When you’re in high school, finance can feel like a field that’s everywhere and yet hard to fully understand. You might hear about investing, markets, or entrepreneurship, but it’s not always clear how these manifest in actual life. Finance summer programs for high school students can help you bridge that gap and understand what studying and working in finance really looks like.

Imagine spending your summer analyzing real-world case studies, learning how global markets fluctuate, or pitching a business idea in a simulated investment challenge. At finance summer programs, you can combine theory with hands-on practice to explore concepts that are typically inaccessible to high school students.

What are the best finance summer programs for high school students?

We can see how finding the right finance summer programs can be difficult. Some programs can feel surface-level, expensive, overly simplified, or disconnected from actual financial work. That’s why good research matters, because not all opportunities offer the depth, rigor, or practical experience that make a program worth your time.

Across the country and beyond, various business schools and training institutes offer a wide range of finance-focused summer programs. You’ll find options that teach investing fundamentals, business strategy, behavioural economics, fintech innovations, wealth management, and more. 

You’ll be taught by experienced instructors and industry experts. You’ll learn through financial simulations, apply concepts to actual situations, and collaborate with motivated peers who share your interests.

Once the program starts, you’ll have to put in a lot of effort, but we can make the easier for you now. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of the 15 Best Finance Summer Programs for High School Students. They’ve been picked for their academic rigor, real-world relevance, and opportunities for professional development.

15 Best Finance Summer Programs for High School Students

1. Bank of America Student Leaders Program

Location: Various locations across the U.S. + Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free; a stipend is available
Dates: 8 weeks (June – August); Summit: July 21-26
Application Deadline: January 15th
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are authorized to work in the U.S. and permanent residents of one of the eligible locations

In this program, you spend the summer working with a local nonprofit while also attending a national leadership summit that exposes you to policy, budgeting, and community-focused decision-making. You learn how organizations manage resources, evaluate impact, and operate within financial constraints.

During​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ your entire internship period, you work together with skilled professionals, attend planned workshops, and get the opportunity to express your difficult ideas to the team. You will make measurable contributions to the organization and learn how organizations juggle business and social priorities ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​. By the end, you understand how leadership, financial stewardship, and civic responsibility intersect in professional environments.

Why it stands out: You’ll engage in leadership training, community service, and corporate mentorship, helping you build civic awareness and early professional experience within a major financial institution.

2. Immerse Education’s Banking & Finance Summer School

Location: Barnard College, Columbia University, New York
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts with rolling admissions
Program Dates: 28th Jun – 11th Jul, 12th Jul – 25th Jul
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school

The Immerse Education Banking & Finance Summer School in New York gives high school students the chance to study finance in a university setting while living on campus at Barnard College, Columbia University. You will learn in small groups of an average of 7 participants and be taught by experienced instructors with academic and industry expertise. The curriculum introduces key concepts in banking, investment strategy, financial markets, and economic systems through practical, hands-on learning.

You might analyze real market data, build an investment portfolio, or take part in a trading simulation. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a personal project, receive written feedback from your tutor, and earn a certificate of completion. 

Why it stands out: It gives you practical exposure to finance concepts and market simulations taught by industry professionals helping you build analytical skills and real-world financial understanding before college.

3. Wharton Global Youth Program: Essentials of Finance

Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $7,599 (need-based scholarships available)
Dates: Multiple sessions available from June – August
Application Deadline: January 28th (priority); March 18th (final)
Eligibility: High school students around the world in grades 9-11 with a GPA ≥ 3.3

In this introductory Wharton module, you learn the fundamentals of finance through topics such as valuation, risk, capital markets, and financial decision-making. Coursework is structured around short lectures, real-world case studies, and guided quantitative exercises that help you apply new concepts immediately.

You​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ work on financial statements analysis, investment decision evaluation, and market signals interpretation. Professors and TAs not only demonstrate strict academic methods but also provide help while you learn new analytical tools. After completing the course, you acquire essential knowledge of finance and get a better understanding of whether a finance-related major is right for ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌you.

Why it stands out: It gives you access to Wharton’s core finance framework, helping you build skills used by top business students.

4. CLA High School Internship Program

Location: Various locations across the U.S.
Cost: Free; a stipend is available
Dates: Summer, starting in June (exact dates vary by location)
Application Deadline: Varies by location; typically spring for summer start
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-18

This internship places you in a professional setting where you work alongside staff in areas such as accounting, auditing, client services, or organisational administration. You​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ watch the implementation of financial workflows within a company and get to know how professionals use data, handle projects, and communicate with clients.

Your work could include conducting research, entering data, collaborating with the team, or being exposed to financial documentation. The program helps you understand how businesses maintain compliance, structure their financial systems, and support long-term planning. By engaging with mentors and contributing to operational tasks, you build confidence in navigating professional environments and gain practical context for studying business or finance in college.

Why it stands out: It introduces you to real accounting and consulting workflows, helping you see how financial services operate inside professional firms.

5. University of Kansas: Summer Venture in Business (SVB)

Location: The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Cost: Free
Dates: Session 1: June 15th – June 20th | Session 2: July 13th – July 18th
Application Deadline: March 31st
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-grade students

SVB introduces you to core business disciplines through interactive workshops, case discussions, and team activities led by KU faculty and business students. You explore topics such as marketing, management, entrepreneurship, and financial decision-making while learning how business schools structure their coursework. The program includes campus immersion, allowing you to experience university life and the expectations of a business major.

You work in groups to problem-solve, present ideas, and develop leadership skills that directly support future academic work in finance or economics. By participating in SVB, you gain early exposure to business-school thinking and a supportive introduction to the pathways available to you in undergraduate study.

Why it stands out: It introduces you to business fundamentals through collaborative projects, helping you explore future majors in a supportive setting.

6. University of Houston’s EXPLORE Financial Empowerment Institute

Location: University of Houston, TX
Cost: Free
Dates: 4-5 days in June (tentatively)
Application Deadline: April (tentatively)
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors

This​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ program is primarily concerned with financial literacy and personal money management. The sessions, led by the university faculty and the financial practitioners, equip you with the knowledge of budgeting, credit, investing, and long-term planning. Through interaction, you consider real-life situations and figure out how people and companies make difficult financial decisions. The workshops you participate in give you the skills to dissect the scenarios taken from the real world and to come to an understanding of the financial decisions made by individuals and ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌businesses.

You also participate in discussions about economic inequality, financial systems, and strategies that support long-term financial security. By the end, you develop practical financial skills and a broader understanding of how financial literacy connects to responsible citizenship and future study in business or finance.

Why it stands out: You’ll explore marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship through hands-on projects, giving you early insight into business school learning.

7. KPMG Future Leaders Program

Location: Various KPMG locations
Cost: None, $10,000 annual college scholarship
Dates: Summer before college (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: February 1st
Eligibility: U.S. high school senior girls

As a KPMG Future Leader, you participate in leadership development workshops, structured mentorship, and seminars that introduce you to themes in business, ethics, and corporate responsibility. Recognised as one of the best finance summer programs for high school students, the programme shows how leaders make decisions in complex financial environments and how global firms manage resources, teams, and client relationships.

Through sustained mentorship, you explore academic and career interests while developing communication and analytical skills. By engaging with an established firm, you gain valuable insight into corporate culture and the expectations placed on future business leaders.

Why it stands out: It provides mentorship, leadership training, and scholarship support, helping you strengthen both your academic profile and long-term career direction.

8. U.S. Department of the Treasury Headquarters Student Internship Program

Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free
Dates: May – August (summer dates)
Application Deadline: December (for summer)
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in or accepted at a U.S.-accredited institution

Through this internship, you engage with federal offices responsible for economic policy, financial regulation, revenue management, and data-driven analysis. ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ You will help with research, put together briefing materials, or watch policy conversations that influence national financial systems. Collaborating with economists, analysts, and policy advisors, you understand the manner in which big financial decisions are reviewed and carried out.

The internship is a great way for you to link the concept of fiscal policy as well as public finance with the actual government processes. ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌By participating in a policy-focused environment, you gain a clearer understanding of how economic principles operate at the national level and how analytical skills are applied in public-sector finance careers.

Why it stands out: You’ll gain exposure to federal financial policy and public-sector decision-making, offering an inside look at how national economic systems are managed.

9. Loyola Marymount University Save It Forward (SIFI)

Location: Loyola Marymount University (Hilton Center for Business), Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: June 23rd – June 27th | July 7th – July 11th | July 14th – July 18th
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students

SIFI​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ equips you to be a personal financial advisor through publishing financial budgeting, saving, and long-term financial planning concepts. You are exposed to the financial network impacts on families and communities, and how people can increase their financial well-being by making the right choices.

Along with it, the program emphasizes communication and instructional skills; thus, it prepares you to be a clear ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌presenter. By serving in both learner and mentor roles, you strengthen your understanding of finance while developing leadership and community-engagement skills. You also engage with LMU faculty and student mentors who introduce you to the broader social and economic factors connected to financial literacy.

Why it stands out: You’ll deepen your understanding of budgeting, investing, and financial planning, empowering you to make informed financial choices early on.

10. Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals

Location: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, MA
Cost: Free. Paid internship
Dates: July – August
Application Deadline: Yet to be announced
Eligibility: Income-eligible rising high school juniors in Greater Boston

While​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ on this internship, you become a part of the Federal Reserve’s professional environment, where you can see how departments carry out research, keep track of economic trends, and implement measures to maintain financial stability. You will be involved in data-centric activities, gaining knowledge about economic indicators, and understanding the effect of central banking on the national and regional financial conditions.

Managers will show you the ropes in the office and support you in enhancing your communication and analytical skills. In addition, the program provides career-related seminars in the fields of economics, public policy, and financial ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌services. By spending time inside a major economic institution, you gain early exposure to the analytical mindset required for future study in economics or finance.

Why it stands out: It lets you work within a regional Federal Reserve environment, giving you insight into economic research and community-focused financial initiatives.

11. UT Austin McCombs Summer Programs: Discover Yourself In Accounting Majors and Careers

Location: Austin, TX
Cost: Free
Dates: June 21-28
Application Deadline: January 31st
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors

This program introduces you to the field of accounting and shows how it functions as the language of business. You learn about financial statements, auditing, managerial accounting, and the analytical processes that underlie corporate decision-making. Faculty and student mentors guide you through case activities that demonstrate how accounting supports investment strategy, budgeting, and evaluation of financial risk.

You also experience life on a major university campus and learn how McCombs structures its business curriculum. By the end, you understand how accounting provides the quantitative foundation for finance and how the major prepares you for a range of business careers.

Why it stands out: You’ll learn foundational business concepts from a top-tier business school, putting you in a better position to evaluate future business majors.

12. Wall Street Stock Market & Investment Experience (NYIF & Westcoast Connection)

Location: New York, NY
Cost: 1 Week (6 days): $3,899; 2 Weeks (12 days): $6,699 (airfare not included; includes accommodations, most meals, activities)
Dates: Offered in 1-week and 2-week sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (varies by cohort)
Eligibility: High school students in Grades 9-12 (ages 14-17). Open to all nationalities

The Wall Street Stock Market & Investment Experience is an immersive program taught by senior Wall Street financial experts and practitioners. The rigorous curriculum covers a broad range of finance topics, including Private Equity & Venture Capital, Hedge Funds, Cryptocurrency/Blockchain, and the Key Concepts of Financial Statements & DCF Modelling.

You apply knowledge through collaborative, real-world projects, most notably a Fund Manager Competition, where teams act as equity analysts to research, evaluate, and pitch a stock portfolio to NYIF experts. Beyond the classroom, the experience includes a guided tour of the Financial District, networking with prominent guest speakers, and a college admissions information session. 

Why it stands out: It teaches you how trading, market mechanics, and analysis work, giving you real frameworks used by finance professionals.

13. Wall Street Academy at the University of San Francisco (USF)

Location: University of San Francisco (USF), San Francisco, CA
Cost: Commuter: $2,150; Residential: $3,025
Dates: Typically one-week cohorts in June and July
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all high school students

The Wall Street Academy is an intensive, one-week summer program designed to provide high school students with early exposure to college-level finance and investment concepts. You’ll gain hands-on experience using the same industry-standard tools as Wall Street professionals, including Bloomberg Terminals and FactSet. The curriculum is comprehensive, covering the basics of investments and personal finance, global financial markets, alternative investments, and financial modeling skills.

You learn from distinguished USF faculty and leading industry experts, including CFA charter holders and finance professionals from top firms. A key feature of the program is exclusive off-site experiences, which in the past have included visits to major financial institutions like BlackRock and Merrill Lynch. This combination of academic rigor, practical tool use, and real-world networking makes it a relevant choice for students serious about a career in finance.

Why it stands out: You’ll study investment strategy and financial decision-making, helping you understand how portfolios are constructed in real institutions.

14. Leeds School of Business: Business Leadership Program (BLP)

Location: University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Cost: Free
Dates: June 21-27
Application Deadline: March 13th
Eligibility: Current high school juniors attending a Colorado high school

BLP immerses you in key business disciplines through workshops, case challenges, and leadership-focused activities led by Leeds faculty and undergraduate mentors. You explore topics such as team decision-making, entrepreneurship, ethical reasoning, and the role of financial thinking in organisational strategy. Group work teaches you to analyse problems from multiple perspectives and present your conclusions clearly.

You also gain a realistic sense of how business schools structure their curriculum and what academic expectations look like at the undergraduate level. By the end of the program, you will understand how leadership, analytical thinking, and financial reasoning intersect in modern business environments.

Why it stands out: You’ll gain insight into university-level business expectations and the skills required for business-related majors.

15. UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business: Future Leaders Initiative

Location: UC Irvine, Irvine, CA
Cost: Free
Dates: July 21-26
Application Deadline: April 6th
Eligibility: Incoming high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors 

This​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ program equips you with the essential concepts of business, innovation, and leadership. It will lead you through practical exercises like case analysis, project development, and structured ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌reflection. You explore how organizations make financial and strategic decisions and how leaders evaluate information in uncertain environments. Faculty-led sessions help you build confidence in presenting ideas, working collaboratively, and thinking analytically.

You also gain familiarity with the academic culture of a top business school and the pathways available to you as a future business or finance major. By participating, you develop both the professional mindset and foundational knowledge needed to approach business studies with clarity and purpose.

Why it stands out: It blends business education with professional development, helping you build confidence, analytical skills, and early career readiness.

From Summer Learning to Future Finance Careers

Finance summer programmes offer more than enrichment. They show how money, markets, and decision-making shape real careers, helping students connect academic interest with professional reality.

The 15 best finance summer programs for high school students highlighted here offer meaningful exposure through internships, simulations, and university-style teaching. Together, they help students understand what studying finance actually involves and where it can lead.

By exploring areas such as banking, investing, accounting, and public finance, these programmes support early career awareness and informed subject choices.

If you want to explore finance careers in more depth, our Career Exploration blogs share insights into roles, pathways, and future opportunities beyond summer programmes.