Open Ajar
Opportunities

Find what’s within reach.

Internships, programs, scholarships, competitions and more. Search, then narrow by grade, state, cost and commitment.

Grade
State
Type
Cost
Format
Commitment
Interest 1

Summer program

Wharton Global Youth Program: Leadership in the Business World

University of Pennsylvania Wharton School

Three-week residential program at Wharton on business and leadership, with lectures, company visits and a team business plan.

Grade 11Has a feePhiladelphia, PA

Priority deadline in late January; final ...

Summer program

Boston University RISE

Boston University Summer Term

Six-week summer program: a research internship in a BU lab, or a group research practicum.

Grade 11Has a feeBoston, MA

Applications (and aid requests) are usual...

Annual international conference and competition for DECA members in marketing, finance, hospitality and management events.

Grades 9–12Has a feeAnaheim, CA (2027)

Qualify through your district and state D...

Competition

FBLA National Leadership Conference (NLC)

Future Business Leaders of America

Annual national conference and competitive events for FBLA members in business and technology fields.

Grades 9–12Has a feeColumbus, OH (2027)

Qualify at your state conference in spring

Competition

National Invention Convention

National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Program

K-12 invention education program culminating in a national competition where students patent, prototype and pitch original inventions.

Grades 9–12Has a feeState affiliate events, the...

Register with your state's Invention Conv...

Competition

Personal Finance Challenge

Council for Economic Education

National competition testing high school students on personal finance knowledge.

Grades 9–12FreeOnline first round; Nationa...

Check your state's challenge page for thi...

Competition

Technovation Girls

Technovation

Global technology entrepreneurship program where girls build a mobile app to solve a community problem and pitch it to judges.

Grades 9–12FreeOnline

Registration for the 2027 season opens in October

Competition

The Fed Challenge

Federal Reserve Bank of New York (and other regional Feds)

Team competition where students analyze the U.S. economy and recommend monetary policy, judged by economists.

Grades 9–12FreeOnline

Registration opens in September and close...

Entrepreneurship

Foundation for Economic Education Programs

Foundation for Economic Education (FEE)

Free three-day summer seminars on economics, political science and leadership, with lectures, discussions and networking.

Grades 9–12FreeThree seminar sites around the U.S.

Applications usually close at the end of March

Entrepreneurship

Junior Achievement JA Titan

Junior Achievement

School-based business simulation where students run a company as CEOs and compete in a simulated marketplace.

Grades 9–12FreeParticipating schools nationwide

Ask your teacher or local Junior Achievem...

Entrepreneurship

LaunchX (formerly MIT Launch)

MIT Launch

Residential summer entrepreneurship program where high school students build a real startup company from idea to launch.

Grades 9–12Has a feeResidential and online options

Applications open in late September and c...

Entrepreneurship

Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)

Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship

NFTE's World Series of Innovation: a free global challenge to design entrepreneurial solutions to real-world problems tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Grades 9–12Pays or awards moneyOnline

Dec 13, 2026

Entrepreneurship

Real World Scholars

Real World Scholars

EdCorps lets a class or club run a real online business under Real World Scholars' nonprofit umbrella, with an e-commerce storefront and seed grants.

Grades 9–12FreeYour classroom, selling online

Teachers can apply to start an EdCorps any time

Internship

Wharton Global Youth Program: Moneyball Academy

University of Pennsylvania Wharton School

Three-week summer program in sports analytics at the Wharton School: statistics, data and how teams make decisions.

Grades 10–11Has a feePhiladelphia, PA

Check Wharton Global Youth for this year'...

Internship

building-u Internship

building-u

Online internship where high school students join teams that address organizational needs while building a database of educational resources. Teams include Resource R&D, Student Ambassadors, Multimedia, Marketing, Coding and more.

Grades 9–12FreeOnline

Rolling or not stated

Summer program

WashU Gateway to Business

Washington University in St. Louis Olin Business School

One-week in-person business exposure through faculty, case studies and networking.

Grades 10–11VariesOlin Business School, WashU...

Application deadline not stated on the page.

Academic program

Business Professionals of America (BPA)

Business Professionals of America

Career and technical student organization for business, technology and information technology students, with competitive events.

Grades 9–12VariesSchool chapters nationwide,...

Join through a local chapter; competition...

Career and business student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management through school chapters and competitions.

Grades 9–12VariesSchool chapters and competitions

Dates set by your chapter and state association

Competition

FBLA High School Division

FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)

Largest student business organization, offering high-school students membership, education programs, competitive events, and scholarships through school chapters.

Grades 9–12VariesSchool chapters; conference...

Dates set by your chapter and state; 2027...

Competition

Stock Market Game

SIFMA Foundation

Online investing simulation where participants use a virtual $100,000 portfolio to research real stocks, bonds, and mutual funds and track how market events influence results.

Grades 9–12FreeOnline

Session dates not stated; register throug...

Entrepreneurship

JA Company Program

Junior Achievement

Program in which high-school students fill a need or solve a community problem while learning to conceptualize, capitalize, and manage their own business venture; students may compete in the JA Company of the Year national competition.

Grades 9–12VariesClassroom, after-school, or virtual

Scheduling set with your local JA area or school

Entrepreneurship

Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!)

Young Entrepreneurs Academy

Class-based program for middle- and high-school students to start and run a real business or social movement, with business mentorship and a national competition component.

Grades 9–12VariesChapters across the U.S. (s...

Varies by local chapter

Connects students from underserved backgrounds with skills training, paid internships at corporate partners, and college and career coaching.

Grade 11Pays or awards moneyBay Area, Chicago, Houston,...

Application windows vary by city; see the...

Job shadow

JA Job Shadow

Junior Achievement

Career-exploration program in which high-school students design an individualized career path through design-thinking activities, informational interviews, and workplace site visits.

Grades 9–12VariesClassroom, live virtual, or...

Timing set by your local JA area