The dates for the 2026 summer program are 13 July – 25 July 2026. We hope to see you on the beautiful Cornell campus.
Program highlights
Pre-college programs boost college readiness by building academic and personal skills. Through our interactive courses in economics, big data and business analytics, academic seminars, discussion-based activities and interactions with Cornell faculty and students, current high school students have the unique opportunity to experience the Ivy League academic environment.
Graded end-of-program exam
Courses and academic seminars by elite faculty and researchers. Review the main summer programs page for a list of this year’s instructors and guest speakers.
Business analysis team competition (certificates awarded to top teams)
Business pitch competition (certificates awarded to top teams)
Information session on Cornell undergraduate admissions
Academic consultations with Cornell faculty, staff and students
Visitation to places of interest (residence campers only), including Niagara Falls, Cornell’s Johnson Museum of Art, Botanic Gardens, Fall Creek’s Gorge, etc.
Certificate issued upon satisfactory completion of the program
“This program has…reshaped my perspective on what college life truly means. The teachers took the time to (share) insights into their respective fields. I learned how to express myself more and to be more comfortable in an uncomfortable environment.”
Vincent Huang
“I really liked interacting with all the students, and the professors really made class fun and informative.”
Shirley Li
“I had a really good time! All the classes were really fun and engaging; as a result, I learned a lot. Overall, I had a very positive experience.”
Rayan Almony
Foundation courses: Building knowledge and skills
Students will gain a strong foundation in economics, global strategy and business tools. All students will take two courses and an elective course (chosen during application).
Elective offerings may change based on enrollment. Students may not change their option after the program has started.
Introduction to Behavioral and Environmental Economics
This course examines how human behavior impacts economic decisions and how these decisions affect the environment. It combines insights from psychology and economics to explore topics like consumer behavior, environmental policies and sustainable practices. The course helps students understand how economic incentives and human behavior influence environmental outcomes and what can be done to promote more sustainable choices.
Economics, Global Strategy and Sustainable Business
This course analyzes the international business environment, defined as the economic, political and social factors that shape firms’ global strategies. Students will learn to explain the ways in which — and the reasons why — countries differ in policies and institutions relevant to the firm. The course places special emphasis on the political and institutional economy facing the business, which means they will study how international and domestic politics as well as institutions influence continuity and change in the rules governing international economic transactions.
Elective 1: Big Data and Business Analytics
Data-driven decision-making and analytical skills are essential for success in today’s business world. As the demand for analytics capabilities continues to rise, business professionals are increasingly expected to be proficient in tools that support data analysis. With the rapid growth of digital technologies — such as smartphones, social media and online commerce — the volume of data generated each day has skyrocketed. Organizations are eager to extract meaningful insights from this data to inform strategy and operations. This introductory course provides a foundation in business analytics using Microsoft Excel, one of the most widely used tools in the industry. Students will learn how to organize, manipulate and analyze both structured and semi-structured data using Excel. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with practical skills to apply data analysis techniques in real-world business contexts.
Elective 2: Engineering Economics and Systems Thinking
Why do some systems (made up of policies, technologies and business strategies) fail even when they seem well-designed? In this project-based course, students learn to think like an engineer and economist — analyzing how systems behave, how decisions ripple through them and why unintended consequences often emerge. Using simple tools such as causal-loop diagrams and computer simulations, students explore how feedbacks, delays and resource constraints affect outcomes in real-world systems — from energy markets to technology adoption and environmental management. Students learn to use the Vensim software to model production, investment and growth dynamics and uncover system archetypes like “Fixes that Fail” and “Limits to Growth.” By the end of the course, students will understand how to identify leverage points in complex systems, evaluate trade-offs and design policies or engineering solutions that improve long-term performance and sustainability.
Business competitions: From theory to practice
Students will step into real-world roles by engaging in two exciting experiential learning challenges.
Business analysis simulation (Capstone 1)
Step into the role of a decision-maker in a global industry. In this hands-on, simulation-based course, you and your teammates will run your own company, making real business choices about product design, pricing, advertising, promotions and sales. Over 12 rounds of play, you’ll see how your decisions shape the company’s performance, using market reports and analysis tools to guide your strategy. By the end, you’ll have a taste of what it’s like to think like a business leader — analyzing data, collaborating with a team and competing to succeed in a fast-paced market.
Business pitch competition (Capstone 2)
Put yourself in the shoes of a real consulting team. In this challenge, you’ll work together to design a bold new product or service idea that helps a major company expand into an exciting new area. Your team will research the market, analyze risks and opportunities and craft a strategy that’s both creative and realistic. The goal is to think big, back up your ideas with evidence and deliver a persuasive pitch —just like real consultants competing to win over a client.
Program fee
The program fee ($5,700) includes meals and accommodation, class materials, entrance fees to places of interest and transportation fees for CICER-organized events. The fee does not include your costs for traveling to participate in the program. To make your arrival and departure easier, we offer an optional charter bus service between JFK Airport (in New York City) and Cornell’s Ithaca campus, which is about 4.5 hour’s drive away. The cost is $60 each way; seats are limited. This service is offered as a courtesy for travel convenience, but families are welcome to make their own travel arrangements.
For students who currently reside in Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Onondaga, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins or Yates County and live within a reasonable daily commute to Cornell University, we offer a reduced commuter rate of $1,300. Students report to the camp for lectures and other program activities and then go home each day. Daily lunch will be provided.
The program fee is non-refundable, except in exceptional cases such as visa denial or a medical emergency. In such cases students must provide proper documentation by emailing the refund request to cicer@cornell.edu.