10 Sports Business Summer Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in how the sports industry operates, consider enrolling in a summer program! You can delve deeper into the world of sports business, gaining invaluable insights and hands-on experience that can set the foundation for a successful career. You can use this opportunity to learn more about sports marketing, event management, athlete representation, and media relations, connecting academic learning with real-world application.
Moreover, summer programs prove a sustained interest in a subject, that college admissions boards value highly when evaluating students’ portfolios.
In this blog, we'll explore 10 sports business summer programs designed specifically for high school students.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,799
Application Deadline: June 1, 2024 (2025 dates TBD)
Dates/Duration: July 8 – 26, 2024
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors. International students can apply.
The Wharton Sports Business Academy is a three-week virtual program designed for high school students interested in the business side of sports. This program offers participants the opportunity to dive deep into the world of sports management and business through a mix of live classes, guest lectures, and group work. Guest speakers include sports agents, team executives, and marketing professionals.
Topics covered during the program include sports marketing, management, media, medicine, law, social responsibility, collective bargaining, franchising, and more. A typical day includes two live lectures, a guest lecture, and time for group activities.
Location: Syracuse University campus, New York
Cost:
Residential: $2,195
Commuter: $1,726
Application Deadline: 2025 dates TBD
Dates/Duration:
Session I: July 8-12, 2024
Session II: July 22-26, 2024 (the 2025 program will likely be held in July)
Eligibility: Must be a rising high school sophomore, junior, or senior, or graduating senior
The Syracuse University Sport Management Summer Program is for high school students interested in sports management. Here, you will step into the shoes of a sports manager and learn about their job, the tasks they do, and the problems they face. The curriculum includes interactive lectures, case studies, and group projects that provide a hands-on understanding of the industry. A typical day includes lectures and group activities in the morning, followed by guest speakers in the evening.
The program is led by Lindsey Darvin, an assistant professor of sports management at Syracuse University’s David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.
Location: Georgetown University campus, Washington D.C.
Cost: $5,775
Application Deadline: The final deadline for the 2025 cohort is TBD; however, expect it to open in late fall.
Dates/Duration: July 7-19, 2024 (2025 dates TBD)
Eligibility: Be a rising or current high school freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior. Must have a minimum 2.0 GPA
The Georgetown University Sports Industry Management Academy is a two-week in-person program for students interested in pursuing a career in the sports industry. The program curriculum includes topics like sports marketing, event management, athlete representation, sports media, ethics, sponsorships, community relationships, and more. You will learn about the sports industry through interactive lectures, real-world case studies, guest lectures, group projects, and site visits within the Washington, D.C. area. A typical day includes lectures, an off-site visit, and group project work.
Location: New York City
Cost: $6,845 (residential) | $5,580 (commuter)
Application Deadline: 2025 Application dates TBD
Dates/Duration: Two two-week sessions in June and July
Eligibility:
Session I: Rising high school juniors and seniors and graduating seniors
Session II: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The NYT School Sports Management Pre-College Program offers high school students a two-week program on sports business, with residential and commuter options available. You begin the program with a foundational course on the history of sports business before moving onto four industry topics: athlete management, facility and event management, the relationship and impact of culture, society, and individuals on the business of sports, and the future of sport.
You will go on several site visits, including to famous venues like the Yankees Stadium, Barclays Center, and NFL Headquarters. Visiting guest lecturers are reputed NYT journalists and industry professionals who work with the NBA, NFL, and MLS.
Location: Columbia University, New York, or Duke University, North Carolina
Cost:
Columbia University: $4,095
Duke University: $3,895
Application Deadline: Not specified
Dates/Duration: Two sessions of nine days each in Columbia and Duke University. 2025 dates TBD
Eligibility: Current high school students
The NSLC Sports Management Program offers high school students a unique opportunity to delve into the business side of the sports industry through an immersive and interactive summer experience at either Columbia University or Duke University.
In the program, you will get to experience immersive workshops (for instance, leadership workshops), field trips for a behind-the-scenes look at the spot industry, guest lectures, and even experiential simulations!
Location: Wake Forest University campus, North Carolina
Cost: $2,800
Application Deadline: Summer 2024 applications are closed. Check back in the fall for Summer 2025 applications.
Dates/Duration:
Session I: July 7 – 12, 2024
Session II: July 21 – 26, 2024
Eligibility: Current high school students
The Wake Forest University Sports Business Institute offers high school students an oppourtuinty to gain an understanding of business principles that drive the sports sectors. As a participant, you’ll explore various career opportunities within both collegiate and professional sports, guided by expert guest speakers and industry leaders.
The curriculum covers essential topics such as sales, marketing, branding, sponsorships, media relations, and collegiate athletics administration. An added bonus are the hands-on experiences which includes professional and college sports facilities, and interactive discussions with NCAA Division 1 coaches and sports executives!
Location: UCLA campus, Los Angeles, California
Cost:
Residential: $7,548
Commuter: $4,398
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Dates/Duration:
(Residential) Session I: July 7 – 19, 2024
(Residential) Session II: July 21 – August 2, 2024
(Commuter) Session I: July 3 – 13, 2024
(Commuter) Session II: July 21 – August 1, 2024
Eligibility: Current high school students
The UCLA Anderson School of Management’s Sports Business Academy is a program that allows you to deep dive into o business frameworks such as finance, marketing, strategy, and economics. You will have the choice between a two-week, three-week, or five-week sessions, and will review case studies, meet with industry professionals, and explore the principles that drive the sports industry.
Additionallty, you will experience site visits to some of Los Angeles' most famous arenas and stadiums to get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the mechanics of sports management and business.
Location: Philadelphia 76ers HQ, Camden, New Jersey
Cost: $2,500
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Dates/Duration: TBD – one-week program in the summer
Eligibility: U.S. high school students entering grades 10-12
The Global Sports Business Academy with the Philadelphia 76ers offers a unique opportunity for high school students and rising college freshmen to dive into the world of sports business. Hosted at the Philadelphia 76ers Headquarters in Camden, NJ, this one-week summer program provides an immersive experience where participants will learn from industry leaders, including Sixers executives and other professionals from sports and entertainment sectors such as law, technology, management, and marketing.
Throughout the week, students will engage in hands-on learning, interactive workshops, and career development sessions designed to build leadership, negotiation skills, and strategic thinking. The program also includes guest lectures and visits to key sports venues in Philadelphia, giving participants a comprehensive view of the sports business landscape!
Location: UMASS Amherst campus or online
Cost:
$3,636 Residential
$2,167 Commuter
$1,865 Online
Application Deadline: Summer 2024 applications are closed. Check back in the fall for Summer 2025 applications.
Dates/Duration:
In-person: July 14 – 27, 2024
Online: July 15 – 26, 2024
Eligibility: Rising 10-12 grade students
The UMASS Amherst McCormack Sports Leadership Academy, part of the UMass Amherst Summer Pre-College Program, offers high school students an unparalleled opportunity to dive into the business of sports. Hosted by the McCormack Department, this two-week intensive program allows students to explore practical sports business applications and gain insights from world-renowned faculty and industry-leading alumni.
Throughout the program, students will immerse themselves in critical segments of the sports and entertainment industry, such as Sports & Digital Media, Sports Marketing & Sales, Diversity & Inclusion in Sport Organizations, Player Performance & Data Analytics, and Athlete Endorsement.
An added bonus is that scholarships are available for young women and underrepresented groups to ensure inclusivity and diversity within the program!
Location: University of Michigan Ross Campus
Cost: $5,000
Program Dates: June 14 - 28, 2024
Application Deadline: January 2024
Eligibility: You must be a current rising high school senior to apply. Preference will be given to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. You must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy is an immersive two-week pre-college program designed for rising high school seniors eager to explore the world of business. As a participant, you’ll engage in hands-on, action-based learning led by the Ross faculty. Some topics that will commonly be covered are what makes high-performing companies successful and understanding the role of impactful leadership.
A typical day at the Summer Business Academy includes a mix of classes, group work, guest speaker sessions, and even field trips, all designed to give you a holistic view of business education and practice. Additionally, the program offers company treks and team-building activities to enhance your learning experience.
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from.
You can find the application link here
One other option — the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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