15 Free Economics Internships for High School Students
Economics is a diverse field that builds your analytical and quantitative skills while opening doors to careers in finance, administration, public policy, consulting, and data analytics.
What do free economics internships involve?
Economics internships are offered by diverse organizations, including federal agencies, banks, accounting firms, nonprofits, research labs, and educational institutions. Interning with these institutions gives you practical experience in the chosen field, helps you explore various professional roles, and helps you meet people in the industry.
Why pursue a free economics internship in high school?
If you're looking for an accessible way to explore the field, free economics internships are often offered by institutions with a competitive selection process that will stand out on your resume and in college applications. These internships will allow you to build skill sets valued across business, administration, research, the financial sector, public policy, and communication.
To help you in the selection process, we've compiled a list of 15 free economics internships for high school students. For related opportunities, check out our guides on finance workshops for high school students and business competitions for high school students.
Quick Look
6 paid internships despite the "free" framing referring to no cost to apply: Economic Awareness Council, TIP at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, U.S. Trade Administration, CLA High School Internship, MRU High School Fellowship (stipend on completion), and Chicago Summer Business Institute.
1 fully virtual, entrepreneurship-focused option: Young Founders Lab, which pairs you with mentors as you build a real startup.
3 fully funded research programs covering housing and meals: George Mason's ASSIP, Caminos al Futuro, and the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program.
3 residency-restricted programs: the Economic Awareness Council internship (Chicago residents), TIP (Greater Boston, income-eligible), and Caminos al Futuro (US residents only).
The Brown University Economics DUG Fellowship and USA Economics Olympiad Research Program are the two options centered specifically on original economics research rather than workplace internships.
15 Free Economics Internships for High School Students
1. U.S. Department of the Treasury Headquarters Student Internship Program
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Dates: Three sessions per year: spring (January–May), summer (May–August), fall (September–December)
Application Deadline: Varies by session; all opportunities posted on USAJobs.gov
Eligibility: U.S. citizens only; must be enrolled or accepted at an accredited institution (high school, undergraduate, or graduate) and maintain enrollment throughout the duration of the internship
The US Department of the Treasury offers an internship program for high school students looking to gain experience within federal career pathways. If you're interested in policy work, you will work at the intersection of economics, political science, international affairs, public policy, and international development. During your internship, you will work on tasks such as collecting and analyzing data for policy formation, researching academic literature, drafting talking points and reports for Treasury leaders, reporting on congressional hearings, and interacting with other government agencies on relevant matters.
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. USA Economics Olympiad Research Program
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: The program is open year-round; duration varies, but is typically 6 months until publication
Application Deadline: Rolling; applications currently open
Eligibility: High school students, grades 9–12; students interested in academic economics and original research; no prerequisites explicitly stated
The USA Economics Olympiad research program allows you to conduct economics research under the guidance of professional economists. The program starts with you submitting an application that details your research interests and statement of purpose. You will be matched with a mentor who aligns with your area of interest and work with them over a few months to develop a research paper. Once your paper is completed, you will submit it to a peer-review process, which gives you the opportunity for revision before it's published in an academic journal.
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. Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) – Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Dates: Starts with a summer work experience; high-performing interns may be selected for an extended year-round program; hybrid format (both virtual and onsite work plans available)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their sophomore year in the Boston Public Schools; the program specifically targets marginalized and lower-income youth in the Greater Boston area
The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston offers a work and learning internship program for high school students interested in gaining experience in the finance sector. The program starts with a job coaching and skill-building workshop experience, after which you will be assigned to an area based on your interest and availability. During your internship, you can work in the areas of economic research, finance, accounting, community development, human resources, technology, and more. You will get to work alongside professionals, gain work experience, and understand the different rules within a financial institution.
6. Economic Awareness Council On the Money Internship
Cost/Stipend: Paid; $17.05 per hour; 20 hours per week
Dates: June 15–July 31; Monday–Friday
Application Deadline: May 29
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors and college students; City of Chicago residents only
The Economic Awareness Council offers an internship opportunity to high school seniors where they get to earn a financial literacy certification and participate in conducting financial education programs to youth. During the internship, you will get to meet professionals in the financial sector and receive training on how to conduct financial education presentations for youth employees through the Chicago Youth Works. You will also get to work alongside local financial institution representatives, explore different pathways in the field, and gain valuable business experience.
7. MRU High School Fellowship
Cost/Stipend: Free to apply; Fellows receive a $2,000 cash stipend upon completion
Dates: June 15–July 28; 6-week remote program
Application Deadline: April 10
Eligibility: Current high school students or 2026 graduates; ages 16 and older at the time of application; U.S. high school only (public, private, or homeschool); must have completed at least one introductory economics course; strong communication skills required (written, verbal, or video); reference contact (teacher or equivalent) required at the time of application
The MRU high school fellowship is an internship program for high school students that combines economics education with content production. During the six-week program, you will be paired with a mentor and attend weekly meetings with other fellows, where you will be trained and mentored on content creation and improving your presentation skills. During the course of the fellowship, you will work on creating an original piece of content on an economics topic that could be in the form of a video, podcast, article, or more.
8. George Mason Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Cost/Stipend: Commuter option: $5,675 total; residential option: $13,274 total; need-based scholarships available; priority given to California residents
Dates: June 15–July 31
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–11; outstanding 9th graders considered on a case-by-case basis; minimum 3.80 weighted GPA required; unofficial transcript including grades required; must attend program in its entirety; international students eligible
George Mason’s Aspiring Scientist Summer Internship Program offers high school students research experience working alongside faculty researchers across many disciplines. During the 8-week internship, you will gain hands-on experience in scientific writing, improve your communication skills, and explore different career opportunities through discussion forums and meetings with research professionals. Some of the areas you can conduct your research in include entrepreneurship, business and finance, climate change, data science for social good, cybersecurity, and earth sciences. Some of the economics-related research papers past interns have worked on include socio-economic disparities in access to health care, the economic impact of disruption to global positioning systems, and evaluating secure virtualization in economics academic research.
9. Rockfleet Financials Internship
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Not specified; rolling
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, and graduate students are eligible; must be eligible to work in the United States; requires 120 hours of participation; must provide an overview of the school's internship program (including any academic credit to be received), and an approval letter from the school upon acceptance
The RockFleet Financial Internship Program offers high school students experience in the financial services industry. During the internship, you will gain work experience within private capital and wealth management firms and work on tasks such as data modeling, operational support, and research. You will understand the daily workings of an equity firm, understand the roles of different professionals, and explore different opportunities in various economics and finance-aligned pathways.
10. U.S. Trade Administration Pathways Internship Program
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Dates align with academic semesters (spring, summer, and fall)
Application Deadline: October 15, March 15, and July 15
Eligibility: Open to students in high school, college, trade school, or another qualifying educational institution
The US Trade Administration offers a Pathways internship program for high school students interested in gaining federal experience and exploring different career opportunities. During your internship, you will assist trade professionals in promoting US exports, enforcing trade agreements, and ensuring fair trade. You will also gain an understanding of how the economy works, analyze economic data, conduct market research, draft reports, and assist with business counselling and events.
11. CLA High School Internship Program
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Summer (8 weeks, typically starting in June)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 16 and 18
The CLA High School Internship Program takes place over four weeks, during which high school students will gain experience in accounting and professional services. During your internship, you will work alongside professionals and work on assisting on client projects across industries. You will participate in case studies, understand the roles of different financial and accounting professionals by shadowing, and get to explore different pathways in the areas of your interest. Apart from tasks, you will also engage in team bonding activities, interact with peers, and participate in fun activities and projects.
12. The Brown University Economics DUG High School Fellowship
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: Summer; 6-week program; exact dates not specified;
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in economics; inaugural cohort included 9 students from diverse backgrounds
The Brown University Economics DUG High School Fellowship offers the chance for high school students to deepen their understanding of economics and engage with a wide range of topics. During your fellowship, you will gain foundational skills in economics, work on assignments covering real-world applications, and deepen your understanding of economics beyond finance in fields such as policy. The fellowship takes place over six weeks, where you will engage directly with economists and economics professors and alumni who are actively working in the field and learn from their research experiences.
13. Caminos al Futuro
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded (no cost; lodging, transportation, meals, tuition covered)
Dates: June 22 – July 10
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High-school students who have finished their junior year, U.S. residents, under 18 by program end
The George Washington University offers the Camino's Futuro program, in which scholars will examine the economic, social, and political transformations affecting the Hispanic and Latino community. During the three-week program, you will gain insight into policy-making with visits to Congress, government agencies, and nonprofits. The program includes interactive lectures, academic reading discussions, and research work where you will engage with data on the Latinx community in the US. The program also includes community action projects where you will develop an action program to create a positive impact.
14. The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Cost: Free (includes meals, housing, and programming; $25 application fee)
Program Dates: June 22 – August 7
Application Deadlines: February 24
Eligibility: Must be at least 17 by the program start date; rising high school seniors or recent graduates; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program is a competitive research program for academically motivated rising high school seniors and recent graduates. The research program runs for seven weeks during which scholars gain hands-on practical research experience working alongside experienced faculty and researchers. Economics is one of the subject areas where you can conduct your research. Selection is highly competitive, with only 12 candidates making it to the program each year.
15. Chicago Summer Business Institute
Cost/Stipend: Paid
Dates: Varies based on specific internship (typically 6 weeks over the summer)
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors; resident of Chicago, minimum 3.0 average GPA; household income below $80,000
The Chicago Summer Business Institute offers internship opportunities to Chicago high school students in the financial services sector. The Institute pairs you with an internship opportunity of your interest, and you can work in various areas that include city administration, accounting, finance, public policy, and real estate. Previous interns have worked with organizations such as the City of Chicago, Department of Finance, Cabrera Capital Markets, and Siebert Brandford Shank and Co.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are these economics internships actually unpaid?
It varies. Several, including the Economic Awareness Council internship, TIP at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and the U.S. Trade Administration Pathways program, are paid, while others like the U.S. Treasury's internship and Rockfleet Financials are unpaid but free to apply to.
2. Which programs are open to students nationwide rather than a specific city?
Young Founders Lab is fully virtual and open to all high school students nationwide, unlike most internships on this list, which are tied to specific regions like Chicago or Greater Boston. It pairs you with mentors from Google, Microsoft, and X as you build a real, revenue-generating startup.
3. Is there a program focused on original research rather than workplace tasks?
The Brown University Economics DUG High School Fellowship and the USA Economics Olympiad Research Program both center on producing original economics research with mentorship from professional economists, rather than day-to-day internship tasks.