10 Summer Business Programs for High School Students in NYC

If you’re a high school student in New York City looking to learn beyond the classroom, summer business programs can be a smart way to build professional skills. These opportunities, ranging from finance workshops to entrepreneurship incubators, provide training in marketing analysis, financial modeling, and leadership development. 

Many of these programs are run by universities, nonprofits, or well‑known firms in NYC, and they often include networking events where you can meet peers and mentors from diverse backgrounds. These local programs are easily accessible to NYC residents and are great opportunities to explore fields of interest in business. If you’re curious about business concepts and how to translate them into projects, summer programs can be a great option.

Below, we’ve selected 10 summer business programs for high school students in NYC!

10 Summer Business Programs for High School Students in NYC

1. Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and the Science of Smart Cities (ieSoSC)

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY (in‑person for NYC residents)

Cost: Free (full scholarship provided; program is tuition‑free) 

Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Cohort typically includes 26 students per session

Dates: July 7 – August 8

Application Deadline: May 15

Eligibility: NYC residents entering grades 9–12 (age 15+); must demonstrate strong academic performance and interest in STEM 

ieSoSC is a five-week summer program at NYU Tandon that combines STEM and entrepreneurship with a focus on urban innovation. Participants can develop technical skills in coding, circuit design, microcontroller programming, and sensor integration to create prototypes of real “smart city” solutions. Additionally, they gain practical business experience by learning about product development, project planning, pitch creation, and the basics of intellectual property, including patents and copyrights. Team-based design challenges push you to apply your technical skills in designing solutions that address sustainability, transportation, environmental impact, or infrastructure. You can also refine your communication through theater-based workshops that strengthen your ability to pitch ideas. The program culminates in a public expo where you present your urban-tech projects to professionals, engineers, city planners, and peers.

2. Veritas AI – Deep Dive: AI + Finance

Location: Remote

Cost: Varies depending on program type; need‑based financial aid covering up to 100% is available

Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year

Application Deadline: Varies depending on cohort

Eligibility: High school students (grades 8–12) with prior Python coding experience or who have completed Veritas’s AI Scholars program

Veritas AI's AI + Finance Deep Dive investigates how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing financial markets over a ten-week period. Participants will join live online sessions of about 2.5 hours each, focusing on modeling techniques for stock prediction, fraud detection, algorithmic trading, and risk assessment. Working in small project teams, you'll apply methods like regression, time-series forecasting, and neural networks to develop practical financial tools from historical market data. Mentors from top institutions such as Harvard and Stanford will provide guidance, helping to refine your models and presentations. You’ll also receive instruction on integrating AI solutions into financial decision-making contexts. The program culminates in a group project pitch and a peer-reviewed final showcase.

3. Bossgirls Summer Program

Location: The City College of New York, New York, NY

Cost: Free

Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Less than 40

Dates: June 30 – July 31

Application Deadline: March 31

Eligibility: Current high school girls and nonbinary students (grades 9–12), residents of the tri‑state area, able to commute to the CCNY  campus

By joining the Bossgirls Summer Program, you'll participate in a five-week entrepreneurship boot camp, collaborating with diverse teams to address real-world challenges using design thinking and human-centered design. You’ll conduct customer research, analyze competitors, prototype ideas, and build a brand around your solution, with guidance from mentors from Standard Chartered and guest entrepreneurs. You’ll enhance your skills in market analysis, financial planning, UI/UX design, and pitching, leading up to a Shark Tank-style presentation where you showcase your venture to peers and industry professionals. Through workshops and interactions at CCNY’s Zahn Innovation Center, you'll foster entrepreneurial thinking, build confidence in making decisions, and gain insight into startup culture.

4. Lumiere Research Program – Business & Entrepreneurship Track

Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!

Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available

Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).

Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).

Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.

The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.

5. Fordham University - Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom

Location: Fordham University (Rose Hill campus, Bronx, NY) or online (hybrid option)
Cost: $1,200 total (including $100 deposit; remaining $1,100 tuition); need‑based financial aid available
Dates: One‑week sessions: June 16 – 20 | June 23 – 27 | July 21 – 25 | July 28 – August 1

Application Deadline: Priority deadline is April 1; applications may be accepted on a rolling basis thereafter
Eligibility: Current high school students (grades 9–12); international students may apply virtually

By participating in Wall Street in the Classroom, you’ll delve into key finance concepts, economic basics, personal financial strategies, and investment approaches via interactive lectures and case studies. You’ll understand how hedge funds and private equity function, get an overview of risk management theories, and explore emerging subjects such as cryptocurrency. Throughout the week, you connect with industry professionals and recent alumni in guest‑speaker sessions, allowing you to ask questions and receive real‑world insights. Whether you participate in person or online, the program equips you with practical tools to analyze markets, evaluate asset classes, and build a foundation for future college‑level finance coursework or personal money management.

6. University of Rochester - Innovation Management: The Business of New Ideas

Location: University of Rochester, Rochester, NY (in-person, residential)

Cost: $4,800

Dates: July 7 – 18

Application Deadline: May 1

Eligibility: Rising high school students in grades 9–12

In the Innovation Management: The Business of New Ideas course, you’ll spend two weeks on campus focusing on refining and commercializing raw concepts. Through hands-on exercises and mini-lectures, you’ll apply the Business Model Canvas, segmentation strategies, and product branding to real-world projects. You’ll conduct user interviews, develop prototypes, and iterate your ideas using feedback loops. Simulations mimic roles in marketing departments where you compete to design profitable offerings. Although it isn't a traditional business program, you’ll benefit from extra exposure through visits to local businesses and access to peer communities like YORI™, where you can continue researching your own business ideas. By the program’s conclusion, you’ll present a final pitch demonstrating your innovation process and earn a certificate from Simon Business School.

7. Summer Leadership Academy

Location: Mercy University School of Business, Dobbs Ferry, NY (with visits to Manhattan-based companies)

Cost: $695 fee for meals and activities; tuition and housing provided at no additional cost

Acceptance rate / Cohort size: About 40 spots per session selected from 400 applicants (approx. 11% acceptance)

Dates: Session 1: July 6 – 12 | Session 2: July 13 – 19 | Session 3: July 20 – 26

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; apply as early as possible due to limited space

Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (current juniors) with a GPA ≥90%, demonstrated leadership, strong public speaking, and interest in business

At Mercy University’s Business Leadership Academy, you’ll engage in a week of hands-on business learning. You'll collaborate with executive faculty from international companies to enhance your communication, decision-making, and teamwork skills. Additionally, you'll partake in Shark Tank-inspired team exercises, pitching your business ideas to faculty judges. A highlight includes visits to Fortune 500 headquarters, such as Bloomberg, Deloitte, Google, and NBC Universal, providing a firsthand view of diverse career fields. You receive mentorship from faculty and alumni ambassadors, who guide your reflective practice and help you explore business pathways.

8. Columbia University Summer Immersion

Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Residential (3‑week): $12,764 | Commuter (3‑week): $6,310 | Online: $3,965 per session (2‑week); $2,815 per session (1 week)

Dates: NYC Residential Summer: Session A: June 30 – July 18; Session B: July 22 – August 8 | NYC Commuter Summer: same Session A & B dates as residential | Online Summer: Session A: July 7 – July 18; Session B: July 21 – August 1; Session C: August 11 – August 15

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 who are at least 15 years old (turning 16 by the end of the calendar year); some courses may require being 16+

Columbia’s Summer Immersion program provides a wide variety of college-level courses, including economics, architecture, writing, and technology, all delivered in a rigorous academic setting. Whether you attend on campus in Manhattan, commute each day, or join online, you'll engage in interactive classes, discussion-based learning, collaborative projects, and real-time feedback from experienced faculty. The program also connects you with peers from diverse backgrounds and exposes you to college-style expectations. By the end of your session, you’ll have gained a deeper understanding of your academic interests, enhanced readiness for potential college study, and inclusive access to a supportive intellectual community.

9. Cornell University - CICER Summer Program in Business, Economics & Data Analytics

Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (in-person residential for high school students)

Cost: $5,600

Dates: July 14 – July 26

Application Deadline: March 31

Eligibility: High school students (Grades 9–12) interested in business, economics, and data analytics; open internationally, though visa-related timing may affect acceptance

The CICER Summer Program is a two-week intensive at Cornell that combines academic rigor with practical exploration of business, economics, and data analytics. You’ll participate in courses like Behavioral & Environmental Economics, Business Management & Organization, and Big Data & Business Analytics, each taught in interactive formats by Cornell faculty and researchers. You’ll work on team-based business analysis competitions that simulate real-world decision-making, receiving feedback and earning recognition for top performances. Alongside academics, you’ll attend seminars on topics such as finance applications and career pathways, and engage in informational sessions to help plan college and major selection. As part of the residential experience, you’ll build community through networking sessions, visits to local landmarks such as Niagara Falls and campus museums, and social events designed to spark connections with peers and faculty. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a certificate and have the opportunity to request a letter of recommendation from CICER leadership if your performance merits it.

10. Fordham University - Exploring Entrepreneurship

Location: Fordham University, Bronx, NY

Cost/Stipend: $1,800 (includes instruction, lunch, and transportation for field visits) 

Dates: June 23 – 27

Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; early application recommended due to limited capacity

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (grades 11–12) interested in entrepreneurship and startup fundamentals

Exploring Entrepreneurship at Fordham immerses you in a week of practical startup work. You’ll collaborate in small teams to develop a business model canvas, conduct market analyses, and create prototypes of minimum viable products. Throughout the week, faculty entrepreneurs-in-residence will mentor you, and industry professionals will share insights during visits to startup incubators and small businesses. You’ll also participate in a final pitch competition where your team presents to a panel of judges, walking through your venture strategy. This program sharpens your entrepreneurial thinking, helps you translate ideas into executable steps, and provides a clear view of the startup ecosystem in New York City, making it ideal if you're evaluating entrepreneurship as a potential future path.