15 Economics Internships for High School Students in Atlanta
If you’re a high school student in Atlanta interested in economics, your city offers plenty of options to get solid work experience before college. Atlanta is home to major banks, Fortune 500 headquarters, public policy groups, and community organizations that deal with economic issues every day. An internship here can take you beyond textbook lessons, letting you work on projects that involve datasets, local markets, and policy decisions. You might help track economic trends, assist with research on business development, or support programs that impact the city’s economy.
Because these opportunities are local, you can often fit them around your school schedule and avoid extra costs like travel or housing. You also get the chance to connect with professionals in Atlanta’s finance, business, and policy networks, connections that can help you later in college or your career.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 economics internships for high school students in Atlanta!
15 Economics Internships for High School Students in Atlanta
1. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
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 start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech, and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Past founders have included YCombinator alums, founders raising over 30 million dollars, or founders who previously worked at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. In the program, you will work closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. You can explore all the options here.
2. Young Scholars Internship Program – University of Georgia
Cost: Paid
Location: UGA campuses in Athens, Griffin, or Tifton, Georgia
Dates: May 28 – July 7 (Internship); July 8 – July 10 (Pre-Collegiate Research Conference)
Application Deadline: January 23
Eligibility: Open to high school students who have completed their sophomore year, are first-time participants, and are 16+ years old by the program start date; coursework in science and algebra is required.
The University of Georgia Young Scholars Program is a five-week paid summer research internship where you explore applied economics through real-world research in agriculture, food systems, and environmental science. You work 30 hours a week with a faculty mentor, often from UGA’s Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, on topics like agribusiness, resource economics, and market behavior. You present your findings at the Young Scholars Pre-Collegiate Research Conference. Past projects have included supply and demand analysis, market elasticity, and economic modeling in food production systems.
3. Young Founders Lab
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Dates: Vary according to cohort
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
Eligibility: All high school students can apply
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. You will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by 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 ideation, workshops, skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. While this isn’t a traditional internship, it follows the same work-learn structure as the other programs on this list. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
4. TAG-Ed High School Summer Internship Program
Cost: $2,000; participants receive a $1,500 stipend upon completion
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Dates: June 2 – Late July (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in early spring
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (age 17+) with strong academic performance, community involvement, and intermediate to advanced skills in STEM or related fields
The TAG-Ed High School Summer Internship Program places you with Atlanta-area companies for an eight-week paid internship focused on STEM and business innovation. You work in teams on defined projects in fields like business analytics, technical project management, software development, and marketing strategy. Many placements involve economics-related work, including sustainability analysis, product pricing, and market research. You gain experience in data interpretation, project planning, and client communication while building skills in teamwork and critical thinking.
5. Bank of America Student Leaders® Program
Cost: No cost; paid internship
Location: Placements across Georgia with a national summit in Washington, D.C.
Dates: Eight-week summer program; specific dates vary annually
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in January
Eligibility: Open to current high school juniors and seniors; must demonstrate leadership and commitment to community service
The Bank of America Student Leaders® Program is an eight-week paid summer internship for high school juniors and seniors interested in economic opportunity, public policy, and nonprofit leadership. You’ll be placed at a local nonprofit such as Habitat for Humanity or Boys and Girls Clubs, where you contribute to community-focused projects that often involve budgeting, resource allocation, and economic development. You also attend the national Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you explore leadership, civic engagement, and economic mobility with peers from across the country.
6. NASA OSTEM High School Internships – Business & Program Management Tracks
Cost: Paid (stipend based on grade level and internship duration)
Location: Remote or onsite at select NASA centers
Dates: Summer: June–August (exact dates depend on placement)
Application Deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: U.S. citizens aged 16+ enrolled full-time in high school (GPA ≥ 3.0)
NASA OSTEM Internships offer high school students the chance to work on economics, finance, and business operations projects that support NASA’s mission. You may assist with budgeting, procurement, program management, data analysis, and organizational strategy at one of NASA’s centers or remotely. You’ll be mentored by NASA professionals and contribute to real agency work while building skills in financial modeling, cost analysis, and strategic planning. Internships are paid and offered three times a year: spring, summer, and fall.
7. DPR Construction Build Up High School Internship
Cost: Paid hourly; transportation stipend available
Location: Various cities, including Atlanta, Georgia (site varies by year)
Dates: 8 weeks, Summer (June–August)
Application Deadline: April 18
Eligibility: Open to rising juniors, seniors, or May graduates; family income must be below HUD MFI; must be able to legally work in the U.S., and commit to full-time site work for 8 weeks
DPR Construction Build Up High School Internship is an eight-week paid summer program where you work 35–40 hours per week on a live commercial construction site. You support project teams managing multimillion-dollar builds and learn how large budgets, schedules, and teams are coordinated to deliver infrastructure. You gain experience with budgeting tools, cost tracking, and project planning software like BIM 360 and Primavera. The internship focuses on financial decision-making, resource management, and real-time coordination, core skills in applied economics and project management.
8. CLA High School Internship Program
Cost: Paid program
Location: Select CLA offices nationwide, including Atlanta, GA
Dates: June-July (4 weeks)
Application Deadline: Not specified; typically open in winter
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–18
The CLA High School Internship Program is a four-week paid summer internship where you work on real projects in accounting, finance, and client advisory services at CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, one of the largest professional services firms in the U.S. You gain experience in financial reporting, auditing, tax preparation, and business consulting, core areas of applied economics. You will also participate in team exercises that simulate entry-level accounting roles and build skills in data analysis, budgeting, and professional communication.
9. Junior Economic Club Global Internship Program
Cost: Free
Location: Remote
Dates: Varies by placement; typically during the academic year or summer
Application Deadline: Rolling; varies per cycle
Eligibility: High school students; ideal for those with strong academic records and an interest in economics, finance, or business
The Junior Economic Club Global offers high-achieving high school students the opportunity to intern with startups, investment firms, and policy organizations. You will be matched with founders and executives to work on real-world economic challenges, from investment analysis to curriculum design and financial research. Previous host companies include Dekos Capital, Henry George School of Social Science, and Tadrus Capital, where students led industry research, supported algorithmic portfolio building, and contributed to academic economic writing.
10. Buckhead Coalition Summer Internship Program
Cost: Free; includes stipend and MARTA transportation support
Location: Metro Atlanta (hosted by Buckhead Coalition member companies)
Dates: Two-week summer placements
Application Deadline: Not publicly listed; internal selection through North Atlanta High School
Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors at North Atlanta High School enrolled in CTAE, especially the Business and Technology pathway
The Buckhead Coalition Summer Internship Program gives you hands-on experience with Atlanta-based companies in banking, real estate, healthcare, and education. You’ll be matched with firms like SouthState Bank, Coro Realty, and Aon based on your interests and academic performance. You’ll work on-site and contribute to real business projects that build your skills in budgeting, financial services, market research, and organizational strategy. You’ll also develop professional communication and teamwork skills in a structured work environment.
11. 21st Century Leaders – SYLI@Goizueta
Cost: $395. Financial aid is available
Location: Emory University, Goizueta Business School, Atlanta, GA
Dates: June 1 - June 6
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who live in Georgia
SYLI@Goizueta is a week-long residential leadership program at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, where you explore business, entrepreneurship, and economic impact. You’ll work in teams to solve real business challenges, visit companies like Coca-Cola and Cox Enterprises, and engage with the Goizueta Start: ME Accelerator to learn how small businesses grow in local communities. You’ll build skills in leadership, market analysis, and strategic thinking through workshops, alumni panels, and networking with corporate professionals.
12. Georgia Tech IPaT High School Summer Internship
Cost: Free
Location: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Dates: Summer; Typically June–July
Application Deadline: Not publicly listed; applications likely open in early spring
Eligibility: Georgia high school juniors and seniors interested in STEM, tech, and applied research.
Georgia Tech IPaT High School Summer Internship places you in active research labs at the Institute for People and Technology (IPaT), where you work on real projects in behavioral science, technology policy, and applied economics. Past interns have developed browser extensions to improve productivity, iOS apps using machine learning for life skills training, and cognitive tools for aging in place. You’ll be mentored by Georgia Tech researchers and present your work at a campus-wide showcase. The internship emphasizes research methods, prototyping, and user-centered design, ideal if you're interested in how technology intersects with economic decision-making and public policy.
13. Economics for Leaders (EFL) by the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE)
Cost: $900 (virtual); scholarships are available.
Location: Remote
Program dates: June - August (multiple weeklong sessions)
Application deadline: April 9
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors can apply.
The Economics for Leaders (EFL) program immerses you in economic reasoning while building leadership skills through highly interactive workshops and simulations. You’ll work through applied micro- and macroeconomics concepts, exploring trade-offs, incentives, and public policy analysis, while simultaneously studying leadership frameworks rooted in communication, collaboration, and decision-making. Instructors introduce you to advanced problem-solving techniques such as analyzing policy scenarios with supply and demand models or applying opportunity cost analysis to real-world leadership dilemmas.
14. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program
Cost: No tuition fee; a $25 application fee is charged, with a fee waiver available for eligible candidates.
Location: Remote, hybrid, and in-person options available
Program dates: June – August
Application deadline: Typically February
Eligibility: Students who are 15 years or older
ASSIP pairs you one-on-one with a faculty mentor to conduct original, publishable research using advanced tools and methodologies. You can pursue projects across disciplines, including STEM-related business, finance, economics, and entrepreneurship, alongside fields like neuroscience, bioengineering, and data science. You’ll gain experience in statistical modeling, data mining, and research communication, while developing skills for academic publication and conference presentation.
15. Mary Miller Summer Program – PHC Group, LLC
Cost: Free; paid internship
Location: Virtual or Philadelphia, PA
Dates: Summer session of approximately 8–10 weeks
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in early spring, around February–March
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors with unrestricted U.S. work authorization; strong writing, research, and technical skills recommended
Created in honor of community leader Mary Miller, this program gives you hands-on exposure to public health, social marketing, and business development projects within a global consulting environment. You will contribute to market research, data reporting, and social media strategy, while also joining planning meetings with senior leadership. You’ll sharpen your Microsoft Office and analytics skills, develop leadership abilities, and practice strategic communication in professional settings.
Krishnapriya, or KP, is the Head of Partnerships at the YFL and an LSE graduate. She is super passionate about the environment (especially nonhumans with 3+ limbs) and considers walking her dogs as the most important part of her day!