15 Business Summer Programs for High School Students in Pennsylvania
Discover 15 enriching summer business programs for high school students in Pennsylvania. Enhance your skills and prepare for a successful future in business.
If you're a high school student in Pennsylvania interested in business, summer is a good time to start exploring that path through a business summer program. One option is to join a structured summer program where you can learn how business works in real settings.
Pennsylvania has multiple business schools and growing industries, from finance and real estate to startups and corporate offices. Many universities across the state offer business-focused summer programs for high school students that combine college-level learning with hands-on projects.
In these programs, you’ll study topics like entrepreneurship, marketing, leadership, and accounting. You’ll also work on team projects, meet business professionals, and get a closer look at how different areas of business connect. Whether you're thinking about a future in business or just getting started, these programs give you a solid introduction.
With that, here are 15 business summer programs in Pennsylvania for high school students!
15 Business Summer Programs for High School Students in Pennsylvania
Young Founders 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 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 access the application link here!
Leadership in the Business World
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $11,399 and a non-refundable $100 application fee
Dates: Jun 8 - Jun 28, Jun 29 - Jul 19, Jul 20 - Aug 9
Application Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
In Wharton’s Leadership in the Business World (LBW) program, you’ll spend four weeks at the University of Pennsylvania working through business classes, simulations, and a team project. The program includes around 120 to 160 high school students entering their final year. Each weekday, you’ll attend classes taught by Wharton faculty, covering business concepts through case studies, simulations, and structured sessions.
You’ll take part in company site visits where you’ll speak with professionals about how decisions are made inside firms. Your main project involves creating a business with a team of students, guided by a Resident Team Advisor who is typically a current Wharton undergraduate. Together, you’ll develop a full business plan over the four weeks. At the end of the program, your team will pitch the plan to a panel of invited investors during a final showcase.
Management & Technology Summer Institute
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,000 + $100 application fee(includes tuition, housing, meals)
Dates: July 6 – July 26
Application Deadline: Priority: January 29; Final: April 2
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
The Management & Technology Summer Institute combines business strategy with real-world tech applications. You’ll study at the intersection of entrepreneurship and engineering, work on a team to develop a tech-based product, and pitch it to Penn faculty and professionals. Classes focus on innovation, product development, and market research. Site visits and guest speakers add real-world insight. Through this business summer program for high school students, you will learn how businesses use technology to solve problems and what it takes to bring an idea to market.
Camp Business
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Residential Blue: $2,000; Commuter: $950; Residential Gold: $2,000 total cost
Dates: Residential Blue Session: July 13 – July 18; Commuter Session: July 20 – July 25; Residential Gold Session: July 27 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors can apply
Camp Business at Drexel LeBow is a one-week summer program where you study core business areas like finance, marketing, management, and entrepreneurship. You’ll take part in faculty-led sessions, case challenges, stock market simulations, and group presentations. The program includes visits to local companies where you’ll observe how business decisions are made in different industries. Faculty and guest professionals lead the sessions and walk you through how companies respond to real-world problems. Most of the work is team-based, and you’ll use what you learn to complete group tasks throughout the week.
Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS)
Location: Penn State University, University Park, PA
Cost: ($250)
Dates: June 14- June 26
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors from the U.S. and Puerto Rico and interested in pursuing a business education in college
The BOSS program at Penn State’s Smeal College of Business is a two-week residential program for high school students interested in business. You’ll stay on the Penn State campus, attend classes taught by Smeal faculty, and work on group projects that cover areas like management, marketing, and supply chain. The schedule also includes sessions on leadership, college applications, and career preparation. You’ll interact with Penn State students, meet business professionals, and take part in mentorship and networking activities.
LaunchX Summer Entrepreneurship Programs
Location: Located in Boston with online programs
Cost: Starting at $1,995 + Application Fee
Dates: Varies by program type
Application Deadline: March 5
Eligibility: High school students ages 14–18
LaunchX empowers high schoolers to launch real startups through rigorous summer programs held both in-person and online. According to your program of 2-8 weeks, you will solve authentic problems, develop MVPs, validate ideas in the market, and make real sales before you present your idea. Throughout the program, you will also be guided by mentors, industry experts, and you will learn through continuous feedback. Some programs also offer financial awards and need-based scholarships.
Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs you with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project.
At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Accounting, Finance, Business Initiative Summer Residency Program
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Free (includes housing, meals, and program materials)
Dates: June 22-June 27
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from underrepresented backgrounds
Accounting Finance Business Initiative (AFBI®) is a free program designed for first-generation and low-income high school students interested in accounting, finance, business, and tech. You take part in a one-week residential experience at a local college, followed by year-round programming. You’ll visit accounting firms and companies, work on business case studies with other students, and attend a final banquet with professionals and family. The program builds your college prep skills, helps you understand business careers, and connects you with students and professionals in your region.
NAIOP-Drexel Summer Real Estate Program
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Free (includes housing, meals, and program materials)
Dates: July 13 - July 22
Application Deadline: March 21
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from underrepresented backgrounds
The NAIOP-Drexel Summer Real Estate Program gives you a 10-day, fully funded experience at Drexel University. You’ll explore careers in real estate development, architecture, finance, and planning. You’ll visit companies like FMC and Comcast, take part in case studies, work on team projects, and attend lectures led by Drexel faculty. Industry mentors will guide you throughout, and you’ll also get support with college planning and applications.
Essentials of Entrepreneurship
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $7,899 and a $100 application fee
Dates: Jun 8 - Jun 21; Jun 22 - Jul 4; Jul 13 - Jul 26; Jul 27 - Aug 9
Application Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: High school students currently in grades 9–11
Essentials of Entrepreneurship is a Wharton summer program where you learn how startups move from idea to launch. You’ll study topics like customer research, product-market fit, business models, and funding through case studies and team projects. Wharton faculty lead the sessions, and guest entrepreneurs join to share what building a business looks like in practice. You’ll work in a small team to create a business concept and present it to professionals for feedback.
Business Bootcamp
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $325
Dates: Feb 22 and 23
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from underrepresented backgrounds
Business Bootcamp is a two-day, on-campus program for high school students in grades 10 to 12. You’ll attend college-style classes in product development, accounting, business ethics, and data analytics taught by Drexel LeBow faculty. The schedule also includes student panels, simulations, and virtual site visits with business professionals. You’ll gain a foundation in core business areas, get a completion certificate, and be invited to future Drexel business events.
Future of the Business World
Location: Online (hosted by Wharton Global Youth Program, University of Pennsylvania)
Cost: $4,099 and a $100 application fee
Dates: Jun 16 - Jun 27; Jul 7 - Jul 18; Jul 21 - Aug 1
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students currently in grades 9–11
This is a two-week online summer program from Wharton for high school students in grades 9 to 12. You attend live classes on Zoom, join TA-led recitations, and take part in team projects, business simulations, and workshops. You learn how business responds to real-world challenges by working on a team project that uses design thinking and scenario planning. The final presentation is a business solution or forecast for an issue like climate, tech, or policy. You also join speaker sessions and podcast discussions that feature people working in startups, global firms, and public policy.
Sports Business Academy
Location: Online
Cost: $4,799
Cohort size: Around 60–80 students
Dates: July 7 - July 25
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students currently in grades 9–11
The Sports Business Academy at Wharton is a three-week online summer program for high school juniors and seniors where you learn how the sports industry operates off the field. You attend live lectures taught by Wharton faculty and hear directly from professionals working in sports teams, leagues, and agencies. You study topics like sports marketing, media, law, and management. You work in teams to explore issues such as sponsorship, fan engagement, and labor relations. You also build a business plan for a sports-related venture and present it by the end of the program.
AEM 1300 - Introduction to Macroeconomic Theory and Policy at Cornell University
Location: Online
Cost: $1,840 per credit; a typical 3-credit course totals $5,520, plus a $1,500 nonrefundable deposit and possible course fees.
Dates: 3-week sessions run June 2–20, June 23–July 11, or July 14–August 1; 6-week session runs June 23–August 1.
Application Deadline: May 5 (Session 1), May 19 (Session 2 and Six-week), June 16 (Session 3).
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
This online course teaches you how economists use data and models to understand national and global economies. You’ll study inflation, unemployment, interest rates, GDP, and government policy. Through weekly assignments, case-based problems, and class discussions, you’ll build skills in economic analysis, data interpretation, and policy evaluation. Taught by Cornell Dyson School faculty, the course is credit-bearing and follows a college-level structure.
Babson Summer Study for High School Students
Location: Fully Online
Cost: $6,295 (+ $95 application fee). Need-based aid and tech stipends are available.
Dates: July 7- July 28
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors or seniors, aged 16+ by program start; must meet English proficiency and tech access requirements.
Babson Summer Study is a 3-week credit program where you learn how to build ventures for real-world problems using Babson’s Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® method. You join a team, pick a global issue, and turn your solution into a working business model. You get 4 college credits through a course called EPS 1110. Faculty and mentors guide you through business strategy, finance, marketing, design, and social innovation. You can attend online or in person at NEIA in Massachusetts. You’ll work with students from different countries, hear from guest speakers, and pitch your final project to a panel.