15 Online Finance Summer Programs for High School Students
Online finance summer programs for high school students can help you explore how financial systems, markets, and decision-making processes work. These programs introduce you to concepts such as investing, corporate finance, and economic analysis through structured sessions, projects, and discussions conducted in a virtual format. Because they are offered online, you can access opportunities hosted by universities, nonprofits, and independent organizations regardless of your location. The format often includes a combination of live classes, recorded lectures, and independent assignments, allowing you to engage with the material while managing your own schedule.
If you want to see what other finance internships are available, find a list of summer-specific internships here & paid internships here.
Why Should I Participate in an Online Finance Program in High School?
Participating in an online finance summer program allows you to explore how financial concepts such as investing, markets, and corporate decision-making are applied in real-world contexts. These programs often include simulations, case-based work, or project-driven assignments that help you understand how financial decisions are made by individuals and organizations. You will have exposure to both academic frameworks and practical perspectives, helping you understand financial concepts at an early stage.
To make your search easier, we’ve narrowed down a list of 15 online finance summer programs for high school students.
Quick Look
15 programs total, spanning self-paced financial literacy courses, structured university pre-college programs, a live trading competition, and a selective leadership institute, with a strong split between free tools and paid university courses
Most programs are completely free, including EVERFI, FoolProof, Banzai, Junior Achievement, Invest in Girls, The Bridge Program, and the UT Dallas Top Trader Competition
Paid university programs range from $1,595 (Wake Forest) to $1,990 plus fees (USC), with Dartmouth at $1,895 and Northwestern at $1,895, all offering need-based financial aid
Kelley Women's Leadership Institute is the only program on this list restricted by gender and GPA, open to female-identifying sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a 3.5 or higher
The Bridge Program is the shortest structured option at one week, while Lumiere Research Scholar runs 12 weeks and produces an independent research paper
1. EVERFI: Financial Literacy for High School
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Available year-round
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12
The EVERFI Financial Literacy for High School Students course is a free, self-paced digital program designed for high school students, covering topics like budgeting, banking, savings, credit, taxes, and financial goal-setting. You are required to complete a series of short interactive lessons that simulate real-life financial decisions, including managing expenses, using checking accounts, and understanding loans and debt. The course also includes modules on evaluating purchases, avoiding scams, and planning for education costs, helping you connect financial concepts to everyday situations. The program is aligned with national financial education standards and can be integrated into subjects like economics or business, though it is also accessible independently through educators or school partnerships.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 25%; around 100 students per cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a virtual startup internship program in which high school students are matched with early-stage companies to work on defined projects over a set period. You are placed with a startup in a field such as AI, finance, consulting, or media, based on your interests. You work on a specific project assigned by the company, which may include tasks like conducting market research, analyzing data, or preparing reports. The program runs over several weeks with a fixed weekly time commitment, allowing you to complete assigned work alongside other responsibilities. You interact directly with a startup team member who oversees your work and provides feedback during scheduled check-ins. The program is conducted entirely online and is offered in multiple cohorts throughout the year.
3. FoolProofMe’s Financial Literacy Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Open year-round
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The FoolProof Foundation Financial Literacy resource is a web-based guide that introduces you to core concepts such as spending, saving, credit, debt, and evaluating financial choices. It defines financial literacy as the ability to understand the basic principles of personal finance and to apply that understanding in everyday decisions. You engage with explanations of common financial situations, including managing expenses like housing, transportation, and entertainment, as well as understanding borrowing and repayment. The resource emphasizes asking a set of guiding questions before making purchases, such as whether you need an item, whether you can afford it, and whether it is the right time to buy. It also introduces the idea of questioning financial offers and evaluating information before making decisions.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type (financial aid available)
Acceptance Rate/cohort Size: Not specified; highly selective
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Fall (September – December)
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort; Fall (September)
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3/4.0
Lumiere Education is an online research mentorship program where you can pursue finance-focused topics under the guidance of a PhD-level mentor. During the program, you select a finance-related research area like markets, behavioral finance, or economic policy and develop a structured research paper through one-on-one mentorship. The experience is conducted virtually in cohort-based formats, allowing you to participate from anywhere. You can explore academic literature, refine a research question, and work through analysis and writing over several weeks.
5. Intuit Tax Simulation by EVERFI
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Open year-round
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 9-12
The EVERFI Tax Simulation: Understanding Taxes is a short online finance simulation program that lets anyone learn how taxes work through guided, interactive scenarios. In this course, you are required to complete a series of simulations where you help fictional individuals prepare and file their taxes using software. As part of the program, you will learn about filing basics, tax credits, gig-economy income, student-related tax situations, and reporting investment income. The course is self-paced and typically takes under an hour to complete. It focuses on applying financial concepts in specific situations rather than theoretical instruction, with step-by-step guidance and embedded videos.
6. Invest in Girls – Finance Courses
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Typically from April to July or August
Application Deadline: Unavailable
Eligibility: Open to high school students who identify as girls
Invest in Girls offers a range of free, online programs for high school students that combine financial literacy coursework with career exploration and mentorship. Through the Financial Foundations series, which included three courses, you will participate in live, instructor-led sessions covering topics such as budgeting, credit, taxes, and investing in a cohort format. The program is structured as a multi-part sequence, allowing you to progress from personal finance basics to investment concepts and career readiness. You can attend scheduled group sessions rather than work independently, and completion requires consistent participation.
7. The Bridge Program – Essentials of Finance
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Session 1: June 9 – June 14; Session 2: August 4 – August 9
Application Deadline: June 2
Eligibility: High school students currently in grades 8 to 11 showing strong performance in math, economics, or business-related coursework
The Bridge For All Essentials of Finance is a one-week, fully online pre-college program that covers topics including personal finance, corporate finance, valuation, and investment fundamentals. During the program, you attend lectures, participate in group work, and collaborate on a capstone project with other students. The curriculum covers concepts like time value of money, risk and return, equities, and fixed income, with an emphasis on applying these ideas to real-world financial scenarios. The program includes a mix of lectures, activities, and presentations, along with opportunities to engage with instructors during office hours.
8. Investing: The Future of Finance by Wake Forest University
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1595; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Multiple 2-week and 4-week sessions
Application Deadline: Varies based on session
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
This online finance summer program for high school students focuses on how financial systems are evolving, with attention to both traditional investing principles and newer developments in the field. The curriculum moves from foundational ideas such as capital markets and equity investing to newer areas like financial technology and ESG-focused strategies. You will examine how companies raise funds, how investors evaluate opportunities, and how broader market trends influence financial outcomes. Assignments are centered around applying these ideas to real-world scenarios rather than only reviewing concepts. A key component of the program is a final project in which you analyze a publicly traded company, using financial data to assess its performance and position.
9. Banzai-High School Personal Finance
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free for students and teachers; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Open year-round
Eligibility: Courses available for students in grades 7 to 12; exact requirements will vary based on the specific course
The Banzai High School Personal Finance course is a free, online program designed for students that introduces topics such as budgeting, credit, loans, insurance, and long-term financial planning. The course is delivered through a series of interactive simulations and scenario-based activities where you make financial decisions and observe their outcomes. You work through modules covering areas such as credit scores, tax returns, mortgages, and identity theft, as well as broader concepts like saving for retirement and managing risk. The program includes multiple units and activities, allowing you to engage with different financial situations such as managing expenses, planning purchases, and handling unexpected costs.
10. Junior Achievement (JA Personal Finance)
Location: Remote option available
Cost/Stipend: Free for students and teachers; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Open year-round
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
The Junior Achievement USA JA Personal Finance 2.0 program is a high school-level curriculum that introduces you to core money management concepts through guided sessions and activities. It is delivered virtually, in classrooms, or in after-school settings. The program typically consists of eight core sessions, each around 45 minutes, along with additional optional modules that expand on key topics. You engage with subjects such as earning income, budgeting, saving, credit and debt, consumer protection, risk management, and investing. Each session combines self-guided learning with instruction from a teacher or volunteer, and some modules are designed for independent completion. The program also includes interactive components and digital tools that allow you to explore financial scenarios and decision-making processes.
11. Finance: Investing & Market Insights Program by Dartmouth College
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,895; need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Self-paced; typically in May and June
Application Deadline: May 3
Eligibility: High school students ages 13 and up
The Dartmouth Precollege Online Program Finance course (Investing & Market Insights) is a fully online program designed for high school students, offering a college-level introduction to financial concepts. In this course, you engage with topics such as financial markets, investment strategies, and economic decision-making through video-based lessons and assignments. The program includes a combination of independent coursework and mentor support, where you receive feedback and guidance on your progress. You also complete a final capstone project that allows you to explore a finance-related topic in depth and present your findings.
12. University of Texas at Dallas’s Top Trader Stock Market Competition
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free, unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 1 to July 31
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Rising 9th through 12th graders
The University of Texas at Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management Top Trader Competition is an online summer contest that introduces high schoolers to stock market investing through a multi-week trading challenge. You will manage tasks such as maintaining a virtual portfolio with a fixed amount of simulated capital and making trades based on market conditions and your own strategies. The competition runs over several weeks during the summer and allows you to track your portfolio performance relative to other participants. You engage with concepts such as equities, portfolio diversification, risk management, and market trends while making ongoing decisions about buying and selling assets.
13. Finance: From Personal Literacy to Global Markets by USC
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,990 + $35 application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Self-paced; 4-week suggested pace with 90-day access
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students who are at least 14 years old or older and enrolled in a high school or secondary program
The University of Southern California Pre-College Online course Finance: From Personal Literacy to Global Markets is a self-paced program designed for high school students that explores both foundational and advanced areas of finance. The course is divided into three areas: personal finance and financial planning, corporate finance, and digital currencies. In the personal finance section, you work through the financial planning process, savings strategies, and investment risk management. In the corporate finance section, you study the time value of money, interest rates, stocks, bonds, and the role of stock exchanges in the global economy. The final section introduces you to cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies. The course consists of recorded lectures, readings, financial formula analysis, and assignments
14. Finance: Think Like an Investor by Northwestern University
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,895; scholarships available; unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: June 28 (Multiple 2-week and 4-week sessions)
Application Deadline: Varies depending on session
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
The Northwestern University Pre-College Online Finance course (Think Like an Investor) provides an introduction to how investment decisions are analyzed and evaluated. In this course, you will learn topics such as risk and return, the time value of money, financial markets, and portfolio strategies. The curriculum includes case-based exercises where you examine financial scenarios and assess investment opportunities using basic analytical frameworks. You will also work on a final project that involves evaluating an investment case and presenting your conclusions based on your analysis.
15. Kelley Women’s Leadership Institute (KWLI)
Location: Virtual option available
Cost/Stipend: Free, unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: April 22 & 29
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Current sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
The Kelley School of Business Young Women’s Institute is a selective pre-college program that provides exposure to business and finance concepts through virtual or in-person sessions. You gain exposure to topics like financial decision-making, business strategy, and organizational management through faculty-led discussions and case-based activities. During the program, you will work on a business case project that involves analyzing a real-world scenario and presenting solutions, similar to tasks found in entry-level business or finance internships. You will also participate in group discussions and collaborative exercises that examine how companies approach problem-solving across different functions, including finance. The program includes interactions with current students and professionals, offering insight into academic pathways and careers in business-related fields.
Questions Students Often Ask About Online Finance Programs
1. Several of these programs are self-paced and free. Are they still worth listing on a college application?
It depends on how you engage with them. A self-paced course that you simply complete for a certificate carries limited weight on its own, but it becomes meaningful when you can point to what it led to, such as using what you learned in a school project, a Ladder internship, or a Lumiere research paper on a finance topic. The free programs like EVERFI, Banzai, and Junior Achievement are better treated as foundational preparation before applying to more selective programs like The Bridge Program, Kelley KWLI, or Dartmouth, rather than as standalone credentials. The UT Dallas Top Trader Competition is the strongest of the free options to list directly, since it's competitive and time-bounded rather than self-directed.
2. What's the difference between a financial literacy course and a university pre-college finance program?
Financial literacy courses like EVERFI, Banzai, and FoolProof focus on personal money management, budgeting, credit, and taxes, which are practical life skills but not the same as the corporate finance, investment analysis, and market economics covered in university programs. Dartmouth, Northwestern, Wake Forest, and USC all go further into how financial markets work, how investors evaluate opportunities, and how companies raise capital, which is much closer to what you'd encounter in a business or economics major. If your goal is to explore finance as a future career or academic path, the university programs offer more relevant preparation; if you want to build solid personal finance habits first, the free literacy courses are a useful foundation.
3. I'm not sure if I want to study finance specifically. Are any of these programs useful for exploring the subject without committing to it?
Yes, The Bridge Program's Essentials of Finance is one of the best options for this, since it's only one week long, completely free, and covers a broad range of finance topics including corporate finance, investing, and valuation in a structured but low-stakes environment. The UT Dallas Top Trader Competition is also a good exploratory option since it lets you experience the logic of markets through a simulation without requiring any prior knowledge. If you find that finance genuinely interests you after either of these, moving on to a longer university course or Ladder Internships in a finance-adjacent startup is a natural next step.