13 Economics Summer Internships for High School Students
If you are a high school student looking to explore economics, you could spend your summer participating in an internship. Economics internships allow you to see how concepts from class connect to real projects in finance, policy, or business. You can research topics of your interest, work on projects, and collaborate with professionals to develop an understanding of the work involved in the field. You’ll often contribute to tasks during these experiences, helping you develop skills such as analysis, communication, and problem-solving. Along the way, you’ll gain exposure to industries where economics plays a central role and connect with mentors who can share insights about future academic and career paths.
To guide you through the options, we’ve put together a list of 13 economics summer internships for high school students.
1. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Nationwide (the Leadership Summit is held in Washington, D.C.)
Stipend: Provided; all expenses towards the trip to Washington, D.C. are covered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who have authorization to work in the United States, live in an eligible area, and have not participated in the program before.
Through the Bank of America Student Leaders Program, you’ll spend eight weeks in a paid internship at a nonprofit in your community, where you’ll learn how organizations manage budgets, fundraising, and financial planning. As a high school junior or senior, you’ll not only contribute to local initiatives but also see firsthand how nonprofits apply economic principles to keep their programs running. Beyond the local placement, the program includes a national leadership summit in Washington, D.C., where you’ll connect with peers from across the country. At the summit, you’ll take part in workshops and discussions on policy, business, and the role of economics in community development.
2. Veritas AI: AI + Finance Deep Dive
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program; need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: 10-week sessions; dates vary depending on cohort
Application deadline: May/June deadline for summer sessions. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship applicants must have either completed the AI Scholars program or have experience with AI concepts/Python
Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the AI + Finance Deep Dive, students gain a deeper understanding of AI applications in finance. You get a chance to engage in lectures, code walkthroughs, and real-world projects using AI & ML models to predict future financial patterns using past data, forecasting stock prices, and more. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
3. Fidelity Investments Asset Management High School Summer Internship
Location: Boston, MA
Stipend: Paid opportunity
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: 5 weeks from July-August
Application deadline: October (tentative)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The Fidelity Investments Asset Management High School Summer Internship focuses on giving you experience in the field of investment and portfolio management. By observing how professionals decide where to allocate assets, you’ll learn how economics underpins decisions about growth and stability in the financial world. For five weeks, you’ll work on projects that introduce you to investment strategies, financial analysis, and risk management. This paid program also emphasizes critical thinking, as you’ll analyze data and assess how different factors affect the performance of investments. Throughout the internship, you’ll be exposed to the challenges of balancing risk and reward in real-world financial markets. At the end, you’ll receive a certificate acknowledging your work.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Cost: Varies by program (financial aid available)
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
The Ladder Internship Program allows you to work virtually with high-growth start-ups, where economics is often at the core of decision-making. Over the course of eight weeks, you’ll take on real-world projects that might include market analysis, data research, or financial planning. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Since start-ups frequently work with limited resources, you’ll see how managers apply economic reasoning to questions of growth, investment, and competition. Each intern works closely with a mentor and a Ladder Coach, which means you’ll get both technical guidance and feedback on professional skills. Beyond your project, you’ll also participate in training sessions with other interns, building an understanding of how economics plays out across different industries.
5. Pentacle’s High School Internship Program
Cost: $600 stipend
Location: New York, parts virtual
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Program Length: Eight weeks
Eligibility: High school students
Pentacle, a New York City–based nonprofit organisation serving the performing arts community across the United States, offers a high school internship program that provides students with valuable work experience, mentorship, and career development over eight weeks. You will be paired with small businesses, where you will gain insight into economic frameworks and market dynamics. The program includes 5 hours per week of hands-on work with the assigned business partner and 2.5 hours per week of virtual professional development workshops. These workshops cover a variety of essential economic skills, including financial management and data collection and analysis.
6. U.S. Department of the Treasury Headquarters Student Internship Program
Location: Washington, D.C.
Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates and application deadlines: Spring Internship (January-May): October; Summer Internship (May-August): December; Fall Internship (September-December): June
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens are eligible to apply.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury Headquarters Student Internship Program places you at the center of federal economic policy, where you will support ongoing work in areas like domestic finance, international affairs, tax policy, and economic research. As an intern, you may collect and analyze financial data, prepare briefing materials, or assist with reports on pressing policy issues. You’ll also have the chance to attend official meetings, hearings, or conferences, gaining direct exposure to how government agencies shape the economy. This program is unpaid but provides a rare look at the decision-making processes that guide national and global financial systems.
7. Apprenticeship USA
Location: U.S.-wide placements, including Denver
Stipend: Typically paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies
Application deadline: Varies
Eligibility: High school students (specific eligibility may apply)
Through ApprenticeshipUSA, you can find varied paid opportunities that combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction, starting as early as age 16. Unlike a traditional internship, apprenticeships are employment-based, meaning you earn wages while also learning under the guidance of a mentor. Many pathways focus on economics-related industries such as banking, accounting, insurance, and business operations. Using the program’s searchable database, you can explore available apprenticeships, each with specific details about pay, eligibility, and duration. Over time, you progress in skill level and can receive a nationally recognized credential that is portable across employers.
8. Port of Seattle High School Internships
Location: Seattle, WA
Stipend: Paid opportunity (amount unspecified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive applicant pool
Application deadline: Applications typically open in May
Program dates: June-August
Eligibility: High school students, including recent graduates who are at least 16 years old with work authorization in the U.S.
The Port of Seattle High School Internship Program lets you explore how a major public institution supports both local communities and the regional economy. Interns are placed in departments tied to aviation, maritime operations, community engagement, and environmental initiatives, where you’ll contribute to projects that have an economic impact. Along the way, you’ll develop practical skills in project management, process improvement, and communications while learning how large organizations allocate resources and evaluate efficiency. The program also includes mentorship meetings, facility tours, and workshops that expand your professional awareness.
9. Young Entrepreneurs Program
Location: Kansas City, MO / Columbus, OH
Stipend: $12/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Session 1: June 2 - June 27; Session 2: July 7 - August 1
Application deadline: February 17
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors residing in Kansas City or Columbus
The Young Entrepreneurs Program places you in a paid internship where you will work with local businesses to see how entrepreneurship and economics connect in practice. Over the course of four weeks, you’ll take part in real projects that highlight skills like problem-solving, financial planning, and innovation. Since you’ll collaborate with both start-ups and established firms, you’ll notice how economic principles such as cost management and market demand affect business decisions. Successful participants receive a $2,500 scholarship, making it both a professional and academic opportunity. Alongside this, you’ll also network with business leaders throughout the program.
10. Chicago Summer Business Institute
Location: Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid opportunity (amount unspecified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 6 weeks from June to August
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors residing in Chicago with a GPA of B or 3.0 and a family income of $80,000 or less per year
At the Chicago Summer Business Institute, you’ll gain paid experience in the financial services sector while also building an understanding of how economics shapes local business decisions. The program was created to give high school students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, access to internships in finance and business. Alongside your internship, you’ll attend seminars and workshops that cover economic research, financial planning, and business strategy. Placement sites include organizations like investment firms and the City of Chicago’s Department of Finance, giving you practical exposure to how financial systems operate.
11. KP Launches High School Program
Location: You can intern at a Kaiser Permanente Medical Centre or business office closest to where you are. Find a location near you.
Stipend: Paid opportunity (up to $24/hour)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application deadline: Check the website for updates
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–19 with work eligibility in the U.S. and permanent residence in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area
The KP Launch High School Program is a seven-week paid internship designed to introduce you to the business and economic aspects of healthcare. Rather than focusing on direct patient care, you’ll work in areas such as healthcare administration, accounting, business operations, and communications. These placements allow you to see how hospitals and health organizations manage budgets, allocate resources, and measure efficiency in a system that affects millions of people. Alongside your daily work, you’ll attend weekly workshops to strengthen skills like project management, problem-solving, and communication. Mentorship and networking sessions give you a broader perspective on career options within healthcare economics and management.
12. TIP Intern Program – Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Location: Boston
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Summer placements, with potential for year-round extension
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-18 who have studied in the Boston Public Schools
Through the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s TIP Intern Program, you can step into a paid role that blends professional development with exposure to the financial sector. The program begins in the summer and combines day-to-day job assignments with mentorship, workshops, and coaching sessions designed to build your workplace skills. Many interns are placed in departments where financial data, economic research, or administrative support connect directly to the bank’s broader mission. If you perform well, you may be invited to continue year-round for up to three years, giving you extended access to professional settings. Alongside technical projects, you’ll also practice teamwork, problem-solving, and professional communication.
13. Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) Internship Program
Location: Boston area
Stipend: $15 - $18 (wages vary based on employers)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 6 -7 weeks between July - August
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: 9th-12th graders at Boston Public Schools who are 16 years old by July 1; Must have work authorization in the U.S.
The Boston PIC Internship Program links high school students with employer-paid summer positions through the Mayor’s Summer Jobs initiative. As a participant, you could work in one of more than 200 partner organizations across fields like finance, health care, law, or technology. Many students are placed in business and finance settings with companies such as Bank of America, John Hancock, Fidelity, or Liberty Mutual, where they might assist with accounting, marketing, or operations. Each placement gives you the chance to observe how economic decisions shape daily business activities and service delivery. Beyond the technical tasks, you’ll also build transferable skills in customer service, teamwork, and communication that are valuable for future opportunities.
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