While open to all students, the content is shaped around topics important to Native communities and includes efforts to indigenize the experience.
You’ll participate in hands-on activities, campus tours, and workshops that showcase the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR)'s offerings. Evenings include social and cultural events such as black ash basket making, indigenous games, beadwork, and porcupine quill work. You’ll stay in dorms and eat in campus dining halls to experience college life.
Columbia Business School Enrichment Program — The Business of Sports
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,995 per program; need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not officially stated, but the program likely has a high acceptance rate
Dates: Multiple 2-week and 4-week sessions are offered between July 6 and August 24
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students who are at least 13 years old
Columbia Business School’s online enrichment program will allow you to explore business topics through flexible, self-paced learning. You'll watch pre-recorded lectures, receive support from a mentor, and complete assignments, spending about 20–25 hours. Columbia offers programs focused on luxury, sports, TV and film, and hospitality. In the Business of Sports program, you’ll explore the industry through topics like team ownership, stadium financing, marketing, collective bargaining, fan demographics, and sports tech.
You’ll follow one team and analyze its business model. You'll learn how franchises generate value, the role of media and advertising, and how sports impact culture and business. For your final project, you’ll pitch strategy and marketing ideas to the owner of a team, including sponsorship and social media plans.
Babson Summer Study for High School Students
Location: Virtual or in person at New England Innovation Academy, Marlborough, MA
Cost: $6,295 + $95 application fee; limited need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Around 200 students
Dates: July 7 – July 28
Application Deadline: February 14 (early deadline) | March 14 (standard deadline)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who will be at least 16 years old by the program’s start
Babson Summer Study is a 3+ week program that will allow you to build an entrepreneurial mindset and learn how to create change. You'll work with students from around the world to explore real-world challenges through the lens of the U.N. Global Goals and earn four college credits from Babson. The program is available both online and in person and is based on Babson’s Entrepreneurial Thought & Action approach.
You’ll take the course EPS 1110: Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Experience, where you’ll build teamwork and problem-solving skills while learning about entrepreneurship, leadership, marketing, finance, and business communication. You’ll build practical skills and learn how to solve problems and create value in any setting, whether in business, nonprofits, government, or your future career.