8 Awesome Business Camps for High School Students
There are numerous ways to kickstart your future career in the business industry and work toward your goals without waiting for a degree. One lucrative option is to attend a business camp. If you're a high school student interested in starting a business, attending a business camp can help you develop an entrepreneurial mindset and explore concepts beyond your school curriculum.
Business camps, often hosted by universities or business schools, help you gain exposure to key business concepts such as entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, and leadership through a mix of lectures, interactive workshops, and team projects.
Participating in a business camp will not only help you boost your profile but will also allow you to make informed choices about your future academic and career pursuits. So we've curated this list of 8 business camps you should check out!
If you're more inclined toward pursuing a pre-college business program, check out this list!
Location: LeBow College of Business, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (Residential and commuter options are available).
Eligibility: High school students, currently in their freshman, sophomore, and junior years, can apply.
Application Deadline: The priority deadline to apply is May 1, 2024. Applications are approved on a rolling basis. Applications may close earlier if the slots are filled.
Dates: July 14 - July 19, 2024 (Commuter Session) | July 21 - July 26, 2024 (Residential Session)
Cost: $950 (Commuter Session) | $2,000 (Residential Session)
Financial Assistance - There are a small number of alumni-sponsored scholarships available.
Drexel LeBow’s Camp Business is a daytime summer program designed to give rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors an intensive introduction to collegiate and corporate business education. During the camp, you will get to learn the basics of major business disciplines including accounting, marketing, finance, and management, as well as the core concepts of business including leadership, professional image, etiquette, team building, and strategy. You will also learn about resources essential to business such as the stock market, financial documents, and technology. During the program, you will also work on a team business pitch competition conducted toward the end of the camp.
If you want to experience college-level exploration of a variety of business disciplines, including product development, accounting, analytics, and business ethics you can also participate in Business Bootcamp which is a two-day, intensive, on-campus program for high school students that incorporates college coursework and corporate business education.
Location: This program is 100% virtual with live, interactive workshops.
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students.
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year. Upcoming deadlines are as follows:
Regular Admissions Deadline 1: April 21
Regular Admissions Deadline 2: May 12
Dates: The 2024 program starts on June 5 and spans over 4 weeks.
Cost: $2,900 (4 weeks). Need-based financial aid is available.
You can check out the brochure for the program here.
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up bootcamp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. During the 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 Meta.
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 access the application link here!
Location: Livingston Apartments and Rutgers Business School on the Livingston Campus (Piscataway, NJ).
Eligibility: Open to all high school students.
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in February or when all the slots are filled.
Dates: The RBS Summer Camp Program will be offered in two separate weeks:
July 7 - July 13, 2024 | July 21 - July 27, 2024
Cost: $2,200 for the week, including room & board, meals, and field trips.
The Rutgers Business School Summer is a week-long experiential camp that will allow you to experience various business disciplines such as marketing, management, accounting, finance, and supply chain. During the camp, you’ll participate in many activities that include trips to business locations, introductions to the many areas of business from the RBS faculty, participation in a business plan competition, and an opportunity to experience college life. The camp counselors are mostly Rutgers students, as well as other professors and faculty in the department.
You’ll also get to learn business analytics and information technology, work on business plans, have consultations with college mentors and business executives, and make business plan pitches and presentations. At the end of the week, you will make your final presentation in front of the parents and other Rutgers Business School students and faculty. You can view a sample agenda of the program here.
Location: UC Berkeley, CA
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: February 29, 2024 (Applications are accepted on a first come, first served basis).
Dates: July 6 - July 20, 2024 (Session I) | July 20 - August 3, 2024 (Session II)
Cost: California Resident - $6,050 | Out of State Resident - $7,050 (Application fee: $80)
The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY) annually welcomes 50 students from around the globe to dive into business disciplines at Berkeley. Through intensive learning experiences led by Berkeley Haas professors and insights from corporate guest speakers, you'll delve deep into the essentials of business formation and development.
You will work on independent research, computer lab assignments, and collaborative team projects. Together with your team, you'll be tasked with creating a comprehensive business plan from the ground up, culminating in a presentation of your plan at the end of the session. B-BAY is also tailored to prepare you for the college admission process. You'll interact with undergraduates and admission advisors from Berkeley and other institutions, gaining insights into college life and the application process, including how to craft a compelling UC personal statement and college application essay. You’ll be awarded a UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth Certificate of Completion, signifying your achievements throughout the program.
Location: Virtual
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 9-12 with strong math skills and an interest in sports can apply.
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024
Dates: June 23 - July 28, 2024 (4 weeks)
Cost: $2,099
Developed by Wharton Professor Adi Wyner and the Wharton Sports Analytics and Business Initiative, Moneyball Academy: Training Camp FLEX is a four-week online program that introduces statistics and coding through a sports lens. The program serves as an introduction to the sports statistics world as it is not heavily focused on computing, but the fundamental principles of sports statistics. During the camp, you will gain a better understanding of sports analyses in articles that you read and will create your own sports analysis project. You will also learn the basics of how to read and write code in R, the advanced statistical programming language used by professional statisticians.
You'll have live contact with Professor Wyner, access to teaching assistants, and office hours with Penn undergraduates. You’ll get to attend live guest lectures in conjunction with Moneyball Academy and Moneyball Academy: Training Camp. You’ll also have an opportunity to publish your work in the Sports Analytics Student Research Journal.
If you’re interested in business-related fields, you can also consider applying to the Wharton Global Youth On-Campus Programs that offer an incredible opportunity to learn about various business disciplines and are designed by established Wharton faculty and instructional staff, drawing upon the latest Wharton research and teaching methods. These include the Product Design Academy, Essentials of Entrepreneurship, Essentials of Finance, Leadership in the Business World, the Data Science Academy, and the Management & Technology Summer Institute.
Location: University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school students in the 11th or 12th grade and be able to travel to and stay at the Rochester, New York campus.
Application Deadline: May 1, 2024
Dates: All 2024 sessions will take place between July 7 and July 20 (Multiple sessions with residential and commuter options are available).
Cost: $2,590 - $5,180 (residential sessions) | $500 - $1,000 per class (commuter sessions) (Non-refundable application fee: $60). There is minimal financial aid available for applicants with demonstrated financial need.
The Business Bootcamp is one of the flagship pre-college programs of the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester. It is specifically focused on Innovation Management. It includes both residential and commuter program options for 11th and 12th graders. The Business Bootcamp has a selective admissions process that tries to ensure that applicants are determined, passionate, and academically advanced.
The camp has an experiential curriculum that includes rapid-fire mini-lectures, in-class assignments, project assignments, and interactive field trips. It aims to provide exposure to business tools and planning techniques for innovation and ideation. It encompasses various elements such as innovation management at the concept stage, language and advertising, introduction to business concepts, the basics of investments and careers in finance, generative AI in business, new product development, and design thinking. You will also get an opportunity to engage in business simulations, local business tours, and after-hours business club activities, ensuring a rich, hands-on learning experience.
Location: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Eligibility: Open to high school students (9th - 12th grade), including those who have completed eighth grade.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all the slots are filled.
Dates: June 17 - June 21, 2024
Cost: $499.99
University of South Florida’s Bull Finance Camp aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the exciting and dynamic field of finance, while also emphasizing the crucial aspect of financial literacy and how it plays a key role in building a business. During this camp, you’ll dive into the fundamentals of finance, where you'll learn about investments, corporate finance, financial planning, and FinTech as well as gain essential skills that will help you in your future entrepreneurial pursuits.
You’ll get to hear from seasoned finance professionals who will share their insights and experiences in the industry. You will also have an opportunity to expand your professional network, collaborate on exciting group projects, and interact with accomplished USF finance majors. Not only will you get to explore the USF campus but you’ll also learn about the diverse career opportunities in finance. Whether you're considering a career in finance or planning to set up your own business, this camp is a great option!
8. LaunchX
Location: Bay Area CA, or Ann Arbor MI (Virtual options are also available).
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: April 24, 2024 (Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all the slots are filled).
Dates: All 2024 sessions will take place between June 17 and August 9. (3-5 weeks)
Cost: Ranges from $4,750 to $9,970 depending on the chosen program. (Application fee: $75)
With LaunchX, you have the opportunity to grow as an entrepreneur from anywhere in the world, thanks to their innovative Online Entrepreneurship and Online Innovation Programs. These programs are designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the future of business.
For those looking to dive into a real-world business creation experience, the Ann Arbor Entrepreneurship Program offers a chance to join a team and launch a company within just 4 weeks. This program is hosted in Ann Arbor and provides a collaborative environment where you can work closely with peers under the guidance of experienced mentors. Similarly, the Bay Area Entrepreneurship Program offers the same accelerated, team-based company launch experience in the vibrant and innovative atmosphere of the Bay Area.
Regardless of the format or location you choose, LaunchX emphasizes practical, hands-on learning, team collaboration, and the development of real start-ups. By participating in any of these programs, you'll not only gain invaluable entrepreneurial skills but also work alongside a diverse group of peers as you start your journey in the world of business.
9. Leangap
Location: UC Berkeley, CA or Virtual
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: May 31, 2024
Dates: July 15 - August 9, 2024 (In-person session) | June 17 - July 12, 2024 (Virtual session)
Cost: $9,450 (In-person session) | $6,450 (Virtual session)
Need-based financial aid is available.
LeanGap offers a great opportunity for those interested in entrepreneurship. The program provides two options: an in-person program at UC Berkeley in San Francisco and an online option. LeanGap caters to aspiring entrepreneurs and spans four weeks. The in-person program features a full-time schedule, while the online program offers flexible class hours to accommodate students from different time zones.
You will be taught by experienced entrepreneurs and receive tailored mentorship to guide you through the journey of starting a company. The curriculum is designed to take you through the crucial stages of launching a startup, beginning with idea validation. This involves pitching ideas and forming teams around the most promising ones. Subsequent weeks focus on creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), gaining market traction, and perfecting the pitch for Demo Day. The program includes hands-on activities, group recreational events, and the opportunity to present the company to a panel of Silicon Valley investors, CEOs, and technologists.
Location: Multiple locations available. Virtual options are also available.
Eligibility: Current sophomores and juniors in high school are eligible for EFL programs in Summer 2024 (Approximately 25-40 students are accepted at each site, dependent upon specific restrictions on campus).
Application Deadline: The applications are accepted on a rolling basis and typically close in April.
Dates: Varies depending on the location but the program runs for a week between June and August.
Cost: $2,300 (residential session) | $800 (virtual session)
Need-based scholarship assistance typically ranges from $100 to $1500 for residential programs and $100 to $400 for virtual programs.
Economics for Leaders by the Foundation for Teaching Economics trains students in the field of economics and leadership. It aims to equip promising students with leadership skills and the ability to apply economic analysis to public policy decisions. This course introduces economic concepts, reasoning, and leadership theory. You’ll also acquire a deep understanding of the economic and leadership principles that will enable you to apply these concepts to both everyday decisions and those made by corporate and government leaders.
During the program, topics like economic growth and scarcity, open markets, opportunity costs, incentives, money, and inflation are covered in the economics section. The coursework also includes hands-on elements where you will study theoretical concepts through simulations and implement economics analysis in practical situations. However, do keep in mind that only one student per high school is admitted to this six-day residential program, and admission decisions are based on leadership potential, maturity, and the applicant’s vision of their future, making it quite competitive.
Bonus - Veritas AI’s AI + Finance Program: Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the AI + Finance program, students gain a deeper understanding of AI applications in the financial field. They get a chance to engage in lectures, code walkthroughs, and real-world projects using AI & ML models to predict future financial patterns using past data, forecasting stock prices, and more. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
Here are a few more business programs that you can consider:
NYIT School of Management - Business Bootcamp for High School Students
Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS) at Penn State University
Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy at the University of Michigan
Babson College Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Experience
Business Summer Institutes for High School Students at the University of Houston
Caminos al Futuro Pre-College Program at George Washington University
Exploring Entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California
Exploring Entrepreneurship and Finance Institute at Fordham University
One other option - Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you would like to further enhance your applications by doing research in business and related fields, you should also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program 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.
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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