15 Finance Summer Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in finance, investing, or business, summer is a great time to get involved. You’ll learn skills like budgeting, data analysis, and decision-making. You’ll also get a clear look at how finance works, meet professionals in the field, and connect with other students who share your interests.
These programs take place over the summer, so they won’t interfere with school. Plus, they’re a strong addition to your resume or college application. If you're aiming for competitive colleges, a finance program can help you stand out.
How did we identify the best finance programs for high school students?
When we say the best, we’re talking about programs that are completely free or offer a stipend - admissions to these programs are usually very competitive, and getting in can make for a prestigious addition to your resume! These programs usually ask for serious effort and offer strong value in return, like hands-on projects, mentorship, or real-world exposure. Many of them are hard to get into, which makes them more respected by colleges. We’ve included programs hosted by organizations that are known for offering strong learning experiences in finance.
To help you find the right fit, here are 15 finance summer programs for high school students!
15 Finance Summer Programs for High School Students
Bank of America Student Leaders Program
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program gives you the chance to spend your summer working with a nonprofit near you. For eight weeks, you will be part of the day-to-day work they do to support your community. You will learn how nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies all play a role in solving local problems.
You will be helping out, asking questions, and seeing how decisions get made. At the end of the internship, you will travel to Washington D D.C. for a week-long summit with students from across the country, where you will take part in group discussions and learn more about leadership and public service.
Location: Various locations throughout the U.S.
Cost: Free. A stipend is available.
Application Deadline: January 15
Program Dates: 8 weeks from June to August
Eligibility: high school juniors or seniors who are authorized to work in the U.S. and permanent residents of one of the eligible locations
Lumiere Research Scholar Program
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program gives you the chance to work one-on-one with a PhD mentor on a research project of your choice. Over twelve weeks, you will explore a subject in depth and write a full research paper by the end. The program runs multiple times during the year and is designed for high school students who want to take on serious, independent work.
You can choose from a wide range of subjects like economics, business, entrepreneurship, finance, and more. Your mentor will guide you through every step of the research process, from narrowing down a topic to writing and finalizing your paper. Apply here!
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Program Dates: Summer: June - August, fall: September - December, winter: December - February, spring: March - June.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The regular admissions deadline for the Summer Cohort I is May 11
Eligibility: Open to current high school students with a 3.3 GPA or higher. No prior experience needed.
Veritas AI's AI + Finance Deep Dive
Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the AI + Finance program, students gain a deeper understanding of AI applications in the financial field. They get a chance to engage in lectures, code walkthroughs, and real-world projects using AI & ML models to predict future financial patterns using past data, forecasting stock prices, and more. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2290
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines from March to June
Program Dates: Multiple sessions around the year
Eligibility: High school students from around the world are eligible to apply, completion of the AI Scholars program or prior Python experience is necessary.
CLA High School Internship Program
The CLA High School Internship Program gives you a chance to explore business, accounting, and professional services through hands-on experience. You will work on projects that serve actual clients across different industries. Along the way, you will take part in team-based work and interactive service tasks that show you how the professional world operates.
You will also get to shadow experienced professionals and see what their day-to-day work looks like. By the end of the program, you will have built skills that are useful if you are thinking about a future in accounting or finance.
Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Cost: Free. A stipend is available
Application Deadline: January (tentative)
Program Dates: June 17 – July 19 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 – 18
Chicago Summer Business Institute
The Chicago Summer Business Institute offers paid internships for high school students who want to learn about the financial services industry. During the program, you will work with a mentor who helps guide your progress and supports you as you take on real projects. The goal is to help you complete your work with clear outcomes by the end of the summer.
Each week, you will join workshops on Fridays that cover topics related to business and finance. You will also hear from guest speakers and take part in panel discussions with professionals in the industry. The program focuses on helping students build leadership skills and feel confident in a professional setting.
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost: Free. A stipend is available.
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: A 6-week program, likely June–August
Eligibility: Chicago high school sophomores and juniors who maintain a “B” or 3.0 average and have a family household income below $80,000 per year
The U.S. Department of the Treasury Headquarters Student Internship Program gives you a close look at how federal agencies support the country’s economy and financial systems. Each day, you might collect and study data, write reports, or prepare briefings. You could also attend congressional hearings, meetings, and seminars.
You will help organize meetings and support daily operations. Along the way, you will build skills in research, leadership, and analysis. Internships are offered in offices like Domestic Finance, Tax Policy, and Economic Policy. You will also meet and learn from professionals working in public finance.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: December
Program Dates: May – August
Eligibility: U.S. students enrolled or accepted at an accredited institution
Accounting and Information Management (AIM) Academy
The AIM Academy is a six-day program where you explore accounting and information management. You will take part in workshops on finance, entrepreneurship, and professional development. These sessions are led by university staff.
You will also join college readiness sessions and hear from guest speakers working in the industry. Team activities help you connect with other students. A financial literacy workshop shows how financial knowledge links with accounting.
Location: Knoxville, TN
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: July 13 – 18
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston's Today's Interns, Tomorrow's Professionals
The TIP program is a paid internship that offers high school students a chance to gain practical experience in the financial sector. You’ll take part in financial literacy training, covering topics like budgeting, saving, understanding college costs, and tax preparation.
This gives you the foundation you need to manage personal finances. You’ll work with various departments within the Federal Reserve Bank, learning how different financial processes and decisions are made. You will also have the chance to continue the internship for up to three years, depending on your performance and interest.
Location: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, MA
Cost: Free. Paid internship
Application Deadline: Not specified
Program Dates: July – August
Eligibility: Income-eligible rising high school juniors in Greater Boston
UT Austin McCombs Summer Programs: Discover Yourself In Accounting Majors and Careers
The DYNAMC program is a free, six-day summer experience focused on accounting, business, and leadership. You will stay on campus at UT Austin while learning from faculty and hearing from keynote speakers. The program includes a case competition where you apply what you’ve learned. You will also meet McCombs students, connect with professionals in the field, and get a closer look at careers in accounting.
Location: Austin, TX
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March 1
Program Dates: June 22 – 27
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
Kansas University’s Summer Venture in Business
The Summer Venture in Business program gives you a look at the world of business while preparing you for college life. You will attend lectures from KU School of Business faculty and join workshops hosted by various campus partners.
The program also includes industry tours with corporate sponsors and evening activities led by mentors. You will hear from current students and alumni during panel discussions. By the end of the program, you will have gained skills like teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
Location: Lawrence, KS
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: June 15 – 20 or July 13 – 18
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who have a minimum high school GPA of 2.75+
University of Cambridge: Foundations of Finance
The University of Cambridge’s Foundations of Finance course offers a deep dive into finance. You will explore topics like money and capital, cash flow forecasting, financial reporting, interest and return, and risk management.
This program is ideal for students interested in corporate finance, financial management, or business finance. The course combines real-world case studies and interviews with industry professionals to help you apply what you learn in practical settings.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Program Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
ColumbiaX: Introduction to Corporate Finance
ColumbiaX's Introduction to Corporate Finance is an entry-level course that focuses on applying financial concepts to value firms, bonds, and stocks. You will learn how to evaluate assets, choose the best projects for a corporation, and calculate the return on those projects.
The course also covers how to determine the value a project adds, value bonds, and compute their yield, as well as use a model to value stocks and determine their fair price. Throughout the course, you will also use Excel to perform key financial tasks, like valuing bonds and stocks, calculating NPV, and finding IRR.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Program Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: Open to all high school students who are familiar with basic concepts of accounting and possess basic skills in Microsoft Excel
Wharton Global Youth Program: Essentials of Finance
The Essentials of Finance program by Wharton offers a focused 2-week introduction to the core concepts of both personal and corporate finance. You will attend lectures from Wharton faculty, lecturers, and PhD students, covering topics like the time value of money, risk and return trade-offs, equities, and corporate accounting.
The program includes real-world applications and case studies to give you hands-on experience in finance. You’ll work in teams to complete an analysis project, helping you put theory into practice. As part of the Global Youth Program, you’ll also have the chance to attend the Wharton Global Youth Speaker Series, where you can hear from influential leaders in the finance field.
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $7,899 + $100 application fee. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: April 2
Program Dates: June 8 – 21, June 22 – July 4, July 13 – 26, or July 27 – August 9
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 9–11
Bentley University Wall Street 101
Bentley University’s Wall Street 101 program offers several finance courses that cover a wide range of topics. Courses include Stock Market and Investment Research, Macroeconomics and Financial Markets, Personal Finance, and FinTech Business Startup. These courses explore finance from various angles, considering factors like government policy and financial planning.
The FinTech Business Startup course dives into the role of technology in finance. Each course incorporates trading simulations, debates, group assignments, guest lectures, and group presentations.
Location: Virtual or in-person at Waltham, MA
Cost: Ranges from $1,490 – $3,180. Financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: Rolling basis till June 1
Program Dates: June 9 – 13 (online), June 16 – 20 (in-person), June 23 – 27 (in-person), June 30 – July 4 (in-person), July 7 – 11 (in-person), or July 14 – 18 (in-person)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors who have completed at least two years of college preparatory coursework at the high school level and are at least 16 years old by September 1 for residential programs.
UCLA Introduction to Investments Summer Institute
The UCLA Introduction to Investments Summer Institute is a 3-week program designed to introduce students to career paths in investing. The program focuses on building a foundation of financial literacy, covering key concepts related to money, banking, and personal investment decisions.
You will attend lectures on economics and investment, participate in small group discussions, and analyze case studies as part of the coursework. By the end of the program, you will earn college credit.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $2,985 (commuter) or $2,170 (virtual). Need-based financial aid is available for California-based students.
Application Deadline: June 13
Program Dates: June 23 – July 11 (commuter or virtual)
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12
If you’re looking for an incubator program that helps you build a startup in high school, consider the Young Founders Lab!
The Young Founders Lab is a 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.
You can access the application linkhere!