13 Finance Programs for High School Students in New York State
If you are a high school student in New York interested in the world of finance, business, investing, or entrepreneurship, consider a finance program. These programs can provide valuable insights into money management, investment strategies, and the operation of financial markets. As a participant, you will explore topics such as accounting, global finance, and investing, which are not covered in the school curriculum. You will also gain industry insights, which can help you pursue a career in finance.
New York is home to some of the nation’s top universities and institutions offering specialized finance programs. Many in-state students can attend these programs without the major cost of long-distance travel. From introductory courses to advanced programs covering topics like corporate finance, fintech, and risk management, there are a large number of options for you to explore.
In this article, we have curated a list of 13 finance programs for high school students in New York State.
1. Bank of America Student Leaders
Location: Local nonprofit placements across the U.S., including in NY + a summit in Washington, D.C.
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June – August; eight-week program including the Student Leaders Summit: July 21 – 26
Application deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school seniors and juniors who are eligible to work in the U.S
This eight-week paid summer internship is designed for high school juniors and seniors interested in building leadership skills and learning how to serve the community. You will work with local nonprofits, gaining practical experience in areas like project management, communications, and finance while learning valuable workplace skills. The program also includes the Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you will meet peers from across the country, interact with leaders, and explore how public policy and social innovation can create change. The experience can offer insights into the work on nonprofits, including financial operations, budgeting, and organizational money management.
2. Veritas AI's Deep Dive: AI + Finance
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program or have prior Python experience
Application deadline: Varies by cohort
Dates: Vary by cohort; multiple 10-week sessions each year
Veritas AI runs various AI-focused programs for middle and high school students. The Deep Dive: AI + Finance program focuses on introducing you to applications of AI in the financial world. You will spend 25 hours in total engaging in lectures, code walkthroughs, and real-world group projects to explore the role AI can play in finance. For your project, you can use AI & ML models to predict future financial patterns using past data, forecast stock prices, or address any financial challenge. You can learn more about the program from its brochure and the application form.
3. LaGuardia Community College Summer Youth Employment Program
Location: LaGuardia Community College, Long Island City, NYC
Stipend: $16.50/hour for working up to 25 hours/week
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: July 1 – August 15 (three weeks)
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: NYC residents, ages 14–24, who are legally allowed to work in the U.S
The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) offered by LaGuardia Community College provides paid summer work opportunities to high schoolers interested in building professional experience and career readiness. You will be placed in units like business administration, education, customer service, and finance-related departments, where you will gain practical exposure to workplace environments. Along with placement-related tasks, you will engage in workshops on money management, career development, and project management. The program focuses on helping you build transferable skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving to build a career in a field of your choice.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Finance Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Varies; cohorts of varying lengths (12 weeks to a year) available in summer, fall, winter, or spring
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate high levels of academic achievement
This is a rigorous research program designed for high school students who want to explore an area and topic of interest in absolute detail. Here, you will work one-on-one with a Ph. D.-level mentor on an independent research project. You can choose research topics from a wide range of subjects, including finance. You will finalize a research question with support from your mentor and work with a writing coach to record your findings. At the end of the program, you will have your own research paper! You can learn about the application and available program formats here.
5. New York Institute of Technology High School Business Bootcamp
Location: Virtual or in-person at New York Tech NYC campus or Long Island Campus, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate: Open enrollment
Dates: Various one-day sessions in a year
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
The New York Institute of Technology High School Business Bootcamp is a free program that offers an introduction to key business concepts through interactive, faculty-led workshops. Here, you will explore topics like conflict resolution in culturally diverse business settings, financial literacy, investing strategies, and personal money management. Each workshop focuses on enhancing career readiness and business communication skills. You will also receive a certificate for every session you attend.
6. Fordham University’s Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom
Location: Fordham University’s Rose Hill Campus, Bronx, NY
Cost: $1,200; need-based discounts available for students with family incomes below $50,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 16 – 20 | June 23 – 27 | July 21 – 25 | July 28 – August 1
Application deadline: Rolling, starting from January; applications received by April 1 get priority
Eligibility: High school students
Fordham University’s Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom offers high school students an introduction to the world of finance. The program covers fundamental principles like the time value of money, asset allocation, risk management, and personal financial planning. You will also explore concepts like investments in stocks, bonds, and alternative assets, and emerging areas like cryptocurrency and fintech. The curriculum also focuses on economic fundamentals, historical financial context, and modern investment strategies. You will attend guest lectures led by Wall Street professionals and Fordham alumni to gain industry and career insights.
7. New York Institute of Finance’s Wall Street Stock Market & Investment Experience
Location: New York City, NY, typically at the NYIF facilities in the Financial District, in partnership with Westcoast Connection for the extended version.
Cost: One week: $3,599 (plus airfare) | Two weeks: $6,399 (plus airfare) | Commuter option: $1,899 (five-day tuition) or $3,499 (10-day tuition)
Acceptance rate/cohort: Up to 100 students selected
Dates: TBA
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
The Wall Street Stock Market & Investment Experience, offered by the New York Institute of Finance (NYIF) in collaboration with Westcoast Connection, offers an introduction to global finance. Over one or two weeks in NYC, you will learn directly from Wall Street professionals while tackling challenges like pitching sustainable business ventures, analyzing companies as equity analysts, and constructing stock portfolios. The curriculum covers topics like private equity, hedge funds, venture capital, commercial banking, portfolio diversification, ESG investing, and emerging technologies like FinTech, blockchain, and cryptocurrency. The program also offers access to guest speaker sessions, career development workshops, and guided tours of New York’s financial landmarks.
8. Columbia University’s Pre-College Courses: Becoming an Entrepreneur
Location: Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: ~$2,830 (one-week commuter fee) + $80 application fee + ~$50 materials
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 24 students/section
Dates: August 11 – 15
Application deadline: TBA; Registration generally opens in March
Eligibility: High school students
Columbia University’s Becoming an Entrepreneur course is a one-week summer program where you can learn how to turn your ideas into real ventures while you explore the various aspects of starting a business. Through interactive lectures and hands-on activities, you will learn about research, legal steps, financial planning, marketing, types of entrepreneurship, and the social impact of entrepreneurship. You will also explore the common pitfalls and success stories within the business world. Additionally, you will create and present your own business plan proposal.
9. NSLC International Business & Finance program
Location: Multiple university campuses, including Columbia University, New York, NY
Cost: $4,395; financial aid available
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 13 – 21 | June 25 – July 3
Application deadline: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 14 and 18 who have completed at least one year of high school
NSLC’s International Business & Finance program offers high school students the chance to step into the world of global business through hands-on learning and real-world experiences. During the program, you will explore topics like international markets, global trade, entrepreneurship, and financial management while engaging in simulations that let you practice making key business decisions. You will hear directly from business leaders and finance professionals, visit financial institutions, and gain insights into how companies operate on a global scale. Along with academic learning, the program focuses on leadership development, teamwork, and communication, helping you build soft skills crucial for a career in finance.
10. Columbia University’s Pre-College Courses: Introduction to Business, Finance, and Economics
Location: Columbia’s New York City Campus
Cost: $12,764 (residential) or $3,965/session (Virtual)
Acceptance rate: NA
Dates: June – August; multiple sessions of varying lengths
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
The Introduction to Business, Finance, and Economics Pre-College course offered by Columbia University focuses on the financial and economic behavior of firms. You will explore how companies operate, how financial markets work, and how investment decisions are made, while building a foundation in key economic principles. Through case studies, projects, and interactive lessons, you will practice analyzing companies, evaluating investment opportunities, and understanding risk and return. The course is offered both in-person on Columbia’s New York City campus and virtually, offering you the flexibility to participate from anywhere.
11. Stevens Institute of Technology’s Finance and Investing 1-Week Virtual Bootcamp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,500
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – 11
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Finance and Investing 1-Week Virtual Bootcamp offered by the Stevens Institute of Technology is designed for high schoolers who want to learn about money, markets, and investing. Over the course of one week, you will learn how to analyze companies, build and test investment portfolios, minimize risks, and maximize returns. You will also learn how to use professional tools like S&P Capital IQ to work with simulated and real asset portfolios. The program also offers insights to help you earn S&P certificates in the future to get a head start in finance. The program mixes short lectures with exercises to help you practice what you learn during the program.
12. UPenn Wharton Global Youth Program: Understanding Your Money
Location: Virtual
Cost: $329
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: Self-paced course; requires commitment of 13–15 hours
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
Understanding Your Money is a self-paced virtual program, offering high schoolers a flexible introduction to core economic and financial concepts. The course can help you build a foundation in money management, investing, and financial decision-making. Through video lessons, interactive activities, supplementary readings, and quizzes, you will learn how to earn, budget, and allocate resources while exploring the broader impact of financial choices on personal well-being. The curriculum emphasizes applying economic principles to real-life scenarios and making informed decisions about saving, spending, and investing.
13. Georgetown University’s Becoming an Investor: An Inside Look at Finance Online Pre-College Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895
Acceptance rate: Open enrollment
Dates: One-, two-, and four-week sessions available throughout the year
Application deadline: Varies; typically a week before the session starts
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 and up
This virtual program covers the fundamentals of building wealth and navigating today’s financial markets. Through online lectures, you will explore how modern innovations like fintech, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain are reshaping traditional investing, while also learning what happens behind the scenes when you buy a stock. The course also covers how companies are valued, how those valuations influence stock prices, and the broader factors that drive market movements. You will work on a final capstone project, in which you will analyze a company to gauge its potential for investors.
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