15 Economics Summer Programs in California for High School Students
What do economics summer programs for high school students involve?
For high school students, economics summer programs offer a practical way to explore how economic ideas show up in everyday life, from markets and labor to government decisions and social outcomes. These programs give you space to work through topics more deeply than a regular class allows.
Why consider economics summer programs in California as a high school student?
California has a diverse economy and strong academic institutions that support economics-focused programs. Students can learn in environments shaped by technology, business, social policy, and research. Many programs draw on local examples, which makes learning feel connected to what is happening around you. Participating in these programs helps you build clarity about your academic interests and strengthens college applications by showing initiative.
After pursuing economics programs, you can put your skills to use in paid economics internships for high school students. Additionally, you can look into finance programs in California for high school students.
Below is a list of 15 economics summer programs in California for high school students.
15 Economics Summer Programs in California for High School Students
1. UCLA Economics Summer Sessions
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Tuition varies by course and number of units
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 22-July 31 | August 3-September 11
Application Deadline: Enrollment dates vary by course
Eligibility: Open to high school students and college students; must meet course prerequisite requirements as listed for each course
UCLA offers Economics Summer Sessions for high school students interested in exploring economics. You will explore fundamental concepts in various economic topics, including microeconomic theory, probability and statistics, data science, international finance, environmental economics, international-finance, econometrics, and more. In-class lectures and discussions in the programs focus on the practical application of economic theories and concepts. Some courses also allow you to earn college credit. The programs are designed for a smaller class size, allowing for better retention and learning alongside passionate peers.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies according to program. There is need-based financial aid.
Program Dates: Varies by the cohort
Application Deadline: There are 3 application deadlines that you can choose between; more details in the brochure!
Eligibility: 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. You will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideation, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. In this program, you will learn economics and finance skills under the guidance of your mentor. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. Economics for Leaders
Location: Virtual and in-person programs at multiple university campus sites, including in CA
Cost: $2,800 for residential program; $900 for virtual program; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Week-long summer sessions (specific campus dates vary)
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors
Economics for Leaders offers programs for students interested in exploring the intersection of economics, public policy, and leadership. The program focuses on discussion, allowing you to learn economic theory application by discussing applications in social issues, current national and international topics. In class, you will explore topics such as opportunity cost, international markets, economic growth, labor markets, government, property rights, inflation, and more. A typical day at the program includes pre-tests, collaborative activities, instruction, leadership exercises, workshops, debriefs, and more.
4. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote (work from anywhere in the world)
Cost: Varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available; no stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 10%; 70–100 students
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort – Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and gap year students who can work for 8–12 weeks, devoting 10–20 hours/week
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students interested in gaining experience with fast-growing start-ups. The start-ups offering internships span various fields, including economics, finance, tech/deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies backed by Y Combinator and have raised over a million dollars on average. The program includes one-on-one training in communication and time management, as well as group learning sessions with other interns. Startups in the program are led by founders with experience at organizations like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft.
5. USC Pre-College: The Philosophy of Economic Market, Money, and Property
Location: University of Southern California Pre-College Summer Programs, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $7,401; view additional costs here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22 - July 17
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Completed at least 9th grade by program start; open to domestic and international applicants; must meet USC Pre-College attendance and English proficiency requirements
The philosophy of economic markets, money, and property offers an opportunity to strengthen your critical thinking skills by examining and finding answers to complex questions. You will be introduced to frameworks of decision theory and game theory, which you will then use to explore topics including market interactions, policy design, labor contract negotiations, investment decisions, and more. The program offers a multidisciplinary approach where you will explore various subjects, including law, economics, logic, philosophy, and decision theory, and learn how to use economics to answer questions and solve problems. The experience will strengthen your communication skills, and you’ll learn how to articulate yourself and summarize claims and arguments to write persuasive argumentative essays.
6. Enterprise College
Location: California State University, Bakersfield Enterprise College, Bakersfield, CA
Cost: $175
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: June 2-June 19
Application Deadline: Exact dates not specified, but typically in May
Eligibility: High school students entering senior year; GPA 3.0 or better; enrolled in at least one college prep or honors junior year course; passed Algebra II
Enterprise College is a three-week course where you will learn about the application of economic theories to social issues. The program is designed to help you practice professional skills such as leadership, communication, and critical thinking. During the program, you’ll explore a college-level economics curriculum, gain insight into various pathways in economics, and also earn college credit on successful completion. The selection is competitive and requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 or better, enrollment in at least one college preparation or honours course in your junior year, and having passed Algebra II.
7. UCLA Economics Summer Pre-college Focus Series
Location: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Department of Economics, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Varies by specific program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Three-week sessions in summer (typically around June - July)
Application Deadline: Varies by course
Eligibility: High school students 15 years or older by the first day of the summer session term must meet the prerequisite and application requirements
UCLA Summer Pre-College Focus Series offers an in-depth exploration of various topics in economics. You will explore a college-level curriculum and gain insight into various topics and concepts. Program topics change each year, but previous programs include Introduction to Investments, Principles of Economics, and Python for Economics and Finance. Class size is typically smaller, with discussion sessions led by UCL economics majors, and includes lectures and case studies. Selection is competitive and varies by program, but typically includes transcripts requiring a minimum GPA, essays, and personal statements.
8. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: Residential: $13,274 | Commuter: $5,675
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: High school student in 10th or 11th grade; minimum 3.80 weighted GPA
UC Santa Barbara offers a 6-week research experience where you will design and complete a research project in the area of your interest. You can conduct your research in subjects including economics, sociology, statistics, psychology, global studies, and more. You will be paired with a professional researcher over the course of your research. Furthermore, you will be able to understand how to conduct research, participate in fieldwork, conduct literature reviews, collect data, and more. You will also understand how to present your research effectively to an academic audience by presenting your research at a formal academic symposium.
9. UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth
Location: UC Berkeley Business Academy for Youth, Berkeley, CA
Cost: Tuition varies by program; typically around $7,950
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 14-June 27
Application Deadline: February 8
Eligibility: High school students
UC Berkeley Business Academy offers two different programs that focus on entrepreneurship and business education for high school students. Both the academic year and the summer program allow you to delve into fundamental business topics, work collaboratively with teams, and gain insight into business frameworks. The experience includes guest speakers, lab assignments, research work, and team projects, which allow you to practice what you've learned in class. The academic year experience is suited for students who want to continue learning during the academic year, while the summer program allows an immersive residential experience where you will work collaboratively with peers and gain confidence in your skills.
10. UC Irvine Investments, Financial Planning and You
Location: Paul Merage School of Business, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
Cost: Tuition $1,395 per week; includes non-refundable $600 deposit; commuter program only
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: Multiple sessions provided between June and July
Application Deadline: Not specified; applications typically open in the summer
Eligibility: High school students
The Investments, Financial Planning, and You is a program that helps you build knowledge in the areas of finance and investments. The experience allows you to learn by engaging in case studies, group projects, simulations, presentations, and discussions with industry professionals and faculty members. Some topics you will encounter during the course include investment vehicles, asset allocations, bond math, personal finance, management strategy, and more. The program culminates in a project where you will gain experience creating a personal wealth management plan and presenting it to faculty and peers.
11. University of the Pacific Economics Summer Camp
Location: University of the Pacific Precollege Summer Programs, Stockton, CA
Cost: $3,800
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; cohort size and selection criteria not listed
Dates: June 1 - 11 | June 16 - 26
Application Deadline: May 24
Eligibility: High school students
University of the Pacific offers an economics summer program that teaches you about finances and making healthy financial decisions in everyday life. You learn practical finance application through case studies, interactive sessions, problem-solving, games, and working on simulations for practice. You will explore topics such as credit, taxes, deductions, purchasing power, financial institutions, and better understand how to engage with these financial instruments. Furthermore, you will be able to practice what you've learned by working on assignments, including preparing budget and cash flow statements, analyzing the financial advantage of various scenarios, developing a plan to establish strong credit, learning how to file taxes, calculating life insurance, and more.
12. Cal State Fullerton Personal Financial Planning Program
Location: California State University, Fullerton College of Business and Economics, Fullerton, CA
Cost: Tuition applies (not specified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; approximately 35 high school students each term
Dates: July 14-July 18
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in careers as financial planners and personal financial management
Cal State offers a personal financial planning program where you will learn about finance through real-life practical scenarios. You will learn about fundamental finance concepts through guest lecturers who are financial industry professionals. The program also has an emphasis on case studies, where you will explore personal financial planning situations and discuss current events in the financial market and financial services. The program is designed to be application-focused, and you can expect to explore topics such as investment, insurance, retirement planning, estate planning, tax accounting, and more.
13. Stanford Pre-College Principles of Macroeconomics
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15–26 | July 6–17
Application Deadline: Not specified (varies by session)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-11 at the time of application
The Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institute offers an in-depth exploration of macroeconomics through its Principle of Macroeconomics course. You will explore macroeconomic concepts and develop the critical analysis skills and knowledge required to understand broader economic concepts. The course allows for in-depth discussions and lectures on topics, including inflation, unemployment, labor markets, financial markets, gross domestic product, and growth. The discussions during the course are not just confined to the classroom but also allow for broader application, allow for informed financial decisions, help you make better arguments, and understand economics through a multidisciplinary approach.
14. Wharton Global Youth Program: Innovation and Startup Culture
Location: The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, San Francisco Campus, San Francisco, CA
Cost: $8,959; partial scholarships up to $5,000 available through the Innoview Foundation
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited enrollment per session
Dates: July 5 – 17 | July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: Priority deadline: January 28; Final deadline: March 18
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-11; minimum 3.3 unweighted GPA; no formal business background required; international applicants welcome
Wharton's Innovation and Startup Culture program immerses you in the dynamic San Francisco Bay Area startup ecosystem while gaining direct exposure to how entrepreneurs develop disruptive business ventures. Throughout the two-week residential program, you will work in teams to generate new business ideas, assess profit potential, and build innovative models using real-world data and AI tools. You will attend lectures and recitations led by Wharton faculty, participate in site visits to active startups in Silicon Valley, engage in business simulations, and culminate the program by pitching your venture to investors and entrepreneurs in the Bay Area startup scene. A Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion is awarded upon successful completion.
15. Pomona College Academy for Youth Success (PAYS)
Location: Pomona College, Claremont, CA
Cost: Free; all costs, including housing, meals, field trips, and activities, are fully covered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 30 students selected annually
Dates: June 21 – July 17
Application Deadline: February 23
Eligibility: Current 9th-grade students; must reside in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, or Ventura County; priority given to first-generation college students, students from low-income backgrounds, and students from underrepresented racial/ethnic backgrounds
PAYS is a fully-funded, four-week residential program at Pomona College designed to prepare high school students for admission to selective colleges. You can take two core courses: Math/Problem Solving and Critical Inquiry: Analysis and Writing, taught by Pomona faculty. You can select elective courses from various disciplines, including social sciences and economics, and participate in college-level research projects, workshops, field trips, and leadership activities. The program includes access to guest speakers from multiple industries. All housing, meals, transportation, and activities are covered at no cost to participants.
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