7 Free Entrepreneurship Programs for High School Students
Applying to free entrepreneurship programs for high school students gives you the chance to build valuable skills and gain hands-on experience without having to spend large amounts. These programs often include mentorship, real-world projects, and networking opportunities that might otherwise be hard to access. You’ll develop key entrepreneurial skills like business planning, marketing, and financial management, which can enhance both personal growth and career prospects. Early exposure through free entrepreneurship programs for high school students not only fosters creativity and problem-solving but also strengthens your college applications.
Participation in fully-funded programs also highlights your initiative, leadership, and ability to tackle real-world challenges—qualities that admissions committees value.
Here are 7 free/fully-funded entrepreneurship programs for 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.
The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
Cost: The total cost to attend the 4-week program is $2900. There is need-based financial aid.
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
Program Dates: Expected to start in the first week of June and span over 4 weeks.
Application Deadline: There are 3 application deadlines (tentative) that you can choose between:
Early Decision Deadline: March 17th
Regular Admission Deadline 1: April 14
Regular Admission Deadline 2: May 12th
You can access the application link here!
The KeyBank Business Leadership Program at the University of Colorado Boulder is a fully-funded, week-long program for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds, including students of color, first-generation college students, and other diverse groups. The program focuses on business and diversity, offering you the chance to explore real-world issues and expand your perspective. You'll participate in a case study competition, where you'll work in teams to develop practical solutions to real business challenges. Additionally, you'll create a marketing campaign for the program’s corporate partners, applying your creativity and strategic thinking. The team with the most innovative solution will win a $1,000 scholarship to the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business. This hands-on experience strengthens both your business acumen and leadership skills.
Cost: Free
Location: Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado Boulder
Application Deadline: March 30
Program Dates: June 22- 28
Eligibility: Open to rising seniors with a priority for Colorado residents and students enrolled in a Colorado high school
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries from tech/deep tech, and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management, and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (Financial Aid Available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
BOSS at Penn State’s University Park campus is a two-week residential program designed for high school students interested in pursuing business. You’ll experience college life firsthand while building a strong foundation in business education through courses taught by Penn State faculty. The curriculum covers key topics like Management and Organization, Supply Chain, and Ethics and Social Responsibility. You'll also develop essential business skills, including business writing, presentations, and effective communication. With a focus on Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the program helps you understand how to approach real-world business challenges. This immersive experience prepares you for both academic and professional success in the business world.
Cost: $250
Location: Penn State Smeal College of Business
Application Deadline: March 19
Program Dates: June 15-27
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors who are residents of the U.S. or Puerto Rico
The Harvard Student Agencies Business Academy offers two week-long programs focused on business management and entrepreneurship. In the Entrepreneurship Academy, you’ll dive deep into the process of launching a business, gain insights into financial literacy, and explore the startup ecosystem. The program emphasizes practical experience, helping you build strong analytical and decision-making skills. A key highlight is the Startup Pitch Simulation, where you’ll present your business idea to a panel of judges, sharpening your entrepreneurial mindset in a competitive setting. This hands-on approach prepares you to think critically, innovate, and confidently navigate the world of business.
Cost: $1600 (need-based financial aid available)
Location: Harvard University, Massachusetts
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: Week-long sessions between June and August
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy is a two-week program designed for high-achieving high school students interested in business careers. You’ll gain insights into how businesses operate, develop strategic problem-solving skills, and collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds. The program offers exposure to various business career paths while giving you a taste of what it’s like to be a business student at Michigan Ross.
You’ll engage with top Ross faculty, business professionals, and corporate partners, expanding both your knowledge and network. With a focus on purpose-driven leadership, the program encourages you to reflect on the ethical dimensions of business decisions and their broader impact. This immersive experience bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world business, all while giving you a glimpse of college life.
Cost: $5000 (full and partial need-based scholarships available)
Location: University of Michigan
Application Deadline: January 21
Program Dates: June 13-27
Eligibility: Open to rising high school seniors
Babson Summer Study is a three-week online program designed to help high school students develop an entrepreneurial mindset. You’ll gain foundational knowledge in leadership, marketing, finance, and business communication, with a focus on addressing real-world issues through the lens of the United Nations Global Goals. The program empowers you to tackle practical problems and create meaningful change, all while earning 4 college credits from Babson College.
You’ll connect with like-minded peers from around the world in an interactive, collaborative learning environment. The program includes live sessions, panels, and presentations featuring Babson faculty, alumni, and industry leaders. Expect around 3 hours of live instruction daily, plus about 5 additional hours for independent assignments and coursework, giving you a comprehensive dive into Babson’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Cost: $6295 + $95 (Full and partial need-based scholarships available)
Location: Online
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: To be announced.
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research in entrepreneurship, 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 4,000 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.
Image Source - Harvard Student Agencies Logo