12 Finance Courses for High School Students
If you’re a high school student curious about finance, structured courses for high school students can give you a serious head start. These courses enable you to learn core financial concepts directly from university faculty and usually come with official college course codes, which means you’re exposed to real academic rigor much earlier than most of your peers. Many universities offer finance courses for high school students that combine financial theory with case studies, simulations, and structured projects. With these courses, you’ll learn how to analyze risk, evaluate companies, and think strategically about money.
How are finance courses different from other programs in high school?
Unlike general summer camps or short workshops, university-backed finance courses follow a defined academic structure. You typically work through a syllabus, complete assignments, and sometimes receive evaluations similar to those of undergraduate students. These courses move beyond surface-level financial literacy and require you to analyze balance sheets, calculate present value, debate case studies, and apply financial models. Another difference is flexibility, as many programs offer multiple sessions throughout the year or allow online participation, making it easier for you to fit them into your schedule.
To make your search easier, below are 12 finance courses for high school students.
If you’re looking for free online programs, check out our blog here.
1. Economics of Personal Finance (ECN 305)
Location: At participating partner high schools (in-person)
Cost: $345 ($115 per credit hour for 3 credits); need-based tuition assistance is available for eligible students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 15–25 students per class section
Dates: Fall or Spring semester (follows your high school's academic calendar)
Application Deadline: Varies by partner high school (typically aligns with school course registration)
Eligibility: High school seniors and select juniors with a "B" average at participating SUPA partner schools
In this dual-enrollment course, you will learn household personal finance by framing everyday money matters within fundamental economic analysis. You will cover essential topics like banking, credit, loans, investing, insurance, taxes, and retirement planning. To apply these concepts, you will complete practical activities such as building personal budgets, evaluating fixed versus adjustable-rate mortgages, calculating tax deductions, and comparing mutual funds. The program delivers a rigorous, credit-bearing Syracuse University curriculum directly inside your own high school classroom. Ultimately, you will develop the critical analytical skills needed to evaluate emerging financial products and make informed financial decisions throughout your life.
2. Introduction to Financial Accounting (ACC 151)
Location: Local participating high schools (Concurrent Enrollment)
Cost: $460 ($115 per credit hour; ACC 151 is a 4-credit course)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies (determined by your local high school's class enrollment)
Dates: Follows your local high school's academic calendar (Full-year or semester)
Application Deadline: Varies by term (Typically November for Fall and March for Spring)
Eligibility: High school seniors and select juniors at partner schools with at least a 'B' average
In this concurrent enrollment course, you will learn core financial accounting concepts directly within your own high school. You will explore essential topics like business operations, entrepreneurship planning, and the structure of financial statements. To apply these concepts, you will interpret real corporate data, evaluate the financial health of publicly traded companies, formulate investment choices, and complete a final project. This program is unique because it allows you to earn official Syracuse University credit while being taught by your local, specially certified teachers. By the end, you will develop practical skills in financial analysis, business management, and personal investment decision-making.
3. Cornell University (Precollege Studies) – Financial Accounting (AEM 2210)
Location: Online (Distance Learning - Asynchronous)
Cost: $5,820 ($1,940 per credit for this 3-credit course) + $75 application fee; limited partial, need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; typically capped at 30 students
Dates: Summer and Winter cohorts available
Application Deadline: Varies by cohorts
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors (must be at least 15 years old)
In this asynchronous online program, you will earn three official Ivy League college credits while gaining a comprehensive introduction to financial accounting principles. You will examine the format, creation, and underlying theory of the four main financial statements: the income statement, balance sheet, statement of shareholders’ equity, and statement of cash flows. Throughout the course, you will engage in practical activities such as reading standard corporate financial statements, analyzing applied business cases, and assessing the financial condition of real organizations. By completing these tasks, you will develop concrete skills in applying Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), navigating the accounting cycle, and evaluating organizational financial health.
4. Cornell University (Precollege Studies) – Intro to Business Management (Finance Module) (AEM 1200)
Location: Online (Distance Learning - Asynchronous)
Cost: $5,820 ($1,940 per credit for 3 credits) + $75 application fee; partial need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: Multiple 3-week sessions offered in Winter (January) and Summer (June–July)
Application Deadline: Varies by term (e.g., early May for Summer sessions, early December for Winter)
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors (ages 15 and up)
In this course, you will experience a rigorous, three-credit introduction to the fundamentals of business management. You will explore essential corporate topics, including human resources, marketing, finance, business strategy, and technological innovation. During the session, you will analyze real-world case studies, participate in virtual discussions, utilize business simulation tools, and collaborate on an integrative group project. This program uniquely allows you to earn an official Ivy League transcript and college credits while studying asynchronously from anywhere in the world. By the end of the course, you will have developed critical thinking, practical decision-making, and teamwork skills necessary for modern business leadership.
5. Columbia University – Introduction to Business, Finance, and Economics (BUFE0220)
Location: New York, NY or Online
Cost: $12,837 (Residential); $6,380 (Commuter); $4,017 (Online); need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; ~30 students
Dates: In-person Summer A: June 29 – July 17; Summer B: July 21 – August 7; Online: Summer A: July 6–17; Summer B: July 20–31
Application Deadline: Early: February 2; Regular: March 2 (In-person) / April 2 (Online)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12; international students welcome
In this course, you will explore the intricacies of corporate financial behavior and the dynamics of global markets. You will cover core topics including investment models, risk assessment, corporate cash sources, and the market valuation of stocks and bonds. During the program, you will decipher real-world accounting statements, analyze complex business case studies, collaborate on group investment presentations, and complete an independent financial research project. Ultimately, you will build skills in financial analysis, strategic investment planning, and quantitative valuation to prepare for your future academic and professional endeavors.
6. Southern New Hampshire Univ. (Dual Enrollment) – Personal Finance (FIN 250)
Location: At participating high school campuses or online (via partners like VLACS)
Cost: $100 total for 3-credit course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment / Non-selective; minimum of 6 students per high school class
Dates: Fall, Spring, or Summer (aligns with the high school academic calendar)
Application Deadline: Varies by high school
Eligibility: High school sophomore, junior, or senior; Must meet a minimum GPA requirement (typically 2.5–3.0, depending on your high school's specific dual enrollment rules)
In this dual enrollment program, you will learn the basics of personal money management using a unique life-cycle approach that helps you plan for every stage of your life. You will study topics such as career planning, budgeting, using credit cards wisely, buying insurance, investing, and planning for retirement. During the class, you will engage in practical activities such as setting short-term financial goals, understanding basic tax issues, planning for long-term retirement, and developing a comprehensive final financial plan. By the end of the class, you will gain real-world skills in budgeting, managing financial risk, and choosing the best investments to build your wealth over time.
7. Southern New Hampshire Univ. (Dual Enrollment) – Financial Accounting (ACC 201)
Location: Participating partner high schools (On-site)
Cost: $100 total for the 3-credit course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; minimum 6 students per class
Dates: Aligns with standard high school semesters (September or January starts)
Application Deadline: Varies by partner high school registration timelines
Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled at a partner high school (No universal GPA is mandated by SNHU, but your high school may require a C+ or better in prerequisite math/business classes)
The SNHU Dual Enrollment Financial Accounting program allows you to earn actual college credits while taking an introductory accounting class right at your own high school. You will learn foundational business concepts, including the accounting cycle, retail business inventory, long-term assets, liabilities, and corporate stock transactions. During the course, you will prepare financial statements, post company transactions to a ledger T-account, create an unadjusted trial balance, and write a summary report about a company's profitability. The program is taught by your own high school teachers who are officially certified as SNHU adjunct faculty, saving you thousands of dollars in standard college tuition.
8. University of Colorado Denver (CU Succeed) – Introduction to Financial Management (FNCE 1100)
Location: Participating Colorado High Schools (In-person at your high school)
Cost: Typically $77 per credit hour ($231 total), though some school districts pay this fee for the student; need-based tuition assistance and scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; usually 15–30 students per class
Dates: Aligns with the standard high school Fall or Spring semesters
Application Deadline: Varies by term (typically early September for Fall classes and early February for Spring classes)
Eligibility: Students at a participating Colorado high school generally need a minimum 3.0 GPA to enroll and to qualify for scholarships
In this course, you explore the fundamental tools of business financial planning by studying the valuation of securities, the risk-return relationship, capital budgeting, the management of current assets and liabilities, and international financial areas. You will complete practical activities like analyzing real financial statements, calculating the time value of money, evaluating corporate risk profiles, and solving capital budgeting scenarios. You experience rigorous university-level academics right inside your own high school classroom at a highly discounted tuition rate. By successfully finishing the class, you build an official university transcript and earn three transferable college credits.
9. Rutgers University (Dual Enrollment Eligible) – Personal Finance and Financial Decision-Making (01:220:110)
Location: New Brunswick, NJ (Rutgers Campus) and Online sections
Cost: ~$1,323+ (Standard Rutgers tuition of approx. $441 per credit for 3 credits, plus visiting student fees); very limited financial aid is available for visiting high school students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size varies by section (typically 30–50 students per standard college lecture)
Dates: Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters (follows the standard Rutgers academic calendar)
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the chosen semester
Eligibility: High school students who meet the required minimum GPA (typically 3.0 or higher) and basic math prerequisites
In this three-credit university course, you will learn the fundamentals of managing money and making smart financial choices for your future. You will cover practical topics like simple and compound interest, taxes, credit cards, student loans, mortgages, insurance, and retirement planning. During the class, you will complete online problem sets, use spreadsheets to calculate loan payments, analyze real-world case studies like buying versus renting, and build a personal budget. The class fulfills a formal quantitative reasoning college requirement rather than just acting as a basic summer camp. By the end, you will gain strong spreadsheet proficiency and quantitative reasoning abilities.
10. Spring Arbor University (Dual Enrollment) – Personal Finance (FIN 268)
Location: Online or On-Campus (Spring Arbor, Michigan)
Cost: Varies (often paid by your high school district; otherwise, standard tuition of $170 per credit hour with a semester technology/registration fee of $103 applies)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: Fall Term (August–December) or Spring Term (January–May)
Application Deadline: August 15 (Fall Term) and January 15 (Spring Term)
Eligibility: High school student; minimum 3.0 GPA required; must designate a parent or school official as a mentor
In this dual enrollment course at Spring Arbor University, you will take a real college class to learn how to manage your money effectively before graduating high school. You will cover basic finance, financial planning, budgets, financial statements, credit management, savings, personal risk management, insurance, retirement planning, and investments. During the semester, you will complete practical activities such as drafting personal budgets, evaluating different types of insurance policies, and analyzing real financial statements. A unique feature of this program is that you get to learn these concepts from a faith-based Christian perspective while earning college credits that transfer nationwide.
11. Manhattan Area Technical College (Dual Enrollment) – Personal Finance (BUS 111)
Location: MATC Main Campus, Online, or at participating high schools
Cost: Not specified, but applies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort size varies depending on the specific class section or high school
Dates: Spring: January 20 – May 15; Summer: June 1 – July 24
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors; must have a minimum 3.0 GPA; must submit a signed High School Approval Enrollment Form
In this course, you focus on the everyday management of your own money. Throughout the semester, you will cover practical topics including budgeting, banking, credit cards, borrowing, real estate, transportation, savings, investments, insurance, taxation, and retirement planning. You will complete activities such as calculating housing costs, analyzing credit card terms, building a personal budget, and mapping out a savings plan. The program directly focuses on the individual's viewpoint, while also serving as a guaranteed transfer course within the Kansas public college system.
12. Valencia College (Dual Enrollment) – Personal Finance (FIN 2100)
Location: Valencia College Campuses, Online, or Participating High Schools (Orange & Osceola Counties, FL)
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; typically 25–35 students per standard college class
Dates: Fall Term (August to December)
Application Deadline: Fall Term: February 26
Eligibility: High school student in Orange/Osceola County; minimum 3.0 Unweighted GPA (grades 6-11) or 3.0 Weighted GPA (grade 12); qualifying PERT, SAT, ACT, or CLT test scores
In this program, you learn how to make smart, informed choices with your own money. Throughout the term, you will explore everyday topics like financial planning, budgeting, managing credit, tax planning, insurance protection, investing, and retirement planning. To build real-world experience, you will practice making personal budgets, calculate how investments grow over time, compare different credit options, and map out a basic retirement strategy. The program enables you to earn both high school and college credits at the exact same time without paying any tuition. Ultimately, you will learn practical, lifelong skills, such as saving money, avoiding bad debt, and safely growing your wealth for the future.
If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI!
With Veritas AI, which was founded by Harvard graduate students, you can work 1-on-1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. Check out a past student’s experience in the program here. You can apply here!
Image source - Cornell Logo