The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
The Data-Driven Decision Lab
June 7 - 12, 2026
Rising high school seniors with a passion for quantitative analysis have the opportunity to discover business in an active data lab, guided by Michigan Ross faculty. In this special intensive, you will dive into data-driven decision making in a real-world setting. Join us to explore the intersection of business and data, how companies run, understand how leaders solve problems, and experience what it’s like to be a business student at top-ranked Michigan Ross.
Application Deadline: April 5, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET
This rigorous pre-college program is for highly motivated students who have an interest in business analytics and want to learn how data helps companies make smarter, informed decisions to solve real business problems.
No specific skills needed prior to coming to this course — just a quantitative mind.
Gain a deeper understanding of how businesses work and explore the role of data in decision-making.
Learn alongside a cohort of high-achieving peers while experiencing campus life in our dorms and dining halls.
Experience the collaborative, action-based learning environment at Michigan Ross.
Learn from expert Ross faculty who will guide you through the program.
Learn more about what it means to be an impactful business leader.
What You'll Experience
Get into the role of junior business analyst to help a company make smarter, data-informed decisions to solve real business problems. You will navigate a custom-built business dataset based on real movie theater operations at the Michigan Theater to identify the true drivers of revenue, from the impact of weather, to film genres, to the "Game Day" effect.
This intensive teaches the business analyst process, from exploratory data analysis to solution building and data driven storytelling to persuade your audience. You will learn to understand business context, clean and analyze data, identify trends, build visualizations, and use AI tools wisely. The week ends with an “insight brief,” combining visuals and narrative to present solutions and persuade simulated Michigan Theater Management.
You are expected to participate in all components of the program, which include:
Day 1: Discovery & Data Requirements
- Site visit and stakeholder interviews
- Define data needed to address issues
- Deliver clear problem statement and list of required data
Day 2: Data Handoff & Analysis Proposal
- Receive raw datasets
- Draft and submit a plan analyzing the data
- Transform data into an actionable, instructor-refined analysis plan
Day 3: Debrief & Execution
- Identify the problem numerically, explain data cleaning, and perform analysis
- Present progress and discuss approach
- Clarify key insights and refine analysis based on faculty feedback
Day 4: Storytelling, Final Presentation & Feedback
- Build the final presentation
- Refine and practice delivering data-driven stories to guide impactful decisions
- Deliver final insight briefs to stakeholders
- Generalize learnings into a repeatable, data-driven solution process
- Receive professional-grade evaluations on recommendations
Program Fee
The Data-Driven Decision Lab program fee is $3,000. The cost covers course materials, programming, meals and lodging.
All students who meet the eligibility requirements are welcome to apply.
- Rising 12th-grade student.
- Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA.
- Preference will be given to U.S. citizens or permanent residents
- The Summer Business Academy does not offer visa support to students. Students must be able to enter and stay in the United States on their own.
- Submit a copy of your most recent high school transcript.
- An unofficial transcript will be accepted for admissions decisions, though an official transcript must be provided to enroll.
- Pay the non-refundable $75 application fee. Inquiries regarding application fee waivers should be directed to [email protected].
Application Deadline: April 5, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. EST
We will host a cohort of 50 students.
Preference will be given to U.S. citizens, permanent U.S. residents, and Canadian residents. However, additional international students are welcome to apply for consideration if space is available. The University of Michigan will not sponsor visas for this program.
Once accepted, participants will receive the expected schedule, a packing list, and travel information.
Participants will stay in a residence hall on the U-M Ann Arbor campus.
Participants must be available for the entire duration of the program.
Due to the high volume of interest in our programs, students may only attend one SBA session per summer. If you applied to a traditional SBA session, please reference your decision email for important next steps that address this question.
Please email [email protected] with your question(s). Due to high interest and inquiry volume, our responses may be delayed; however, we look forward to connecting with you in a timely manner. We appreciate your patience. Please note that SBA is not managed by the Ross Admissions department.
Questions about the Summer Business Academy can be directed to [email protected] or 734-647-7877.
