15 Finance Internships for High School Students in Chicago
Explore 15 finance internships available for high school students in Chicago. Enhance your skills and build a strong foundation for your future career in finance.
If you are a high school student interested in pursuing a career in finance and want to gain early exposure to the field, a finance internship is worth considering. Finance internships are structured learning experiences that place you in workplace environments where you can start building practical skills and applying classroom knowledge.
These internships often go beyond basic lessons by involving you in projects related to data analysis, investment research, or financial planning. You’ll see firsthand how finance professionals make decisions, solve problems, and communicate in a business setting. If you’re considering studying business or finance in college, a local finance internship can give you solid preparation.
To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 15 finance internships for high school students in Chicago!
15 Finance Internships for High School Students in Chicago
1. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies according to program (financial aid available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective 8-week virtual program where you work directly with a high-growth startup on a real-world project. Startups span industries like tech, AI/ML, health tech, journalism, consulting, and more, many led by founders from Y Combinator or companies like Google, Microsoft, and Meta. You’ll work with your startup manager and a Ladder Coach, present your work to the company, and build skills in communication, time management, and professional development through one-on-one and group training sessions.
2. Young Founders Lab
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. You can view the program brochure here.
3. Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI)
Cost: Paid summer internship
Location: Chicago, IL
Dates: June 16 - August 1
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Chicago residents who are rising juniors or seniors, maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher, have a household income under $80,000/year, and can commit to full program participation.
The Chicago Summer Business Institute provides paid, hands-on internships designed to introduce high school students to the financial services sector. Over six weeks, you could be placed in departments such as accounting, asset management, or city finance, working on tasks like preparing reports, assisting with client research, or shadowing professionals. Friday workshops feature guest speakers, leadership training, and small-group discussions on workplace skills, while top performers may participate in office tours or luncheons with senior executives.
4. Genesys Works Chicago
Cost: Paid internship ($10,000–$13,000 during senior year)
Location: Chicago, IL
Dates: 8 weeks of summer training (June–August) followed by a school-year internship (20 hours/week, August–May)
Application Deadline: Applications usually open in winter and close in March
Eligibility: Current high school juniors on track to graduate, eligible to work in the U.S., able to adjust senior-year schedules to accommodate internship hours.
Genesys Works Chicago offers intensive summer training in business, technology, and workplace skills, followed by a paid, part-time internship during your senior year at top Chicago companies. In your placement, you could be contributing to finance teams, supporting project management, or working on data analysis. Throughout the year, you’ll also receive college and career coaching, help with applications, and long-term alumni support. The program offers both financial earnings and the chance to network with industry professionals.
5. Bank of America Student Leaders
Cost: Paid internship
Location: Chicago, IL (placements at local nonprofit organizations)
Dates: June–August, with the Summit held July 21–26
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in November and close in January
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, reside in an eligible location (including Illinois), and can commit to the full 8-week program. Previous Student Leaders are not eligible.
Bank of America’s Student Leaders program offers you a paid summer placement where you’ll gain hands-on experience in organizational operations, budgeting, and project management while working at a Chicago-based nonprofit. The program focuses on financial stewardship, community investment, and the role of funding in driving social impact, giving you insight into how capital is allocated to meet strategic goals. You’ll also attend the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where sessions cover topics such as economic policy, nonprofit finance, and cross-sector collaboration.
6. On the Money (OTM) Paid Internship
Cost: Paid internship
Location: Chicago, IL
Dates: September–December (part-time, Tuesdays 5–7 pm)
Application Deadline: Interviews begin September 16, but students are encouraged to submit materials before that date
Eligibility: City of Chicago high school students; application requires a resume and writing sample.
The On the Money Magazine Internship is a paid, hybrid opportunity for high school students in Chicago who want to explore personal finance, investing, and entrepreneurship through writing. Hosted by the Economic Awareness Council in partnership with DePaul University’s Writing Center, the program will train you to research, write, and publish articles that appear in On the Money Magazine, a youth-focused publication distributed across Illinois. Over the course of the fall semester (September to December), you will sharpen your financial literacy, business communication, and public speaking skills while building a professional writing portfolio.
7. CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) High School Internship Program
Cost: Paid summer internship
Location: Chicago, IL (and other U.S. locations)
Dates: Summer internship starting in June; exact dates vary by cohort
Application Deadline: Applications open in March
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–18 interested in business, accounting, or professional services.
CliftonLarsonAllen’s high school internship program gives you hands-on experience in accounting, finance, and professional services while working with real projects and clients. You’ll learn how accounting firms operate, explore career paths in auditing, tax, and business advisory, and develop professional workplace skills in a collaborative environment. You will work alongside experienced professionals, gaining exposure to client engagements and understanding how financial insights help organizations succeed.
8. Junior Economic Club – Chicago Chapter
Cost: Free (membership-based program)
Location: Chicago, IL
Dates: Year-round programming; specific events and forums held throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling (apply anytime)
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in finance, economics, and leadership.
The Junior Economic Club of Chicago is a student-led nonprofit that gives you direct access to finance, economics, entrepreneurship, and public policy. As a member, you can attend forums with Federal Reserve economists, fintech founders, and CME Group executives, work on economic problem-solving initiatives, and even organize your own finance-related events. If you’re selected for the Careers in Business Internship Program, you’ll be matched with paid internships at startups, investment firms, and financial education organizations. Past interns have worked at places like FinLit, Dekos Capital, and the Henry George School of Social Science. Some interns have helped build financial literacy tools, conducted investment research, or supported policy writing.
9. Junior Economic Club of Chicago - Careers in Business (CIB) Internship Program
Cost: Free
Location: Chicago, IL
Dates: Varies by partner company (typically during the academic year or summer)
Application Deadline: Rolling (apply through JEC membership)
Eligibility: High-achieving high school students in Chicago; must be accepted as Junior Economic Club members.
The Junior Economic Club’s Careers in Business Internship Program connects you with paid, hands-on experience at startups, finance firms, and other businesses across Chicago. If you’re accepted, you’ll be matched with companies like Dekos Capital, where you will conduct industry and company research, support investment underwriting, and evaluate new opportunities.
You might also work with FinLit, a financial literacy organization that trains interns to help design curriculum, assist with product marketing, and support business development. Some placements are offered through Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, where MBA-led startups hire high school interns to support early-stage business growth.
10. One Summer Chicago – Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)
Cost: Paid internship
Location: Chicago, IL
Program dates: June 23 – August 1
Application deadline: May 30
Eligibility: Open to Chicago residents ages 16–24. At least 50% of participants come from priority groups, including youth from schools needing intensive support, English language learners, youth experiencing homelessness, or those in foster care or justice-involved.
The Summer Youth Employment Program is part of One Summer Chicago, a citywide initiative that places you in paid summer jobs across corporate offices, local businesses, government agencies, and specialized training programs. If you’re interested in finance, you can apply for the Peer Money Mentors track run by the Economic Awareness Council. In this role, you’ll build financial literacy, budgeting, and money management skills while also receiving career readiness training. You’ll learn how to create a professional resume, strengthen your workplace communication, and prepare for future job interviews.
11. City of Chicago – Citywide Student Intern Pool
Cost: Paid (hourly rate varies by department)
Location: Various City of Chicago departments and offices
Dates: Summer; exact start/end dates vary by department
Application Deadline: Rolling; early applications encouraged for summer placement
Eligibility: Open to high school, college, and graduate students with U.S. work authorization.
The Citywide Student Intern Pool is a centralized application system that lets you apply once and become eligible for internships across multiple departments in Chicago’s municipal government. When you submit your profile, you’re added to a pre-qualified candidate pool that hiring managers can draw from as positions open up. If accepted, you might be placed in offices like the Mayor’s Office, the Department of Planning and Development, the City Treasurer’s Office, or other agencies. Your assignments could include public policy research, community engagement, finance, IT, or program administration.
12. Chicago Transit Authority - One Summer Chicago High School Internship
Cost: Paid ($16.20/hour) with free CTA, Pace, and Metra transportation
Location: Chicago, IL (hybrid format)
Dates: June 23 – August 8
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: Open to rising sophomores through graduated seniors (ages 16–18) enrolled in high school, with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Must be eligible to work in the U.S.
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) offers a 7-week paid internship for high school students through One Summer Chicago. You’ll work Monday through Friday, earning $16.20 per hour while gaining hands-on experience in transportation and public service. You’ll receive financial literacy training that covers budgeting, money management, and understanding workplace compensation. Technology is provided to support the hybrid format, and you’ll also network with other interns from across the city. If eligible, you can even get paid to earn college credit at Olive Harvey College.
13. NASA OSTEM High School Internship Program
Cost: Paid internship; rate varies by location and role
Location: NASA centers and facilities across the U.S.; some virtual opportunities may be available
Dates: Multiple sessions annually; dates vary by center
Application Deadlines: Spring – September 12; Summer – February 27; Fall – May 22
Eligibility: U.S. citizens at least 16 years old at the time of application; must be enrolled full-time in high school (or part-time college), maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA, and meet specific role requirements.
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) offers paid internships for high school students that let you work directly with NASA scientists, engineers, financial analysts, IT specialists, and business professionals. These internships run for ten weeks in the summer or fall and can be completed either at a NASA center or remotely. If you’re interested in finance, you can apply for roles in budgeting, accounting, and procurement. These positions give you exposure to high-level budget management and operational planning inside one of the world’s most complex organizations.
14. Morgan Stanley JumpStart Scholars in Finance
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual
Program dates: November – April
Application deadline: Estimated mid-September
Eligibility: Open to ambitious high school seniors
Morgan Stanley’s JumpStart Scholars in Finance is a five-month virtual program for high school seniors that introduces you to the world of finance through bi-weekly sessions led by Morgan Stanley professionals. You’ll explore topics like entrepreneurship, wealth building, financial literacy, emotional intelligence, and leadership, while gaining insight into how Morgan Stanley operates within the financial industry. The program ends with a capstone competition in April, where you’ll apply what you’ve learned to a real-world case study. It’s free to participate, but highly competitive; previous acceptance rates were around 15%.
15. Quantitative Finance Virtual Summer Research Experience – Stevens Institute of Technology
Cost: $2,000
Location: Virtual (live + self-paced components)
Dates: June 30 – August 11
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with some coding and Excel experience
The Quantitative Finance Virtual Summer Research Experience at Stevens Institute of Technology is a six-week online program designed for high school students entering their junior or senior year. If you’re interested in finance, statistics, and coding, this program gives you hands-on experience with financial modeling, data-driven decision-making, and industry-standard tools. The curriculum covers statistical methodologies, Python and R coding, and advanced financial analysis. You’ll earn Bloomberg Market Concepts and Capital IQ certifications, which are widely recognized in the finance industry.