16 Economics Pre-College Programs for High School Students
If you are interested in understanding how global markets, financial systems, and policy decisions shape the world, economics pre-college programs can be a particularly valuable opportunity. Economics programs combine academic enrichment with exposure to the field’s real-world applications, helping you build both intellectual and practical foundations before college. These programs can help you explore key areas such as microeconomics, macroeconomics, behavioral economics, and econometrics. They also allow you to engage in research projects, simulations, and case studies that can help you develop analytical reasoning, quantitative skills, and policy analysis abilities. Offered by leading universities, these programs allow you to explore potential career paths, interact with experts, and experience the rigor of higher education firsthand.
In this blog, we have curated a list of 16 economics pre-college programs for high school students.
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1. UCLA Economics Summer Institute
Location: UCLA Campus, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $3,015 (estimated); scholarships are available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 14 – August 1
Application deadline: June 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 who are at least 15 years old
The Economics Summer Institute is a three-week commuter program at UCLA that introduces high school students to economic policy issues and principles of financial analysis. You will attend lectures with faculty and join workshops led by UCLA undergraduates, where you will practice applying economic principles to real problems. The program balances theory with hands-on learning, allowing you to assess data, explore the effects of taxation and trade, and explore the impact of policies like rent control. You will also engage in team-based projects and case study presentations that allow you to practice evaluating evidence, justifying different arguments, and communicating your findings.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Economics Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Varies by cohort—summer, fall, winter, and spring; options range from 12 weeks to a year, based on the format you choose.
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate high levels of academic achievement; accepted students typically hold an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a mentored research program tailored for high school students, offering them guidance to conduct research on a chosen subject area. You can indicate your preference to conduct research in economics, policy, finance, or other related fields. The program will pair you with a Ph.D. mentor to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you will have developed an independent research paper! On completing the program, you will also be eligible to earn UCSD credits. You can find more details about the application here.
3. University of California, Santa Barbara Summer Research Academies: Policy Puzzle
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: Residential: $9,874 | Commuter: $3,475; need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 26 – July 24
Application deadline: March 23; admission decisions are made on a rolling basis starting from December 15.
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 11 with a minimum 3.60 academic weighted GPA
UC Santa Barbara’s Summer Research Academies is a pre-college program that offers high school students a hands-on introduction to university-level research through four-unit courses led by UCSB faculty. You will design and conduct original projects, present your findings in a capstone seminar, and engage with leading researchers through the GRIT Talks lecture series. In the Policy Puzzle track, you will study the principles of policymaking using interdisciplinary social science methods. You will examine issues such as economic growth, labor markets, education, and globalization through empirical analysis. The program can offer you practical research experience and the foundation to critically assess and communicate policy impacts.
4. Immerse Education’s Academic Insights Pathway
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions.
Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school
The Academic Insights Program provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. Participants work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4-10 students. They attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with their tutor. The program includes practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, robotic arm building in engineering, or moot courts for law. Students can choose from over 20 subjects, including architecture, artificial intelligence, business management, computer science, economics, medicine, philosophy, and more. By the end of the program, they complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
5. Harvard University Pre-College Summer School Program: Invention, Innovation, and Markets
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $6,100 tuition and $75 application fee; need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – July 2 | July 5 – 17 | July 19 – 31
Application deadline: Early: January 7 | Regular: February 11 | Late: April 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old by June 20
Harvard’s Pre-College Program is a two-week residential summer experience that immerses high school students in college-level academics and campus life. You will enroll in one rigorous, non-credit course and receive a written evaluation and an official Harvard transcript upon completion. The Invention, Innovation, and Markets course examines how technological progress influences economies at both micro and macro levels. Through case studies and discussion, you will explore how advancements in areas like energy, medicine, and transportation shape productivity, trade, and labor markets. You will also explore topics like the impact of automation on wages, medical innovation on social security systems, and engine technology on global trade. The course can help you analyze how innovation drives economic growth and affects societies worldwide.
6. University of Chicago’s Pre-College Program: Pathways in Economics
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $8,900; need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited to 80 students
Dates: June 14 – July 4
Application deadline: Priority: January 22 | Regular: March 5 | Extended: April 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 11
The University of Chicago’s Pathways in Economics pre-college program introduces high school students to the research methods and analytical approaches in economics. Taught by full-time faculty, the program covers key topics in macroeconomics, microeconomics, game theory, and experimental economics. You will explore these concepts through lectures, group discussions, labs, and problem-solving exercises led by current UChicago students. The experience combines theory with application, allowing you to study how economic principles are used to understand and address real-world challenges.
7. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program: Economics Track
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: Residential: $13,274 | Commuter: $5,675; need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 31
Application deadline: March 9; rolling admissions starting from December 15
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 and 11 with a minimum 3.80 academic weighted GPA
The UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program is an on-campus opportunity for high school students to engage in hands-on, university-level research. You will collaborate with a mentor, typically a faculty member, postdoctoral scholar, or graduate student, and select a research project from a range of disciplines offered each year, including economics. You will gain experience in data collection, analysis, and research design while learning how to communicate your findings through a technical paper and formal presentation. The program also includes GRIT Talks, where leading UCSB researchers share insights on innovative work across fields. You will spend 35–50 hours every week working on your project, earning college credit and exposure to academic and professional research environments.
8. Brown University Pre-College: Introduction to Microeconomics
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI.
Cost: Residential: $8,006 | Commuter: $6,134 (can vary by year); need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: Session I: June 23 – July 11 | Session II: July 7 – 25
Application deadline: May 8; rolling enrollment starting from January 14
Eligibility: High school students with knowledge of mathematics at the Algebra II level
This microeconomics course introduces high school students to the foundational principles of how markets operate and how consumers and producers make decisions. You will explore key topics such as consumer utility, demand and supply, profit maximization, and market equilibrium. The course also focuses on how government policies—like taxes, subsidies, and price controls—affect market efficiency and outcomes, as well as how markets handle challenges such as externalities and public goods. You will explore core microeconomic concepts, learn about analytical tools for evaluating market behavior, and gain insights into both the strengths and limitations of free markets.
9. Rice University Precollege Program: The Business of Economics
Location: Virtual.
Cost: $1,795; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate: Open enrollment
Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application deadline: Varies depending on the start date
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 and up
This pre-college economics program introduces you to the intersection of economic theory and business practice. Through expert-led sessions and discussions on case studies, you will explore how firms respond to market fluctuations, policy changes, and shifts in labor and energy markets. The program focuses on why understanding economics can help businesses in making informed decisions and sustaining growth. You will study key topics within the intersection of business and economics, like supply and demand, inflation, labor market dynamics, investment decisions, and energy economics. The program also highlights how economic conditions influence business strategy and policymaking. The program concludes with a capstone project on stagflation, where you will propose policies to strengthen economic welfare.
10. Columbia University Pre-College Program: Game Theory: A Course in Mathematical Economics
Location: Virtual or in-person at Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: Residential: $12,764 | Commuter: $6,310 | Online: $3,965; need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students (in-person class) and 18 students (online class)
Dates: In-person: June 30 – July 18 | Online: July 7 – 18 (dates can vary by year)
Application deadline: In-person: March 2 | Online: April 2
Eligibility: High school students
Game Theory is the study of strategic decision-making, focusing on how individuals and organizations act under conditions of competition, cooperation, and uncertainty. This pre-college program introduces you to the principles of rational choice and optimal decision-making between independent agents and rival actors. Through case studies and problem-solving exercises, you will explore how game theory informs real-world scenarios—such as pricing strategies, negotiations, and policy decisions. You will engage with the foundational works of key theorists and connect these ideas to fields like economics, business, and political science. You will also gain insights into how game theory shapes major strategic choices across industries and learn how to apply these insights to analyze outcomes and improve decision-making in your own life.
11. University of Southern California Pre-College Program: The Philosophy of Economic Markets, Money, and Property
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Residential: $11,347 | Commuter: $7,812
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 12
Application deadline: May 2
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least the 9th grade by June 15
The Philosophy of Economic Markets, Money, and Property course examines the ethical, philosophical, and practical questions surrounding money, markets, and ownership. As a participant, you will learn about concepts such as the role of money in life, ethical investing, cryptocurrencies, charitable giving, and acceptable lending practices. The course also investigates broader market issues, including exploitation, government regulation, and the principles of ownership. Through interdisciplinary engagement with economics, law, logic, and moral philosophy, you will analyze complex debates on distributive justice, equality, and liberty. Learning activities include lectures, discussions, debates, presentations, and collaborative projects, complemented by guest speakers and multimedia materials.
12. Brown University Pre-College: An Introduction to Game Theory
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: Residential: $8,006 | Commuter: $6,134 (costs can vary by year); need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – 25
Application deadline: May 8; rolling enrollment starting from January 14
Eligibility: High school students
Introduction to Game Theory is a pre-college program that covers the foundational concepts and models used to analyze strategic interactions across economics, political science, and business. Here, you will explore rational decision-making, choice under uncertainty, and canonical game forms, including static games, dynamic games, and games under uncertainty. You will also learn how key solution concepts, such as Nash Equilibrium, Subgame Perfect Equilibrium, and Dominated Strategies, apply to real-world scenarios, from elections and auctions to price competition among firms. The course combines daily lectures, weekly problem sets, bi-weekly lab sessions, and a guided personal project. In labs, you will test game-theoretical models in practice and compare outcomes with theoretical predictions.
13. University of Pennsylvania Pre-College Summer Program: Introduction to Microeconomics
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $14,962 – $23,056, depending on the course units
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: July 3 – August 8
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Current 10th- and 11th-grade students
The University of Pennsylvania Pre-College Program offers high school students the opportunity to experience Ivy League academics firsthand. You can choose from various credit-bearing undergraduate courses across disciplines, taught by Penn faculty, staff, and visiting scholars, alongside Penn undergraduates. The Introduction to Microeconomics course covers the fundamentals of economic analysis and its practical applications. You will study supply and demand, firm costs and revenues under different market structures—including perfect competition, monopoly, and oligopoly—factor pricing, income distribution, and international trade theory. The course focuses primarily on microeconomic concepts, providing a strong foundation for further study in economics.
14. Stanford University Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes: Principles of Macroeconomics
Location: Virtual.
Cost: $3,080; need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective.
Dates: Session I: June 16 – 27 | Session II: July 7 – 18
Application deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–11 who have completed an algebra course
This pre-college program focuses on the examination of the broader economy, helping you understand national money supply, price levels, employment, and government policy impacts. It provides an in-depth look at core macroeconomic concepts, including GDP, inflation, unemployment, financial and labor markets, and economic growth. The course is designed to help you develop analytical skills to critically evaluate economic conditions, make informed decisions, and engage thoughtfully in discussions about global economic dynamics. Classes are held live online for two hours daily, Monday through Friday, with an additional hour for virtual office hours. You will spend two to three hours per day on assignments and projects outside of class.
15. UPenn Arts & Sciences High School Programs: Economics Academy
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $10,050 (includes housing and program fees); scholarships available for School District of Philadelphia public or charter school students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 11 – August 1
Application deadline: Varies; applications open in December
Eligibility: Current 9th–11th-graders
The Economics Academy at the University of Pennsylvania introduces high schoolers to foundational economic concepts in a global context. Over the course of three weeks, you will explore concepts like scarcity, markets and their failures, competition, and monopolies, and practice applying them to real-world issues. The program combines instruction with practice through lectures, workshops, and guest speaker sessions. You will also work on a capstone project, coming up with solutions to an economic issue in the U.S. Field trips and group activities are also part of the experience. Additionally, you will get to experience life on a college campus and connect with like-minded peers from across the world.
16. Georgetown University’s Economics Policy Academy
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: Residential: $7,700 | Commuter: $5,800; need-based financial aid is available.
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 29 – July 18
Application deadline: Early Bird Deadline: January 31 | Final Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Current 8th–12th graders
The Economics Policy Academy, a Georgetown University pre-college course, offers high school students an interdisciplinary introduction to how governments and markets interact through the perspectives of economics and political science. You will study key theoretical frameworks and apply them to real-world policy challenges in the U.S. and abroad, gaining insight into issues such as price regulation, globalization, and economic inequality. Additionally, you will explore topics like fiscal and monetary policy, development economics, behavioral economics, and international trade. The program combines lectures, workshops, discussions, and field visits to policy organizations. You will also complete a research-based project and present your findings in a poster session. This can be an opportunity to explore the economic forces shaping public policy.
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