15 Online Economics Courses for Middle School Students
If you're a middle school student curious about economics, online economics courses are a great way to learn more by delving into essential concepts through hands-on projects, case studies, and interactive sessions.
What do online economics courses involve?
These courses help you gain insight into real applications in areas such as financial markets, investment firms, startups, and fintech companies. You will understand how different institutions, including businesses, governments, and financial institutions, use economic and financial concepts to make decisions and how these decisions affect the economy.
Why pursue economics in middle school?
Starting early gives you a head start on understanding pathways in economics, letting you meet professionals in the field and open doors for further academic exploration. These courses also help you build critical thinking and research skills that transfer directly to future coursework and college applications.
For related opportunities, check out our guides on business programs for middle school students and business ideas for middle school students.
Quick Look
1 free course: Everfi SmartEconomics, a story-based introduction to core economic concepts.
1 entrepreneurship-focused program: the Junior Innovator Program, which pairs you with one-on-one mentorship as you build a real project rather than complete coursework.
7 pre-college courses priced between $1,595 and $1,895: including offerings from Dartmouth, Northwestern, Wake Forest, William & Mary, and Notre Dame, most with need-based scholarships available.
2 courses with capstone research papers: Georgetown's College Credit Research Project Finance and Rice University's Business of Economics.
Most courses welcome international students and are self-paced or offered in flexible multi-length sessions throughout the year.
15 Online Economics Courses for Middle School Students
1. Rice University Pre-College: The Business of Economics
Cost/Stipend: $1,795; need-based scholarships available
Dates: Multi-length sessions available throughout the year; options include 1-week intensive, 2-week, or 4-week sessions, depending on time of year; (approximately 20–30 total hours of instruction and coursework per session)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up; international students welcome
The Business of Economics course details how economics concepts and theories tie to business operations. During the course, you'll understand why businesses anticipate production disruptions, what happens when the stock market fluctuates, and the effect of policy changes on businesses, energy, and labor markets. You will learn the practical application of economic theories and the impact of economic policy on business decisions and outcomes. You'll also understand how economics is related to different business career pathways and potential roles that you could explore. The course features a capstone project in which you will create a presentation based on what you've learned.
2. Junior Innovator Program
Location: 100% virtual, with one-on-one mentorship and interactive events
Cost: Varies by program; need-based financial aid is available
Program Dates: Flexible start dates; vary by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Open to middle school students
The Junior Innovator Program is a virtual entrepreneurship incubator program where you develop an actual project that solves a problem you care about. Over the course of the program, you take your idea from curiosity to creation by applying principles of entrepreneurship, pitching, and business thinking in a structured, hands-on setting. You work through one-on-one mentorship sessions that cover ideation, market thinking, and foundational business concepts, while also participating in fireside chats, remote socials, and group discussions with a global cohort of student founders. Throughout the experience, you receive mentorship from entrepreneurs and professionals with backgrounds at organizations such as Google, Microsoft, and McKinsey, helping you understand how innovation and venture-building work in practice. You refine your communication and leadership skills by presenting your project and incorporating feedback from peers and mentors.
3. Dartmouth Pre-College- Finance: Investing and Market Insights
Cost/Stipend: $1,895; need-based scholarships available
Dates: Multi-length sessions available throughout the year; options include 1-week intensive, 2-week, or 4-week sessions, depending on time of year; approximately 20–30 total hours of instruction and activities per session
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 13 and 19; international students welcome
The Dartmouth Precollege Investing and Marketing Insights Course teaches you how to use finance and economics to make better business decisions. The course takes you through essential financial concepts, such as market analysis and valuation techniques, that you can use to evaluate companies, make better investment decisions, and understand how the financial market works. The course includes mentoring support throughout, and you will also work on your final capstone project, in which you will use quantitative and qualitative analyses to evaluate an investment choice.
4. Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies | Financial aid available
Application deadline: Varies based on cohort
Program dates: Eight weeks | Timing varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
Lumiere’s Junior Explorers Program is a selective online research experience for middle school students, designed to build advanced academic writing and research skills. You begin by selecting a subject area, such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences, and are matched with a PhD-level mentor from a top university. Over the course of the program, you receive a structured introduction to your chosen field, then design and carry out an independent research project focused on a real-world question. To strengthen your writing and analytical abilities, you conclude the program by producing a formal research paper that presents your findings.
5. North Western Pre-college Finance: Think like an investor
Cost/Stipend: $1,895; need-based scholarships available
Dates: Multi-length sessions available throughout the year; 2-week and 4-week sessions offered (1-week intensive available depending on time of year); approximately 20–30 total hours of instruction and coursework per session
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students ages 13–19; international students welcome
The NorthWestern Think like an Investor course takes you through basic finance and economic concepts to give you an understanding of the financial industry. Topics that you will cover include economic foundations of finance, mastering financial statements, investment strategies and analysis, and private equity, and you will learn how to evaluate market trends and learn from analyzing real-world case studies. The capstone project you will work on at the end of the program involves analyzing a real-world private equity case and evaluating the investment opportunity, along with projections and strategic recommendations.
6. New York Institute of Finance: Young Finance Scholar Program
Cost/Stipend: $950; monthly payment plans available
Dates: Self-paced with no fixed session dates; approximately 50 hours of total coursework
Application Deadline: Open enrollment, available immediately upon registration
Eligibility: Middle and high school students; ages 13–17; international students welcome
The Young Finance Scholar Program is offered to middle school students who want to build a foundation in economics, business, and finance. The program covers essential concepts and theories in topics such as entrepreneurship, capital markets, financial services, personal financial market management, and finance ethics. Each section dives into essential topics through hands-on learning and case studies that cover real-world examples. The program also gives you insight into exploring different career paths at the intersection of finance, economics, and business.
7. Everfi SmartEconomics: Economic Concepts
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: Available year-round, on demand
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Grades 6–8 (middle school students); available to international users; designed for use in economics, business, or social studies, and career readiness curricula
Every Fi Smart Economics uses a story-based approach to introduce middle school students to key economic concepts. The course covers concepts such as the role of consumers in the economy and the functioning of a market economy, as well as trade, GDP, interest rates, the role of government in the economy, and taxes. You'll also dive into trade by learning how domestic and international trade work, how they affect the larger economy, and the economic benefits of trade. The course explains these economic and financial concepts through everyday stories and events, making it interactive and serving as a good introductory course.
8. Wake Forest Pre-College - Investing: The Future Of Finance
Cost/Stipend: $1,595; need-based scholarships available
Dates: Multi-length sessions available throughout the year; 1-week intensive, 2-week, and 4-week sessions offered depending on time of year; approximately 30 total hours of instruction and coursework per session
Application Deadline: Rolling; decisions issued within approximately 1 week of applying
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up; international students welcome
The Wake Forest Pre-College Future of Finance covers emerging trends in financial markets, including fintech and cryptocurrency. The course takes you through how financial markets work, including the rules of traders and investment bankers, and covers fundamental investing concepts such as the role of shareholders, company strategy to attract investors, and how emerging technology is disrupting financial markets. The capstone project will allow you to step into the shoes of a financial analyst, pick a publicly traded company, and work on a report analyzing its practices, prospects, and potential.
9. William & Mary Pre-College - Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital: From Idea to Investment
Cost/Stipend: $1,595; need-based scholarships available
Dates: Multi-length sessions available throughout the year; 1-week intensive, 2-week, and 4-week sessions offered depending on time of year; approximately 20–30 total hours of instruction and coursework per session
Application Deadline: Rolling; decisions issued within approximately 1 week of applying
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up; international students welcome
William & Mary's pre-college entrepreneurship and venture capital course covers the world of venture capital investing. During the course, you will understand essential financial and economic concepts in VC investing, covering how startups raise money, funding rounds, the venture capital ecosystem, how VC firms make money, market research, valuation techniques, and what it takes to create a successful pitch as an entrepreneur. For your final project, you will step into the role of an entrepreneur and prepare a pitch deck to present to a venture capital firm to secure funding for a seed-stage round.
10. University of Notre Dame Pre-College Business: From Startup to Success
Cost/Stipend: $1,795; no additional fees; need-based scholarships available
Dates: 2-week and 4-week sessions available; multi-length sessions available throughout the year; approximately 20–30 total hours of instruction and coursework per session
Application Deadline: Rolling; decisions issued within approximately 1 week of applying
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up; international students welcome
The University of Notre Dame pre-college business course takes you through the essential concepts needed to launch a new business and explains how essential financial concepts are relevant to business operations. The course covers basic legal, accounting, and tax considerations and teaches you through real-world case studies of different companies. During the course of the program, you will work on your own hypothetical startup, where you will practice reading financial statements, apply growth strategies, and gain market insight.
11. Rice University Pre-College | Entrepreneurship: From Ideas to Impact in Fintech
Cost/Stipend: $1,795; need-based scholarships available
Dates: Multi-length sessions available throughout the year; 1-week intensive, 2-week, and 4-week sessions offered depending on time of year; approximately 20–30 total hours of instruction and coursework per session
Application Deadline: Rolling; decisions issued within approximately 1 week of applying
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up; international students welcome
This entrepreneurship course offers insight into emerging financial technologies such as cryptocurrency and blockchain, and how they are bringing change to financial services. Some of the topics covered in the course include FinTech, data science, internet banking, blockchain technology, e-commerce, digital lending, credit enhancement, and case studies on companies such as PayPal, Venmo, and Apple Pay. The capstone project requires you to create a business plan for an emerging fintech product or service, in which you will consider the size of the potential market, including annual spending, revenue, and the technology you would recommend.
12. Georgetown University Pre-college | College Credit Research Project Finance
Cost/Stipend: $3,995 (college credit track); $1,895 (enrichment/non-credit track); need-based scholarships available for both tracks
Dates: Multi-length sessions available throughout the year; college credit track offered in 6-, 8-, or 12-week sessions; enrichment track offered in 1-, 2-, or 4-week sessions (~20–30 total hours); all coursework asynchronous and self-paced within session dates
Application Deadline: Rolling; decisions issued within approximately 1 week of applying
Eligibility: Students ages 13 or older; international students welcome
Georgetown offers a college-credit research project opportunity for middle school students who want to gain insight into the process of conducting an original research project, from formulating a compelling question to writing the full academic paper. The research will be finance-focused, where you will learn to analyze financial markets, explore emerging technologies, and apply valuation methods. You first identify significant financial topics, design a research proposal, learn to build financial portfolios, develop research skills, and learn how to organize your sources and draft your academic research paper. At the end of the course, you will present your findings and your written research paper.
13. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Cost/Stipend: $3,200; need-based financial aid available for both domestic and international students; financial aid application fee of $60 (fee waivers available)
Dates: Session 1: June 15–26; Session 2: July 6–17; each session is 2 weeks, Monday–Friday; synchronous daily attendance required; students may enroll in only one course per summer
Application Deadline: March 13; financial aid application due March 20; supporting financial documents due March 27
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 8–11; older than 13 and younger than 19 during program dates; unofficial transcripts required; $65 application fee (fee waivers available); students apply to up to 3 courses and are admitted into 1; international students eligible for financial aid
The Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institute is an enrichment program in which middle school students can choose from a diverse range of courses, including economics, business, finance, and more. All the classes have small class sizes, which allow for more engagement during online meetings and opportunities to discuss with instructors and peers. The courses do not have grades, which allows you to delve deep into subjects, explore advanced study, and engage in academic research without barriers. The courses include classes and assignments. and activities you need to complete to receive the certificate of completion.
14. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
Cost: Varies based on course
Dates: Varies based on specific course
Application Deadline: Applications processed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Grades 2–12; must meet the academic qualification criteria
The John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth offers middle school students the opportunity to explore diverse subjects in a structured course format alongside instructors and peers who are passionate about learning. Some of the economics-related courses you can enroll in include understanding volatile markets, global health policy, and the mathematics of money. These courses delve into fundamental economic concepts and take you through real-world applications through case studies and examples. The courses include simulations, projects, and investigations, so you get to apply what you've learned and gain insight into the application of both finance and economic concepts.
15. University of Notre Dame Pre-College Finance: Creating and Building Wealth
Cost/Stipend: $1,795; need-based scholarships available
Dates: Multi-length sessions available throughout the year; approximately 20–30 total hours of instruction and coursework per session
Application Deadline: Rolling; decisions issued within approximately 1 week of applying
Eligibility: Students ages 13 or older; international students welcome
The Notre Dame Finance Creating and Building Wealth course takes you through essential financial and economic concepts, including investing, risk management, budgeting, and wealth management. The course covers topics such as opportunity cost, impact of scarcity, business objectives, evaluating risk and return, and exploring different financial instruments. You get to learn strategies that you can apply to build your own financial safety net and plan for the future. You'll also get to explore different pathways in finance and roles such as accountant, financial planner, investment banker, and financial analyst.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are there free online economics courses for middle schoolers?
Yes. Everfi SmartEconomics is a free, story-based course covering concepts like market economies, trade, and taxes, and it's available to international users year-round.
2. Is there a hands-on program instead of a traditional course?
The Junior Innovator Program takes a different approach by pairing you with one-on-one mentorship as you build a real project addressing a problem you care about, rather than working through structured coursework. It's designed specifically for middle school students and includes mentorship from professionals at Google, Microsoft, and McKinsey.
3. Which courses are open to international students?
Most of the pre-college offerings, including those from Rice University, Dartmouth, Northwestern, William & Mary, and Notre Dame, explicitly welcome international students, along with the free Everfi SmartEconomics course.