15 Prestigious Investment & Trading Summer Programs for High School Students
If you are interested in finance and want to understand what happens behind stock prices and market news, investment and trading programs can help bridge that gap. These programs focus on how decisions are made, how uncertainty is handled, and how value is assessed in real situations. It is an early look at a field that most students do not encounter until much later.
What do investment & trading summer programs for high school students involve?
Investment and trading summer programs introduce you to how financial markets work and how decisions are made under uncertainty. You may study topics like stocks, bonds, portfolios, market trends, trading strategies, and basic financial analysis, often through simulations or case studies. Instead of learning concepts in isolation, you practice applying them to realistic market scenarios, which gives you a better sense of how finance is studied and used beyond the classroom.
What makes prestigious investment & trading programs for high school students different?
Prestigious investment and trading summer programs stand out because of how selective they are. Many receive large numbers of applications and accept only a small group of students, which leads to a more focused and demanding experience. Colleges recognize the rigor behind these programs, making them a strong signal of early interest and readiness for a competitive field.
If you’re also looking for investment banking internship opportunities, check here.
To help you explore the strongest options, we’ve compiled a list of the 15 most prestigious investment and trading summer programs for high school students.
15 Prestigious Investment & Trading Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Columbia University Pre-College: Investment Portfolio Management
Cost: Approximately $12,764 for the 3-week in-person session; financial aid is available
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Program Dates: Session A: June 29–July 17; Session B: July 21–August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling; early application strongly recommended
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12; strong math comfort recommended
This program places you directly into the role of a portfolio manager, where you construct and operate a diversified investment portfolio across stocks, bonds, ETFs, cryptocurrency, real estate, futures, and options. You learn core valuation methods, compare asset classes, and evaluate risk metrics using the same techniques professional managers rely on. Much of the course revolves around a session-long investment simulation in which you make trading decisions, rebalance holdings, and measure performance using real market data. You also examine diversification logic, behavioral pitfalls, and the decision frameworks used by well-known institutional investors.
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. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
3. Wake Forest University – Finance and Investing Institute
Cost: $3,500
Location: Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Program Dates: June 14–19; June 21–26
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Current high school students in grades 9–12; no prior finance experience required
In this immersive investment-focused program, you explore how financial markets work by learning stock valuation, market analysis, and the fundamentals behind corporate financial decisions. You spend the week studying products like stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, then apply those concepts in group workshops where you pick stocks, build sample portfolios, and test your ideas in a mock investment competition. You also analyze financial statements and practice tools such as time-value-of-money calculations to understand how professionals evaluate market opportunities. As part of the hands-on experience, you visit a financial institution or trading floor and meet faculty and industry experts who explain career paths across investing, equity research, wealth management, and financial planning.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies as per program; financial aid available
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
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 places you inside an early-stage company where your work actually matters. You are matched with a startup based on your interests, whether that is tech, AI, health, marketing, journalism, consulting, or another field, and you work directly with founders and managers who are building real products and services. Over about eight weeks, you take responsibility for a defined project and meet regularly with your manager and a Ladder Coach who helps you stay on track and improve how you communicate and manage your time. You present your work to the company, get feedback, and learn how decisions are made in fast-moving startup environments.
5. Wall Street 101 – Bentley University
Cost: $1,490 (Online); $2,450 (Commuter); $3,380 (Residential)
Location: Waltham, Massachusetts (online and in-person options)
Program Dates: Various sessions from June 8 to July 24
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until June 1
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors; basic Excel/Sheets familiarity recommended; 16+ required for residential option
This program places you directly into analyst-style work where you evaluate stocks, develop investment pitches, and model strategies in small, collaborative teams. You use professional-grade tools, including Bloomberg Terminals, FactSet, and Bentley’s 5,000-square-foot trading room, to practice financial analysis, risk management, and market interpretation. Each course focuses on a different segment of finance, from stock valuation to fintech entrepreneurship, allowing you to build both quantitative and conceptual skills tied to accounting and financial decision-making. Guest lectures from Wall Street professionals and faculty with industry backgrounds give you insight into real market workflows and the psychology behind investment behavior.
6. 1435 Capital Management – Venture Analyst Internship
Cost: Paid internship (specific stipend not disclosed on public site)
Location: Princeton, New Jersey (Hybrid – in-person attendance required)
Program Dates: 10-week summer program
Application Deadline: April 5
Eligibility: Rising juniors, rising seniors, or rising college freshmen; must be 16+ years old; U.S.-based students only
1435 Capital Management’s Venture Analyst Internship places you inside a small venture capital team where you work as a junior analyst for ten weeks. You spend your time reviewing startup pitches, researching markets, and helping evaluate whether young companies are worth investing in. The work includes analyzing financial projections, studying competitors, and understanding the technology behind each business. You sit in on real investor and founder conversations, help with due diligence on portfolio companies, and track how existing investments are performing. Because the firm takes only a handful of interns each year, you are expected to contribute meaningfully rather than observe from the sidelines. You also gain access to the Homeroom Fund, a student-led venture fund connected to the firm, where you meet other student investors and founders.
7. Wharton Global High School Investment Competition
Cost: Free
Location: Virtual team competition with in-person finals in Philadelphia
Program Dates: Registration opens June 30; Trading September 29 – December 5; Virtual Semifinals Week of March 9; Global Finale April 24–25
Application Deadline: Advisor registration closes September 12; team accounts set up by September 18
Eligibility: Grades 9–12; students form teams of 4–6 with a teacher advisor
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania’s Global High School Investment Competition puts you on a team managing a long-term investment strategy over ten weeks. You start with a virtual portfolio and a client case, then research companies, compare industries, and build a diversified portfolio using Wharton’s investment simulator. The focus is on how you think and explain your choices, not just returns. You submit written reports that lay out your investment thesis and, if you advance, present your strategy to expert judges. The experience gives you a clear sense of how professional investment decisions are researched, structured, and communicated.
8. Columbia University – Introduction to Business, Finance, and Economics
Cost: Residential: $12,764 (3-week); Commuter: $6,310 (3-week). Financial aid is available.
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY (In Person or Online)
Program Dates: Summer A In Person: June 29–July 17; Summer B In Person: July 21–August 7; Summer A Online: July 6–July 17; Summer B Online: July 20–July 31
Application Deadline: Rolling; early application recommended for limited seats
Eligibility: High school students
This program at Columbia University places you in the role of a junior analyst exploring how firms evaluate investments, interpret financial statements, and raise capital in real markets. You work through case studies, valuation exercises, and microeconomic models that explain firm behavior under varying market conditions. Through discussions of stocks, bonds, and financial instruments, you learn how accounting statements reveal or obscure a firm’s underlying performance. The program helps you develop skills in investment strategy evaluation, risk analysis, and financial market mechanics. You may also participate in field trips, giving you exposure to real financial environments and professional settings.
9. Fordham University – Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom
Cost: $1,300
Location: Fordham University, Rose Hill Campus, Bronx, NY
Program Dates: June 15–19; June 22–26; July 20–24; July 27–31
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; priority consideration for applications submitted before April 1
Eligibility: Open to high school students; international students may join virtually
This program places you in an introductory analyst role where you explore the fundamentals of financial markets, investments, and personal financial decision-making. You work through topics such as time value of money, stock and bond analysis, monetary policy, hedge funds, private equity, and risk management theory. Daily discussions led by a former Wall Street equity trader help you connect real market events to financial models and accounting principles. You also explore alternative investments and emerging areas like cryptocurrency while engaging in interactive debates and group discussions.
10. Wharton Essentials of Finance
Cost: $8,299; need-based financial aid is available. Email whartonyouth@wharton.upenn.edu to request fee waivers.
Location: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Program Dates: Jun 7–19; Jun 21–Jul 3; Jul 12–25; Jul 26–Aug 8
Application Deadline: Priority: January 28; Final: March 18
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–11; a strong interest in finance or business is preferred. International students are welcome.
This two-week program gives you a rigorous introduction to the analytical tools used in modern investing and corporate finance. You learn core concepts like time value of money, discounted cash-flow modeling, capital structure, and the trade-off between risk and return through lectures, simulations, and hands-on problem-solving exercises. You also analyze financial statements, value equities, and participate in team-based stock evaluations where you present a market recommendation supported by quantitative reasoning. Several sessions dive into venture capital, alternative investments, and fixed-income markets, allowing you to explore finance beyond traditional stock trading. The program integrates Wharton’s Global Youth Speaker Series, featuring faculty experts in areas such as behavioral finance, negotiation, and AI in financial decision-making.
11. Columbia University Pre-College: Introduction to Corporate Finance
Cost: $2,815 (online); in-person pricing varies by session
Location: New York, NY (in person) or online
Program Dates: In Person: June 22–June 26, Online: June 22–June 26
Application Deadline: Rolling; early application recommended for limited seats
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12 with an interest in finance, accounting, or business
This course introduces you to the financial models corporations use to evaluate investments, manage risk, and decide how to fund major initiatives. You work through core analytical tools such as time value of money, cost of capital, discounted cash-flow modeling, NPV, IRR, and hurdle rates; methods that mirror the quantitative frameworks applied in trading and investment decision-making. Through structured lectures and hands-on problem-solving, you practice evaluating projects, comparing financing options, and assessing risk–return relationships in real-world scenarios. The curriculum focuses on how financial markets and corporate choices interact, giving you a technical pathway into career areas like investment banking, equity research, and financial analysis.
12. Tufts University – Finance Essentials
Cost: $3,550 (Residential); $2,750 (Commuter); need-based aid available
Location: Tufts University, Medford/Somerville, MA
Program Dates: Commuter Session: June 22–26; Residential + Commuter Session: July 19–24
Application Deadline: May 1 (rolling review until seats fill)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 11–12 or graduating in Spring; B+ average recommended; transcript, essay, and recommendation required
Tufts Finance Essentials gives you a hands-on introduction to financial markets, investment instruments, and the institutions that move money across the global economy. You learn how banks, investment firms, stock exchanges, and government bodies like the Federal Reserve operate, and how financial instruments flow between savers, investors, and markets. Through simulations, lectures, and guided group work, you practice skills in portfolio thinking, risk evaluation, market analysis, and money management while exploring stocks, bonds, derivatives, and sustainable finance structures. You also investigate how finance is used to address climate challenges, social equity, and the transition to a net-zero economy, giving you exposure to modern investment frameworks used across asset management and impact investing.
13. Harvard Pre-College Program — Finance, Economics & Business Courses
Cost: $6,100 + $75 application fee, need-based aid available
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Program Dates: Session I: June 21–July 2; Session II: July 5–17; Session III: July 19–31
Application Deadline: Early: January 7, Regular: February 11, Late: April 1 (or earlier if courses fill)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors; must be 16 by June 20 and not turn 19 before July 31
This two-week residential program immerses you in a single college-level course taught by Harvard faculty and designed to mimic the pace and expectations of an Ivy League classroom. You can choose business-oriented subjects such as economics, management, digital media, or leadership, each delivered through small, discussion-based classes with around 15 students. You’ll practice analytical reasoning, case-based problem-solving, structured debate, and academic writing in a format that mirrors a real undergraduate seminar. Beyond academics, you’ll participate in curated co-curricular activities, workshops, and campus experiences that help you understand college readiness, time management, and academic planning.
14. Invest in Girls – Financial Foundations 3-Course Series
Cost: Free
Location: Online (live virtual instruction)
Program Dates: Multiple cycles throughout the year; rolling registration
Application Deadline: Rolling (register anytime for the next available cycle)
Eligibility: High school girls only; middle school students eligible starting Summer
Invest in Girls’ Financial Foundations series is a free, three-part online program built for high school girls who want to understand money early and clearly. Each course runs for six weeks and meets live, so you are learning in real time with instructors and other students rather than watching recordings on your own.
The first course focuses on everyday personal finance, helping you understand budgeting, credit, loans, taxes, and what finance careers actually look like. The second course shifts to investing, where you learn how stocks, bonds, and portfolios work and how investors think about risk and long-term growth. The final course looks ahead to careers and independence, covering topics like interviewing, salary negotiation, professional communication, and building financial stability.
15. Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
Cost: $5,500 program fee + $75 application fee; full and partial need-based scholarships available (including travel assistance for students living 100+ miles away)
Location: Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Residential)
Program Dates: Session 1: June 7–17; Session 2: June 21–July 1
Application Deadline: January 8
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors (12th grade); minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA; U.S./Canadian residents preferred; international students welcome if space is available
Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan’s Summer Business Academy is a selective two-week residential program for rising seniors who want to see what college-level business actually feels like. You spend your days in faculty-led classes, group projects, and real company challenges that show how decisions are made inside competitive organizations. You work closely with other students on a capstone project tied to a real business problem and present your ideas the way consultants and analysts do. Outside the classroom, you take part in company visits, guest talks, and team activities that give you a sense of the Ross student experience.
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