15 Finance Summer Programs in Chicago for High School Students
For high school students who want a better look at finance before college, summer programs give you the time and structure to explore it without the usual semester pressure.
What do finance summer programs involve?
Finance summer programs give you, as a high school student, an early introduction to the world of financial markets, investing, and business decision-making through engaging, real-world experiences. If you are interested in careers such as investment banking, financial consulting, asset management, or corporate finance, these programs provide you with valuable exposure to concepts that go far beyond what you typically learn in school.
Why participate in finance summer programs in Chicago?
Finance summer programs in Chicago often combine classroom learning with practical activities and projects. As one of the world’s leading financial centers , Chicago offers you a dynamic setting where you can gain insight into the financial industry and, in some cases, connect with professionals working in the field. Rather than studying only financial terminology, you will frequently work through case studies, simulations, and collaborative projects that demonstrate how financial decisions influence companies, investors, and the broader economy. This hands-on exposure allows you to explore interests in areas such as investment analysis, financial strategy, or wealth management before choosing a college major or long-term career direction.
For adjacent opportunities, you can consider business summer programs in Chicago and finance courses.
Here are 15 finance summer programs for high school students in Chicago.
15 Finance Summer Programs in Chicago for High School Students
1. DePaul University — Invest for Kids Summer Investment Challenge
Location: DePaul University Lincoln Park and Loop campuses, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Not publicly specified
Dates: Five days in the summer (exact dates vary)
Eligibility: You must be a high school student interested in finance or investing. Selection is competitive and based on interest and readiness for college-level material
The Invest for Kids Summer Investment Challenge at DePaul University is a short program that introduces high school students to basic concepts in investing and financial analysis. During the program, you work in a team that follows a structured curriculum covering topics such as financial markets, valuation methods, and investor evaluation of potential opportunities. The program includes practical sessions where you learn to use common financial tools, including building spreadsheets in Excel, accessing market information through Bloomberg terminals, and reviewing historical market data. You also attend talks and site visits led by professionals working in finance. At the end of the program, you deliver a stock pitch presentation in which you outline and justify an investment idea using financial data and supporting analysis.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
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
The Young Founder’s Lab is a program designed for students interested in learning how new businesses are developed and tested. During the program, you work on creating a startup concept that addresses a real-world problem and explore how it could become a sustainable venture. As you build your idea, you receive feedback from entrepreneurs and professionals with experience in technology and business, including individuals who have worked at companies such as Google, Microsoft, and X. Alongside developing your project, you take part in sessions that introduce core business concepts and methods for evaluating ideas. You will learn about finance, the basics of investing, and understand the financial aspects of running a business. Through these activities, you learn how entrepreneurs approach problem-solving, planning, and decision-making while gaining early exposure to business concepts during high school.
3. Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI)
Location: CSBI, Chicago, IL
Cost: Paid internship (stipend provided)
Application Deadline: March 31
Dates: June – July (6 weeks)
Eligibility: You must be a Chicago resident, a high school sophomore or junior, minimum, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, come from a household earning under $80,000 annually, and be able to commit to the program’s daily schedule.
CSBI is a six-week, full-time summer internship program in Chicago that places high school students in professional work settings. During the program, you are assigned to an organization such as a financial institution, corporate office, nonprofit, or government agency. In this placement, you assist with routine work that supports the organization’s daily operations rather than working on simulated projects. Your tasks may involve maintaining spreadsheets, helping organize financial or accounting records, preparing documents, conducting basic research, or supporting administrative and operational activities. In addition to the internship, you attend scheduled workshops focused on workplace preparation. These sessions often address topics such as resume development, interview practice, professional communication, and managing responsibilities in a work environment.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort
Cost: Full financial aid available
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 provides high school students with the opportunity to work with start-up companies on short-term, project-based assignments. During the program, you are matched with a start-up and contribute to work connected to its current operations. Participating companies operate in areas such as finance, technology, artificial intelligence, health technology, marketing, journalism, and consulting. Many of these organizations are early-stage ventures or growing companies that have received outside funding. You will contribute to active company initiatives, building skills in research, financial analysis, strategy, product development, marketing, or operations, depending on your placement. At the end of the program, you present your work and reflect on what you learned during the internship.
5. CPS–UChicago Summer Scholarship Program (Dual-Enrollment Pathway)
Location: University of Chicago campus, Chicago, IL
Cost: $800 tuition for households earning under $125,000; Free for students from households earning under $60,000
Application Deadline: Mid – July (application opens mid-May)
Dates: Year-round academic program with summer course options available; course dates vary by department
Eligibility: Chicago Public Schools student, entering junior or senior year, with a strong academic record in a college-preparatory curriculum and demonstrating readiness for undergraduate-level coursework; Recommendation letters and an interview are required
This program gives you the opportunity to enroll in an undergraduate course at the University of Chicago while still in high school. You attend the class with university students and complete the same lectures, readings, assignments, and exams required for the course. If you are interested in finance-related topics, relevant classes are often available through departments such as economics, business, or other social science fields. After you finish the course, it appears on your CPS transcript and is weighted similarly to an Advanced Placement course. The program is intended to give you direct experience with the workload and expectations of college-level study.
6. Junior Economic Club of Chicago — Careers in Business (CIB) Internship Program
Location: Startups or businesses in Chicago, IL (hybrid or in-person depending on placement)
Cost: No program fee; compensation varies by internship (paid status depends on partner organization)
Application Deadline: Rolling (subject to internship availability)
Dates: Summer (exact dates vary by internship placement)
Eligibility: high-performing high school student and a member or applicant of the Junior Economic Club of Chicago; Selection is competitive and based on interest, readiness, and fit with partner organizations
In the CIB Internship Program, you are placed with a partner organization through JEC, which may be a startup, financial services company, or investment-focused firm. Your responsibilities vary based on the organization and the work it handles. During the internship, you may assist with tasks such as conducting company research, analyzing markets, or supporting projects in areas like investment evaluation, underwriting, marketing, or business development. Throughout the program, you collaborate with professionals at the organization and contribute to ongoing work. The internship is structured to give you exposure to common business practices and an opportunity to develop practical skills in a professional environment.
7. AGB Foundation — Summer Business Internship
Location: Corporate and Community partners of AGB Foundation,Chicago, IL (various minority-owned or minority-operated businesses, nonprofits, and public organizations)
Cost: Paid internship
Application Deadline: April – May
Dates: Summer (six weeks; exact dates vary by year)
Eligibility: You must be a high school student (including college-age young adults). While the program prioritizes students from minority backgrounds and first-generation families, all motivated, high-performing students are encouraged to apply
The Summer Business Internship through the AGB Foundation is a six-week, paid program that places you in a business, nonprofit, or public organization in the Chicago area. You work part-time under a mentor’s guidance and rotate through different departments, learning about areas such as accounting, human resources, sales, and marketing. Through these rotations, you observe how various business functions interact and support each other. Your tasks may include shadowing professionals, attending meetings, and assisting with departmental projects. The program also provides opportunities to practice skills in professional communication, business writing, teamwork, negotiation, and networking.
8. Genesys Works — Young Professionals Program
Location: Partner companies, Chicago, IL (training + corporate internship sites)
Cost: Paid program (students earn approximately $10,000 – $13,000 over training and internship)
Application Deadline: Applications typically open in fall or winter (dates vary by cohort)
Dates: Summer: 8 weeks of skills training; Academic Year: Part-time paid internship during senior year
Eligibility: high school junior on track to graduate, authorized to work in the U.S., and able to adjust your senior-year course schedule to accommodate a 20-hour-per-week internship
The Young Professionals Program through Genesys Works is a workforce development program that combines training with paid work experience. You begin with an eight-week summer session that introduces professional communication, workplace technology, project management, and basic business concepts. After completing the summer training, you move into a part-time, paid internship during your senior year, where you assist with projects and support the daily operations of a corporate team. Throughout the program, you receive guidance on college planning, financial aid, and career options. The program is designed to help you build workplace skills, develop reliability, and gain a practical understanding of how organizations operate.
9. Economic Awareness Council’s On the Money Internship
Location: Hybrid, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None. Stipend provided
Application deadline: On a rolling basis
Dates: Summer internship typically runs from June to August
Eligibility: High school students residing in Chicago
On the Money is a paid internship for high school students in Chicago seeking experience in finance. During the program, you receive training in economics, finance, and entrepreneurship and work toward earning a financial literacy certification. You also write articles for On the Money Magazine, participate in team projects, and help run financial education workshops. You attend weekly meetings, share your work with the group, and receive guidance from professionals in business and finance. Your articles and presentations are published and shared with audiences throughout the city, giving you practical experience in both financial content and communication.
10. UIC Business Summer Finance Day
Location: University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Application deadline: June 1
Dates: June 13 (one-day event)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors in high school with at least a 3.0 GPA and an interest in business/finance; preference given to students who are considering UIC following high school graduation
UIC Business Summer Finance Day is a one-day program for high school students interested in finance and business. Held on the University of Illinois Chicago campus, the program includes faculty-led workshops, presentations, and discussions. You will explore topics such as financial systems, investment fundamentals, and how economic decisions affect businesses and individuals. During the day, you have the chance to experience campus life, meet other students with similar interests, and engage with current students and faculty. The program also provides an overview of potential careers in finance.
11. Chicago State University’s Business Entrepreneurs Exploration Camp
Location: Chicago State University campus, Chicago, IL
Cost: $100
Application deadline: Not specified; TBA
Dates: June 22 – July 2
Eligibility: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Chicago State University’s Career Exploration Camps offer high school students an opportunity to learn about different career paths through interactive activities and structured guidance. In the business pathway, you explore topics such as finance, entrepreneurship, and leadership. You participate in classroom sessions, field experiences, and projects that help you understand various business roles and practice workplace skills. The program also gives you a chance to experience life on a university campus and engage with college-level coursework.
12. University of Chicago Pathways in Economics
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: $9,300 (residential; need-based financial aid available)
Application Deadline: Unspecified (requires transcript, essays, recommendation, writing sample, parent confirmation, and fee)
Dates: Session 1: June 15 – July 2
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11, pre-calculus prerequisite, strong interest in math/economics
The University of Chicago’s Pathways in Economics program gives high school students an introduction to core ideas and research methods used in economics. During the program, you attend lectures taught by faculty from the university’s economics department. Sessions typically cover areas such as microeconomics, macroeconomics, game theory, and experimental approaches to studying economic behavior. Topics may include economic growth, consumer decision-making, saving and investment patterns, business cycles, and the influence of fiscal and monetary policy. These experiences may include discussions on leadership and finance with faculty, conversations with professionals working in business, visits to organizations around the city, and project-based activities that introduce different roles within Chicago’s business and financial sectors.
13. University of Chicago Summer Online
Location: Online
Cost: 3 – 5 Week Summer Online: $4,980; Need-based financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Priority: February 11; Regular: March 12
Dates: June – August (varies by course)
Eligibility: You must be in grades 9–11 for pre-college–designed courses, or grades 11–12 for select undergraduate College courses. Course-specific prerequisites may apply
This program lets you take an online course taught by instructors from the University of Chicago. Classes include live sessions, guided discussions, and group assignments with other students.Some courses are tailored specifically for high school students, while others allow you to study alongside undergraduates and complete the same graded work. Course topics vary and may include areas such as economics, behavioral decision-making, or data analysis. You follow a structured schedule with assigned readings, written work, and assessments. Successfully completing the course earns academic credit from the University of Chicago.
14. UChicago Summer Three-Week Immersion: Economics, Policy, and Finance Tracks
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: Residential: $9,300 | Commuter: $6,100; financial aid is available
Application deadline: Priority: February 11; Regular: March 12
Dates: Session 1: June 15 – July 2 | Session 2: July 7 – 23
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11
The University of Chicago’s Summer Immersion program is a three-week residential program for high school students that offers undergraduate-level courses in economics, policy, and finance. You attend daily lectures taught by university faculty, covering topics such as economic theory, public policy analysis, and financial systems. The program also includes opportunities to engage with researchers and finance professionals through workshops, research projects, and practical activities. If you participate in the residential option, you live in campus housing, giving you a firsthand experience of college life while completing the program.
15. Northwestern College Preparation Program — Introduction to Financial Accounting
Location: Online (Northwestern School of Professional Studies College Prep)
Cost: $5,781 per class (3 quarter credits)
Application Deadline: March 16
Dates: June 22 – August 30 (3–10 weeks, asynchronous)
Eligibility: High school sophomores/juniors (College Credit), cumulative GPA 3.0, personal statement, extracurriculars, transcripts
In this course, you examine how financial data is collected, recorded, and presented to external stakeholders in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). You also review topics such as internal controls, the role of accounting information in management decisions, and approaches to reading and interpreting company financial statements. Through the coursework, you practice skills related to financial reporting, budgeting, and evaluating financial information, helping you understand how organizations monitor and manage their finances. After completing the course, you earn three quarter credits from Northwestern, which can count toward participation in the university’s IN FOCUS program.