15 Economics Internships for High School Students in Virginia
Discover 15 exciting economics internships for high school students in Virginia. Gain valuable experience and kickstart your career in the field of economics.
If you’re a high school student interested in economics, planning to study it in college, or just trying to see if it could be the right career path, an internship is a good place to start. It gives you a clear look at how economic ideas are used in real life, whether that’s understanding markets, looking at public budgets, or helping a business make decisions.
Virginia has strong options for this. The state is home to financial institutions, government offices, consulting firms, and research groups that take on high school interns. You’ll find programs where you can work on data analysis, write reports, assist with research, or sit in on policy planning. Many offer stipends, too.
To help you get started, here are 15 economics internships in Virginia for high school students!
15 Economics Internships for High School Students in Virginia
Ladder Internships
Location: Remote
Dates: Multiple 8–12 week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines depending on cohort
Eligibility: High school students (able to work 10–20 hours/week); also open to undergraduates and gap year students
Ladder Internships is a selective remote internship program that connects ambitious high school students with high-growth startups across fields like fintech, consulting, AI/ML, marketing, and policy. You’ll work on projects such as market research, financial analysis, and startup strategy, guided by both your startup manager and a Ladder Coach. You will also participate in weekly professional development workshops to build essential skills in communication, time management, and leadership. At the end of the program, you’ll present your work to your startup team.
Young Founders Lab
Location: 100% virtual
Dates: Multiple sessions year-round (Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring)
Application Deadline: Rolling (varies by cohort)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Young Founders Lab is a virtual startup incubator created by Harvard student entrepreneurs that helps high schoolers launch real, revenue-generating businesses. Over four weeks, you'll gain hands-on experience in ideation, product development, marketing, and finance, guided by mentors from leading companies like Google and Microsoft. You’ll participate in live business classes, case studies, and workshops on entrepreneurship fundamentals, and finish the program by pitching your startup at a Demo Day to investors and professionals. The program is ideal for Virginia students eager to explore the economics behind innovation and enterprise.
Student Leaders Program – Bank of America
Cost/Stipend: Paid (8-week paid internship + all-expenses-paid trip to DC)
Location: Local nonprofit placements across Virginia based on your permanent address
Dates: June – August (8 weeks); includes mandatory summit in Washington, DC, July 21–26
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors, residing permanently in an eligible community (includes most of Virginia), legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship, and not a child or close relative of a Bank of America employee
The Bank of America Student Leaders® Program offers a fully paid summer internship at a local nonprofit, where you’ll gain hands-on experience working on community projects while learning about financial stewardship, leadership, and civic engagement. You’ll contribute to initiatives that support your local community, build your resume, and develop workplace skills. The program culminates in a week-long, all-expenses-paid summit in Washington, DC, where you’ll connect with over 300 other Student Leaders from across the country for leadership training and policy discussions.
Virtual Internships – Interns 4-Good
Cost: Free
Location: Fully virtual
Dates: Year-round; flexible scheduling
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12)
Interns 4-Good is a remote internship platform that matches high school students with skill-based, service-oriented roles at nonprofits across the U.S. After completing the online application, you’ll gain access to a rotating list of internships in areas like social media, blog writing, graphic design, research, and educational content creation. Many of these roles include tasks like creating infographics, writing finance-related blog posts, or managing nonprofit marketing campaigns, ideal for students interested in economics, business communication, and social impact. You can also contribute to Interns 4-Good’s programs, including tutoring, curriculum design, and content development.
Internship Program – City of Virginia Beach
Cost/Stipend: Some internships may be paid, depending on the departmental budgets.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Dates: Varies; offered year-round, including summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Current high school, college, or university students in good academic standing
The City of Virginia Beach Internship Program offers students a chance to apply their academic skills in real-world public service roles across departments such as economic development, information systems, engineering, and human resources. As an intern, you may assist with ongoing projects, support daily operations, attend team meetings, and go on on-site visits with city officials and stakeholders. These experiences provide practical exposure to how municipal systems operate and how policy and economic decisions impact both residents and visitors. High school interns interested in economics, city planning, business, or public administration will benefit from hands-on learning in a supportive environment.
Apprenticeship Program – Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce (VACC)
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend (based on hours worked); academic credit available
Location: Hybrid – virtual and in-person opportunities across Virginia (Richmond, Herndon, Virginia Beach, etc.)
Dates: Year-round; flexible scheduling
Application Deadline: Rolling; apply via email with resume and cover letter
Eligibility: High school students (and undergraduates) with strong professionalism and interest in business, economics, or public policy
The VACC Apprenticeship Program provides high school students across Virginia with immersive, project-based experiences in business, economics, government affairs, and entrepreneurship. You will take on tailored tasks aligned with your interests, ranging from marketing, international trade, and event planning to public policy and project analysis. You will also participate in mentorship and on-the-job training, gaining exposure to economic development and policymaking in Virginia’s diverse communities. With flexible hours and a hybrid format, this internship is ideal for motivated students interested in Asian-American entrepreneurship, public service, and economic innovation.
High School Internship Program – Pentacle
Cost/Stipend: Paid; $600 total
Location: Virtual and New York
Dates: 8 weeks (dates vary by session)
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students
The Pentacle High School Internship Program connects students with small for-profit and nonprofit businesses in the arts and creative industries to build business and economic skill sets in a virtual environment. You will work 5 hours weekly with your assigned organization, tackling tasks like data analysis, project coordination, and organizational management, while attending 2.5 hours of weekly career development workshops. This program is ideal for students interested in learning about economic systems in the arts sector, nonprofit governance, and entrepreneurship, while developing both hard and soft skills for future careers.
Summer Internship Program – Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR)
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend
Location: Danville, VA, and the surrounding Southern Virginia region
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Spring
Eligibility: High school graduates entering college in Fall, Current college students (undergraduate/graduate), Recent graduates (within the last 12 months).
The IALR Summer Internship Program provides hands-on professional experience in a range of sectors, including research and data analysis, public relations, human resources, information technology, and AgTech. You will work with a dedicated mentor to design a work schedule and tackle projects that build leadership, analytical, and technical skills. With a structured 224-hour commitment over 8 weeks, this program is ideal for students from Southern Virginia preparing for future careers in economics, public service, or STEM-driven innovation. IALR also supports internship development in partner organizations throughout the region, further expanding learning opportunities.
Virtual Internship Program – Virtual Internships
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies by program; scholarships may be available
Location: Fully remote; global internship placements
Dates: Year-round cohorts available (4–12 week programs)
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: High school and college students; ability to commit to a remote internship
Virtual Internships is a leading platform that connects students with remote internship opportunities across 80+ countries and 18 career fields, including finance, economics, business strategy, marketing, and international relations. As a participant, you’ll be matched with a company aligned to your interests and complete a structured remote internship, complete with weekly assignments, real-world project tasks, and one-on-one coaching sessions.
Pathways Internship Program – U.S. Department of State
Cost/Stipend: Paid; federal wage scale based on position
Location: Positions available across the U.S., including Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Dates: Year-round (application cycles vary by position)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in high school, college, or graduate school who meet GPA and course load requirements. Proof of enrollment and transcripts required
The Pathways Internship Program from the U.S. Department of State includes two tracks—Internship Experience Program (IEP) and Internship Temporary Program (ITEP)—designed to introduce students to federal careers in economics, public policy, international relations, and administration. As an intern, you may assist with research, policy review, administrative tasks, or international programs, depending on the role. IEP positions are longer-term and include promotion potential and benefits, while ITEP internships are seasonal and flexible. These internships are ideal for Virginia students who want early insight into federal service and global economic governance.
Online Business, Economics & Finance Internship
Cost: £995 (~$1,275 USD); includes live mentoring, certificate, and publication opportunity
Location: Fully virtual (Zoom). Open to students worldwide
Dates: Saturdays: August 9, 16, 23, 30, and Sundays: August 10, 17, 24, 31
Application Deadline: Rolling; limited seats available
Eligibility: High school students ages 15–18
This online internship focuses on economic theory, policy, and research writing with mentorship from academics typically affiliated with Oxford or Cambridge. Over a month, you’ll meet in small-group sessions (max 15 interns) and explore real-world topics like global economic governance, including how institutions like the IMF and World Bank influence policy. You’ll co-author a research paper during the program, gaining a deep understanding of economics while also building writing, analysis, and collaboration skills. The program includes a Certificate of Achievement and a Letter of Recommendation.
Economics for Leaders – Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE)
Cost: $2,300 (residential); $800 (virtual); scholarships available
Location: Various U.S. universities (including virtual and East Coast sites accessible from Virginia)
Dates: Multiple summer sessions (June–August)
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
Economics for Leaders (EFL) is a competitive, academic summer program that teaches students to apply economic reasoning to real-world policy challenges. Hosted at top universities and offered virtually as well, the program combines core micro- and macroeconomic concepts with leadership theory and group decision-making. You’ll explore topics like cost-benefit analysis, market efficiency, and incentive structures through simulations, case studies, and workshops. While not an internship, EFL offers the kind of rigorous intellectual training and collaboration that prepares students for economic research, debate, and public policy.
VBA Summer Internship Program – Virginia Bankers Association
Cost/Stipend: Paid; hourly (rate set by host banks)
Location: Host banks across Virginia (rotations and remote learning sessions)
Dates: Summer (May–August; ~10–12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Intern postings available via VBA Career Center
Eligibility: High school seniors and college students; candidates apply via participating Virginia banks
The prestigious VBA Summer Internship Program places students in real-world banking roles at dozens of Virginia-based banks. You will begin with a full-day orientation hosted by VBA, followed by rotations within your bank, such as in finance, marketing, operations, or compliance, and regular virtual training sessions led by VBA’s Emerging Bank Leaders network. Topics include fintech, diversity, workplace soft skills, and career development. You will complete a capstone project with guidance from supervisors and VBA mentors, culminating in in-person and virtual presentations.
Financial Decision Making – Wharton Global Youth Program
Cost: $4,099; financial aid available
Location: Online
Dates: Session 1: June 16 – June 27, Session 2: July 7 – July 18
Application Deadlines: Priority: April 2, Final: May 1
Eligibility: High school students currently in grades 9–12
Hosted by the Wharton Global Youth Program, Financial Decision Making is an intensive two-week summer course designed to introduce high school students to economics, finance, and personal money management. Through daily live lectures and TA-led recitations, students explore topics like capital markets, saving, borrowing, investing, inflation, and taxation using real-world financial datasets. Developed by Wharton finance professor David Musto, the curriculum blends academic rigor with practical financial tools. The program is ideal for students looking to pursue economics or finance at the college level and includes collaborative projects and a Certificate of Completion from Wharton.
Understanding Your Money – Wharton Global Youth Program
Cost: $329
Location: Fully online and self-paced
Dates: On-demand; begin any time
Application Deadline: None – rolling enrollment
Eligibility: High school students
Understanding Your Money is a flexible, self-paced course from the Wharton Global Youth Program that introduces high school students to fundamental concepts in economics, personal finance, and investing. Designed for independent learners, this program features video lessons by Wharton faculty, real-world scenarios, and interactive quizzes. You will explore how money functions in everyday life, develop budgeting and earning strategies, and build a foundation for smart financial decisions. Ideal for students balancing summer commitments or seeking a certified online learning experience, the program culminates in a Certificate of Completion from Wharton.