15 Finance Courses for High School Students

If you want to study business or economics at university, finance is a subject you can’t ignore. It sits behind almost every major business decision, from raising capital and setting budgets to evaluating investments and planning growth. As a high school student, one of the smartest ways to understand these ideas early is by joining a finance course that takes you beyond your school’s curriculum.

Imagine learning how investors decide where to put their money, breaking down the financial strategy behind successful companies, or discussing business decisions with students from around the world. A good finance course gives you the vocabulary, concepts, and confidence to start thinking like someone studying business at university. Compared with internships or research programmes, courses are also easier to access because they’re designed to teach you the subject from the ground up.

How do you choose the right finance course for high school students?

Start by thinking about what you want to explore. Some courses give you a broad introduction to finance, while others focus on investing, accounting, entrepreneurship, or corporate finance. If you’re new to the subject, building a strong foundation is usually the best approach. If you’ve already taken business classes or explored finance independently, a more specialised programme may be a better fit.

Finally, pay attention to the programme itself. Consider the instructors, the curriculum, the amount of interaction, and whether you’ll work on case studies or practical projects. A strong finance course won’t just help you understand the subject better. It can also strengthen your college applications by showing that you’ve taken the initiative to explore college-level learning while still in high school.

To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 15 finance courses for high school students!

For adjacent opportunities, consider the online economics program.

Key takeaways

CUNY’s BOSSgirls Entrepreneurship & Finance Program is completely free but restricted to girls and nonbinary students in the NY tri-state region who can commute to CCNY.
Immerse Education’s Finance Summer School takes place in New York and London over two weeks, open to students worldwide aged 15 to 18, covering banking, stock markets, and financial risk management.
The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth has a 10% acceptance rate and costs $7,450 for in-state students, culminating in a full business plan presentation.
Stevens Institute’s Finance and Investing Boot Camp costs $1,000 and gives students hands-on experience with the S&P Capital IQ platform, a professional research tool used in real investment settings.
Marist University’s Personal and Professional Finance course costs $3,700 and awards three transferable college credits while using simulation software for financial decision-making.
NYU’s Real Estate Finance course costs $8,008 and examines how climate risk and sustainable development are reshaping real estate finance decisions.
Wharton’s Essentials of Finance culminates in a final team project evaluating a publicly traded company and presenting a market recommendation, earning a Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion.
Program costs for finance courses range from free options like CUNY’s BOSSgirls program to over $8,008 for NYU’s credit-bearing Real Estate Finance course.

15 Finance Courses for High School Students

1. City College of New York (CUNY) – BOSSgirls Entrepreneurship & Finance Program

Location: New York City, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; the acceptance rate and cohort size are not publicly available
Dates: June 29th – July 30th
Application Deadline: February 28th
Eligibility: Current high school girls and nonbinary students in grades 9-12, including graduating seniors; applicants must live in the NY tri-state region and be able to commute to CCNY. Not open to international students unless they meet the residency and commute requirements

Bossgirls is a free entrepreneurship program at The City College of New York’s Zahn Innovation Center. You work in teams to identify a problem, understand customer needs, and build a business idea using a human-centered design approach. The program ends with a pitch presentation, giving you practice in communication, business planning, and early-stage startup thinking.

You also learn from mentors, entrepreneurs, and peers while developing confidence in creative problem-solving. Although it is not a finance-only course, it helps you understand how business ideas are developed, tested, and presented in a real startup environment.

Why it stands out: It supports young women and nonbinary students in entrepreneurship and business-building, helping you gain confidence in leadership, pitching, and problem-solving.

2. Immerse Education’s Banking & Finance Summer School

Students attending a 'Career Insights' presentation at Immerse Education.

Location: New York and London
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: High school students worldwide aged 15-18

Banking & Finance Summer School offers high school students an insight into financial markets and banking operations. In the program, you will explore different career paths through real-world projects, workshops, and network with industry leaders. The program is designed by industry experts to offer a professional world experience. You will explore various financial sectors based on your interests and develop the skill set of communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking required in the field.

You will learn key concepts like the banking system, the stock market, and financial analysis. You will learn how financial organizations plan to reduce financial risk while protecting both the company and clients. By the end, you will have expanded your knowledge in the field, gained professional working experience, developed skills, and earned a certificate.

Why it stands out: You will learn investment strategies, financial analysis, and case studies. You will work on real-world projects and expert-led workshops and earn a certificate.

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

Location: Lawrence, KS
Cost: $50 participation fee; need-based waivers available; travel is not covered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; the acceptance rate and cohort size are not publicly available
Dates: July 19-24
Application Deadline: February 13th
Eligibility: Rising 11th- and 12th-grade students who meet the GPA or Business Index requirements; priority is given to first-generation students, students attending Title I schools, and students attending rural schools.

The University of Kansas Summer Venture in Business is a pre-college business academy hosted by the KU School of Business. You attend academic sessions with KU faculty, join workshops with campus and external partners, and take part in business-focused activities that introduce you to college and career planning. The program also includes an industry tour with corporate sponsors, panels with current students and alumni, a campus tour, and evening activities led by mentors.

Because participants live in a KU residence hall and attend sessions on campus, the program gives you a structured preview of business school life. It is especially useful if you want a broad introduction to business before deciding whether to study finance, accounting, marketing, management, or entrepreneurship.

Why it stands out: It introduces you to business fundamentals through collaborative projects, faculty sessions, and campus-based mentoring.

4. Business Opportunities Summer Session (BOSS) – Penn State Smeal College of Business

Location: Penn State University Park, University Park, Pennsylvania
Cost: $350 program fee after acceptance; no stipend listed
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; acceptance rate and cohort size are not publicly available
Dates: June 14-26
Application Deadline: March 20th; decisions released April 30th
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors from the U.S. and Puerto Rico who are interested in pursuing a business education in college; not open to international students

BOSS is a two-week residential summer program hosted by Penn State’s Smeal College of Business for students exploring business before college. You take college preparation and business fundamentals courses taught by Penn State faculty while living on campus.

The program gives you exposure to finance-adjacent areas such as accounting, business operations, corporate settings, and trading-room-style learning through its sample programming. You also work through hands-on components such as a business pitch group presentation, which helps you practice teamwork, communication, and strategic thinking. The residential format gives you a direct feel for dorm life, campus dining, and learning with academically driven peers.

Why it stands out: You get a low-cost residential business school experience with faculty-led classes, campus life, and hands-on business pitch work.

5. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth

Location: UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, Berkeley, California
Cost: In-state: $7,450; out-of-state: $7,950; limited need-based scholarships available; no stipend listed
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 10%
Dates: Session 1: July 5-18; Session 2: July 19th – August 1st
Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; students are encouraged to apply early
Eligibility: High school students; open to students from around the world

The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth is a two-week residential business program hosted by UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. You work with a team to develop a business idea, conduct research, build a business plan, and present your final plan at the end of the session. The program combines classroom instruction with independent research, computer lab assignments, team projects, and guest sessions from Berkeley Haas professors and corporate speakers.

You also explore business subjects through an interactive curriculum while building skills in communication, research, teamwork, and presentation. Because the program includes campus activities and college admissions sessions, it gives you a practical view of business school learning and student life at Berkeley.

Why it stands out: You develop and present a full business plan while experiencing Berkeley Haas’ business school environment in a selective residential program.

6. NYU Precollege – Real Estate Finance

Location: New York University, New York City, New York
Cost: 4-credit course tuition: $8,008, plus a $50 application charge; additional program, housing, dining, and international student charges may apply
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; acceptance rate and cohort size are not publicly available
Dates: July 1st – August 12th
Application Deadline: International students coming to campus: March 13th; U.S. and online students: June 15th
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th grade students; a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale is recommended; international students may apply

NYU Precollege allows high school students to take credit-bearing undergraduate courses while experiencing academic life at NYU. In Real Estate Finance, you study how real estate investment is financed, including capital markets, sources and uses of funds, financing structures, and the role of government.

The course also considers how climate risk and sustainable development are shaping real estate finance decisions. Instead of a short overview workshop, you work through a university-level course with readings, assignments, and class discussions for college credit. Because the course is offered through NYU’s School of Professional Studies, it gives you exposure to real estate as both a finance field and an urban business pathway.

Why it stands out: You can earn NYU college credit while studying real estate finance through the lens of capital markets, sustainability, and urban investment.

7. Columbia University Pre-College – Introduction to Business, Finance, and Economics

Location: Columbia University, New York City, New York
Cost: Residential: $12,838; Commuter: $6,381; Online: $4,018; $80 application fee not included; limited need-based scholarships available for eligible U.S. permanent residents in commuter or online programs
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; acceptance rate and cohort size are not publicly available
Dates: In-person Summer A: June 29th – July 17th; In-person Summer B: July 21st – August 7th; Online Summer A: July 6-17; Online Summer B: July 20-31
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students entering Grades 9-12 or the freshman year of college; open to international students

As one of the most academically rigorous finance courses for high school students, Columbia’s Introduction to Business, Finance, and Economics course focuses on how firms make financial and economic decisions. You study how companies raise cash, choose investments, use financial instruments, and operate within markets. The course covers stocks, bonds, stock markets, valuation models, accounting statements, sources of risk, and the history and mechanics of financial markets.

You also work through case studies and sustained independent work, giving you practice with college-style analysis rather than only introductory definitions. Because the course is offered through Columbia’s Pre-College Programs, you gain exposure to university-level expectations while studying finance in a broader business and economics context. This can help you decide whether finance, economics, business, or management fits your future college plans.

Why it stands out: You study corporate finance and economics through Columbia-level case studies, valuation concepts, and independent work.

8. Notre Dame Pre-College | Finance: Creating and Building Wealth

Location: Online (Self-paced)
Cost: $1,795; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Application-based; acceptance rate and cohort size are not publicly available
Dates: Multiple two- and four-week sessions offered throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and older. International students are welcome. All coursework and application materials are completed in English

Notre Dame’s Finance: Creating and Building Wealth course introduces you to the principles behind personal and corporate finance through a flexible online format. You examine budgeting, investing, debt, risk management, insurance, behavioural finance, and the factors that contribute to wealth creation and financial inequality. The course combines video lessons, simulations, mentor support, and practical assignments to help you apply finance concepts to realistic scenarios.

Throughout the program, you also explore finance-related careers and university pathways while building foundational financial literacy. For the final capstone, you create a comprehensive financial plan that incorporates budgeting, investing, borrowing, insurance, philanthropy, and long-term financial decision-making. Upon successful completion, you receive a University of Notre Dame Certificate of Completion.

Why it stands out: You finish the course by building a comprehensive personal financial plan that brings together investing, budgeting, debt, insurance, and long-term wealth management.

9. Stevens Institute Finance and Investing Boot Camp

Location: Online (Live)
Cost: $1,000
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Acceptance rate and cohort size are not publicly available
Dates: One-week summer virtual bootcamp
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. International students may participate online

As one of the more hands-on finance courses for high school students, Stevens Institute of Technology’s Finance and Investing Virtual Bootcamp introduces you to portfolio management, financial markets, and investment analysis through live online instruction. You learn how investors evaluate companies, construct diversified portfolios, and analyze market risk using industry-standard financial data. Throughout the bootcamp, you work directly with the S&P Capital IQ platform to research companies, interpret financial information, and make investment decisions based on real market data.

Faculty-led sessions are complemented by small-group breakout discussions with teaching assistants, allowing you to apply portfolio optimization, equity analysis, and valuation concepts in a collaborative environment. You also work toward selected S&P Global Market Intelligence certificates while developing practical financial analysis skills that mirror those used in professional investment settings.

Why it stands out: You gain hands-on experience using S&P Capital IQ—one of the finance industry’s leading professional research platforms—while building and managing your own simulated investment portfolio.

10. Wake Forest Pre-College | Learn How Today’s Financial Markets Work

Location: Online (Self-paced)
Cost: $1,595; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Application-based; acceptance rate and cohort size are not publicly available
Dates: Multiple one-, two-, and four-week sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and older. International students may participate online

Wake Forest University’s Investing: The Future of Finance course explores how financial markets, investment strategies, and emerging technologies are shaping the future of global finance. You study topics including equity markets, ESG investing, cryptocurrencies, decentralized finance, FinTech, and corporate finance while learning how investors evaluate companies and markets.

Industry case studies and mentor-guided assignments help you connect financial theory with current developments across the investment landscape. The flexible online program includes approximately 30 hours of instruction, interactive simulations, and feedback from a dedicated mentor. For your capstone project, you prepare an analyst report evaluating how emerging trends may influence the future performance of a publicly traded company. Students who complete the course receive a Wake Forest University Certificate of Completion.

Why it stands out: You combine traditional investing concepts with emerging topics like FinTech, ESG investing, and cryptocurrency while producing your own analyst report.

11. Marist University Summer Pre-College: Personal and Professional Finance

Location: Poughkeepsie, NY
Cost: $3,700
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; the acceptance rate and cohort size are not publicly available
Dates: July 12-25
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; exact deadline is not publicly available
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors; international students can apply, but should confirm travel and visa requirements directly with Marist

Marist University’s Personal and Professional Finance course introduces you to finance through budgeting, cash management, loans, credit, insurance, investing, financial markets, and basic financial statements. You learn from Marist faculty with professional experience in banking and corporate finance.

The program includes small-team work where you evaluate real-world financial problems, conduct research, and make financial decisions using simulation software. You earn three transferable college credits, which can help you understand the pace and expectations of undergraduate business coursework. Since the program is residential, you also get a structured preview of campus life while testing whether finance, business, or management fits your college goals.

Why it stands out: You’ll earn college credit while studying personal finance, investing, and financial decision-making through faculty-led coursework and simulations.

12. NYU SPS High School Academy: Finance NYC An Insider’s View

Location: New York City, NY
Cost: $2,579 tuition + $50 application fee; optional housing and dining fee is $684; no financial aid or scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; the acceptance rate and cohort size are not publicly available
Dates: June 29th – July 2nd; July 6-10; July 13-17; July 20-24; July 27-31; August 3-7
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grades 9, 10, or 11; international students may apply and should review NYU’s visa guidance

NYU’s Finance NYC: An Insider’s View gives you a one-week introduction to financial analysis and investment management in New York City. The course covers financial systems, traded assets, portfolio risk and return, the Federal Reserve, derivatives, time value of money, capital budgeting, and current economic conditions.

You are taught by an industry expert and complete short assignments designed to build college-style academic and professional skills. You receive an NYU transcript with your course grade, although the course does not award college credit or a certificate. This is a useful option if you want a compact, career-focused finance course before deciding whether to pursue finance, economics, or business in college.

Why it stands out: You’ll study finance in New York City through an industry-focused course that introduces Wall Street concepts, investment management, and financial analysis.

13. NYU Stern School of Business – Summer @ Stern (through NYU Precollege)

A group of six students walking on an NYC street with their backs to the camera

Location: New York University, New York City, New York
Cost: 4-credit course: $8,008; full-time study of 6-8 credits costs $12,012 – $16,016 and is required for international students coming to campus
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; acceptance rate and cohort size are not publicly available
Dates: July 1st – August 12th
Application Deadline: International students coming to campus: March 13th; final summer application deadline: June 15th
Eligibility: Rising 11th and 12th-grade students with strong academic records; a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale is recommended; international students may apply

NYU Precollege allows high school students to take credit-bearing undergraduate courses while experiencing academic life at NYU. Through business-focused options connected to NYU’s precollege offerings, you can explore areas such as business, finance, economics, marketing, and management in a university setting.

Instead of only studying finance in theory, you complete college-level coursework, assignments, and class discussions that mirror the expectations of an undergraduate course. The Summer @ Stern material also frames the experience as an introduction to business, college life, and New York City’s professional environment. Because you earn NYU college credit, the program can help you test whether business or finance is a serious academic direction for you.

Why it stands out: You can earn NYU college credit while exploring business and finance-related coursework in New York City.

14. Wharton Global Youth Program: Essentials of Finance

Location: Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; the acceptance rate and cohort size are not publicly available
Dates: June 7-19; June 21st – July 3rd; July 12-25; July 26th – August 8th
Application Deadline: Priority deadline: January 28th; final deadline: March 18th
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 9-11; international applicants are welcome

Wharton’s Essentials of Finance is a two-week on-campus program that introduces you to personal finance, corporate finance, investing, accounting, and valuation. You study concepts such as time value of money, discounted cash flow, net present value, interest rates, risk and return, equities, fixed income, capital structure, and financial statements.

The program includes lectures, guest speakers, group work, interactive case studies, and a final team project where you evaluate a publicly traded company and present a market recommendation. You earn a Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion while learning finance through a curriculum shaped by Wharton faculty. The program is useful if you want to test whether finance, economics, accounting, or business analytics fits your future college plans.

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

15. Harvard Pre-College Program – Business & Economics Courses

Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost: $6,100 plus a $75 application fee; limited need-based scholarships are available for eligible U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and DACA students
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; average class size is about 15 students
Dates: Session I: June 21st – July 2nd; Session II: July 5-17; Session III: July 19-31
Application Deadline: Application opens December 1st; early/priority financial aid deadline: January 7th; regular/financial aid deadline: February 11th; late deadline: April 1st or earlier if course waitlists fill
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who will graduate from high school and enter college in the next two years; students must be at least 16 by June 20th and must not turn 19 before July 31st; international students may apply, and non-native English speakers must submit TOEFL iBT, IELTS, or Duolingo scores

Harvard’s Pre-College Program is a two-week, non-credit residential program where you take one intensive college-level course while living on campus. For finance-focused students, the Business and Leadership area includes related subjects such as Economics and Management, which can help you understand how markets, organizations, and decision-making work. You attend discussion-based classes, complete daily assignments, and build academic skills like close reading, note-taking, class participation, and structured argumentation.

Outside of class, you also join co-curricular activities, college readiness workshops, and residential programming that give you a clearer sense of university life. At the end, you receive a written instructor evaluation and a Harvard transcript showing AR or NM, but not college credit.

Why it stands out: You study one focused subject in a small, college-level class while experiencing residential academic life at Harvard.

Frequently asked questions: Finance courses for high school students

Are finance courses for high school students open to international students?

Most finance courses welcome international students, including NYU’s Real Estate Finance, Columbia’s Introduction to Business, Finance, and Economics, and Wharton’s Essentials of Finance. CUNY’s BOSSgirls program is a notable exception, restricted to the NY tri-state region. Immerse Education’s Finance Summer School is also open globally to students aged 15 to 18 across New York and London.

How much do finance courses for high school students cost?

Costs vary considerably by format and prestige. Free options include CUNY’s BOSSgirls program, while shorter workshops like the University of Kansas’s Summer Venture in Business cost just a $50 participation fee. Premium options include NYU’s Real Estate Finance at $8,008 and Columbia’s residential course at $12,838. Financial aid is available for most tuition-based programs, so cost alone shouldn’t rule out an otherwise strong fit.

Do finance courses award transferable college credit?

Some do, though it’s not universal. Marist University’s Personal and Professional Finance course and NYU’s Real Estate Finance both award real, transferable college credit. Others, like Wharton’s Essentials of Finance and NYU SPS’s Finance NYC course, provide a certificate or transcript notation without formal credit. If credit matters to you, confirm this directly with each program, since even similarly structured finance courses handle this differently.

What is the difference between a personal finance course and a corporate finance course?

Personal finance courses, like Notre Dame’s Finance: Creating and Building Wealth, cover budgeting, saving, and investing concepts relevant to individual financial decisions. Corporate finance courses, like Columbia’s Introduction to Business, Finance, and Economics or NYU’s Real Estate Finance, instead focus on how companies raise capital, value assets, and manage risk. If you’re more interested in markets and company analysis than personal money management, a corporate-focused course offers deeper engagement with that material.

How selective are finance courses for high school students?

Selectivity ranges considerably. The Berkeley Business Academy for Youth has a 10% acceptance rate, making it one of the more competitive options. Others, like Notre Dame’s self-paced online course or Wake Forest’s Investing course, use application-based admission without publishing a specific acceptance rate. Regardless of selectivity, meeting GPA or Business Index requirements, as seen at the University of Kansas, matters as much as overall application strength.

Is Immerse Education a good option for exploring finance before college?

Immerse Education’s Finance Summer School is a strong choice if you want a well-rounded introduction to banking and financial markets across New York and London without needing US residency. The two week program covers the banking system, stock market, and financial analysis through real-world projects and expert-led workshops. You’ll develop communication and critical-thinking skills relevant to finance careers and finish with a certificate, open to students worldwide aged 15 to 18.