15 Online Economics Courses for High School Students
If you're interested in economics, taking an online course in high school is a great way to explore the subject before college.
What do online economics courses involve?
Not every online economics course offers the same experience. Some are designed to introduce you to core concepts through video lessons and quizzes, while others include live classes, research projects, internships, or startup experiences that let you apply what you learn.
Why pursue an online economics course in high school?
Some programs also give you the chance to learn from university faculty, researchers, or industry professionals, helping you explore potential career paths while strengthening your college applications. Depending on the program, you might study areas such as game theory, behavioral economics, public policy, or global markets that go beyond a standard curriculum.
To help get you started, we've put together a list of 15 online economics courses for high school students! 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
4 free courses: MIT OpenCourseWare's Principles of Microeconomics, Khan Academy's Economics and Finance, Coursera's Narrative Economics (to audit), and Marginal Revolution University's Principles of Economics.
1 fully virtual, entrepreneurship-focused option: Young Founders Lab, where you apply economics concepts like pricing and unit economics directly to a real startup rather than studying them in the abstract.
6 pre-college courses from Brown, Columbia, Penn, Rice, Georgetown, and Harvard, ranging from $1,795 to $3,995 depending on credit status.
1 course centered on strategic decision-making: Columbia's Game Theory course, exploring competition, cooperation, and pricing through mathematical economics.
Harvard Summer School's Economics, Finance, and Public Policy pathway is the only option offering college credit through a full seven-week residential or online program.
15 Online Economics Courses for High School Students
1. MIT OpenCourseWare: Principles of Microeconomics
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not applicable
Program Dates: Self-paced; start anytime
Application Deadline: No application required
Eligibility: Open to all learners
MIT OpenCourseWare's Principles of Microeconomics introduces you to the core concepts of how markets work and how individuals and businesses make economic decisions. The course includes recorded lectures, readings, quizzes, problem sets, solution sets, and practice assignments that let you study independently at your own pace. You'll learn about topics such as supply and demand, consumer choice, producer behavior, market structures, and the role of government in the economy. Throughout the course, you'll apply economic models to understand how markets respond to changes in prices, taxes, and other policies. Since all course materials are freely available online, you can revisit lectures and assignments whenever you want to strengthen your understanding. It gives students a chance to explore introductory economics at the college level through MIT.
2. Young Founders Lab
Location: Online (100% virtual with live workshops)
Cost: Varies by program; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Young Founders Lab is a virtual startup program where you build a business idea while learning how economics and entrepreneurship work together. You'll explore concepts such as pricing, market research, unit economics, and business strategy through live workshops, case studies, and practical projects. The program also includes mentorship from entrepreneurs and professionals with experience at Google, Microsoft, and X, along with interactive sessions where you learn from a global community of high school students. As you develop your project, you’ll work through different stages in a structured online setting, applying the concepts introduced throughout the course.
3. Khan Academy: Economics and Finance
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not applicable
Program Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Open to all learners
Khan Academy's Economics and Finance library offers an easy introduction to economics through short video lessons, articles, worked examples, quizzes, and practice exercises. You'll explore topics such as microeconomics, macroeconomics, capital markets, banking, inflation, international trade, and the financial sector while learning at your own pace. The platform also includes AP Macroeconomics and AP Microeconomics units, making it a useful resource if you're preparing for advanced coursework or strengthening concepts taught in school. As you move through each unit, you'll complete practice questions and quizzes that help reinforce key ideas and track your progress. Since the content is self-paced and free to access, you can revisit lessons whenever you need extra practice or a refresher.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Online (remote)
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Program Dates: 8–12 weeks; multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can commit 10–20 hours per week
The Ladder Internship Program lets you work remotely with a high-growth startup on projects in areas such as economics, finance, consulting, and fintech. Many of Ladder's partner startups are founded by Y Combinator alumni and professionals with experience at Google, Microsoft, and Meta, giving you insight into how growing companies solve business challenges. Throughout the internship, you'll work closely with your startup manager and a dedicated Ladder Coach while contributing to research, strategy, and other business projects. The program ends with a presentation where you share your work with the startup team, helping you build both practical and professional skills.
5. Coursera – Narrative Economics (Yale University)
Location: Online
Cost: Free to audit; certificate available for a fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not applicable
Program Dates: Self-paced (4 modules)
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all learners
Yale University's Narrative Economics course explores how stories and public beliefs influence economic decisions and shape markets over time. You'll learn how economic narratives spread, why they affect the choices people make, and how they influence topics such as recessions, inequality, investing, and technological change. The course includes video lectures, readings, and short quizzes that introduce you to an emerging area of economics developed by Nobel Prize-winning economist Robert J. Shiller. Since the course is self-paced, you can complete the lessons whenever they fit your schedule.
6. Brown University Pre-College: Principles of Economics
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by enrollment type (see Brown Pre-College tuition)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: June 15 – July 24 (varies by section)
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students eligible for Brown University's Pre-College Program; Algebra II recommended
Brown University's Principles of Economics course introduces you to the concepts that explain how individuals, businesses, and governments make economic decisions. You'll study both microeconomics and macroeconomics while learning about topics such as scarcity, supply and demand, market structures, inflation, and public policy. Through lectures, readings, discussions, and coursework, you'll learn how economists analyze different situations and use economic models to explain them. The course also strengthens your analytical and critical thinking skills while introducing you to college-level economics. If you're considering economics as a future area of study, this course offers a strong foundation before college.
7. Brown University Pre-College: How a Nation's Economy Works: An Introduction to Macroeconomics
Location: Online (mostly asynchronous)
Cost: Varies by enrollment type (see Brown Pre-College tuition)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: June 15 – July 24
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students; Algebra II recommended
Brown University's How a Nation's Economy Works: An Introduction to Macroeconomics explores how economies grow, respond to change, and deal with challenges such as inflation and unemployment. You'll learn how governments and central banks influence the economy while studying topics such as economic growth, fiscal policy, monetary policy, and business cycles. Through data analysis, discussions, and coursework, you'll build a better understanding of how economists study national and global economies. You'll also work with economic models and simulations to see how policy decisions can affect inflation, employment, and overall economic performance. The course equips you to interpret economic data and use it to understand changes taking place in national and global economies.
8. Columbia University Pre-College: Introduction to Microeconomics
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by enrollment type
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Moderately selective
Program Dates: July 20 – July 31
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students eligible for Columbia University's Pre-College Program
Columbia University's Introduction to Microeconomics helps you understand how consumers, workers, and businesses make decisions when resources are limited. The course covers topics such as opportunity cost, scarcity, incentives, comparative advantage, and market behavior through lectures, discussions, and problem-solving activities. You'll also learn how individual choices influence prices, production, and competition in different markets. The course offers a strong introduction to microeconomics if you're planning to study the subject in college.
9. Rice University Precollege: The Business of Economics
Location: Online
Cost: $1,795
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Minimally selective
Program Dates: Four weeks; multiple sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and above
Rice University's The Business of Economics course explains how economic principles influence business decisions and different industries. You'll study topics such as supply and demand, inflation, labor markets, energy economics, and pricing through case studies and lessons created by Rice faculty. The course also includes insights from industry experts, helping you understand how businesses respond to changing market conditions. You'll also complete module activities and a final project that enables you to apply the concepts covered throughout the course. The flexible online format allows you to learn at your own pace while balancing your schoolwork and other commitments.
10. Harvard Summer School: Economics, Finance, and Public Policy
Location: Online (7-Week Secondary School Program also offers residential and commuting options)
Cost: Varies by the number of credits; financial aid available for eligible students
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: Seven-week summer session
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students accepted into Harvard's Secondary School Program
Harvard Summer School's Economics, Finance, and Public Policy pathway allows you to study college-level economics through the 7-Week Secondary School Program, which is offered in online, residential, and commuting formats. You can choose two courses from economics, finance, and public policy subjects, allowing you to build a schedule based on your academic interests. Classes include lectures, discussions, readings, and graded assignments that reflect the expectations of college coursework. Throughout the program, you'll learn alongside motivated high school students from around the world while interacting with Harvard faculty and instructors. Students who complete the program can earn college credit, making it a strong option if you want to experience university-level economics before applying to college.
11. University of Pennsylvania Pre-College – Introduction to PPE: Ethics and Economics of Wealth Creation
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by course units
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: Summer Session I (May 26 – July 1)
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students eligible for Penn's Pre-College Online Program
The University of Pennsylvania's Introduction to PPE: Ethics and Economics of Wealth Creation explores how economics, politics, and philosophy intersect to shape markets and society. The interdisciplinary course examines how markets create wealth, when markets fail, and how political institutions influence market exchange and resource allocation. Through readings, discussions, and written assignments, you'll explore topics such as wealth creation, inequality, public policy, and distributive justice while considering how ethical questions shape economic decisions. The course encourages critical thinking about the relationship between markets, politics, and society, offering a broader perspective on economics beyond mathematical models.
12. Columbia University Pre-College – Game Theory: A Course in Mathematical Economics
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by enrollment type
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: July 6 – July 17
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students eligible for Columbia University's Pre-College Program
Columbia University's Game Theory: A Course in Mathematical Economics introduces you to the study of strategic decision-making. You'll learn how economists use game theory to understand competition, cooperation, negotiations, pricing, and decision-making under uncertainty. Through problem sets, discussions, and case studies, you'll explore how individuals and organizations respond to different incentives. The course also demonstrates how game theory is applied in economics, business, political science, and public policy.
13. Georgetown Pre-College Online Program
Location: Online
Cost: Enrichment courses: $1,895 | College credit courses: $3,995
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: Multiple course lengths offered throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by course
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and above
Georgetown University's Pre-College Online Program offers several online courses that introduce you to economics, investing, entrepreneurship, and business. Depending on the course you choose, you'll learn through video lessons, assignments, and instructor support while building a stronger understanding of how markets and businesses operate. You can choose between enrichment courses or college-credit options based on your academic goals. Students who complete the enrichment courses receive a Certificate of Completion, while college-credit courses award an official Georgetown transcript.
14. Marginal Revolution University: Principles of Economics
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not applicable
Program Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Open to all learners
Marginal Revolution University's Principles of Economics course introduces you to the core ideas of both microeconomics and macroeconomics through short video lessons, quizzes, and interactive learning activities. You'll explore topics such as markets, incentives, trade, economic growth, inflation, and government policy while building a strong understanding of how economists approach everyday problems. The course is designed for independent learners, allowing you to complete lessons at your own pace and revisit concepts whenever needed. Since all materials are available online at no cost, it's an excellent option if you want to strengthen your economics knowledge before taking university-level courses.
15. Columbia University Pre-College – Globalization: Challenges in International Economics & Politics
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by enrollment type
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Program Dates: July 6 – July 17
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students eligible for Columbia University's Pre-College Program
Columbia University's Globalization: Challenges in International Economics & Politics explores how trade, international markets, and government policies shape the global economy. You'll study topics such as international trade, global finance, foreign policy, economic development, and the challenges countries face in an increasingly connected world. The course uses case studies, discussions, and comparative analysis to help you understand how economic decisions affect different regions and industries. If you're interested in international economics and global affairs, this course offers a strong introduction to both subjects.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there free online economics courses for high school students?
Yes. MIT OpenCourseWare's Principles of Microeconomics, Khan Academy's Economics and Finance, and Marginal Revolution University's Principles of Economics are all completely free and self-paced.
2. Is there an option to apply economics to a real business instead of just studying theory?
Young Founders Lab lets you do exactly that, having you work through pricing, market research, and unit economics as you build a real, revenue-generating startup, with mentorship from professionals at Google, Microsoft, and X.
3. Which courses let me earn college credit?
Harvard Summer School's Economics, Finance, and Public Policy pathway and Georgetown's college-credit track both offer official transcripts, while several Brown, Columbia, and Penn pre-college courses also carry credit depending on enrollment type.