Business Summer Programs for High School Students in 2027

Wharton charges $11,899 for a three-week business program, while the University of Texas at Austin runs a six-day business academy that costs nothing at all. Both take high school students, and both are selective. These are just two of countless high school summer programs. Understanding the massive diversity of options is the first step to ultimately selecting the best fit. Price tells you almost nothing about quality, and the most competitive programs on this list are not the most expensive ones.

This guide covers the business and entrepreneurship programs worth applying to for summer 2027, what each one actually costs, and when the applications close. A warning before you start: most universities have not published their 2027 details yet. However, every figure below is labeled with the cycle it came from, so you know what is confirmed and what is last year's number.

What is a business summer program?

A business summer program is a short course, usually one to six weeks, where high school students study business subjects and work on a project. Most are run by university business schools. Some are run by independent companies or nonprofits.

The programs split into three rough types.

Academic courses teach business the way a college class would, covering accounting, finance, marketing and strategy. NYU Precollege and UMD's SELF program award actual college credit for this work.

Startup and entrepreneurship programs put you in a team and have you build something. You develop an idea, research a market, and pitch it at the end. LaunchX and Tufts' Entrepreneurship Bootcamp both run this way.

Internship and work-based programs place you inside a real organization. Chicago Summer Business Institute and Genesys Works both do this, and both pay you.

Which type suits you depends on what you want to be able to say afterward. A course gives you credit and a transcript. A startup program gives you something you built. An internship gives you work experience and, in a few cases, a paycheck.

How much do business summer programs cost?

Prices run from zero to roughly $13,000 for summer 2027.

The residential university programs cluster between $5,750 and $12,995. Online programs run lower, generally $4,000 to $6,500. Free programs exist, and there are more of them than most lists suggest, but nearly all carry a residency or income restriction.

Application fees are separate and usually range from $35 to $95. Most programs charge one whether you are admitted or not.

Financial aid varies more than the sticker price does. Wharton awards need-based scholarships including full rides for Philadelphia public school students. Babson offers aid only for its online format, not its in-person one. Georgetown covers tuition only, never housing. Read the aid page, not the cost page, before you decide a program is out of reach.

Which business summer programs should you apply to?

Tufts University: Business Essentials and Entrepreneurship & Innovation Bootcamp

Tufts has published more confirmed 2027 information than any other university on this list, which makes it the easiest program to plan around.

Both courses run two weeks on the Medford campus outside Boston. Business Essentials looks at how businesses work across industries through debates, case studies and guest speakers. The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp has you design and launch a venture, then pitch it to judges in a demo-day format.

Cost for summer 2027 is confirmed at $5,750 residential and $4,225 commuter. Applications open December 14, 2026 and close May 1, 2027. You need to be entering grades 10 through 12, and residential students must be between 15 and 19. Limited need-based scholarships are available, but international students are not eligible for them.

Summer 2027 dates have not been posted yet. Tufts says they arrive in fall 2026.

Venture & Tech Summer Program

VTSP runs six weeks entirely online, which removes travel and housing from the cost. Students participate in cutting-edge workshops, daily lecture, breakout pods, future founder matchmaking, and work on a project in tandem with a VC-backed startup. Guest speakers are hosted in the evening, with past guests including Mark Cuban, Josh Luber, and founders and CEOs from Netflix, Google, DoorDash, Etsy, and more.

Tuition is $4,750 for the full six weeks in either session. Financial aid is offered based on a combined show of need and merit, including a limited number of full-tuition awards for high-need applicants.

All high school students can apply, including international students and those taking a gap year before university. No prior business experience is required. Selected applicants are invited to an asynchronous video interview and proceed to next steps.

The 2027 cycle is fully published, which is rare right now. Priority Decision runs November 15 to December 31, 2026, with decisions by February 6. Early Action runs January 1 to 31, 2027, decisions by March 6. Regular Decision runs February 1 to 28, 2027, decisions by April 10. Enrollment is due within 7 days of acceptance in every round.

LaunchX

LaunchX has published its complete 2027 lineup, dates and prices included.

Two corrections worth knowing, because many lists get both wrong. LaunchX is an independent organization and is not affiliated with MIT. Its in-person program now runs in San Diego, not on the MIT campus.

The flagship San Diego program runs four weeks, July 12 to August 8, 2027, from $11,495. A two-week San Diego exploration option runs June 28 to July 11, 2027, from $6,495. Online Entrepreneurship runs five weeks, July 13 to August 14, 2027, from $6,495. Shorter online options start at $1,995. Students outside the US pay an additional $250 fee for the on-site programs.

Programs are built for ages 14 to 18. Students work in teams through four phases, ideation through implementation, and finish at a demo day. Deadlines run in four rounds: November 12 priority, January 7 early, February 11 for financial awards, March 4 final. Application fees climb by round, $45 to $75. Financial awards exist, though LaunchX has not published award amounts.

Georgetown University: three business academies

Georgetown runs three separate business academies in Washington, DC, all offered residential or commuter.

The Global Business Academy runs three weeks and covers international business with DC field trips. The Business & Leadership Academy also runs three weeks, covering strategy, finance and management, ending with a team startup pitch. The Entrepreneurship Academy runs two weeks and focuses on building a venture from market research to pitch competition.

Summer 2027 pricing is published. Three-week academies cost $9,085 residential and $7,085 commuter. The two-week Entrepreneurship Academy costs $6,465 residential and $5,075 commuter. The application fee is $50 and is waived if you apply by the early-bird deadline.

Two things to check yourself. Georgetown's individual academy pages still show summer 2026 session dates even though the cost page has moved to 2027 pricing. And the application deadlines, January 31 early-bird and May 15 final, do not have a year printed next to them.

Scholarships are need-based, cover tuition only, and require a separate application after you are admitted.

Wharton Global Youth Program

Wharton is the most recognized name here and the most expensive.

Leadership in the Business World runs three weeks residentially in Philadelphia for $11,899, housing and meals included. It is open only to students currently in grade 11 with an unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher, and it takes about 120 students per session.

Essentials of Entrepreneurship runs two weeks for $8,299 and is open to grades 9 through 11. Future of the Business World runs two weeks online for $4,099 and is open to grades 9 through 12.

All three figures are summer 2026 prices. Wharton has published nothing for 2027 as of September 2026, and its application page still reads that 2026 applications are closed. For reference, the 2026 deadlines were January 28 priority and March 18 final.

Wharton's financial aid is the strongest of the expensive programs. It includes full and partial scholarships for Philadelphia public school students, NEON scholarships, and nominations through 17 partner organizations. Online program scholarships typically run $500 to $4,000.

Babson College Summer Study

Babson built its reputation on entrepreneurship, and Summer Study teaches its Entrepreneurial Thought & Action method over three-plus weeks, awarding 4 college credits.

The pricing structure catches people out. Fully online costs $6,295. In-person as a day student costs $9,295, because you pay Babson $6,295 in tuition plus $3,000 directly to New England Innovation Academy, which hosts the in-person program in Marlborough, Massachusetts. In-person residential costs $12,995, tuition plus $6,700 in NEIA fees. Add a $95 application fee to any of these.

Read this part carefully: tuition scholarships are available only for the online format. If you need aid, in-person is not an option.

Eligibility is rising juniors and seniors. Dates and deadlines still show the 2026 cycle, July 8 to 28, 2026.

USC Marshall precollege business courses

USC's business courses run four weeks on the Los Angeles campus, residential or commuter, though commuter is domestic students only.

The two main options are Introduction to Business, which covers accounting through strategy and ends in a capstone where teams analyze a real company, and Exploring Entrepreneurship, which runs four modules from ideation to pitch with founder and VC guests.

Summer 2027 dates are confirmed as June 21 to July 15, 2027. Pricing is not. The 2026 figures were $11,570 residential and $8,130 commuter, all fees included, with a $1,000 non-refundable deposit and an $85 application fee. USC says 2027 application information arrives in November 2026.

You need to have completed at least ninth grade by the start of the program. Financial aid is not published on USC's cost page.

NYU Precollege

A correction first: NYU Stern does not run a residential summer business program for high school students. Stern's own high school offerings are short and inexpensive, a five-day institute at $650 and a four-session webinar series at $350. The credit-bearing business coursework people mean when they say "NYU summer business program" is run by NYU Precollege.

Precollege runs about six weeks in Greenwich Village, available residential, commuter or online. You take a real NYU undergraduate course alongside college students, and the business track includes Wall Street field trips.

Tuition for 2026 ran $4,004 for two credits, $6,006 for three, and $8,008 for four. International students must take six to eight credits, which puts them at $12,012 to $16,016. Add a $300 activity charge, $50 application charge, $250 deposit, and roughly $4,600 for housing and dining if you live on campus.

Eligibility is rising juniors and seniors with a suggested 3.0 GPA. The 2026 dates were July 1 to August 12. Nothing for 2027 has been published.

University of Maryland: Snider Enterprise and Leadership Fellows

SELF is the best value among the credit-bearing programs, and it is easy to miss because UMD runs it through Extended Studies rather than the business school's admissions office.

You spend three weeks earning three undergraduate credits in a course where, in the program's own framing, you run "the CEO of ME (My Enterprise), Inc." You develop a venture, get feedback from industry experts, and pitch it.

Dates are listed for summer 2027, July 12 to 30. The 2026 package cost $1,791 on campus or $1,420 online, which is a fraction of what the private universities charge. Two cautions: the course carries an additional fee that UMD has not published, and a residential option is new for 2026 with housing costs also unpublished. The 2027 application dates are not out yet.

Eligibility is rising 10th graders through graduating seniors. A limited number of partial scholarships exist, but no award exceeds 30% of the program fee.

Are there free business summer programs for high school students?

Yes. However, nearly all carry a geographic or income restriction.

UT Austin McCombs runs three free residential programs with confirmed 2027 dates and a January 31 deadline for all three. The McCombs Future Executive Academy runs May 31 to June 5, 2027 for current sophomores and juniors. Subiendo runs June 13 to 17, 2027 and is open only to students at Texas high schools. DYNAMC, an accounting program sponsored by Ernst & Young, runs June 21 to 26, 2027. Housing is included. Selection prioritizes first-generation students and students facing economic hardship.

Chicago Summer Business Institute is free and pays you. It is a six-week paid internship at a sponsor firm plus Friday workshops on resumes, interviewing and networking. You must be a Chicago resident, a sophomore, junior or senior in 2026–27, hold a 3.0 GPA, and come from a household earning under $80,000. The 2027 portal opens February 1 and closes March 31. The wage is not published.

Genesys Works pays the most of anything on this list. You do 160 hours of skills training over eight weeks the summer between junior and senior year, then work a paid 20-hour-a-week corporate internship through senior year. Students earn $10,000 to $12,000 across the internship year. It operates in the Bay Area, Chicago, Houston, Jacksonville, Nashville, the National Capital Region, New York City, Tulsa and the Twin Cities. You apply in fall or winter of junior year and must be authorized to work in the US.

Portland State University's Summer Business Institute costs $100 and includes housing, three meals a day and transit, which makes it the best value here. It runs July 11 to 16, 2027, and you earn one transferable college credit. It is open to freshmen through juniors aged 14 to 18 who identify as historically underrepresented. The deadline is listed as May 5 without a year printed.

University of Kansas Summer Venture in Business charges a $50 participation fee, owed only if you are invited, with need-based waivers. It runs six days residentially in Lawrence for rising juniors and seniors. The 2026 deadline was February 13; 2027 is not published.

CU Boulder Leeds School runs a free week-long Business Leadership Program built around a case competition, with a $1,000 Leeds scholarship for the winning team. It is open only to Colorado residents or students at Colorado high schools, and it is designed for first-generation and low-income students. The 2026 session ran June 21 to 27; 2027 is not published.

NFTE BizCamps are free where they run, but there is no national application. NFTE delivers them through local affiliates, so you have to find your regional chapter. Summer 2025 camps served more than 600 students across six regions, running 50 to 90 hours each.

NYC Summer Youth Employment Program is the largest option anywhere on this list, with 100,000 participants in 2026. It pays minimum wage to ages 16 to 24 and a stipend to 14- and 15-year-olds. It runs six weeks in July and August. The 2026 deadline was March 13, and 2027 is not published. There is no named business track, so placements vary.

Which programs are not open to high school students?

Several programs appear on "free programs for high schoolers" lists and should not. Checking this before you write an application saves real time.

Bank of America Student Leaders changed its eligibility. It now requires applicants to be at least 18, to have earned a high school diploma within the last 24 months, and to hold 12 to 18 college credit hours. Current high school students cannot apply. The internship also shortened from eight weeks to six. Most lists still describe it as a high school program.

The LEAD Program is not free. Its Global Summer Learning Institute charged $3,200 plus a $50 non-refundable application fee, with a limited number of need-based scholarships.

Harvard Business School's Summer Venture in Management, Girls Who Invest's Summer Intensive, Management Leadership for Tomorrow, and Johns Hopkins Carey's Summer Business Academy are all college programs. Every one of them appears on at least one list aimed at high schoolers.

SEO Scholars is free and excellent, but it is a college-access program rather than a business one. Its business and finance track is for college students.

How do colleges view business summer programs?

Admissions offices know which programs select students and which ones accept anyone who pays. They're also familiar with the real coursework and real-world experience that goes into each of the most popular.

If your main goal is your application, weigh the free competitive programs seriously. UT McCombs and Chicago Summer Business Institute are harder to get into than several programs charging five figures.

When should you apply?.

The first deadlines for summer 2027 land in November 2026. LaunchX's priority round closes November 12. VTSP's Priority Decision round opens November 15. UT McCombs and all three of its programs close January 31. Wharton's 2026 priority deadline was January 28, and 2027 will likely be similar.

The latest common deadlines fall in May. Tufts closes May 1, 2027, and Georgetown's final deadline is May 15.

Applying early matters more than it looks. Several programs here admit in rounds and fill seats as they go, so a strong application in a later round competes for fewer spots.

Frequently asked questions

What if you're interested in both tech and entrepreneurship? Look for a program built at that intersection rather than one that covers business generally and mentions technology in passing. The Venture & Tech Summer Program is the most direct fit on this list, because venture and tech are both in the curriculum and every student works on a project informed by a VC-backed startup. It runs six weeks fully online and costs $4,750. LaunchX is the other strong option, and its four-phase structure has teams build a functioning startup over four to five weeks, though tuition starts at $6,495 online and $11,495 in San Diego. USC also offers a Bitcoin and AI course through Marshall if you want the technology side inside a traditional university program.

Which business summer programs for high schoolers are fully online? Six of the programs here run online. VTSP is online only, six weeks, $4,750. Wharton's Future of the Business World runs two weeks at $4,099. Babson Summer Study's online format costs $6,295 and awards the same four college credits as its in-person version. LaunchX runs several online options from $1,995 to $6,495. UMD's SELF program has an online track at roughly $1,420. NYU Precollege also offers online enrollment.

Which programs let you do work informed by an actual startup? Two. VTSP pairs every student with a project in tandem with VC-backed startups. LaunchX has you build your own startup with a team and mentors rather than joining an existing one. Everything else on this list teaches business through coursework, case studies or simulations, which is a different experience and worth knowing about before you apply.

Do business summer programs cost money if you get financial aid? Usually some. Most programs award partial scholarships rather than full ones. UMD caps awards at 30% of the program fee. Wharton and VTSP both offer a limited number of full-tuition awards to high-need students. Babson's aid applies only to its online format, not its in-person one.

Can international students apply? It varies. VTSP and Wharton accept international students. Wharton accepts international applicants. Tufts accepts them but excludes them from scholarships. LaunchX charges an extra $250 for on-site programs. NYU requires international students to take six to eight credits, which roughly doubles tuition to between $12,012 and $16,016. USC's commuter rate is domestic-only.

Do you need business experience to apply? No. VTSP, Wharton and most others state explicitly that no prior background is required. VTSP for example looks for motivated self-starters with demonstrated interest in startups, technology or business.

How competitive are these programs? It varies, and many do not disclose exact admissions rates. Wharton's Leadership in the Business World requires a 3.5 unweighted GPA and takes about 120 students per session. VTSP utilizes a holistic review and admits a small but dynamic number of applicants relative to volume. The free programs are often the hardest of all, since UT McCombs and Chicago Summer Business Institute compete for a small number of funded seats.

Before you apply

Check the cycle year on every page you read. As of September 2026, only Tufts, LaunchX, Georgetown, UT McCombs, Chicago Summer Business Institute and VTSP have published meaningful 2027 details. Everything else is showing last summer's numbers, and prices tend to rise between cycles.

Then work backward from the deadlines. The November and January rounds arrive faster than they seem, and the programs worth applying to are the ones that close first.

About the Authors

Written by the team behind the Venture & Tech Summer Program (VTSP), a six-week virtual innovation program that has brought together high school students from more than 85 countries. Each session pairs students with internship projects at startups in Silicon Valley and beyond, and brings in guest speakers working in technology, innovation, and venture capital.