15 Business Research Opportunities for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in studying business in college or further, business research opportunities allow you to explore everything from entrepreneurship and finance to marketing and management. Such programs and internships provide a bridge between classroom theory and experience, while also providing access to industry professionals, structured mentorship, and even opportunities to present your research to mentors and peers.
You'll learn practical skills such as data analysis, project planning, and communication, all of which are essential in the business world. From working with startups to joining research labs, these opportunities help you understand what a business career might look like. Not to mention, they look great on your resume and college applications!
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of the top 15 business research opportunities for high school students. Let’s get started.
1. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY)
Location: UC Berkeley, Berkeley, California
Cost: $6,292 (CA residents); $7,332 (out-of-state); limited need-based scholarships available
Dates: Session I: July 5 – 19; Session II: July 19 – August 2
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; all materials due by March 1
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12
B-BAY is a two-week intensive program that guides students through the entire process of launching a business, from ideation to pitch. You’ll collaborate in small teams to build a business plan under the guidance of Berkeley Haas faculty and industry professionals. The curriculum blends lectures, lab assignments, and independent research, culminating in a final pitch presentation. You’ll also gain exposure to marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship fundamentals while improving teamwork, leadership, and communication skills. Additional highlights include a UC college prep workshop, student panels, and social events that give you a taste of campus life. This is one of the most immersive business research opportunities for high school students offered at a top university.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies based on program type
Dates: Multiple cohorts across Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. Spring – January, Summer – May, Fall – September, Winter – November
Eligibility: Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students; must commit 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder Internships offers ambitious high school students the chance to work with high-growth start-ups on projects. You’ll be matched with a host company in fields such as consulting, health tech, AI, or marketing, and work alongside company teams while being mentored by a dedicated Ladder Coach. Throughout the internship, you’ll contribute to areas like content strategy, market analysis, product research, or outreach planning, depending on the company’s needs. You’ll also receive feedback, mentorship, and support to help you develop technical and soft skills relevant to business. The experience culminates in a final presentation to company leadership, giving you a professional platform to showcase your contributions.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Dates: Summer: June–August; also available in Fall, Winter, and Spring cohorts
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic records
Lumiere offers a structured, PhD-mentored research experience for high school students interested in business, economics, and interdisciplinary topics like data science and AI. Over 12 weeks, you’ll work one-on-one with a PhD mentor to complete a research project from topic selection to writing and analysis. Depending on your subject, you may use tools like Python, R, or NVivo to conduct either qualitative or quantitative research. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of academic inquiry while building skills in literature review, methodology design, and formal writing. At the end of the program, you’ll produce a full-length research paper and have the option to submit your work to conferences or journals. You can also receive academic credit from UC San Diego upon completion of the program!
4. Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Cost: $5,500, need-based scholarships available
Dates: June 13–27
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy offers a two-week pre-college experience designed to immerse students in the fundamentals of business through action-based learning. You’ll explore key functional areas such as marketing, management, and strategy, guided by Ross faculty and business professionals. The program includes lectures, field visits, workshops, and team projects that reflect the collaborative culture of the Ross School of Business. You’ll engage in case studies, group work, and presentations to build communication and leadership skills. Programming includes evening and weekend events, with all activities covered by the program fee. This is a valuable option among business research opportunities for high school students looking for an in-depth, hands-on experience.
5. Harvard Student Agencies Business Academies
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost: $1,800; early bird discounts and need-based financial aid available
Dates: Entrepreneurship: June 9–13, June 23–27, July 14–18, July 28–August 1, and Management & Strategy: June 16–20, July 21–25, August 4–8
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; apply early for financial aid
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
Harvard Student Agencies offers one-week academies focused on Entrepreneurship and Management & Strategy, giving high schoolers a practical introduction to core business concepts. In the Entrepreneurship track, you’ll create a startup idea, build a business plan, and pitch to judges in a mock investor setting. In the Management track, you’ll act as a consultant to analyze income statements, solve corporate challenges, and study real Harvard case studies. Both tracks emphasize hands-on learning and business decision-making through simulations, financial modeling, and collaborative projects. These business research opportunities for high school students provide valuable exposure to real-world business logic without requiring a full summer commitment.
6. Wharton Global Youth Programs
Location: In-person (University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania) | Virtual
Cost: $7,899–$9,799; financial aid available
Dates: Various sessions from June to August
Application Deadline: January 29 for most programs
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
The Wharton Global Youth Programs offer a chance to study business at an Ivy League institution through immersive summer courses. Whether you attend virtually or in person, you will engage with topics like entrepreneurship, leadership, finance, and technology. Through case studies, simulations, and team projects, you’ll analyze market trends and design business solutions. Programs like the Management and Technology Summer Institute (M&TSI) and Leadership in the Business World (LBW) allow you to prototype tech startups or develop leadership strategies in a corporate context. These programs are among the most comprehensive business research opportunities for high school students, combining academic rigor with collaborative, real-world applications.
7.Columbia University's Pre-college Programs—Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Changing the World via Venture Creation
Location: New York City, New York
Cost: Online Summer (2 Weeks): $3,850 per session | NYC Commuter Summer (3 Weeks): $6,100 per session | NYC Residential Summer (3 weeks): $12,154 per session
Dates: Multiple 2 and 3-week (in-person and virtual) sessions are available between June 24 and August 2.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in May but may remain open if space is available.
Eligibility: Domestic and international students who will be in grades 9–12 in the fall, and students currently in grade 12 can apply
Columbia’s pre-college program offers several business, economics, and entrepreneurship courses to choose from. Take a look at these business courses here, which will allow you to explore and learn important fundamentals of business development, market research, and analysis. For business research, you can apply to the Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Changing the World via Venture Creation course, where you’ll dive into key issues in the formal venture-planning processes, including business model development, customer discovery, product-market validation, and more. You’ll work on improving your idea’s hypothesized business model based on instructor and peer feedback. At each stage of venture plan development, you will learn critical terms and apply tools that support research and decision-making.
8. UChicago's Pre-college Programs—Economics From An Experimental Perspective
Location: University of Chicago campus, Chicago, Illinois
Cost: $8,600 (financial aid ranging from $500 - $6,600 is available).
Dates: July 10-July 26
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March.
Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are at least 14 years old can apply.
UChicago’s Immersion program offers workshop discussions, research projects, and other activities. If you’re interested in business research, you can opt for the Economics From An Experimental Perspective course, where you’ll attend lectures introducing the principles and practice of economics, economic methods, and questions and optimization. Throughout the week, you will participate in a series of exchange/market experiments, each with a corresponding lecture describing the relevant economic principle. Throughout the last week, you will finish the series of experiments in strategic games. These will be followed by a presentation and discussion of the results. You can check out the sample syllabus here.
9. NSLC’s Business & Entrepreneurship High School Summer Program
Location: Multiple locations
Cost: $3,795 or $4,095 (Residential Program)
Dates: Multiple 9-day sessions are offered at various locations. All sessions take place between June 17 and August 2
Application Deadline: NSLC will continue to accept applications if space is available in a program or on a program’s waitlist. The online enrollment application will display all current availability
Eligibility: Students must be between the ages of 14-18 and have completed at least one year of high school (students may attend NSLC through the summer following high school graduation)
At the NSLC on Business & Entrepreneurship, you'll explore what it means to launch and grow a successful company. Working in teams, you’ll design a product or service, build a brand around it, and craft a pitch to present to a panel of investors, while receiving direct feedback on how to strengthen your proposal. During the program, you’ll analyze competitors in your industry, identify growth opportunities, and create strategic plans to stand out in the market. You'll also learn how to build an effective online presence, sharpen your public speaking skills, and practice networking and media relations, gaining a well-rounded foundation in both business development and communication.
10. University of Colorado Boulder Business Leadership Program
Location: Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: June 22 – 28
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: High school juniors; priority will be given to Colorado residents and students who are underrepresented, low-income, and/or first-generation
This week-long summer program gives high school juniors a chance to work on a business case at CU Boulder’s Leeds School of Business. You’ll collaborate in teams to develop marketing strategies for actual corporate partners, covering concepts like customer segmentation, branding, and business planning. Faculty-led sessions and workshops will strengthen your leadership and communication skills, while professional networking events provide insight into careers in business. The program concludes with a team presentation, and top-performing groups are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship toward Leeds tuition. This is a strong opportunity for students seeking business research opportunities for high school students in a collaborative, hands-on format.
11. Howard University School of Business Summer Enrichment Program
Location: Howard University, Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: None
Dates: July 13 – 18
Application Deadline: Early: March 1; Regular: April 1
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 11 and 12 with strong academic records and teacher recommendations
This week-long enrichment program introduces you to four business fields: accounting, actuarial science, entrepreneurship, and information systems. You’ll attend faculty-led lectures, collaborate on group projects, and participate in industry site visits. Depending on your track, you will explore analytical tools, financial modeling, systems design, and strategic business planning. The program concludes with a capstone group presentation, allowing you to apply what you've learned to a challenge. The program is ideal for students seeking business research opportunities for high school students that combine academic rigor with practical applications.
12. University of Colorado Boulder’s Women in Business Case
Location: Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado Boulder
Cost/Stipend: Winners receive a $1,000 scholarship to Leeds
Dates: June 11 – 13
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors; priority will be given to underrepresented, low-income, first-generation, or Colorado-based students
This three-day case competition introduces you to business problem-solving with a focus on gender equity in the workplace. Working in small teams, you’ll analyze a structured business case and present your solutions using strategy, leadership, and communication frameworks. The program emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, and presentation skills, and includes workshops and networking with Leeds faculty and industry leaders. If you're looking for business research opportunities for high school students that involve teamwork, strategic thinking, and social impact, this is a strong, cost-free option.
13. Entrepreneurship Academy
Location: Georgetown University, Washington D.C.
Cost/Stipend: $5,950 (residential); $4,145 (commuter)
Dates: June 15 - 27
Application Deadline: Typically due in spring
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12)
Georgetown’s Entrepreneurship Academy is a two-week, business program that blends theory and practice with a focus on innovation and startup leadership. You’ll develop a business plan from idea to pitch, guided by mentors and entrepreneurs across diverse industries. The curriculum includes sessions in design thinking, team-building, risk analysis, and prototype development. You’ll explore subjects like global entrepreneurship, ethical business, and finance while building skills in networking, communication, and public speaking. The program culminates in a team pitch competition and awards a Certificate of Participation. This is one of the more in-depth business research opportunities for high school students seeking structured, practical insight into launching a venture.
14. UC San Diego’s BRIDGE (Business Research for Innovation, Design, Growth, and Entrepreneurship)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $2,500
Dates: July 7 – July 25
Application Deadline: Closed for now; reopens mid-December
Eligibility: Open to current high school students entering grades 9–12
BRIDGE is a virtual course focused on business innovation, venture design, and entrepreneurial strategy, designed to simulate startup experiences. You’ll analyze case studies, participate in simulations, and develop a complete business proposal under the guidance of university faculty. The curriculum covers growth strategy, user research, venture financing, and leadership in dynamic business environments. You’ll gain exposure to entrepreneurial decision-making by leading virtual ventures through the challenges of funding, scaling, and navigating market needs. The course awards 3 pre-college academic credits and offers hands-on experience for those seeking business research opportunities for high school students.
15. Ladders for Leaders
Location: Various placements in New York City, varies by industry and company
Cost/Stipend: No cost; students will be paid
Dates: Summer, typically late June – August
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: NYC residents aged 16–24 enrolled in high school or college, with prior work or volunteer experience; must be legally eligible to work in the U.S.
Ladders for Leaders connects high school and college students with paid summer internships across top organizations in New York City. As a selective branch of the NYC Summer Youth Employment Program, it offers job-ready applicants access to corporate, nonprofit, and government roles tailored to their interests. Before starting, you’ll receive 30 hours of professional training covering résumé writing, interview prep, and workplace etiquette. Internship placements span industries like business, tech, healthcare, and media. You’ll also gain access to a post-program alumni network and exclusive career events, making this one of the most robust business research opportunities for high school students in NYC.
Bonus! Young Founders Lab
EnergyMag – Virtual Internship in Energy Research & Analysis
Organizational Leadership Virtual Summer Research Experience