15 Finance Pre-College Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high school student considering finance, business, or entrepreneurship, pre-college finance programs offer a clear way to explore those interests early. These programs introduce you to how finance works in the real world, from markets and investments to business decision-making, rather than treating it as just a classroom subject.
What do finance pre-college programs offer high school students?
Finance pre-college programs focus on applied learning. You may study investing, financial markets, valuation, budgeting, and business strategy through case studies, simulations, or guided projects. Many also introduce entrepreneurship, showing how founders think about funding, cash flow, and growth.
How are finance pre-college programs different?
Most finance pre-college programs are hosted by universities, colleges, or established educational organizations. This means the teaching style and expectations often reflect college-level rigor. Programs are usually structured and selective, with smaller cohorts that allow for focused learning and stronger peer interaction. Being part of a university-led program also adds credibility and signals serious engagement with finance.
If you’re looking for prestigious finance summer programs, check here, or go here for finance extracurriculars.
With that, here is our curated list of 15 finance pre-college programs for high school students!
15 Finance Pre-College Programs for High School Students
1. Tufts University Pre-College Program - Finance Essentials
Cost: Residential: $3,550; Commuter: $2,750; limited need-based scholarships are available
Location: Tufts University, Medford/Somerville, MA
Program Dates: June 22–26 (Commuter); July 19–24 (Residential or Commuter)
Application Deadline: December 1–May 1
Eligibility: Entering grades 11–12 or spring high school graduates; B+ average or above; transcript and recommendation required
In this pre-college finance program, you explore how financial instruments, institutions, and markets interact within the global economy through lectures, simulations, and group exercises. You analyze the roles of banks, investment firms, stock exchanges, and government institutions such as the Federal Reserve and U.S. Treasury, while developing skills in money management, investing, and risk evaluation. The curriculum also introduces sustainable finance and impact investing, examining how capital can be used to address climate change, biodiversity, and social equity challenges. You engage directly with faculty and finance practitioners, gaining exposure to real-world applications and finance career pathways.
2. Young Founders Lab
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer, fall, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can access the application link here!
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
The Young Founder’s Lab is a 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 complex 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. The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. Harvard Summer School Secondary School Program (Economics, Finance & Public Policy Track)
Cost: 7-Week Residential: $15,735; 7-Week Online or Commuting: $4,180, 4-Week Residential: $9,100
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, or Online
Program Dates: Summer sessions, dates vary by format
Application Deadline: Early, regular, and late application rounds; priority deadlines in January and February (financial aid not available for late applicants)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; must be at least 16 years old by June 20 and not turn 19 before July 31; graduating from high school in the next three years
The Secondary School Program at Harvard Summer School lets you study economics, finance, and public policy at a real college level while you are still in high school. You choose two courses from Harvard’s offerings and attend classes that follow the same structure as undergraduate courses. You may study topics like financial accounting, investing, macroeconomics, econometrics, or applied data analysis. Classes are long and demanding, with regular problem sets, exams, and graded assignments. The work is quantitative and analytical, and it asks you to apply economic reasoning to real financial and policy questions. The program allows you to earn transferable college credit and build a focused academic path in finance or economics, while also seeing how these subjects connect to public policy.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Location: Remote
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, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company.
5. Introduction to Investments – UCLA Pre-College Summer Sessions
Cost: Approx. $3156; tuition varies by format (in-person commuter or virtual)
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA (Commuter) or Online
Program Dates: June 22 – July 10
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions starting February 18; enrollment deadline June 12
Eligibility: Grades 9–12 in spring; must be at least 15 years old by the program start date
In this pre-college finance program, you focus on building a foundational understanding of investing, financial markets, and personal financial planning. You explore how money flows through banking systems and investment markets, and analyze why financial markets exist and how they influence real-world economic outcomes. Coursework emphasizes financial literacy, investment decision-making, and exposure to careers in investing, without requiring a prior economics or advanced math background. Taught by UCLA faculty, the program mirrors a college-level classroom experience and allows you to earn academic credit.
6. University of the Pacific Pre-College Program - Investing in Stocks Camp
Cost: $3,800 (includes housing, meals, and activities)
Location: University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
Program Dates: June 2–June 12; June 17–June 27
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until sessions fill (typically close in the spring)
Eligibility: High school students; no prior investing or finance coursework required
In this pre-college investing program, you engage directly with core concepts in equity markets, valuation, and investment decision-making. You attend investment-focused presentations led by faculty, alumni, and members of the Eberhardt Student Investment Fund, gaining insight into real-world finance careers and workflows. A key component of the program is hands-on analysis conducted in the university’s Financial Markets Center, where you work with Bloomberg terminals to examine stocks, bonds, commodities, and market data. Coursework introduces quantitative analysis, market efficiency, economic cycles, and the role of institutions like the Federal Reserve.
7. Essentials of Finance – Wharton Global Youth Program
Cost: $8,299, financial aid is available
Location: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Program Dates: June 7–June 19; June 21–July 3; July 12–July 25; July 26–August 8
Application Deadline: Priority: January 28; Final: March 18
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11
The Essentials of Finance program from the Wharton Global Youth Program is a two-week pre-college course where you build a clear foundation in how finance works. You study both personal and corporate finance using the same quantitative tools taught in undergraduate business programs. You learn concepts like time value of money, risk and return, discounted cash flow, net present value, and equity valuation. You work in teams to analyze a publicly traded company and present an investment recommendation using standard finance models. The curriculum is designed by Wharton faculty and also introduces areas beyond public markets, including venture capital and alternative investments.
8. Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom – Fordham University Gabelli School of Business
Cost: $1,300
Location: Fordham University, Rose Hill Campus, Bronx, NY (hybrid option available)
Program Dates: June 15–June 19; June 22–June 26; July 20–July 24; July 27–July 31
Application Deadline: Priority deadline April 1; rolling admissions after
Eligibility: High school students; international students eligible to attend virtually
In this one-week finance institute, you work through core concepts in investing, personal finance, and financial markets using classroom instruction and discussion-based learning. The curriculum covers time value of money, stocks, monetary policy, asset allocation, and alternative investments such as hedge funds, private equity, and cryptocurrency. Guest speakers from finance firms and Gabelli School of Business alumni bring practical perspectives on careers and real market dynamics. Led by a former Wall Street equity trader, the program emphasizes financial literacy alongside applied market analysis.
9. Stock Market & Investment Research – Bentley University
Cost: Online: $1,490, Commuter (5-day): $2,450, Residential (5-day): $3,380
Location: Bentley University, Waltham, MA
Program Dates: June 8–12; June 15–19; June 22–26; June 29–July 3; July 6–1
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until sessions fil
Eligibility: High school students
The Stock Market & Investment Research program at Bentley University introduces you to how equity research works in practice. You step into the role of an analyst and learn how companies are evaluated for investment decisions. You work through financial statements, forecasting, risk analysis, and valuation models commonly used in professional finance. The program also looks at how ESG factors affect firm performance and long-term value. Your work leads to a final stock pitch, where you present an investment recommendation in an industry-style format.
10. Discover Yourself in Accounting Majors and Careers (DYNAMC) – McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin
Cost: Free program (all tuition, housing, meals, and program costs covered)
Location: McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin, TX
Program Dates: June 21–June 28
Application Deadline: January 31
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors
In this fully funded pre-college program, you explore accounting as a discipline that closely connects to finance and business decision-making. You study how accounting information is used in corporate strategy, financial analysis, and reporting, with an emphasis on how numbers inform real business choices. You take part in workshops, case-based exercises, and team activities that introduce accounting majors, career paths, and practical applications of financial statements. The program includes mentorship from current UT student leaders, exposure to faculty from the McCombs School of Business, and interaction with industry professionals involved in the program. A structured case competition gives you the chance to apply what you learn in a team setting while practicing clear communication and analytical reasoning.
11. Columbia University Pre-College – Investment Portfolio Management
Cost: Residential: $12,800, Commuter: $6,375
Location: Columbia University, New York, USA
Program Dates: Summer A: June 29 - July 17; Summer B: July 21 - August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling until courses fill
Eligibility: High school students; strong math comfort recommended; laptop required
The Investment Portfolio Management course in Columbia University's Pre-College Programs introduces you to how professional investors manage money across different markets. You build and manage a diversified portfolio that may include stocks, bonds, ETFs, cryptocurrency, real estate, and derivatives, using a session-long market simulation. You apply valuation techniques, diversification strategies, and risk management tools while tracking performance and adjusting decisions as market conditions change. The coursework emphasizes real-world judgment, drawing on current events, investor behavior, and common mistakes in portfolio construction.
12. Introduction to Finance and Banking — Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies
Cost: $3,200 tuition. Need-based financial aid is available
Location: Online (hosted by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies, Stanford University, California)
Program Dates: June 15–June 26 or July 6–July 17
Application Deadline: Rolling; session-based
Eligibility: Grades 8–11 at time of application; completion of an algebra course required
In this pre-college finance course, you take on the role of an entry-level financial analyst, examining how individuals, businesses, and governments interact with financial systems. You work through core concepts such as investing principles, financial markets, and risk management using structured readings, discussions, and team-based activities. The program focuses on analytical thinking by asking you to work through real financial scenarios and make decisions based on data rather than assumptions. Live online classes follow a seminar-style format, similar to college courses, where discussion and problem-solving are central.
13. Dartmouth Pre-College Program — Finance: Investing & Market
Cost: $1,895, need-based scholarships available
Location: Online
Program Dates: Multiple 4-week sessions offered year-round (e.g., January–March)
Application Deadline: Rolling; typically 1–2 weeks before each session start
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
In this pre-college finance course, you step into the role of an investment analyst, learning how to evaluate companies, interpret financial statements, and assess market opportunities. You work through applied modules on IPOs, valuation techniques, risk assessment, and Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) modeling, building both qualitative and quantitative analysis skills. The program culminates in a capstone project where you analyze a real company or transaction and present an investment recommendation, simulating private equity or public markets decision-making. Expert mentors provide guidance throughout the course, supporting project work and analytical reasoning.
14. Finance: From Personal Literacy to Global Markets – University of Southern California (Pre-College Online)
Cost: $1,990
Location: Online
Program Dates: Multiple start dates throughout the year (four-week completion window; 90 days of access)
Application Deadline: Rolling; typically closes five days before each start date
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 and above; enrolled in a secondary school program
In this pre-college finance course, you work through the fundamentals of personal, corporate, and global finance, starting with financial planning and investing before moving into stocks, bonds, and corporate capital structures. You analyze financial formulas, interest rates, risk, and return, and explore how companies raise money in public markets. The curriculum also introduces digital currencies and blockchain as emerging areas in finance, giving you exposure to contemporary financial systems. Coursework is delivered through recorded lectures, readings, and applied assignments that emphasize practical financial decision-making. Led by USC faculty, the program offers a flexible, self-paced structure while still providing a formal credential through a Certificate of Completion.
15. International Business & Finance – National Student Leadership Conference
Cost: $4,495 (Columbia University), $4,295 (UC Berkeley), $6,395 (University of Oxford)
Location: University of California, Berkeley (San Francisco, CA)
Program Dates: Columbia University (NYC): June 12–June 20 or June 24–July 2; UC Berkeley / San Francisco: July 6–July 14 or July 18–July 26; University of Oxford: July 5–July 16 or July 20–July 31 or August 4–August 15
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until sessions fill
Eligibility: High school students; no prior business or finance coursework required
This pre-college program places you in the role of a global business analyst, where you work through simulations focused on international markets, trade strategy, and financial decision-making. You analyze market conditions, design supply chain responses, and evaluate cross-border business risks using case-based exercises rooted in real economic scenarios. The curriculum emphasizes applied finance concepts, global strategy, and leadership skills such as negotiation, adaptability, and cross-cultural communication. Guest speakers from business and policy backgrounds provide industry context, while structured site visits and educational tours expose you to how global institutions and companies operate in practice.
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