15 Investment Competitions for High School Students
Curious about how investing really works beyond headlines and classroom textbooks? Investment competitions offer high school students a hands-on way to validate ideas, build a stronger academic profile, and demonstrate initiative in a field that values analytical thinking. By researching companies, analyzing market trends, and making investment decisions under uncertainty, you develop practical skills in financial analysis, problem-solving, and strategic planning. Many competitions also challenge you to explain your investment decisions through written reports or presentations, helping you strengthen communication skills and critical thinking.
If you want to see what other competitions are there for high schoolers, check out art competitions here, and for writing-based competitions, find a list here!
Why should I do an investment competition in high school?
Whether you are interested in finance, economics, or business, exploring investment competitions provides an excellent opportunity to apply what you’re learning in a structured, competitive setting. Some focus on long-term portfolio management, while others emphasize stock pitching, real-time trading, or broader economic understanding. These experiences can help you figure out which aspects of investing interest you most and connect you with like-minded peers.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 15 investment competitions for high school students.
Key takeaways
This list gathers 15 investment competitions for high schoolers spanning stock pitch contests, long-term portfolio management challenges, and university-hosted trading simulations, with standout hosts including Wharton, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Kansas State University.
Entry is free for most of these, and prize money ranges from small gift cards up to $5,000 for one of the most prestigious stock pitch competitions, with several offering per-team-member cash prizes for top finishers.
A couple of these are invitation-only or require prior participation in a related program, so it's worth checking each one's access requirements closely rather than assuming every competition here is open to direct application.
Most of these are open nationally, with only a couple requiring in-person attendance for live finals at a specific university campus.
A few of the earliest registration deadlines fall in September and October for two of the longest-running competitions, so it's worth planning ahead if a multi-month portfolio challenge interests you.
1. Wharton Global High School Investment Competition
Prize/Award: Each student member of the global champion team will receive a complimentary spot in Wharton's online summer program, Future of the Business World or Essentials of Leadership
Format: Team (4 - 6 students) | Hybrid (virtual rounds and in-person finals) | 4 rounds
Competition Dates: September 29 (start of trading) | December 5 (end of trading) | January 27 (semifinalists announced) | Week of March 9 (virtual semifinals) | April 24 and 25 (global finale)
Registration Deadline: September 12 (advisor registration), September 18 (team setup)
Eligibility: High school students with a teacher-advisor | Teams of 4 - 6 from the same school | The team leader should be at least 16 years old at the start of the competition
This investment competition for high school students places your team in the role of investment advisors managing a $500,000 virtual portfolio for a fictional client with long-term financial goals. You’ll review a case study, research companies and industries, and develop an investment strategy tailored to the client’s needs. Over 10 weeks, your team makes trades using Wharton’s simulator while tracking market changes and refining your reasoning. Judges place strong emphasis on the logic behind your strategy, not just portfolio performance. Teams submit written reports before semifinalists are selected. If you advance, you’ll present your approach to finance professionals for a chance to compete for a spot at the Global Finale.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote (You can work from anywhere in the world)
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type | Full financial aid available.
Format: Individual | Virtual | Project-based program with final presentation
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort – spring (January), summer (May), fall (September), and winter (November).
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 8 - 12 weeks, devoting 10 - 20 hours/weekLadder provides you with project-based experience with a startup where investment thinking may connect to business strategy, market research, growth, or financial analysis. You’re matched with a company based on your interests and work directly on a project that supports its real operations. Depending on the placement, you might analyze competitors, study customer behavior, evaluate market opportunities, or support business planning. A ladder coach helps you structure your work and prepare for check-ins. The experience builds communication, research, and problem-solving skills in a startup setting. At the end of the program, you present your work, while gaining practical exposure to how startups make business and investment-related decisions.
3. Young Investors Society Global Stock Pitch Competition
Prize/Award: 1st place: $5,000 | 2nd place: $3,000 | 3rd place: $1,000
Format: Individual or team of 2 | Hybrid | Preliminary round, quarterfinals, semifinals, championship round
Competition Dates: Regional rounds: May | Global Youth Investment Summit: May 28 - 29
Registration Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: U.S. and international high-school students
This competition focuses on one core challenge of developing a compelling stock pitch that can withstand professional-style questioning. You’ll select a publicly traded company, analyze its financial performance, study industry trends, and decide whether the stock deserves a buy or sell recommendation. Your submission includes a written report, presentation, and video pitch, so both analysis and communication matter. If selected, you’ll advance to live rounds where judges test your assumptions and reasoning. The strongest teams are invited to the Global Youth Investment Summit. Along the way, you build equity research, valuation, and presentation skills.
4. Haub School of Business High School Investment Challenge
Prize/Award: Valuable prizes and recognition
Format: Team | Hybrid | Trading phase and school selection and final presentation round
Competition Dates: Final presentation round in March/April | Trading over several months
Registration Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students with a faculty advisor
Haub’s investment competition for high school students asks them to justify why their portfolio performs the way it does. Working with a team, you’ll study how company news, economic trends, political events, and broader market behavior influence investment decisions. Saint Joseph University finance faculty support the competition through remote learning sessions, giving you a stronger foundation in market analysis. Your team builds a strategy over several months and adjusts it as conditions change. Each participating school selects a team to present its approach to faculty and industry judges. The final evaluation is based on investment logic, communication, and understanding of market forces.
5. National JA Stock Market Challenge
Prize/Award: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place honors
Format: Team | Hybrid | Local qualifying round and national finals
Competition Dates: Report submission: April 24 | Finals: June 7 - 11
Registration Deadline: November 28
Eligibility: High‑school students in grades 9th - 12th who have previously participated in a local JA program | Must have participated in the local JA Stock Market Challenge and completed the JA “Take Stock in Your Future” curriculum
This fast-paced and simulation-driven investment competition tests how well you can respond to market changes under pressure. You’ll work with a team to manage a virtual portfolio while responding to company news, market trends, and time-sensitive trading opportunities. The challenge depends on financial literacy, risk management, communication, and quick decision-making. Unlike slower portfolio competitions, this one emphasizes adaptability in a real-time environment. Students qualify through local Junior Achievement participation before advancing to the national finals. At the final event, teams compete for highest portfolio value and additional recognition.
6. Ithaca High School Investment Competition
Prize/Award: First Place: $3,000 | Second Place: $2,000 | Third Place: $1,000
Format: Team (3 - 6 students) | Virtual | Single long-term trading round
Competition Dates: November 17 (start of trading) | April 3 (end of trading)
Registration Deadline: November 16
Eligibility: High-school students, teams of 3 to 6 students, and a faculty advisor from the same high school
Ithaca’s competition gives your team a long runway to test investment decisions through a virtual $1,000,000 portfolio. You’ll research companies, monitor market changes, and adjust holdings as your strategy evolves over several months. Because this investment competition for high school students limits trading activity, you’ll need to think carefully before making any move. The structure rewards disciplined decision-making rather than constant buying and selling. Working with a faculty advisor, your team also learns how market events can affect portfolio performance over time. Winners are determined by the highest final portfolio value.
7. Bentley University Summer Stock Market Challenge
Prize/Award: First Place: $250 Barnes and Noble Gift Card | Second Place: $200 Barnes and Noble Gift Card | Third Place: $150 Barnes and Noble Gift Card | Fourth Place: Bentley blanket
Format: Individual | Virtual | Single trading round
Competition Dates: June 20 - July 3
Registration Deadline: June 19
Eligibility: High school students
Designed as a short summer challenge, Bentley’s competition lets you validate stock market concepts in a simple and accessible format. You begin with $50,000 in virtual funds and use an online trading platform to build a portfolio during the competition window. The platform gives you access to company data, financial information, and market news, helping you make more informed choices. Since the time period is short, you’ll need to balance quick decisions with basic research. Your final ranking is based on portfolio performance. The competition is an excellent starting point if you’re new to investing and want hands-on practice.
8. The Wolves of Wall Street Competition
Prize/Award: Prizes worth up to $1000
Format: Individual or team | Virtual | Trading phase, portfolio pitch, final presentation round
Competition Dates: July 25 - October 10 (12 weeks)
Registration Deadline: Early: July 5 | Final: July 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 8th - 12th | Individual or team of up to 3 - 4 students
This 12-week investment competition for high school students combines stock market simulation with a presentation-based evaluation. You’ll build a portfolio, execute trades, and develop an investment strategy that reflects your risk tolerance and market outlook. Your ranking on the investor leaderboard helps track performance, but final selection also depends on your analysis. In the subsequent rounds, you present your portfolio to judges and explain the reasoning behind your trades. Feedback from experienced traders and investors provides a useful learning experience. Finalists present again before awards are decided.
9. Capitol Hill Challenge
Prize/Award: Awards and national recognition
Format: Team (3 - 5 students) | Virtual | Single trading round and awards recognition
Competition Dates: January 26 - May 1 (trading ends April 30) | Award ceremony in June
Registration Deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Middle‑school and high‑school students | The school must be invited, with priority consideration given to Title I Schools demonstrating the highest economic need
The Capitol Hill Challenge uses the Stock Market Game format to teach investing through a nationwide competition. Your team manages a $100,000 virtual portfolio that can include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, impact investments, and cash. As you make investment decisions, you’ll connect market performance with economics, public policy, and global trends. The competition also emphasizes collaboration, critical thinking, and financial decision-making. Schools are matched with congressional districts, giving the program a unique public-sector connection. Top-performing teams receive national recognition and may engage with government and business leaders.
10. Stevens Trading Day Competition
Prize/Award: Cash prizes ranging from $100 to $500 and a certificate of participation
Format: Individual | Hybrid | Virtual trading round and in-person finals
Dates: February 1 - 28 (virtual trading) | May 1 (live finals)
Registration Deadline: January 20
Eligibility: High‑school sophomores and juniors
Stevens Trading Day starts with a month-long virtual investing round where you will manage an equities portfolio and apply core finance concepts. Your portfolio performance determines whether you qualify for the live finals. Finalists are invited to Stevens’ campus to compete in a trading lab environment using Bloomberg terminals and live market data. This gives you exposure to tools commonly used in professional finance settings. You’ll also interact with finance faculty and experience a university trading environment. The investment competition for high school students builds skills in market analysis, data interpretation, and real-time decision-making.
11. FBLA The Stock Market Game
Prize/Award: Certificate, medallion, and national recognition
Format: Individual or team (1 - 5 students) | Virtual | Single 10-week trading round
Competition Dates: Fall: October 6 - December 12 | Spring: February 2 - April 10
Registration Deadline: October 24 (Fall) | February 20 (Spring)
Eligibility: FBLA members | Teams of 1- 5 students with an adviser
Designed for FBLA members, this investment competition offers a structured way to practice investing while building broader business skills. You’ll manage a $100,000 virtual portfolio of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds over 10 weeks. The challenge requires research, financial analysis, critical thinking, and careful tracking of portfolio performance. Rankings are based on percentage growth relative to the S&P 500 Index, which encourages you to think about performance relative to the broader market. The format works well for students already involved in business clubs or classroom-based finance activities. Top teams receive recognition through FBLA. Participation can also connect students to related opportunities such as InvestWrite.
12. UT Dallas Top Trader Stock Market Competition
Prize/Award: 1st Prize: $1,200 cash | 2nd prize: $1,100 cash | 3rd prize: $1,000 cash | 4th prize: $900 cash | 5th prize: $800 cash | 6th prize: $700 cash | 7th prize: $600 cash
Format: Individual | Virtual | Training phase and trading round
Competition Dates: June 1 - July 31
Registration Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Rising 9th - 12th graders who are legal U.S. residents or citizens and have a valid Social Security number
The UT Dallas investment competition for high school students introduces them to investment management through a summer trading simulation. Before the main competition, you’re exposed to trading strategies that can shape your investment approach. You then manage a $1,000,000 virtual portfolio consisting of stocks and ETFs. The goal is to apply what you’ve learned and maximize portfolio value by the end of the competition. Since winners are determined by performance, the competition rewards both risk awareness and strong market judgment. You’ll practice reading market conditions, choosing securities, and adjusting your strategy over time.
13. Ascend Berkeley Stock Pitch Competition
Prize/Award: Certificate of recognition
Format: Team (2 - 5 students) | Virtual | Preliminary round and final round
Competition Dates: Prompt released on January 4 | Submission deadline for preliminary round January 11 | Final round (top 8 in each category) on February 7
Registration Deadline: Regular: December 7 | Late: January 3
Eligibility: Students in grades 9th - 12th | Teams of 2 - 5 from the same school
Ascend Berkeley’s competition focuses on investment analysis, teamwork, and live presentation skills. In the preliminary round, your team creates a professional pitch deck based on a stock-picking task related to a specific investment goal. You’ll evaluate company performance, market data, and financial reasoning to support your choices. If selected for the final round, your team presents live on Zoom to professors and industry judges. The Q&A session pushes you to defend your assumptions clearly and think on your feet. The competition is especially useful for strengthening both finance knowledge and public speaking, with its team-based pitch format making it more analytical than a traditional trading contest.
14. TCU High School Investor Challenge
Prize/Award: Cash prizes and recognition
Format: Individual | Hybrid | In-person instruction and long-term virtual portfolio management
Competition Dates: June 1 - 5 and June 15 - 19 (in-person program) | June - March (virtual trading)
Registration Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High‑school students entering senior year with a strong academic background (especially in mathematics)
TCU’s investment challenge combines a college-style finance experience with an extended investing competition. You begin with an in-person instructional phase focused on securities analysis, portfolio management, and market research. After the training, you then manage a $100,000 virtual portfolio over several months during your senior year. You’ll submit trades and periodic stock reports that explain your investment choices. Judges evaluate both your returns and the quality of your analysis. The extended timeline allows you to learn from market conditions and revise your investing strategy.
15. KSU High School Investment Competition
Prize/Award: 1st Place: $1,000 (per team member) | 2nd Place: $750 (per team member) | 3rd Place: $500 (per team member)
Format: Team (3 - 5 students) | Virtual | Long-term virtual portfolio management using the StockTrak trading platform
Competition Dates: February 2 (first day of trading) - May 8 (final day of trading) | May 11 (final performance report due)
Registration Deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school students
The KSU High School Investment Competition at Kansas State University is a team-based investing challenge that lets you manage a virtual portfolio worth $1,000,000 using the StockTrak trading platform and live market data. Working together, your team researches companies, monitors market conditions, and buys or sells stocks to maximize the portfolio’s overall value. In addition to trading, you'll prepare an investment summary that outlines your strategy, explains the reasoning behind your decisions, and evaluates your portfolio's performance over the course of the competition. Success depends on applying key investing principles such as diversification, asset allocation, and risk management while adapting to changing market conditions. Final rankings consider both the portfolio’s performance and the strength of your investment analysis and written justification.
Questions students often ask about these competitions
1. Do I need investing experience already to enter these competitions?
No, most of these are designed to teach investing concepts as you go, so prior experience isn't expected. A few of the more advanced pitch-based competitions do reward some familiarity with financial analysis, but that's not required to get started.
2. A couple of these competitions require prior participation in a related program. How do I know if I qualify to apply directly?
Check the eligibility section closely, since a couple of these require completing a specific curriculum or being nominated through your school rather than applying directly. Most others on this list are open to any interested student or team with a faculty advisor.
3. Can I compete individually, or do I need to form a team first?
It varies. Several of these are strictly team-based and require coordinating with classmates and a faculty advisor in advance, while a few allow individual participation. Check the format details before assuming you need a team lined up.