15 Finance Opportunities for High School Students
Finance opportunities for high school students can help you move beyond classroom concepts and understand how money, markets, policy, and business decisions work in practice.
What do finance opportunities for high schoolers involve?
These experiences may involve internships, investment simulations, financial literacy workshops, case competitions, mentorship, or public-sector projects. They can also help you build skills you can use in your own ventures, such as budgeting, valuation, market research, risk analysis, and financial decision-making.
Why pursue a finance opportunity in high school?
Many finance opportunities for high school students also give you access to mentors, guest speakers, workplace visits, and professional networks that are hard to find through regular coursework. They can strengthen college applications by showing initiative, career focus, and your ability to apply academic learning in practical settings.
Below are 15 finance opportunities for high school students in the US. For related opportunities, check out our guides on finance workshops for high school students and investment and trading programs for high school students.
Quick Look
6 free opportunities: the Wharton Global High School Investment Competition, National High School Fed Challenge, McCombs Future Executive Academy, and the Stock Market Game/InvestWrite, among others.
1 fully virtual bootcamp focused on building a real venture: Young Founders Lab, the first entry on this list, standing out for taking an idea through actual startup development rather than only studying entrepreneurship concepts.
3 girls-specific or women-focused programs: the Boundless High School Internship (Fidelity), Rock The Street Wall Street, and elements of the ACAP program.
1 fully funded residential program: the NAIOP-Drexel Summer Real Estate Program, covering all costs for eligible first-generation and low-income students.
Most paid internships on this list are tied to specific cities like Boston, Chicago, or St. Louis, so check residency requirements before applying.
15 Finance Opportunities for High School Students
1. Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) Program
Location: Boston, MA; hybrid or onsite arrangements may vary
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: Summer, with possible year-round support
Application Deadline: Not specified; typically coordinated through partner application timelines
Eligibility: Income-eligible high school students in Greater Boston, typically through the Boston Private Industry Council partnership
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s TIP Program is a paid internship that introduces you to workplace skills, financial systems, and public-sector career pathways inside a regional Federal Reserve Bank. You may be placed in areas connected to economics, community development, technology, finance, accounting, human resources, or other bank functions. The program is designed to give you early work experience while helping you build communication, professionalism, problem-solving, and personal finance skills. A standout feature is that the program connects employment with enrichment, so you are not only completing tasks but also learning how a major financial institution supports the broader economy. You may also gain exposure to mentors and supervisors who can explain how different departments contribute to the Fed’s mission. If you are looking for finance opportunities for high school students that combine paid work with structured professional development, TIP is one of the strongest public-sector options.
2. Young Founders Lab
Cost: $2,900 (need-based financial aid available)
Location: 100% virtual, with live interactive workshops
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Program Dates: 4-week program starting June 5th, tentatively
Application Deadline: Early Decision: March | Regular Admission 1: April | Regular Admission 2: May
The Young Founders Lab is a real-world startup bootcamp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. You will work towards building a revenue-generating startup that addresses a real-world problem, mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. Alongside building your startup, you'll participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and ideation, workshops, skill-building sessions, case studies, and panel discussions. The program gives you a structured space to explore both theoretical and practical frameworks for building a successful business. You can check out the brochure here and access the application here.
3. Chicago Summer Business Institute
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: Summer; exact dates vary
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Chicago residents who are high school sophomores or juniors, maintain a B/3.0 average, have household income below $80,000, and can commit to daily program requirements
The Chicago Summer Business Institute provides paid summer internships for Chicago high schoolers while introducing you to the financial services sector. You may be placed with banks, accounting firms, law firms, engineering firms, or other business partners, depending on the available host sites. The application requires materials such as a transcript, resume, essay, income verification, and two recommendation letters. Through the experience, you can learn professional etiquette, communication, workplace expectations, and the basics of business environments. The finance relevance comes from the program’s origin and employer network, which is built around financial services and professional firms in Chicago. Among finance opportunities for high school students, this one is especially useful if you want a local paid internship with clear eligibility rules.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Location: Remote — work from anywhere in the world
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), Winter (November)
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective startup internship program for ambitious students. You'll work with a high-growth startup on real projects across industries, including tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder's startups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars; past founders include YCombinator alums and former employees of Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. You'll work closely with your manager and a Ladder Coach and present your work to the company at the end of the internship. You can apply here!
5. Morgan Stanley JumpStart Scholars in Finance
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Cost not specified; stipend not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: Five-month program, typically October–March
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school seniors across the United States
Morgan Stanley JumpStart Scholars in Finance is a five-month virtual program that introduces you to finance careers through biweekly learning sessions. Sessions are taught by Morgan Stanley employees, giving you exposure to professionals who work directly in the financial services industry. You can expect career exploration, skill-building, mentorship-style interaction, and a clearer view of how finance roles differ across a large firm. Because it is virtual, the program may be accessible even if you do not live near a major financial center. The program is specifically designed for ambitious high school seniors, so it can be useful during the college application and career-planning period. If you are comparing finance opportunities for high school students that emphasize mentorship and networking, this program is worth reviewing early.
6. NAIOP-Drexel Summer Real Estate Program
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (residential)
Cost/Stipend: Free; full scholarships are provided to all accepted participants
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive
Program Dates: July 12–21
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors; designed for first-generation, low-income students and/or those who demonstrate an interest in commercial real estate
The NAIOP-Drexel Summer Real Estate Program is a 10-day residential experience that introduces you to commercial real estate and related career paths. You explore fields such as architecture, engineering, construction, development, brokerage, finance, investment, and urban planning through case studies and real estate-focused activities. You learn from Drexel University faculty, industry mentors, and corporate executives, giving you exposure to both academic concepts and professional perspectives on commercial real estate. The program also includes team-building activities, college-readiness sessions, and visits to notable commercial properties in Philadelphia, including sites associated with FMC and Comcast. You stay on Drexel's campus throughout the program, allowing you to experience a residential university environment while completing the curriculum. All accepted participants receive full scholarships covering the program, making it a cost-free opportunity for eligible high school students interested in exploring commercial real estate.
7. Wharton Global High School Investment Competition
Location: Online, with finalist activities depending on the competition cycle
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open registration for eligible teams; finalist selection is competitive
Program Dates: Registration opens in August; competition runs across the school year
Application Deadline: More information for the next cycle is pending
Eligibility: High school teams in grades 9–12, usually with four to six members and a teacher advisor
The Wharton Global High School Investment Competition is a free investment challenge where you work with a team to develop and defend an investment strategy. You use the Wharton Investment Simulator to manage a virtual portfolio while responding to a case study built around a potential client’s long-term investment goals. The competition is not judged only on portfolio growth, which makes your reasoning, risk management, research, and communication especially important. You can develop skills in diversification, company analysis, industry research, teamwork, and written strategy. The team structure also gives you practice presenting finance ideas clearly to others. This is one of the most accessible finance opportunities for high school students if you want rigorous investing exposure without paying program fees.
8. National High School Fed Challenge
Location: Online academic competition
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Competitive publication selection; cohort size not specified
Program Dates: Registration begins September 9; paper submission deadline March 16; publication decisions May 15
Application Deadline: February 17
Eligibility: High school teams; schools generally register through a faculty advisor
The National High School Fed Challenge asks you to research and write about an economic theme connected to the Federal Reserve and the U.S. economy. You work as part of a team and use economic data, policy research, analytical writing, and evidence-based argumentation. This opportunity is especially relevant if you are interested in finance, economics, monetary policy, banking, or public policy. Instead of trading stocks or completing an internship, you build a research-driven understanding of how central banking affects markets, employment, inflation, and financial stability. The program can help you practice the kind of analytical writing and data interpretation often expected in college economics and finance coursework. It is a strong fit if you want finance opportunities for high school students that emphasize research rather than workplace placement.
9. Student Board of Directors Program
Location: St. Louis, MO area
Cost/Stipend: Free; internship access may be available after successful completion
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; no more than one participant per school may be selected
Program Dates: School-year program; exact meeting dates vary
Application Deadline: Application season for the current cohort is closed
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors at St. Louis-area public or private high schools, in good academic standing, with a teacher nomination
The St. Louis Fed Student Board of Directors Program gives you a structured way to learn about the Federal Reserve, financial literacy, and career pathways in a regional central bank. You attend meetings, complete assigned work, and prepare a presentation about the Fed to share with your school. The program emphasizes both economic understanding and communication, which makes it useful if you want to explain complex finance concepts to others. You also interact with St. Louis Fed leaders, former interns, and professionals, which can help you understand careers in banking supervision, payments, research, and public service. A notable feature is that successful completion may allow you to apply for a limited number of summer internships at the St. Louis Fed. This is a selective local opportunity, but it offers unusually direct access to finance and economic policy professionals.
10. McCombs Future Executive Academy
Location: Austin, TX
Cost/Stipend: Free; educational, food, and boarding costs are covered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Program Dates: May 31–June 5
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors; applicants with interest in business or leadership are encouraged to apply
The McCombs Future Executive Academy is a free six-day residential business and leadership program at the University of Texas at Austin. You learn about multiple business fields through workshops, faculty sessions, keynote speakers, and interaction with corporate representatives. While the program is broader than finance alone, it gives you a useful foundation in business decision-making, leadership, and case-based thinking. You also participate in a case competition, which can help you practice structured problem-solving and presentation skills. The program includes mentorship from current UT student leaders and an on-campus living experience, making it useful if you want to preview business school before college. For finance opportunities for high school students that are free and university-hosted, MFEA is a strong option to consider.
11. High School Program
Location: Partner high schools across the U.S.; school-based format
Cost/Stipend: No cost to participating schools and participants where offered through partner schools
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Depends on school partnership and local program capacity
Program Dates: Year-long model, with fall workshops and spring mentorship
Application Deadline: Varies by participating school
Eligibility: High school girls at participating partner schools
Rock The Street, Wall Street is a school-based financial and investment literacy program designed to help you explore personal finance and finance careers. In the fall, financial professionals lead workshops on budgeting, college planning, investing, private equity-style analysis, wealth management, and ESG-related investment decisions. In the spring, you may be paired with female financial professionals for mentorship focused on college readiness, interview skills, resume preparation, professionalism, and career interests. The curriculum uses role-based scenarios, so you might act as a financial planner, private equity associate, or wealth management advisor. The program also emphasizes industry access, mentorship, and early networking with women in finance. If your school participates, this can be one of the most practical finance opportunities for high school students focused on mentorship and career visibility.
12. Accounting Career Awareness Program (ACAP)
Location: Multiple U.S. host colleges and universities; location varies by chapter
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies by local ACAP program; many local programs are free or sponsored, but confirm with the host chapter
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size varies by location
Program Dates: Often includes a week-long summer residency plus year-round programming; exact dates vary
Application Deadline: Varies by local chapter
Eligibility: High school students; local GPA and grade-level requirements vary by ACAP site
NABA’s ACAP introduces you to accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, technology, and related business fields through immersive programming. Many ACAP experiences include a week-long college residency, workshops, professional panels, office visits, networking events, and year-round enrichment. You may work through financial literacy activities, tax simulations, budgeting exercises, professional etiquette training, and career exploration sessions. The program is especially useful if you want to understand how accounting connects to finance, audits, corporate reporting, consulting, and business strategy. Local eligibility requirements can differ, so you should check the ACAP site or chapter serving your region before applying. This is a good option if you want finance opportunities for high school students that combine business exposure, college readiness, and professional mentorship.
13. Headquarters Student Internship Program
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid internship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; cohort size varies by office and term
Program Dates: Spring: January–May; summer: May–August; fall: September–December
Application Deadline: Spring applications typically in October; summer in December; fall in June
Eligibility: U.S. citizens who maintain student eligibility and enrollment; high school, undergraduate, and graduate students may be eligible
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Headquarters Student Internship Program gives you exposure to federal work connected to economic prosperity and financial security. You may support projects related to public-sector operations, policy, research, administration, or other Treasury functions depending on the office. The internship is unpaid, so you should consider transportation, schedule, and financial feasibility before applying. However, the program can be valuable if you are interested in finance from a government, policy, or public service perspective. You can build analytical, leadership, management, and professional communication skills while observing how a cabinet-level agency operates. This is one of the more policy-focused finance opportunities for high school students, especially if you want to understand the link between government and financial systems.
14. Pathways Internship Program
Location: CFTC office locations listed by USAJOBS posting
Cost/Stipend: Paid or unpaid status depends on the specific Pathways posting; confirm on USAJOBS
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; varies by vacancy
Program Dates: Varies by posting
Application Deadline: Varies by posting
Eligibility: At least 16 years old; enrolled or accepted at least half-time in a qualifying educational institution; minimum 2.5 GPA
The CFTC Pathways Internship Program can introduce you to the federal agency that regulates U.S. derivatives markets, including futures, swaps, and options. Because each vacancy is posted separately, your role, location, schedule, and educational requirements may vary. If eligible, you may support work connected to financial markets, regulation, data, operations, or agency administration. This opportunity is best for you if you are comfortable checking USAJOBS regularly and reading each posting carefully before applying. The finance relevance is strong because the CFTC’s work centers on market integrity, risk, commodities, and derivatives regulation. If you are interested in finance, economics, public policy, or financial law, this can help you understand how markets are supervised.
15. The Stock Market Game and InvestWrite
Location: Online or school-based; availability varies by state and educator participation
Cost/Stipend: The Stock Market Game is offered at little to no cost; InvestWrite is no cost for qualifying participants
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open through participating teachers and teams; InvestWrite is competitive
Program Dates: Varies by state, school, and competition session
Application Deadline: Varies by teacher, school, and local Stock Market Game coordinator
Eligibility: Grades 4–12 for The Stock Market Game; grades 9–12 may participate in the high school InvestWrite division if they are registered in The Stock Market Game
The Stock Market Game is an online investing simulation that helps you learn about capital markets, economics, investing, and personal finance. You typically work through a teacher or advisor and manage a simulated investment portfolio using real-world market concepts. InvestWrite adds a writing competition, where you explain investment ideas, financial reasoning, and long-term decision-making in essay form. Together, the two experiences help you connect quantitative investing practice with written communication, which is useful for business and finance pathways. The program is especially practical if your school already participates, since you can build finance skills during the academic year without needing to travel. This is a flexible option if you want finance opportunities for high school students that combine investing, writing, and classroom-based learning.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there free finance opportunities for high school students?
Yes. The Wharton Global High School Investment Competition, National High School Fed Challenge, and McCombs Future Executive Academy are all free, along with the Stock Market Game and InvestWrite for schools already participating.
2. Is there an option to apply finance concepts to a real business instead of an internship or competition?
Young Founders Lab lets you do exactly that, guiding you through pricing, budgeting, and revenue strategy as you build a real, revenue-generating startup, fully virtually with need-based financial aid available.
3. Are there finance opportunities designed specifically for young women?
Yes. Fidelity's Boundless High School Internship and Rock The Street, Wall Street are both built specifically for female high schoolers, pairing you with women working in finance for mentorship and career exploration.