10 Business Winter Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high school student curious about business or finance, joining a structured program in the winter can be a great choice. Winter programs extend beyond classroom learning, allowing you to develop real-world skills in teamwork, communication, and problem-solving through projects and classes. These programs usually have smaller cohorts than summer programs, which allows you to receive personal attention.
Business programs help you develop analytical and entrepreneurial skills through case competitions, startup incubators, site visits, or pitch events that give you a firsthand look at how business works. Many of these opportunities are offered by top universities, nonprofit organizations, and innovation hubs. They create a supportive environment where you can learn directly from experienced mentors and industry professionals.
In this blog, we’ve put together a list of 15 of the best business programs for high school students to help you find the right fit for your goals and interests.
1. Business Institute Program
Location: Robert H. Smith School of Business, College Park, MD
Cost: Free
Dates: Fall (October through December) and Spring (February through April) for three years
Application Deadline: Typically in the spring
Eligibility: Open to high school students in grades 10–12
The Business Institute Program at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business is a hands-on business and leadership program for high school students. You will spend the school year attending sessions three Fridays a month, learning from faculty and mentors about leadership, corporate management, and entrepreneurship. The program gives you practical experience in teamwork, problem-solving, and presenting business ideas, culminating in the development and pitch of your own business proposal.
2. Veritas AI's Deep Dive: AI + Finance
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Dates: Varies by cohort; multiple 10-week sessions each year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program or have prior Python experience
Veritas AI runs various AI-focused programs for middle and high school students. The Deep Dive: AI + Finance program focuses on introducing you to applications of AI in the financial world. You will spend 25 hours in engaging lectures, code walkthroughs, and real-world group projects to explore the role AI can play in finance. For your project, you can use AI & ML models to predict future financial patterns using past data, forecast stock prices, or address any financial challenge. You can learn more about the program by reviewing its brochure and the application form.
3. New York Institute of Technology High School Business Bootcamp
Location: Virtual or in-person at New York Tech NYC campus or Long Island Campus, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: Vary as per different sessions in a year
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Open to High school students
The New York Institute of Technology High School Business Bootcamp is a free program that introduces students to core business concepts through interactive, faculty-led workshops. Over the course of the program, you’ll dive into practical topics like conflict resolution in diverse workplaces, financial literacy, investing, and personal money management. Each session is designed to strengthen your business communication and career readiness skills, and you’ll also earn a certificate of completion for every workshop you attend.
4. Young Founders Lab
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type
Dates: Summer group A: June 9 – 25 and Summer Group B: August 5 – 24
Application Deadline: Varies according to session. Check the brochure
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founders Lab is a start-up incubator designed for high school students interested in entrepreneurship and innovation. In this program, you’ll build a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a problem while receiving mentorship from entrepreneurs and professionals from companies like Google, Microsoft, and X. Alongside developing your venture, you’ll participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals, case studies, and skill-building workshops. The program also offers panel discussions and ideation sessions to help you refine your business strategy. By the end of the program, you’ll gain not only a working prototype but also a deeper understanding of the theoretical and practical frameworks that support successful businesses.
5. Cornell University Pre-College Summer Programs
Location: Cornell University campus, Ithaca, NY
Cost: $5,820 (three credits), $1,940 (per credit); financial aid available
Dates: January 2 – 17 (Winter cohort)
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: High school students in grades 11–12 with strong academic performance and interest in business
Cornell’s Pre-College Summer Programs give high school students the chance to earn college credit while exploring business courses at an Ivy League university. You can attend the program in residential, commuter, or online formats, making the program flexible for different needs. Course options include Introduction to Business Management, Global Business Strategy, and Strategic Management of Tech & Innovation, all taught by Cornell faculty. Beyond academics, you’ll take part in networking events, guest lectures, and field trips, giving you insight into real-world business careers. With a challenging curriculum and exposure to Cornell’s campus and resources, the program prepares you for college applications and future professional opportunities.
6. Winter Business Festival
Location: Virtual or MiniBoss franchise centers around the world
Cost: $350.83 for one week online, or $584.67 for one week in-person
Dates: Session 1: January 3 – 10 or Session 2: January 10 – 17
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort
Eligibility: Open to students aged 6–18 years
The Winter Business Festival by MiniBoss is a short, intensive business festival experience offered over three consecutive weeks in January. You’ll choose one week to join sessions that delve into key skills like entrepreneurship, leadership, marketing, finance, and pitching ideas. Through interactive workshops, case studies, and group challenges, you’ll get hands-on experience working with peers and mentors. The program also provides you opportunities to hear from business leaders, present your own project, and develop your business communication and decision-making skills.
7. Dartmouth Precollege Online Business Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895 per course
Dates: Multiple-length sessions available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies as per the course
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 and up
The Dartmouth Precollege Online Business Program introduces high school students to the fundamentals of business, finance, and entrepreneurship. Through interactive assignments, you’ll explore how companies grow, how markets operate, and what drives real-world business decisions. The program also teaches investment strategies, entrepreneurial thinking, and leadership skills. At the end of the course, you’ll complete a capstone project, applying what you’ve learned to analyze a company or develop your own business idea. At the end, you will also receive a Certificate of Completion from Dartmouth College.
8. UPenn Wharton Global Youth Program: Understanding Your Money
Location: Virtual
Cost: $329
Dates: Self-paced course; requires commitment of 13–15 hours
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
Understanding Your Money is a self-paced, virtual program that gives high school students a flexible introduction to key financial and economic concepts. You’ll learn the basics of money management, budgeting, investing, and making smart financial decisions. The course uses video lessons, interactive activities, readings, and quizzes to help you understand how to earn, save, and allocate resources effectively. It also shows how financial choices can affect your personal well-being, teaching you to apply economic principles to real-life situations.
9. Young Finance Scholar (YFS) Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $950
Dates: Self-paced
Application deadline: Year-round program
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students, typically aged 13–17
The Young Finance Scholar (YFS) Program offered by the New York Institute of Finance (NYIF) is a business program designed for high school students interested in finance, business, and economics. Through instructor-led sessions and interactive workshops, you may gain a strong foundation in topics such as financial markets, company valuation, investing, and global economics. The program emphasizes real-world learning through group research projects and case studies, allowing you to analyze businesses and present findings like professionals in the field. Alongside academic learning, you may also explore emerging areas such as FinTech, sustainable finance, and business ethics.
10. Georgetown University’s Becoming an Investor: An Inside Look at Finance Online Pre-College Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895
Dates: One-, two-, and four-week sessions available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies; typically a week before the session starts
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 and up
The program introduces the fundamentals of building wealth and understanding today’s financial markets. Through online lectures, you’ll explore how innovations like fintech, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain are changing traditional investing, and learn what happens behind the scenes when you buy a stock.
The course also teaches how companies are valued, how valuations affect stock prices, and what drives overall market movements. At the end of the program, you’ll complete a capstone project, analyzing a company to evaluate its investment potential.
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