10 Business Summer Programs for High School Students in Illinois
If you are a high school student interested in business, participating in a summer program can help you explore how companies operate and how ideas turn into viable ventures. Through structured coursework, collaborative projects, mentorship, and exposure to professionals, you can begin building skills in leadership, communication, finance, marketing, and strategic thinking. Starting early also gives you the opportunity to test your interests, strengthen your resume, and gain clarity about potential college majors and career paths.
Why should you attend a program in Illinois?
Illinois is home to various corporations, startups, financial institutions, and universities that host summer programs for high school students to study business and entrepreneurship. In these programs, you might work on investment pitches, develop business plans, analyze market data, complete internships at local companies, or collaborate on leadership and innovation projects under the guidance of industry professionals. Whether you are based in Illinois or joining from another state, these opportunities provide access to diverse business communities and practical learning experiences.
To help you get started, here are 10 business summer programs for high school students in Illinois.
If you’re looking for programs in Illinois, check out our blog here.
1. Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI)
Location: City of Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid summer internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June - August
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Chicago residents; high school sophomores and juniors
Over a six-week program, you'll work on real office projects, attend Friday professional-development workshops, and participate in site visits, luncheons, and speaker panels led by industry volunteers and sponsors. The program emphasises workplace skills, professionalism, time management, resume/interview development, and provides mentoring from corporate supervisors and volunteer facilitators. CSBI is 100% funded by corporate sponsors and offers hands-on exposure to finance, public sector offices, and related careers, with a strong alumni network of participants who have gone on to college and business careers.
2. Young founders Lab
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the cohort
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here.
Eligibility: High school students
The Young Founders Lab is a startup incubator created by Harvard entrepreneurs to help you build real, revenue-generating businesses. You’ll work through a structured curriculum that covers the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, including problem identification, market research, product development, and pitching. Mentors from industry-leading companies such as Google, Microsoft, and X guide participants in refining their ideas and advancing their ventures. The program includes interactive workshops, hands-on activities, case studies, and talks with experienced founders to deepen your understanding of what makes a successful startup. By the end of the cohort, each of you will have developed a business concept grounded in real-world needs and gained practical skills applicable to future academic or entrepreneurial pursuits.
3. Digital Scholars Program (Discovery Partners Institute – Pritzker Tech Talent Labs)
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: June 23 – August 1
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th graders
The Digital Scholars Program is an intensive, no-cost summer initiative designed to expand access to computer science and technology education for you and first-year college students in Chicago. It offers college-level coursework across five tracks, including data science, electrical and computer engineering, foundational computer science, iOS app design, and Swift programming, taught in partnership with UIUC and UIC faculty. You will gain exposure to Chicago’s tech ecosystem through daily talks with industry professionals, weekly workshops on emerging technologies like AI and machine learning, and sessions on entrepreneurship and data science.
4. Invest for Kids Summer Investment Challenge
Location: DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students, Priority to underrepresented communities
The Invest for Kids Summer Investment Challenge is a fully funded, week-long college immersion program designed for you to explore careers in finance. You’ll live on DePaul’s Lincoln Park and Loop campuses, allowing you to experience life as a finance student while engaging directly with Chicago’s financial community. The curriculum includes experiential seminars on financial markets, valuation, asset classes, and financial theory, along with hands-on workshops using Excel, Bloomberg terminals, and data analysis tools. You’ll work in teams sponsored by partner companies, meet industry professionals, and participate in company site visits. The program culminates in a stock pitch competition where students present investment proposals to a panel of finance experts and receive constructive feedback.
5. IMSA Internship Program
Location: Location is at the discretion of the IMSA student, parent, and business provider.
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
The IMSA Internship Program provides high school juniors and seniors with an immersive, hands-on experience in industry, business, or product research. Interns work closely with mentors from business professionals, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs on real-world projects. The program allows students to apply industry knowledge while developing skills in research, communication, and project management. Interns earn academic credit upon successful completion of the program.
6. Emerging Business Leaders Program
Location: University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign campus, IL
Cost: $250 program fee; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified; applications open March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with a 3.2/4.0 GPA or higher
The Emerging Business Leaders Program is a week-long summer initiative designed to support high-achieving, under-resourced rising seniors interested in exploring business. Hosted on the UIUC campus, the program immerses you in business disciplines through interactive discussions with Gies faculty, staff, alumni, and current students. You can collaborate on business problem-solving, gain exposure to college admissions guidance, and build practical skills such as communication and personal branding. In addition to experiencing campus life firsthand, you’ll have opportunities to develop friendships and connections within a supportive learning community.
7. Illini Summer Academies
Location: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
Cost: To be announced
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not Publicly Available
Dates: June 22-26
Application Deadline: April 17
Eligibility: High school students from grades 8-12
Illini Summer Academies is a residential enrichment program designed to help you explore academic and career interests through hands-on learning at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. You’ll participate in specialized academies led by university faculty, graduate students, and professionals, covering fields including AI, business, engineering, agriculture, sustainability, veterinary medicine, and the arts. Days include lab experiences, workshops, and interactive activities, while evenings provide community-building opportunities in a camp-style atmosphere.
8. Wharton Global Youth — Essentials of Leadership
Location: Online
Cost: $4,099
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not Publicly Available
Dates: June 16 – June 27
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 9-12 with demonstrated leadership ability.
Essentials of Leadership is an intensive two‑week online summer program that introduces high school students to foundational concepts in leadership, teamwork, and communication. Participants develop self‑awareness and problem‑solving skills through a blend of live instruction from Wharton faculty, interactive simulations, case challenges, and group activities. The curriculum emphasizes emotional intelligence, effective collaboration, and strategic thinking, culminating in hands‑on projects that put leadership principles into practice. Throughout the program, students engage with peers from around the world, gaining insights into global business leadership and preparing for future academic and professional opportunities.
9. Snider Enterprise and Leadership Fellows (SELF) Experience
Location: Online
Cost: Cost varies by modality; need-based scholarship available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: July 12 – July 31
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: High school students applying to Terp Young Scholars
The Snider Enterprise and Leadership Fellows (SELF) Experience is a 3-credit undergraduate course designed to help you develop entrepreneurial and leadership mindsets. Through BMGT262 “Enterprising Leader,” you’ll learn to become the “CEO of Me,” exploring creativity, personal leadership, and market-based problem-solving. You work in teams to develop solutions to real-world challenges, gaining exposure to marketing, strategy, economics, and personal finance. The program includes direct engagement with faculty and business executives, culminating in a venture pitch presentation. You’ll choose a residential, commuter, or fully online option, each offering access to UMD’s resources and community.
10. Babson Summer Study for High School Students
Location: Online
Cost: $6,295; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly available
Dates: July 8 - 28
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Babson Summer Study is a three-week, credit-bearing pre-college program that immerses you in entrepreneurship through the Babson course EPS 1110: Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Experience. You’ll earn four college credits while learning Babson’s Entrepreneurial Thought & Action methodology and exploring real-world problems framed by the UN Global Goals. Through a combination of classroom instruction, team-based assignments, and project development, students strengthen skills in leadership, innovation, marketing, finance, and communication.
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