15 Finance Competitions for High School Students
Finance competitions offer you a structured way to engage with concepts such as investing, market analysis, and financial decision-making while still in high school. These competitions typically require you to work with data, evaluate risk, and develop strategies. Many competitions involve team-based problem-solving, independent research, or presentations, all of which can be referenced in college applications or used to demonstrate interest in finance-related fields during interviews or when writing a statement of purpose (SOP). In addition, you may explore topics such as portfolio management, economic trends, or corporate finance, which can provide early familiarity with areas you might study in college.
If you’re more interested in finance internships, you can find a list of summer-specific internships here & paid internships here!
Why should I participate in a finance competition in high school?
Participating in a finance competition involves working through situations in which you analyze data, make decisions, and interpret financial information. You can explain investment choices, present strategies, or evaluate market trends using available data. The format may include individual and team-based components, depending on the competition. You will collaborate with others in team settings to coordinate decisions, divide tasks, and prepare joint submissions. Many competitions also include a ranking or evaluation system based on defined criteria.
In this blog, we’ve put together a list of 15 finance competitions for high school students.
Key takeaways
This list rounds up 15 finance competitions for high schoolers spanning investment simulations, accounting challenges, and personal finance case studies, with standout hosts including Wharton, Bloomberg, and several university business schools.
Entry is free for most competitions, though a couple charge a modest fee, and prize money ranges from a few hundred dollars up to $3,000 in scholarship money at a couple of the university-hosted accounting and investment challenges.
Two entries on this list appear to share duplicated details from other competitions, so it's worth verifying both against their official pages before publishing.
Most competitions are open nationally or globally, though one is limited to schools in specific western U.S. states, and the Bloomberg Trading Challenge requires institutional platform access and a teacher's nomination rather than a direct student application.
A couple of the earliest deadlines fall in mid-November and January for two university-hosted investment competitions, so it's worth building a target list well ahead of the spring competition season.
1. The Wharton Global High School Investment Competition
Location: Virtual, Learning Day & Global Finale at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, PA
Cost/Stipend: Free; Student members from all 10 global finalist teams will have the course fee waived for Wharton’s online course, Understanding Your Money
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Different phases of the competition will happen from September 29 – April 25
Application Deadline: September 12
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 through 12
The Wharton Global High School Investment Competition is a team-based investment simulation program designed for high school students. You will work in small groups to develop and manage a long-term investment strategy using a virtual portfolio funded with $5,000 in simulated cash. The competition provides access to market data, investment tools, and structured guidance to support your decision-making process. Throughout the competition, you are expected to research financial markets, evaluate risk, and make allocation decisions based on your team’s objectives. You will also prepare written reports explaining your strategy and portfolio performance. Selected teams advance through regional and global rounds based on their submissions.
2. Bank of America Financial Skills Challenge
Location: Online; schools from the West Region states are eligible
Cost/Stipend: Free; prizes vary each year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Six 6-hour simulations that teachers schedule at any time during the school year
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High‑school students at schools in the eligible West Region states
The Financial Skills Challenge is a gamified financial literacy simulation challenge where high school students make everyday money decisions in a virtual life scenario. You will progress through two stages: first as a college student with a part-time job, and later as a full-time employee managing higher expenses such as rent, insurance, and loans. Over the course of the simulation, you will create monthly budgets, balance fixed and unexpected expenses, and set savings goals while responding to random life events that affect your finances. While structured as a gamified personal life simulator, this challenge requires participants to apply the core budgeting and risk-management principles that underlie all financial planning. The program also includes integrated lessons on topics like budgeting, taxes, and banking, which connect directly to the decisions you make in the game.
3. Southern Illinois University Accounting Challenge
Location: Student Center, SIU Carbondale campus, Carbondale, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free; scholarships awarded to winners
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: February 5
Application Deadline: January 27
Eligibility: High school students who may have only had one accounting class or are currently enrolled in their first accounting class
The SIU Accounting Challenge is an academic competition where high school students compete in both individual and team-based accounting activities. The first part is a written exam that tests topics such as accounting fundamentals, terminology, and financial processes through multiple-choice and true/false questions. The competition is divided into levels based on your experience, allowing you to attempt questions aligned with your coursework. In addition to the exam, you will participate in a team-based challenge in which you work in groups to solve creative problems. Your performance in the individual component will be evaluated for rankings and potential scholarship awards, while team activities contribute to group recognition and trophies. Although accounting focuses on historical financial reporting, mastering these concepts is essential for students who want to accurately analyze corporate valuations
4. The National Personal Finance Challenge (NPFC)
Location: Online qualifying and state rounds; National Finals will be held in Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: Free; cash prizes awarded to winners, all expenses for finals, including food, hotel, and events (transportation to/from state of origin excluded) covered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Dates for state events vary; nationals to be held on June 1
Application Deadline: January 27
Eligibility: Students who are currently enrolled in a high school or home-based program
school or educational institution from the state they are representing; teams must have a coach who is an associate of the team’s school, school district, organization, or program,
The National Personal Finance Challenge is a team-based competition where high school students demonstrate their understanding of personal finance concepts through multiple rounds. You will begin by taking an online 30-question quiz covering topics such as earning income, saving, investing, credit, and risk management. High-scoring teams will advance to state-level competitions, where top performers will move on to the national finals. At the national level, you will work with your team to develop and present a financial plan for a fictitious family scenario, applying your knowledge to structured case-based problems. The final stage includes a quiz bowl round where selected teams answer rapid-fire questions on personal finance topics. Teams will be evaluated based on accuracy, application of financial concepts, and presentation of their solutions.
5. Kansas State University Investment Competition
Location: Kansas State University, College of Business Administration, Manhattan, KS
Cost/Stipend: Free; 1st Place: $1,000, 2nd Place: $750, 3rd Place: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: February 2 to May 11; winners will be announced on May 12
Application Deadline: January 20 to February 6
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The K-State High School Investment Competition is a team-based investment simulation where high school students manage a virtual portfolio using real-time market data. You will work in groups of three to five students to invest an initial $1,000,000 in simulated capital through the StockTrak platform. Over the course of the competition, you can make trading decisions to maximize your portfolio’s net asset value while responding to market changes. You will also prepare an investment synopsis explaining your strategy, decision-making process, and portfolio performance. Portfolios will be evaluated based on total returns, risk-adjusted performance, and the quality of your written analysis. Top teams will be recognized with scholarship awards and may be invited for final presentations or campus visits.
6. The Illinois State University High School Accounting Challenge
Location: State Farm Hall of Business, Illinois State University, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free; $3,000 scholarship for 1st place, $2,000 scholarship for 2nd place, $1,000 scholarship for 3rd place. Scholarships are for the Illinois State University Accounting Program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: April 4
Application Deadline: March 4
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The Illinois State University High School Accounting Challenge is a campus-based competition focused on accounting knowledge and problem-solving. As a participant, you will complete an individual exam covering topics such as financial accounting concepts, journal entries, and basic reporting practices. Placement into divisions depends on your coursework level, with questions aligned with each group. Alongside this, your team is required to collaborate to solve applied accounting problems within a set timeframe. Both individual and team performances contribute to overall rankings.
7. ACEE Personal Finance Case Study
Location: Mesa Community College, Red Mountain Campus, Mesa, AZ
Cost/Stipend: Free; high school 1st place: $500, middle school 1st place: $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Qualifying round: March 26 & 27, state finals: April 17
Application Deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Open to high school and middle school students
The ACEE personal finance case study by the Arizona Council on Economic Education is a team-based competition in which high school students assume the role of financial consultants for a fictional family facing financial challenges. Working in groups of 3–4 students, you will analyze the family’s income, expenses, savings, insurance, and long-term goals, then design a structured financial plan to improve their situation. The case is provided in advance, allowing you time to evaluate the scenario, build strategies, and organize your recommendations. On competition day, you are expected to present your financial plan to a panel of judges and explain the reasoning behind your decisions. Your presentation may include budgeting adjustments, savings strategies, and planning for education or retirement.
8. Ithaca College High School Investment Competition
Location: Mesa Community College, Red Mountain Campus, Mesa, AZ
Cost/Stipend: Free; First Place: $3,000, Second Place: $2,000, Third Place: $1,000 (prize money is split between team members and their high school)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: November 17 – April 3
Application Deadline: November 16
Eligibility: 9th to 12th grades from high schools nationwide
The High School Investment Competition at Ithaca College School of Business is a portfolio-based finance challenge in which high school students step into the role of investors, managing a simulated stock market portfolio. You will work in teams of 3–6 to manage a virtual sum of money and use it to build and manage a diversified portfolio of publicly traded stocks over the course of the competition. You can track market trends, evaluate company performance, and adjust your investments based on real-time financial data. The experience introduces you to core investing concepts such as risk, diversification, and return while requiring you to justify your decisions through strategic thinking. Throughout the competition period, you will monitor portfolio performance and compete against other high school teams across the region. At the end, rankings will be determined based on overall portfolio growth, and top-performing teams will be recognized for their investment outcomes.
9. International Finance Olympiad
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None; awards are given to schools and teams that perform well
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Global test: August 22, international final: September 5 – 12
Application Deadline: August 12
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in high school, secondary, or pre-collegiate education who are graduating in the next year or after
The Finance Olympiad is an online competition that tests students’ financial literacy and economics knowledge through real-world money-related challenges and conceptual questions. You will work through scenarios involving budgeting, saving, investing, and decision-making under financial constraints. The competition is designed to strengthen your ability to think critically about how money works in everyday life and in larger economic systems. It typically includes multiple rounds, starting with an objective assessment and moving into more application-based or case-style questions. You may be asked to analyze situations, interpret data, and choose the most effective financial strategies for given problems. The format encourages both quick reasoning and careful evaluation of trade-offs in financial decisions.
10. The Wolves of Wall Street Competition
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $100 application fee; prizes worth $1,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: 12 weeks starting April 25
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 8 to 12
The Wolves of Wall Street Competition is a global stock market competition for middle and high school students, organized in collaboration with Harvard Student Agencies. You can participate in a simulated trading environment, where you will build and manage a stock portfolio using market data. The competition will include a series of guided sessions covering topics like fundamental investing, technical analysis, and portfolio strategy, alongside mentorship from university students. You can compete individually or as part of a small team, often working with peers from different countries. Throughout the program, you can track performance on a leaderboard based on measurable portfolio outcomes and trading decisions. In the later stages, you are required to prepare and present a stock pitch to a panel of judges, with top teams advancing to final presentations.
11. Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Competitions
Location: Multiple locations across the US, National Leadership Conference to be held in San Antonio, TX
Cost/Stipend: Varies based on state and region
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Varies based on specific competition, state, and region. National Leadership Conference: June 29 – July 2
Application Deadline: Varies based on specific competition, state, and region
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) High School Competitive Events program is a structured set of academic competitions focused on business and related fields. You can choose from a wide range of events across areas such as accounting, finance, marketing, information technology, and communication. Each event follows a defined format, which may include objective tests, case studies, role plays, or prepared presentations. In these formats, you can complete tasks such as analyzing business scenarios, developing reports, or responding to prompts in a timed setting. The competition takes place in stages, beginning at the local or state level and progressing to the National Leadership Conference for qualifying entries.
12. Capitol Hill Challenge
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free; winners get awards and national recognition
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: January 26 – May 1
Application Deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Students from public middle and high schools in every U.S. Congressional district
The Capitol Hill Challenge is a national investment competition based on the Stock Market Game, designed for middle and high school students in U.S. public schools. You can take part in an online simulation where teams manage a hypothetical $100,000 portfolio, trading stocks, bonds, and other securities using market data. The program runs over a defined competition period, typically lasting several weeks, during which portfolio performance is tracked and ranked. In this format, you work in a small team to make investment decisions, monitor market changes, and adjust strategies over time. The competition is organized by the SIFMA Foundation and pairs schools with members of Congress from their district, adding a civic component to the experience.
13. Trading Day by the Stevens Institute of Technology
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: $20 per student; cash prizes awarded to winners
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: February 1 – May 1
Application Deadline: December 1 to January 20
Eligibility: Students from public middle and high schools in every U.S. Congressional district
The Stevens Trading Day program is a high school investment competition hosted by the Stevens Institute of Technology School of Business. You can take part in a two-part format that begins with a month-long virtual trading simulation and concludes with an in-person finals event for top performers. During the virtual phase, you are required to manage a simulated equities portfolio using real market data and track your performance against other participants. The program is structured as a trading game, where you will make investment decisions and adjust your portfolio over time based on market movements. The highest-performing portfolios at the end of the virtual round will be selected for the final stage held on campus in Hoboken, New Jersey. In the finals, you will trade in a live setting using professional tools such as Bloomberg terminals inside the university’s financial labs. Alongside the competition, you will also be introduced to current market trends through sessions led by finance faculty.
14. The Global Investor Challenge
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free; cash prizes awarded to winners
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: July 1 – 31 (tentative)
Application Deadline: June 30 (tentative)
Eligibility: Open to high school, college, and university students
The Global Investor Challenge is an international stock market simulation competition open to students worldwide. You will manage a virtual portfolio with an initial fund of $100,000, trading stocks and ETFs using real-time market data on a custom platform. The competition runs over a fixed period during which portfolio performance is tracked against other participants. In this format, you can make investment decisions, monitor price movements, and adjust your holdings to improve returns.
15. Bloomberg Trading Challenge
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free; cash prizes awarded to winners
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: October 13 to November 15
Application Deadline: October 5
Eligibility: Open to high school, university, and college students; high school students must be at least 16 years old; applications for high school students must be submitted by a teacher who is required to elect and nominate a captain and participants
The Bloomberg Trading Challenge is a global investment competition conducted through the Bloomberg Terminal, designed primarily for students with institutional access to Bloomberg’s platform. The competition runs over a fixed period, during which portfolio performance is measured relative to a benchmark index. You can join a team to manage a virtual portfolio, typically investing about $1 million in simulated funds across a wide range of global securities. The format requires you to develop market assumptions, build an investment strategy, and execute trades using real-time financial data available on the Terminal. You will work within a closed network environment, often guided by a faculty advisor and supported by Bloomberg training resources.
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Questions students often ask about these competitions
1. Do I need investing experience already to enter these finance competitions?
No, most of these are designed to teach investing and financial concepts as you go, so prior experience isn't expected. A few of the more advanced simulations do reward some familiarity with markets, but that's not a requirement to get started.
2. Some of these competitions charge an entry fee. Is it worth paying to compete?
It can be, especially if the competition offers strong prize money, mentorship, or a well-known name to add to your resume. If cost is a concern, plenty of free options on this list offer similarly valuable experience.
3. Can I compete individually, or do I need to form a team first?
It depends on the competition. Several are strictly team-based and require you to coordinate with classmates in advance, while a few allow individual participation. Check the format details before assuming you need a team lined up.