15 Accounting Research Programs for High School Students
What Will Accounting Research Programs For High School Students Teach You?
Accounting research programs help you learn how financial systems work beyond classroom theory. You’ll explore how professionals track money, prepare reports, and analyze data to support decision-making in companies or public institutions. Many programs also include projects that teach you auditing, budgeting, and data management, giving you a practical view of the field.
How Will Joining Accounting Research Programs For High School Students Benefit You?
Joining an accounting research program can also strengthen your resume and help with college applications. You’ll gain experience that shows initiative, learn directly from professionals, and start building useful connections in the accounting and finance world.
If you’re interested in accounting internships, do check this out!
To help you explore your options, here are 15 accounting research programs for high school students.
Disclaimer: Some items listed below may not focus on accounting research directly, but will provide business, entrepreneurial, and financial knowledge
15 Accounting Research Programs for High School Students
1. Bank of America Student Leaders® Program
Location: Local nonprofit organizations and Washington, D.C. (Student Leaders Summit)
Cost: Fully paid; includes stipend and all travel expenses
Dates: 8-week program, including the Student Leaders Summit (July 21–26)
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Open to U.S. high school juniors and seniors legally authorized to work; must reside in an eligible location and be available for the full 8-week commitment.
The Bank of America Student Leaders® Program is a highly selective, paid summer internship designed to help students develop leadership, financial literacy, and community engagement skills. You will be placed at local nonprofit organizations, where you work approximately 35 hours per week on service-based projects that build real-world experience in budgeting, teamwork, and management. The program concludes with a fully funded Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where participants attend workshops on economic mobility, social entrepreneurship, and civic leadership. This internship provides a unique opportunity to explore how finance and public service intersect, preparing you to lead with both business acumen and social responsibility.
2. U.S. Department of the Treasury – Headquarters Student Internship Program
Location: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Spring: January – May | Summer: May – August | Fall: September – December
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The Headquarters Student Internship Program at the U.S. Department of the Treasury offers students the opportunity to learn how fiscal policy, economic research, and financial regulation shape national and global markets. As an intern, you may assist in data analysis, report drafting, or policy brief preparation, depending on your placement. You will often be assigned to offices such as Economic Policy, Tax Policy, Domestic Finance, or International Affairs, gaining first-hand insight into how federal economic initiatives are developed.
3. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote – you can work from anywhere in the world
Cost: Varies depending on placement; some internships are paid; financial aid available
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap-year students who can commit 10–20 hours per week for 8–12 weeks
The Ladder Internship Program is a selective virtual opportunity that connects high school students with high-growth startups across industries such as finance, consulting, accounting, AI/ML, health tech, and marketing. You will work directly with company founders and managers on real-world projects, applying analytical, communication, and research skills to professional settings. You will receive mentorship from a Ladder Coach, who provides personalized guidance and feedback throughout the internship. You’ll attend group training sessions, develop time management and presentation skills, and deliver a final project to your company team.
4. Young Founders Lab
Location: 100% virtual, with live and interactive workshops
Cost: Varies by program; need-based financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founders Lab is a selective virtual startup incubator that gives high school students hands-on experience in finance, financial strategy, and entrepreneurship. Over the course of four weeks, you will collaborate with peers to design and launch a functional startup, applying concepts such as budgeting, revenue modeling, and cost analysis in real time. You’ll attend live workshops led by professionals from leading companies like Google and Microsoft and receive personalized mentorship from business and finance experts. The program emphasizes financial decision-making, innovation, and teamwork, helping you build both strategic and analytical skills. By the end of the experience, you’ll have developed a working business concept and a deeper understanding of how accounting and finance support sustainable growth.
5. Pathways Internship Programs – U.S. Department of State
Location: Varies by placement
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend varies by post
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly competitive; based on federal hiring needs
Dates: Varies by posting; Internship Experience Program (IEP) runs during academic terms, Internship Temporary Program (ITEP) runs during seasonal or holiday breaks.
Application Deadline: Varies by posting
Eligibility: U.S. citizens, minimum age 16, cumulative GPA of 2.0+; must maintain student status throughout the internship.
The U.S. Department of State’s Pathways Internship Programs offer high school and college students a chance to explore federal careers in areas such as finance, economics, and public policy while earning pay and professional experience. You may be placed at offices like the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of Structured Finance and Insurance, or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You will work alongside federal professionals on meaningful projects that demonstrate how finance and accounting intersect with government operations and international policy. There are two primary tracks: the Internship Experience Program (IEP), which can lead to long-term federal employment, and the Internship Temporary Program (ITEP), which provides short-term opportunities during school breaks.
6. Young Entrepreneurs Program
Location: Hybrid in Kansas City, Missouri
Cost: $2,500 scholarship upon completion of the program and hourly compensation of $12–$14
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Session 1: June 2 – June 27 | Session 2: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Open to high school juniors and seniors in the Kansas City area
The Young Entrepreneurs Program provides high school students with a paid, hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, finance, and business analytics. You will work with local Midwest companies to address real-world business challenges, collaborating in teams under the mentorship of professionals. Projects may include market research, financial modeling, and data-driven strategy development, giving you a practical understanding of how business and finance intersect. The program combines classroom learning with applied projects, allowing you to refine your analytical and presentation skills. Upon completion, interns receive both a $2,500 scholarship and an hourly wage.
7. Harvard University – Economics, Finance, and Public Policy Programs
Location: Virtual or in-person at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost: Residential: $15,735 | Virtual: $4,180; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 20 – August 8
Application Deadline: Early (January 7 or 8, depending on year), Regular (February 11 or 12, depending on year)
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Harvard University’s Secondary School Program allows high school students to design a customized academic experience by selecting two college-level courses in areas such as macroeconomics, financial accounting, econometrics, or public policy. Over seven weeks, you’ll attend classes two to five days per week, either on campus or virtually, while earning college credit from Harvard Summer School. Under financial accounting, the course teaches accounting concepts, recording & reporting financial information, and financial accounting analyses. The program combines rigorous coursework with access to academic advising, mentorship, and enrichment opportunities, helping students strengthen research, analytical, and critical thinking skills. You will finish the program with an official Harvard transcript.
8. KP Launch – High School Program
Location: Kaiser Permanente Medical Center or business office near your home address (Northern California)
Stipend: Paid; $24 per hour
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: Applications open November 17
Eligibility: Open to current high school students aged 16–19 who reside in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente service area
The KP Launch High School Program is a seven-week paid internship where you learn how a healthcare organization runs. You’ll rotate through departments like accounting, communications, and patient care, gaining firsthand experience in operations and management. You will understand how financial and accounting decisions influence the healthcare sector. The program includes mentorship, workshops, and community projects, helping you build professional and analytical skills while earning $24 per hour.
9. University of Pennsylvania – Essentials of Finance
Location: Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Cost: $8,299; need and merit-based financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: June 7–June 20; June 21–July 3; July 12–July 25; July 26–Aug 8
Application Deadline: January 28 (priority); March 18 (final)
Eligibility: Open to current high school students in grades 9–11 (must be at least 15 years old by the start of the program)
The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School’s Wharton Global Youth Program hosts an Essentials of Finance course that covers the basics of personal and corporate finance. Through lectures, case studies, and an analysis project in small groups, this program will provide you with a thorough introduction to the field. Spanning equities, capital structure, valuation models, risk, and the cost of capital, the curriculum not only explores key concepts in depth, but also deals with their practical application. After completing the program, you will earn a Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion.
10. George Washington University – Caminos al Futuro
Location: George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free; fully funded, including housing and meals
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: July 3 – July 19
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Open to rising high school seniors with strong academic performance and demonstrated leadership within the Latino/Hispanic community
Hosted by GW’s Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute, Caminos al Futuro is a fully funded, pre-college summer program that engages Latino/Hispanic student leaders in exploring economic disparities, community development, and public policy. Over three weeks, participants live on campus and attend university-level seminars, writing workshops, and research labs that focus on real-world social and economic issues. The program also includes site visits to Congress, federal agencies, and local nonprofits, offering first-hand insight into how policy decisions shape economic opportunity.
11. Federal Reserve Bank of Boston – Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) Internship Program
Location: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Boston, Massachusetts
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Summer (exact dates vary annually)
Application Deadline: Rolling; students apply through the Boston Private Industry Council
Eligibility: Open to high school students from Boston Public Schools who have completed their sophomore year
The Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) Internship Program at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston introduces students to the fields of economics, finance, and banking through hands-on, paid experience. You will work within departments such as economic research, financial markets, or communications, contributing to projects that reflect the Bank’s real-world operations. You will also receive job coaching and professional development to build workplace readiness and leadership skills.
12. On the Money (OTM) Paid Internship – Economic Awareness Council (Chicago)
Location: Chicago, Illinois (hybrid: rotating in-person and virtual meetings)
Stipend: Paid (part-time)
Dates: September – December; meetings held on Tuesdays, 5–7 p.m.; virtual interviews on September 16
Application Deadline: Submit résumé and writing samples before the September 16 interview date
Eligibility: Open to high school students who are residents of the City of Chicago
The On the Money (OTM) Paid Internship, hosted by the Economic Awareness Council in partnership with DePaul University’s Writing Center, allows high school students to research, write, and publish original articles about finance, entrepreneurship, and business literacy. As an intern, you’ll develop skills in financial education, reporting, interviewing, and public speaking while contributing to a teen-run financial magazine. You will attend hybrid editorial meetings, receive mentorship from professional editors, and engage in workshops on résumé building and media professionalism.
13. Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP) – Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Location: Miami-Dade County, Florida
Stipend: Paid internship
Dates: July – August
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: Open to rising 10th–12th grade students (ages 15–18) enrolled in Miami-Dade County Public Schools
The Summer Youth Internship Program (SYIP) offers Miami-Dade high school students a paid, five-week internship that builds early professional experience across both public and private sector organizations. Supported by The Children’s Trust, CareerSource South Florida, and the Educational Federal Credit Union, the program matches students with local businesses, nonprofits, and government offices based on their career interests. You will complete up to 150 hours of paid work while developing essential workplace skills in communication, teamwork, and time management. Mentorship, training sessions, and financial literacy workshops are integrated throughout the experience.
14. UC Santa Barbara – Research Mentorship Program: Economics Track
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, California
Cost: Residential: $13,274 | Commuter: $5,675; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; approximately 80 students admitted
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: December 15 – March 9
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have completed at least 10th grade and are 16 years or older by the program start date
The Research Mentorship Program (RMP) at the University of California, Santa Barbara, offers high school students a six-week immersive research experience under the guidance of university faculty and graduate mentors. In the Economics Track, you will engage in full-time research focused on topics such as market behavior, public policy, or financial modeling. You will dedicate 35–50 hours per week to data analysis, literature review, and fieldwork, ultimately producing a research paper and presenting your findings at a formal symposium. Alongside your projects, you can enroll in two interdisciplinary research courses worth eight college credits, which focus on methodology, writing, and presentation.
15. University of Chicago – Economics From An Experimental Perspective
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Cost: Residential: $8,900; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 14 - July 4
Application Deadline: March 5
Eligibility: Open to current high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are at least 14 years old
Offered through the University of Chicago’s Summer Immersion Program, the Economics From An Experimental Perspective course introduces high school students to experimental economics and behavioral research methods. Under the guidance of UChicago faculty, you’ll design and participate in market simulations, strategic decision-making games, and exchange experiments that bring economic theories to life. The program emphasizes data analysis, hypothesis testing, and teamwork, allowing students to explore how incentives, competition, and cooperation shape real-world outcomes.
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