15 Economics Summer Programs in NYC for High School Students
If you are a high school student considering a career in economics, finance, public policy, or related areas, enrolling in an economics summer program can be a smart first step. These programs introduce you to how economic thinking works in real life.. Learning these ideas early helps you understand how decisions are made in businesses, governments, and financial systems, and whether this field matches how you like to think and work.
What are the economics summer programs in NYC for high school students?
New York City is a center of finance, media, business, and policy, which makes it an excellent place to study economics. Many summer programs in NYC connect classroom learning to the city’s economic environment, whether through case studies, data-based projects, or discussions tied to real industries and institutions. Studying economics here helps you see how theory connects to markets, firms, and public systems that operate at scale.
Why consider economics summer programs in NYC for high school students?
Choosing a local economics summer program in NYC can be a financially smart decision. You avoid the added cost of travel and housing while still gaining access to some great programs. They also add depth to your college application by showing early academic focus and initiative, something admissions officers tend to value when reviewing student profiles.
If you’re also interested in online economics programs, check here, or go here for free economics summer programs for high school students.
Without further ado, here are 15 economics summer programs in NYC for high school students!
15 Economics Summer Programs in NYC for High School Students
1. Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom - Fordham Gabelli School
Location: Rose Hill Campus, Gabelli School of Business, Fordham University, Bronx, NY (hybrid in-person/remote)
Cost: $1,300 tuition ($100 deposit + $1,200 balance)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Unspecified
Application Deadline: Rolling, priority before April 1 (tentatively)
Dates: June 15 – 19, June 22 – 26, July 20 – 24, July 27 – 31
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12 interested in finance
Wall Street in the Classroom introduces you to how finance works in practice, not just in theory. Over an intensive week, you study core ideas such as time value of money, financial markets, investing, debt, asset allocation, and risk management. The curriculum also touches on how institutions like hedge funds, private equity firms, and central banks operate, alongside newer areas such as cryptocurrency. Instruction is discussion-driven and grounded in real market behavior, led by a former Wall Street equity trader who connects economic concepts to day-to-day financial decisions. Guest speakers from finance firms and recent Gabelli alumni join sessions to explain how these ideas show up in actual careers.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
In the Young Founder’s Lab, you take part in a start-up program designed by entrepreneurs with experience in both academics and industry. You work on developing a business idea that addresses a specific problem and outlines a viable revenue model. Throughout the program, you receive feedback and guidance from mentors with professional experience, including those who have worked at large tech companies. In addition to developing your idea, you attend sessions that introduce core business concepts and methods for refining early-stage ventures. The program includes workshops, case discussions, and panel conversations that explore different paths to starting and scaling a business. Overall, the experience gives you a structured setting to learn how entrepreneurial ideas are developed and evaluated during high school. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Multiple locations + week-long residential Student Leaders Summit in Washington, DC
Cost: Free. Students are paid hourly and given access to a fully funded trip to the Student Leaders Summit.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 300 students selected across all locations in the program
Application Deadline: January 15
Dates: June – July (8 weeks)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who live in one of the eligible locations
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program is a paid summer opportunity for high school students that combines an internship with a focus on community engagement. You spend the summer working with a local nonprofit organization, such as Habitat for Humanity or Boys & Girls Clubs, where you learn how community-based organizations plan and carry out their work. Through this experience, you see how nonprofits collaborate with government agencies and businesses to support local initiatives. At the end of the program, you attend the Student Leaders Summit, where you meet participants from across the country and take part in group discussions and sessions led by professionals from a range of fields.
4. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Cost: Full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
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 an internship program for high school students interested in working with start-up companies. You are matched with a start-up and spend the internship contributing to projects that align with the company’s needs. The participating start-ups operate across fields such as technology, AI and machine learning, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. Many of the companies are in early stages of growth and are led by founders with prior experience in start-ups or established firms. During the internship, you work directly with a manager and receive support from a Ladder Coach to help you manage your work and build professional skills. The program concludes with a presentation in which you share your work and explain your role and outcomes to the company.
5. Athena Summer Innovation Institute
Location: Barnard College, New York City, NY
Cost: Residential: $10,771; Commuter: $8,160 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: June 29 – July 17
Eligibility: Rising female sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Athena Summer Innovation Institute is a summer program that connects entrepreneurship with economic thinking and project development. You work in teams to design a start-up, nonprofit, or advocacy project, moving through stages such as problem analysis, market research, branding, and basic budgeting. Throughout the process, you consider economic factors like resource allocation, costs, and sustainability as you refine your idea. At the conclusion of the program, you present your project in a final pitch and receive feedback focused on the project’s economic viability and overall clarity.
6. Columbia University - Globalization: Challenges in International Economics & Politics
Location: Virtual or in-person at Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $4,015 (online); $12,829 (residential); need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: 30 students
Application Deadline: Residential: March 2 | Online: April 2
Dates: In-person A: June 29 – July 17; B: July 21 – August 7 | Online A: July 6 – 17; B: July 20 – 31
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply
This pre-college program examines how economic and political forces interact on both global and domestic levels. You explore topics such as populism, nativism, geopolitical competition, China’s efforts to internationalize the renminbi, and the effects of rising public debt on economic growth and international relations. Through case studies, you analyze trade, capital flows, sovereign debt, foreign aid, the role of non-state actors, humanitarian challenges, energy sustainability, and the functions of international institutions. The program also considers domestic economic factors, including policy decisions, income distribution, social welfare, defense spending, and the impact of globalization on national economies. The program includes a visit to the United Nations Headquarters.
7. Columbia University - Game Theory: A Course in Mathematical Economics
Location: Virtual or in-person at Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $4,015 (online); $12,829 (residential); need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: 30 students
Application Deadline: Residential: March 2 | Online: April 2
Dates: In-person A: June 29 – July 17; B: July 21 – August 7 | Online A: July 6 – 17
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply
Game Theory is a program that introduces you to the study of strategic decision-making in situations involving choice, rational behavior, and uncertainty. You examine key concepts and foundational work in the field, exploring how these ideas are applied in economics, business, political science, and project management. Through the course, you analyze real-world scenarios such as pricing decisions, negotiation, and cooperation between competing parties. You also work on probability problems and evaluate outcomes based on the actions of different actors.
8. Young Entrepreneurs Academy — New York City Chapter (YEA!)
Location: Staten Island, NY (additional NYC chapters, some virtual options)
Cost: Free for select chapters (check site for scholarships)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application Deadline: Varies by partner site
Program Dates: Academic year or summer (duration ~7 months for year-round, varies for summer pilot)
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students; NY residents
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a program that guides you through the process of starting a business or nonprofit while highlighting the economic principles behind your decisions. You begin by developing an idea and then create a formal business plan, learning how to register a venture and manage its early operations, including initial sales and budgeting. The program includes presenting your plan to a panel that provides feedback, and some participants may be eligible for startup funding. You engage with local business owners and community members, gaining practical insight into how small ventures operate and how economic concepts such as supply, demand, and resource allocation influence real-world business decisions.
9. Pentacle High School Internship Program
Location: New York City, hybrid in-person and virtual
Cost: Free (students receive $600 stipend)
Dates: Rolling enrollment; typically summer (varies by placement)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors; NYC area residents
Pentacle pairs New York City high school students with small businesses for eight-week paid internships. You work about five hours each week at your matched business and see how economic ideas show up in daily business operations. You also attend about two and a half hours each week of virtual professional development sessions. These cover fiscal management, budgeting, marketing and communications, and basic economic data analysis.
10. NYIF Wall Street Stock Market & Investment Experience (Teen Program)
Location: New York Institute of Finance, New York City
Cost: $3,899 (6-day option); $6,699 (12-day option)
Dates: Session A: July 6–11; Session B: July 12–17; Full program: July 6–17
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
Taught by instructors with years of Wall Street experience, you are introduced to how financial markets work and how investment decisions are made. You learn the economic ideas behind building and managing a portfolio, with a focus on how finance works in practice. You cover trading, wealth management, private equity, hedge funds, FinTech, digital assets, financial modeling, valuation, and diversification. You take part in group projects and equity selection competitions that are judged by finance professionals. You also work with market simulations that reflect real conditions, helping you connect economic theory with real finance roles.
11. New York Institute of Finance Young Finance Scholar (YFS) Accelerated Program
Location: Virtual (live; in-person at NY campus available)
Cost: $1,090
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application Deadline: Rolling
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–18
The Young Finance Scholar Accelerated Program is a live, online summer course that introduces you to core concepts in finance and business over a short, structured term. You attend sessions that cover topics such as financial markets, basic economic ideas, and the role of technology in finance, including FinTech-related developments. Alongside coursework, you work with other students on a group project that focuses on applying these concepts to a practical scenario. After completing the program, you receive a certificate and may request a reference letter. You also have the option to stay involved by participating in volunteer opportunities connected to the Global PAI Project.
12. NYU Future Business Leaders Webinar Series
Location: Virtual
Cost: $350
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application Deadline: July 1
Dates: August 9 – 30
Eligibility: High school students
New York University’s Stern School of Business offers a nine-part webinar series designed for high school students interested in learning about different areas of business. Each session is led by the Senior Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion and features insights from professionals in fields such as entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, and management. The series also examines how business principles are applied in industries like fashion, sports, and entertainment. By attending, you can explore different business roles and gain a clearer sense of potential career paths. Students who participate in all nine sessions receive a certificate of completion.
13. Summer@Brown Online: Economics Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Application Deadline: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis until May 22
Dates: June 15 – July 24
Eligibility: High school students finishing grades 9–12 (ages 14–18)
This program allows you to take college-level economics courses through Brown University’s online summer curriculum. Sessions are flexible, ranging from two to six weeks, and cover advanced topics such as behavioral game theory, financial modeling, and economic development, with a focus on applying economic concepts to real data and policy issues. Your coursework may include building simple economic models, conducting small experiments, writing analytical reports, and participating in discussions with instructors and peers. After completing the course, you receive a digital Certificate of Completion, and for courses of three weeks or longer, you also receive a Course Performance Report to document your work and progress.
14. Rice University Pre-College Program: The Business of Economics
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795; Need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Application Deadline: Varies by session; Rolling admissions
Dates: Multiple 1 to 4-week session options offered year-round
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
The Business of Economics course from Rice University examines how economic principles influence business decision-making. You study topics such as inflation, supply and demand, labor markets, energy economics, and the Federal Reserve’s role in shaping economic conditions. The course is delivered through on-demand lectures, allowing you to work at a pace that fits your schedule. Throughout the program, you complete assignments and simulations that apply economic concepts to real-world business situations. You also receive guidance from a mentor who provides feedback as you develop a capstone project. At the end of the course, you present your project to demonstrate your understanding of how economic policies affect business choices.
15. Pace University – Leadership and Entrepreneurship Summer Program
Location: Pace University, New York City (Manhattan and Brooklyn campuses available)
Cost: $890 for the 2-week course (housing is optional and separate)
Application deadline: December 8 for winter (check website for other deadlines)
Dates: Vary by the session. Winter: January 5–16
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 and up; international students welcome
Pace University's English Language Institute offers a Leadership and Entrepreneurship Summer Program designed for students who want to improve their business and leadership skills in an exciting New York City context. The two-week, in-person program combines business fundamentals with practical leadership training and uses NYC's iconic business locations as a living classroom. Throughout the program, you learn business basics, including identifying qualities of strong leaders, entrepreneurship principles, team building, and business management. The program includes a special NYC walking tour that explores business history and modern-day operations at locations like Wall Street, Federal Hall, the New York Stock Exchange, and the South Street Seaport.
Image Source - YFL logo