10 Ivy League Leadership Programs for High School Students
For high school students interested in leadership, summer programs can be a useful way to build practical skills and explore areas like business, public policy, or social change. Many universities, including Ivy League schools, offer leadership-focused programs that emphasize communication, decision-making, and collaboration.
These programs provide early exposure to real-world challenges and offer a chance to work with peers who share similar goals. They’re also a good way to test your interests and gain experience in environments that encourage both critical thinking and personal growth.
With numerous options available, we’ve curated a list of 10 Ivy League leadership programs for high school students!
1. Yale University - Yale Young Global Scholars: Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE)
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: $6,500; need-based financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Early Action: October 20 | Regular Decision: January 10
Dates: Session I: June 22 – July 4 | Session II: July 6 – July 18 | Session III: July 20 – August 1
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors who are aged 16-18 years old
The Yale Young Global Scholars program is a two-week academic enrichment program that offers tracks in STEM, humanities, social sciences, and interdisciplinary subjects. It promotes collaborative, inquiry-driven learning via lectures, seminars, and capstone projects, free from grading pressure.
The Politics, Law, & Economics session is for students interested in exploring public policy, governance, legal systems, and economic theory from historical and comparative perspectives. Through interdisciplinary study, you will develop critical thinking and analytical skills to examine complex global issues. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate and join a global network of peers.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,900; need-based financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Varies depending on cohort
Dates: The program typically runs for over 4 weeks.
Eligibility: High school students
The Young Founders Lab is a real-world startup incubator created by Harvard entrepreneurs for high school students interested in building impactful ventures. In this immersive program, you will develop a revenue-generating startup that addresses a real-world problem, receiving mentorship from professionals at Google, Microsoft, X, and other leading organizations.
The program also includes interactive sessions on business fundamentals, ideation workshops, case studies, skill-building activities, and panel discussions. It is a unique opportunity to experience the entrepreneurial journey firsthand, from ideation to execution. View the program brochure here.
3. Harvard University - Leadership and Impact: Applying Design Thinking to Real-World Challenges
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $8,650 tuition and $75 application fee; need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: June 17
Dates: July 14 – August 7
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old
The Leadership and Impact course enables students to examine how personal values and emotional intelligence shape effective leadership. Using design thinking, you will learn to solve real-world problems and embrace ambiguity with empathy and clarity of purpose.
The curriculum emphasizes aligning everyday actions with core beliefs, encouraging you to lead authentically, even without formal authority. Though not a traditional internship, the course is hands-on, community-focused, and often examines the ethical implications of emerging technologies and how to navigate them. This experience blends personal growth with the capacity for social impact.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program - Leadership Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Individual Research Program (12 weeks): $2,990 | Premium Research & Publication Program (16-20 weeks): $5,900 | Research Fellowship (6-12 months): $8,900. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Eligibility: High school students with an unweighted GPA of 3.3 are eligible to apply. No previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is designed for academically driven high school students ready to engage in advanced research. Paired with a Ph.D. mentor, you will undertake a 12-week independent research project on a topic of your choice, receiving personalized guidance throughout.
You will conduct an in-depth inquiry, write an original academic paper, and develop skills in research methodology, critical thinking, and academic writing. This program offers a rigorous foundation for students interested in scholarly or policy-focused leadership roles. Click here for application details, subject areas, and eligibility criteria.
5. Columbia University - Empowering Change: An Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY.
Cost: $12,764. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Early Registration: March 3 | General Registration: March 17. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Dates: Session A: June 30 – July 18 | Session B: July 22 – August 8.
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in grades 9–12 in the Fall are eligible to apply. Applicants must be 15 years of age or older.
This leadership program introduces students to the principles and practice of social entrepreneurship, where innovation meets impact. Through case studies, debates, and collaborative projects, you will analyze contemporary challenges and design solutions that prioritize both social and financial outcomes. The course explores stakeholder impact, sustainable business design, and the intersection of purpose and profitability. You will leave with a practical toolkit for building mission-driven ventures that drive meaningful change.
6. Harvard University - Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $8,650 tuition and $75 application fee; need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: June 17
Dates: July 14 – August 7
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old. Applicants must possess strong communication skills, as this is an intensely team-focused course. Students work on real-world ventures, and each class includes a workshop component.
The Introduction to Entrepreneurship course is designed for students ready to bring their startup ideas to life. Over the summer, you will work in teams to develop ventures from concept to investor-ready pitch, guided by agile methodologies and human-centered design. This hands-on course fosters innovative thinking, iterative problem-solving, and collaboration.
With mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, you will learn to test assumptions, refine business models, and present to real angel investors and venture capitalists. It is a good foundation for those drawn to high-impact entrepreneurship.
7. Columbia University - Entrepreneurship: From Idea to Early Design
Location: Virtual or in-person at Columbia University, New York, NY.
Cost: Commuter: $2,830 | Virtual: $2,815. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Commuter Early Registration: March 3 | Commuter General Registration: March 17 | Virtual Registration: March 24. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Dates: August 11 – 15.
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in grades 9–12 in the Fall are eligible to apply. Applicants must be 15 years of age or older.
This Columbia University program guides students through the early stages of entrepreneurship, from identifying a problem to testing a minimum viable product. You will engage in customer interviews, develop prototypes, and collect feedback to validate your ideas. Emphasizing design thinking and community engagement, the course helps you understand product-market fit and the mechanics of launching a viable solution. Whether your goal is to build a startup or a social enterprise, this program provides a strong foundation in innovation and execution.
8. Cornell University - Economics for Leaders
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Cost: $2,600. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Dates: Session I: June 30 - July 6 | Session II: July 7 - 13.
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply.
Economics for Leaders introduces high school students to the intersection of economic thinking and leadership. In this one-week residential program, you will learn to apply key economic principles, such as opportunity cost, market dynamics, and property rights, to real-world decisions. Through simulations and case studies, you will also explore leadership strategies using the Leadership Pyramid Matrix, a model used in elite academic programs. This program develops critical reasoning and collaborative skills.
9. Brown University - Leadership Institute
Location: Virtual or in-person at Brown University, Providence, RI.
Cost: Residential: $5,788 | Commuter: $4,540 | Virtual: $5,528. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: May 9.
Dates: In-Person Session I: June 29 – July 11 | In-Person Session II: July 13 – July 25 | Virtual: June 23 – July 18.
Eligibility: High school students completing grades 9-12 and aged 14-18 years by June 15 are eligible to apply.
Brown University’s Leadership Institute offers both on-campus and online options for students interested in social change and ethical leadership. You will choose a focus area—such as Social Justice or Intercultural Communication—and work closely with peers from around the world through discussions, group projects, and experiential learning. The program prioritizes skill development in public speaking, teamwork, and critical thinking. You will also develop an Action Plan to implement change in your home communities.
10. Cornell University - Telluride Association Summer Seminar: Critical Black Studies
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
Cost: Free!
Application Deadline: October 15 - December 3.
Dates: June 22 – July 26.
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors aged 15-18 years at the start of the program are eligible to apply.
TASS-CBS is a transformative six-week academic program for students passionate about history, justice, and community engagement. Hosted at Cornell University, the seminar immerses you in Critical Black Studies through rigorous college-level courses and interdisciplinary exploration. Learning extends beyond the classroom, with opportunities for public speaking, democratic decision-making, and collective community-building. The program cultivates leadership through co-created, inclusive environments.
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