15 Economics Research Programs for High School Students in the U.S.
Economics often becomes easier to grasp when you study real examples rather than only reading theory. Research programs give high school students a chance to examine questions using data and simple economic tools. By exploring topics such as pricing, government policy, or trade flows, you learn how economic reasoning explains everyday outcomes.
What do economics research programs for high school students in the U.S. involve?
Economists and university researchers often mentor students in these programs, helping you move through the stages of research step by step. You learn how to identify a problem, gather relevant information, evaluate your findings, and present your work. This guided experience builds your analytical ability and helps you see how economic reasoning works in practice.
Why should you do economics research programs for high school students in the U.S.?
These programs can also support your future applications. Completing a research project gives you concrete work to put on your resume, and it provides real examples you can mention in college essays or interviews. It shows that you have taken initiative and explored economics in a structured way, which admissions officers value.
If you’re also interested in economics research internships, check this out!
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 15 economics research programs for high school students in the U.S.
15 Economics Research Programs for High School Students in the U.S.
1. U.S. Department of the Treasury - Headquarters Student Internship Program
Location: Treasury Departmental Offices in Washington, D.C. (with limited remote options)
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Offers internships in the spring (January–May), summer (May–August), and fall (September–December)
Application Deadline: October for spring, December for summer, and June for fall internships
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and graduate students who are U.S. citizens
Through this economic research program for high school students in the US, you will help shape economic and financial policy at a major federal agency. You will collect and analyse data, write briefing materials, and support offices such as Economic Policy, Domestic Finance, or Tax Policy. You will gain hands-on experience in policy research, report writing, and presenting findings to senior staff. You will also receive guidance from Treasury professionals and join meetings, reviews, and inter-agency collaborations. Additionally, you will also network across departments and see federal decision-making in action.
2. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Various U.S. locations (includes virtual options) with a summit in Washington, DC
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~300 students
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer + Summit (July 21 - 26)
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors, legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship; permanently reside in one of the eligible locations, or are not Bank of America employees or immediate family members of Bank of America employees
At the Bank of America Student Leaders Program, you will work full-time for eight weeks at a local nonprofit devoted to community service. You will take on meaningful tasks like project development, outreach, or data analysis while learning leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. You will also attend a week-long summit in Washington, D.C., where you will join peers from across the country, meet nonprofit, business, and policy professionals, and present your experience. Expect mentors to guide you throughout the economic research program for high school students in the US.
3. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies according to program type (need-based financial aid available)
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. You can explore all the options here. 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, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.
4. Young Founders Lab (YFL)
Location: 100% remote
Cost: Varies according to program type (need-based financial aid available)
Dates: Several cohorts throughout the year, including fall, winter, summer & spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to program type
Eligibility: 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 check out the brochure for the program here.
5. George Washington University - Caminos al Futuro
Location: George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: Fully funded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Three weeks in July
Application Deadline: March 1st
Eligibility: Rising senior at a U.S. high school with a high level of academic achievement and a demonstrated commitment to leadership in service of the Latino/Hispanic community
Caminos al Futuro – George Washington University is a fully funded, three-week pre-college program for rising high school seniors hosted by the Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute. You spend the summer in Washington, D.C., studying economic, political, and social issues affecting Latino and Hispanic communities in the United States. During the program, you take part in lectures and seminars led by faculty and policy experts, focusing on topics such as economic disparities, labor patterns, and the impact of government decisions on local communities. You work on a research project where you collect and analyze data to understand a specific economic challenge and propose a community-based solution.
6. Babson Summer Study for High School Students
Location: Both online and in-person formats available. In-person at the New England Innovation Academy (NEIA) in Marlborough, Massachusetts
Cost: $6,295 (Online); $9,295 (in-person day student); $12,995 (in-person residential student); (Financial aid and discounts available)
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 8-28
Application Deadline: February 13 for the in-person format & March 13 for the online format
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are 16 or older by the start of the program
Babson Summer Study is a three-week pre-college program focused on developing your entrepreneurial mindset and your ability to use economic reasoning to solve problems. You take EPS 1110: Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Experience and earn four college credits while studying how economic, social, and environmental challenges connect to the United Nations Global Goals. The coursework introduces you to market analysis, resource allocation, business models, and financial strategy, and you apply these ideas to real ventures and case studies. The program is built around Babson’s Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® framework, which teaches you how to identify economic value, assess risk, and act on opportunities.
7. Harvard Secondary School: Economics, Finance, and Public Policy
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost: Starts from $4,180 + $75 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 12–August 8 (4-week residential), June 20–August 8 (7-week residential, online, or commuting)
Application Deadline: Early application & priority financial aid deadline on January 7, Regular application & financial aid deadline on February 11, Late application deadline on April 1
Eligibility: Students must be 16 years or older by June 20, and under 19 by July 31, and must be high school graduates entering college.
Economics, Finance, and Public Policy at Harvard Secondary School gives you the chance to study how economic systems, financial markets, and government policies influence everyday life. You take college-level courses such as microeconomics, econometrics, and public finance, learning how to interpret data, study business models, and evaluate policy decisions. Guidance comes from Harvard faculty and small-group instructors who help you build analytical and research skills. You also work with peers to present your findings on economic issues.
8. Yale Young Global Scholars: Politics, Law, and Economics
Location: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
Cost: $7,000 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: There are three sessions: Session I – June 21 to July 3, Session II – July 5 to July 17, Session III – July 19 to July 31
Application Deadline: October 15 (early action), January 7 (regular)
Eligibility: Must be 16–18 years old, fluent in English, and first-time participants in YYGS; current high school sophomores or juniors (or international equivalent), graduating in May or June if from the Northern Hemisphere, or in November or December if from the Southern Hemisphere.
The Politics of Law & Economics (PLE) session at Yale Young Global Scholars introduces you to the ways economic systems, legal structures, and political institutions shape each other across different countries and historical periods. The session covers core economic themes such as market regulation, development economics, antitrust policy, and models of sustainable growth, and places them in conversation with political theory and legal analysis. You engage with lectures that explore topics like agricultural microcredit as a tool for development and economic models that look beyond traditional growth. Seminars take you deeper into subjects such as responses to austerity, the debate on equality and economic anger, and the use of game theory to understand real-world choices.
9. UCLA Economics Summer Institute
Location: Los Angeles, California (UCLA)
Cost: $2,611–$3,015 (depending on the specific program)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified, but the cohort is small
Dates: July 14 – August 1
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: 9th-12th grade and must be at least 15 years of age
At the UCLA Economics Summer Institute, you will spend three weeks studying how economists analyze markets and policies, alongside the fundamentals of investments. You will attend lectures, workshops, and discussions led by UCLA faculty and teaching assistants and work in small groups to evaluate real economic data, build models, and present research on current issues such as inflation or trade. Through their economic research program for high school students in the US, you will gain hands-on experience in data analysis and policy evaluation while improving quantitative and critical-thinking skills. Expect faculty guidance throughout the process, offering insights into college-level research.
10. Young Entrepreneurs Program
Location: Various companies in Kansas City, Missouri
Stipend: $2,500 scholarship ($1,250 per session) upon program completion, along with hourly compensation of $12–14
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two sessions: June 2 to June 27 and July 7 to August 1
Application Deadline: February 1st
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) is a paid summer internship for high school students in the Kansas City metro area, built to give you early exposure to business, economics, and entrepreneurship. As an intern, you are matched with one of the program’s partner startups, where you get a close look at how new companies operate, make decisions, and respond to real market challenges. The work places you inside active business environments, giving you insight into operations, strategy, and innovation. Fridays are dedicated to visits across the local business ecosystem, where you learn how different industries function and how economic networks support entrepreneurial growth.
11. UC Santa Barbara - Research Mentorship Program: Economics Track
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), California
Cost: Commuter: $5,675; Residential: $13,274 (includes tuition, housing, and activities); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: High school students in the 9th, 10th, and 11th grade with a minimum weighted GPA of 3.80
UC Santa Barbara – Research Mentorship Program (RMP) is a six-week, selective summer program for high-achieving high school students. If you are interested in economics or policy, the program offers the chance to work directly with a UCSB faculty member, postdoc, or graduate student on a research project that aligns with your interests. You learn university-level research methods, explore economic theory, and work with data. You gain a clearer understanding of how academic research in economics, business, or public policy is conducted. Throughout the summer, you also attend the GRIT Talks lecture series, where UCSB researchers share work related to innovation, technology, and policy.
12. Economics for Leaders
Location: Various U.S. campuses (residential) and virtual options available
Cost: $2,800 for residential; $900 for virtual
Cohort Size: Competitive; One student per high school to a given program site; 25-40 students are accepted at each site
Dates: June–August (specific sessions vary by site)
Application Deadline: Varies based on your program
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors; international students are welcome to apply
Economics for Leaders (EFL), hosted by the Foundation for Teaching Economics, introduces high school sophomores and juniors to the use of economic reasoning in leadership and public policy. The program teaches core concepts such as incentives, opportunity cost, marginal decision-making, and market behavior through interactive classes and simulations. You learn how these tools apply to real policy debates and how economic thinking helps evaluate trade-offs and long-term outcomes. Leadership training is integrated throughout the curriculum, showing you how economic analysis supports ethical and effective decision-making.
13. High School Summer Internship Program
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: June 1 - August 1
Application Deadline: May 19
Eligibility: High school students with a Minimum GPA of 3.5
USC Dornsife Center’s Summer Research Internship is an online program offered in partnership with the USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability. It gives high school students a chance to work on real policy research with a focus on environmental issues and sustainability. During the internship, you complete two major writing projects: a legislative policy memo and an analysis of the legislative process for a bill you choose at the local, state, or federal level. The work involves independent research, evaluating both the economic impact and the political context of the bill, and revising your writing based on detailed feedback. Throughout the program, you receive mentorship from the internship staff, attend guest sessions with policy professionals, and build your analytical and writing skills.
14. Management & Technology Summer Institute
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,000 + $100 application fee (need-based scholarships and financial awards available)
Cohort Size: 75 students
Dates: July 5- July 25
Application Deadline: Priority Deadline on January 28 & final on March 25
Eligibility: High school students
Management & Technology Summer Institute(M&TSI), run by the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology at the University of Pennsylvania, is a three-week, for-credit residential program for rising high school seniors. Jointly taught by Penn Engineering and the Wharton School, it introduces you to the ways economic principles and management strategy shape technological innovation. You take Wharton-led classes on topics such as market analysis, business models, and go-to-market planning. You’ll work in teams to design a tech product prototype and build a launch strategy that applies pricing, cost-benefit analysis, and other forms of economic reasoning. The program also uses business simulations and case studies led by industry professionals.
15. Economics Policy Academy - Georgetown University Summer College
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: $7,085 (commuter); $9,085 (residential)
Cohort Size: Limited
Dates: June 29 - July 18
Application Deadline: January 31 (early); April 15 (regular)
Eligibility: Current and rising high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors at least 15 years old by the date of check-in; international students are welcome to apply
Georgetown University’s Economics Policy Academy is a pre-college program for high school students interested in economic theory, public policy, and global development. The curriculum introduces you to core areas such as microeconomic reasoning, fiscal and monetary policy, development economics, behavioral economics, and the economics of globalization and trade. You also study issues connected to poverty, inequality, and the welfare state, along with topics like foreign aid and the economics of conflict. The program combines classroom learning with experiential activities. You visit policy organizations in Washington, D.C., take part in workshops and group discussions, and complete a research-based poster.
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