11 Economics Summer Programs for High School Students in Texas
If you’re a high school student interested in understanding how economic ideas apply beyond the classroom, an economics summer program can be a good option for you. Through these programs, you can build practical skills in data analysis, policy thinking, and financial decision-making while connecting with mentors, professionals, and peers who share your interests. Many are hosted by well-regarded universities and organizations, giving you a chance to grow academically and explore possible career paths in the field.
Why should you attend a program in Texas?
Texas offers a range of summer programs in economics and related fields through its universities, research centers, and partner organizations. These programs allow you to apply classroom concepts to practical contexts such as research projects, simulations, or policy case studies. These can be a good fit for students studying or living in Texas, as well as for students from other states looking to explore academic opportunities in the region.
To guide your search, we have curated a list of 11 economics summer programs for high school students in Texas.
If you are looking for internships in Texas, check out our blog here.
1. Texas Tech University’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Stipend: $750
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are at least 17 by the start date and are U.S. citizens/permanent residents
Deadline: February 16
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program at Texas Tech University is a seven-week summer research experience that allows high school juniors and seniors to explore advanced topics in various fields, including economics. Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, participants conduct independent research on issues such as markets, policy, behavioral economics, or economic development. In addition to research, students attend seminars and discussions that introduce them to methods of economic analysis and academic inquiry. The program provides a stipend, housing, and the chance to present research findings at the end of the summer, offering a strong foundation for students interested in pursuing economics or related fields in college.
2. Veritas AI - Deep Dive: AI + Finance
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by program type; need-based financial aid available
Dates: Year-round cohorts available, including summer; check the website for details
Eligibility: High school students with prior Python experience or completion of the Veritas AI Scholars program
Deadline: Varies as per cohort. You can apply to the program here.
This advanced, project-driven program is designed for high school students with some experience with Python who want to understand how artificial intelligence is reshaping modern finance. Over ten weeks, students work closely with expert mentors to explore predictive modeling, machine learning, and real-world financial applications such as stock price forecasting, fraud detection and asset management. The experience is rigorous and technical, but highly applied, making it a strong fit for students curious about the intersection of computer science, economics, and financial systems. Veritas AI runs year-round cohorts, allowing students to join at multiple points throughout the year rather than waiting for a single summer intake.
3. McCombs Summer Programs
Location: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: Free (tuition, meals, and housing covered)
Dates: McCombs Future Executive Academy: May 31 – June 5 | Subiendo: The Academy for Rising Leaders: June 14 – 18 | Discover Yourself in Accounting Majors and Careers (DYNAMC): June 21 – 28
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors; Subiendo is open only to juniors attending Texas high schools
Deadline: January 31
These free, immersive summer programs at Texas McCombs give high school students a firsthand look at college life while exploring business, leadership, and accounting through hands-on workshops, case competitions, and mentorship from UT students and faculty. Over an intensive week on campus, participants learn from world-class professors and industry speakers, collaborate with peers, and build confidence as they navigate academic and professional settings, all while living on campus and experiencing Austin. The programs are especially supportive for students who are first-generation or have overcome social or economic barriers, without limiting who can apply.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Economics Track
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by cohort; need-based financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Eligibility: High school students with a strong academic record
Deadline: Varies by cohort (rolling deadlines throughout the year)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program’s Economics track pairs high school students with PhD mentors to explore real-world economic questions through independent research. Students work one-on-one with experts in areas like behavioral economics, public policy, development economics, and financial economics, progressing from question formulation to a full-length research paper over 12 weeks. The experience emphasizes critical thinking, data-driven analysis, and academic writing, offering students a close look at how economists study markets, institutions, and human decision-making. The program is especially well-suited for students considering economics, finance, public policy, or social science research at the university level.
5. 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
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
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
Deadline: January 15
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program is an eight-week paid internship that places high school students in nonprofit organizations to build leadership and workforce skills while supporting community development initiatives. Participants gain firsthand insight into how nonprofits manage resources, address local economic challenges, and contribute to social impact. The program also includes a weeklong leadership summit in Washington, D.C., focused on how government, business, and nonprofits collaborate to strengthen communities. Through these experiences, students develop a practical understanding of economic systems, policy, and civic engagement.
6. High School Investor Challenge — TCU
Location: Texas Christian University campus, Fort Worth, TX
Cost: $1,600 (includes room, board, and program expenses)
Dates: June 1 – 5 or June 15 – 19
Eligibility: High school students entering senior year (expected graduation in 2027) with a strong interest in investing
Deadline: April 1
The TCU High School Investor Challenge is an immersive, on-campus investing program designed for students who want an immersive introduction to securities analysis and portfolio management. Over five intensive days, participants learn how to evaluate companies, analyze financial data, and make informed investment decisions using professional-grade tools and resources. After the on-campus experience, students continue managing a virtual portfolio and submitting stock reports over several months, offering a longer-term view into how markets move and how investment strategies evolve. The program is well-suited for students interested in economics, finance, business, or investing who want early exposure to real-world market thinking.
7. Rice University - The Business of Economics
Location: Online
Cost: $1,795
Dates: Multiple 4-week sessions offered year-round
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
Deadline: Varies by session (rolling, session-specific deadlines)
The Business of Economics introduces students to how economic forces shape real business decisions, from pricing and production to labor markets, energy supply, and government policy. Through expert-led discussions and case-based learning, the course focuses on practical questions businesses face during inflation, market volatility, and policy shifts, helping students understand how economic theory plays out in the real world. Designed for students interested in business, finance, or economics-related careers, the program emphasizes applied thinking rather than abstract math. It concludes with a capstone project that asks students to analyze a complex economic scenario and propose policy responses.
8. Wharton Global Youth Program - Financial Decision Making
Location: Online
Cost: $4,099
Dates: June 15 – 26 or July 6 – 17
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
Deadline: Priority deadline January 28; rolling admission thereafter
Financial Decision Making at Wharton is a two-week intensive program designed to help high school students build a strong foundation in personal finance, financial markets, and economic decision-making. Grounded in a Wharton-developed curriculum, the program focuses on real-world financial choices like saving, investing, borrowing, and planning for inflation - while introducing students to how markets, banks, and monetary policy shape everyday outcomes. Students work with real datasets, case studies, and Excel-based analysis to strengthen quantitative reasoning and develop practical skills for managing money and evaluating financial trade-offs, making it especially relevant for those interested in economics, finance, or business-related paths.
9. UT High School Courses – Economics
Location: Online
Cost: $260 per semester course (additional fees apply for extensions, exam shipping, and grading requests)
Dates: Self-paced; students progress through eight units sequentially
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
The Economics (Free Enterprise) course offers high school students a flexible and self-paced introduction to both micro- and macroeconomics. Designed to help students become informed consumers, producers, and citizens, the course explores how individuals, businesses, and governments make decisions about scarce resources and examines the broader economic systems that shape markets. Students will learn to analyze supply and demand, evaluate business organizations, understand money and banking, study fiscal and monetary policy, and explore international trade. The program emphasizes practical application, giving learners the skills to interpret economic data and consider real-world implications of economic decisions, making it a strong foundation for anyone interested in business, finance, or economics careers.
10. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes - Principles of Macroeconomics
Location: Online
Cost: $3,200
Dates: Session One: June 15 – 26; Session Two: July 6 – 17
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-11 at the time of application
Deadline: March 13
The Principles of Macroeconomics course at Stanford gives high school students a comprehensive introduction to the broad forces that shape national and global economies. Through this program, students explore key macroeconomic concepts such as GDP, inflation, unemployment, financial and labor markets, and economic growth. By combining live online instruction with guided asynchronous assignments, learners develop critical analytical skills to understand economic trends and policies and make informed decisions. The course emphasizes real-world applications, helping students engage thoughtfully with economic discussions and gain insight into the factors that influence businesses, governments, and society.
11. UCLA Precollege - Python for Economists
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,770
Dates: July 13-31
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12
Deadline: July 3
This three-week virtual program offered by UCLA introduces high school students to Python programming with a focus on applications in economics and finance. Students learn to work with data types, perform fundamental data analysis, create visualizations, and explore statistical methods, including probability, regression, and time series. The program emphasizes hands-on projects and problem-solving, allowing students to justify positions using data and develop analytical thinking skills. Students also gain exposure to real-world economic examples and receive guidance from UCLA faculty and undergraduates, earning college credit while engaging with one of the top-ranked economics departments in the world.
Image source - Bank of America Logo