Many students want to continue learning about business-related topics when school’s out for the summer. With so many available pre-college summer programs, finding the right one can be time-consuming and exhausting.
To help you out, Pioneer Academics used its rigorous standards to compile a list of the best online and on-campus summer business programs for high school students that you may not have heard of.
Advice from a Former Admissions Officer
Academic Development Manager | Pioneer Academics Former Associate Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Wake Forest University Former Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions
Important note: The “best” program is always going to be the program that best fits your needs, goals, and interests. Check out my thoughts on things to consider when selecting a summer program here: College Application: Tips on Selecting a Summer Program Meeting Admission Officers’ Standards.
Business summer programs can be a really incredible opportunity for students for a couple of reasons. First, like many other areas of study, there are often limited chances to study business at a high level within a high school curriculum. A business course may be offered, but it is often difficult to find an avenue to expand on the foundational understanding. The second is that business, as a discipline, is so closely linked with pre-professional experiences. Summer programs can be a great way to dip your toes into the professional world to gain access to a new lens on some possible pathways through both your education and potential career. Most importantly, however, is that business is far more academically oriented than many students realize. For students considering economics or finance as a potential major, for example, many of the concepts that you will encounter as an undergraduate are far more intellectual and even abstract than you may expect. The strongest business students are generally the ones that can combine the practicality of a pre-professional mindset with the intellectual curiosity of a researcher.
💡Bonus tips for choosing the right academic programs:
Click here to read the in-depth investigative report and its summary on the academic programs and publications by the Pulitzer-winning journalist on ProPublica and Chronicle of Higher Ed!
This program When it comes to summer programs for high school students interested in business, Pioneer Academics stands out with its world-renowned, fully accredited online research program. The program is highly selective and maintains rigorous academic standards, ensuring that students develop the skills required to conduct research at the undergraduate level. Pioneer Academics provides mentorship and education from some of the leading instructors in the field while offering students access to digital libraries and methodology seminars to support in-depth research in various business areas. By the end of the summer program, each participant will complete a comprehensive research paper on their chosen topic, making Pioneer Academics an exceptional option for students seeking a robust and challenging business summer program.
Babson Summer Study is an online program teaching students how to form a global business. This program is for rising high school juniors and seniors wanting to develop entrepreneurial mindsets. Students discover real-world challenges and opportunities that exist among global businesses. Students also receive college credits after completing this program.
The Athena Summer Innovation Institute is a 10-day pre-college summer program for female high school students. In this program, participants collaborate to develop new companies, organizations, and ventures. Students interested in attending this program also learn from renowned female instructors and real-world entrepreneurs. Another perk of this course is seeing business leaders in action through its on-site visits.
The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth gives 50 selected students a chance to work in teams to form innovative business ideas. First, each team uses this course’s teachings to develop a business plan. As this academy continues, teams receive business education to help them fine-tune their business ideas. At the end of this business program, students present their plans.
High school students interested in on-campus programs should learn about a two-week opportunity from Penn State University. The BOSS program gives students in high school a closer look at college life, especially when choosing a business-related college major. This pre-college program lets students participate in Penn State University’s prestigious business courses.
Economics for Leaders gives high school students an interactive environment to learn about economics and how it helps them make better business decisions. Each student receives a foundation in economic concepts and how they relate to public policy. Students also learn how to utilize economic analysis and leadership skills together.
Camp Business welcomes high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors each summer for residential and commuter sessions. These summer programs teach students about core business concepts, including accounting, finance, management, and marketing. Other subjects explored in these summer business programs include the stock market and financial technology.
This program is a three-week residential learning experience focused on forming new business ideas. High school students get an exclusive chance to learn about and test business tools that help turn raw ideas into business simulations. There are also bonus team-building opportunities through this program’s optional after-hours group projects.
Barnard College hosts a range of business summer programs for young women. One of these programs teaches participants how to become better leaders. Students work alongside the Athena Center for Leadership team to develop collaboration and communication skills.
Session 2: Sunday, July 23rd- Friday, August 11th, 2023
Caminos al Futuro is a three-week program for rising high school seniors. Program students learn about the political, social, and economic issues affecting Latino and Hispanic communities. This summer course also has business leaders and university professors giving speeches to students. Besides learning business fundamentals, students also get to attend writing workshops.
The Exploring Entrepreneurship program brings motivated students together to have them create and develop business pitches. Students also learn how to build prototypes, finance companies, and prepare pitches. At the end of this week-long course, program participants pitch their ideas to an exclusive panel of entrepreneurs.
Unlike other programs on this list, this college prep course is for students who want to learn about the financial side of business practices. This pre-collegiate summer institute educates participants on investing, economics, and managing personal finances. Each student in this program also has the opportunity to meet with several of New York City’s leading executives.
$50 deposit
July 24, 2023-July 28, 2023
Moneyball Academy: Training Camp FLEX is a three-week online program led by Wharton Professor Adi Wyner and the Wharton Sports Analytics and Business Initiative. It offers talented students without a formal statistics background an opportunity to explore statistics and coding through a sports lens. The program focuses on fundamental principles of sports statistics rather than heavy computing. Participants will gain a better understanding of sports analyses, learn basic coding in R, interact with Professor Wyner and Teaching Assistants, attend live guest lectures, and engage in virtual social events. Successful completion earns a Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion and the chance to apply for a more in-depth program.
Texas Tech University isn’t the only university in Texas offering summer programs. The University of Houston regularly hosts pre-college programs for high school entrepreneurs interested in business. Available to current high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, these business classes teach students how to manage their educational and professional finances. This program covers budgeting, financial goal setting, and money management.
Rising high school seniors wanting a closer look at business management might consider attending the Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy. This two-week program gives students a broad overview of what it takes to run a business. Students also speak with Ross business faculty members, guest instructors, and like-minded peers.
Another of the best business summer programs is the Olin Fleischer Scholars Program. This program shows each student how to bring a business idea to life, including anything from a marketing startup to a sports business academy. Students also learn about handling business operations, speaking publicly, and working well as part of a team.
The University of Southern California’s business program has students attend guest lectures, go on short field trips to local businesses, and form stronger teamwork skills. Several topics covered in this program include business planning, human resources, personal branding, marketing, and finance.
Residential: $10,020
Students with a particular interest in business administration should sign up for a program offered by Marist College. In this pre-college program, students learn about what managerial work consists of, planning, organizational structures, the administrative thought process, and the nature of modern management in today’s business world.
Session II (in-person): July 9 – July 22
Session III (online): July 10 – July 28
New York Session I and Session II, 6 college credits: $6,300
Virtual Session, 3 college credits: $1,500
The SELF Experience is an online and on-campus program that teaches students how to rely on themselves to solve problems and face real-world challenges business owners deal with. Like a few business programs on this list, the SELF Experience covers the foundations of management, marketing, and finance.
Commuter: $2,500
This program provides a broad overview of business-related topics with guest lectures from local executives. While this is one of the shorter business programs on this list, it offers time for participants to tour Athens, attend a supervised pool party with undergraduate students, and learn about the college admissions process.
💡Bonus tips in choosing the right academic programs:
Read the in-depth investigative report and its summary on the academic programs and publications by the Pulitzer winning journalist on ProPublica and Chronicle of Higher Ed! (Link to our blog of info graph of the report)
If you are a motivated high school student interested in business research, we encourage you to attend a free online information session.
Doing research is commonplace. How do you choose the research opportunity that makes a difference?
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