14 Finance Programs for High School Students in Washington State
If you are interested in topics such as finance, markets, business decisions, or the inner workings of organizations, consider participating in a finance-focused program. These programs often provide more than classroom instruction, offering practical experience in areas such as financial analysis, budgeting, investing, and strategic planning. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to receive mentorship from industry professionals or academic instructors and connect with them, helping you build your network.
Why should you participate in a finance program in Washington State?
Washington State hosts a variety of academic institutions, a vibrant business ecosystem, and organizations committed to leadership, equity, and experiential learning. Through structured coursework, simulations, internships, and research projects, you can analyze financial data, evaluate investment strategies, study economic trends, or develop business plans under the guidance of a supervisor. Whether you are a local student or applying from outside Washington, these programs provide access to established institutions and professional communities across the region.
In this blog, we’ve compiled a list of 14 finance programs for high school students in Washington State.
If you are looking for internships in Washington State, you can check out our blog here.
1. University of Washington – Summer Sessions: Finance Track
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost: Varies
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Mid-June – mid-August
Application Deadline: February 2 – June 21, July 23
Eligibility: High school students
The University of Washington’s Summer Sessions program allows you to take college-level courses and earn official college credit. You’ll attend classes on campus and learn directly from UW faculty, experiencing the same expectations placed on enrolled college students. The finance-related coursework emphasizes analytical thinking, academic discipline, and exposure to university-level material rather than simulations. You’ll also interact with a diverse student body, including current UW students and international participants. Credits appear on an official UW transcript, which may be transferable to other colleges.
2. Veritas AI: Finance Deep Dive
Location: Online
Cost: Varies; Full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple 8-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Various. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students with prior experience in AI/ML or a previous Veritas AI course
Veritas AI’s Finance Deep Dive explores the intersection of finance and machine learning, focusing on how data science is used in financial markets. As a participant, you’ll work through coding-based projects involving forecasting, risk analysis, and financial datasets using Python. Weekly mentor support helps you troubleshoot and refine your models. The structure is technical and project-heavy rather than lecture-based. You’ll finish the program with applied projects that demonstrate how AI tools can be used in finance. This is a good fit if you already have coding experience and want advanced, tech-driven exposure in finance.
3. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Offered in multiple locations in Washington State
Stipend: Paid
Cohort Size: ~300 students
Dates: 8 weeks
Application Deadline: January 15 (tentative)
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors in good academic standing who are legally authorized to work in the U.S.; More info here
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program focuses more on leadership and civic engagement than technical finance, but it still offers strong exposure to economic systems and community impact. During the program, you’ll spend eight weeks working with a nonprofit organization and learning how financial and policy decisions affect communities. A key highlight is the national leadership summit in Washington, D.C., where you’ll participate in structured discussions about economic inequality, leadership, and public policy. The program is selective and nationally recognized, which can be advantageous for college applications.
4. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary by 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!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup on real-world projects and present their work to the company. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
5. Young Executives in Our Community (YEOC)
Location: University of Washington Foster School of Business
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; Approximately 160-180 students
Dates: September 27 – May 16 (sessions throughout the year)
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores or juniors in Washington State
YEOC is a long-term college readiness program that introduces finance and business concepts over several months. You’ll attend Saturday sessions that include workshops, lectures, and case competitions. Financial analysis and budgeting are covered alongside leadership and consulting skills. You’ll be paired with a UW student mentor who supports college applications and academic planning. The program emphasizes access and equity while maintaining academic structure.
6. Academy of Finance at Ballard High School
Location: Ballard High School, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Free program; Includes paid internship
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: Ongoing during the school year; In the summer between junior and senior year
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students interested in business, economics, finance, or personal finance
This program offers a multi-year career pathway rather than a traditional summer program. As a participant, you will enroll in finance and business-related courses during the academic year and complete a paid internship during the summer. The program includes mentorship, professional networking opportunities, and exposure to firms such as KeyBank and KPMG. Additionally, you will engage in college exploration activities and industry visits. The structure is designed to support sustained skill development rather than short-term exposure.
7. Seattle University: Summer Business Institute
Location: Seattle University, Seattle, WA
Cost: $1,500 + $50 nonrefundable deposit
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: July 19 – 25
Application Deadline: April 15 (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders
The Summer Business Institute is a short residential program that introduces you to college-level business concepts, including finance, management, and marketing. You’ll live on campus and participate in lectures, team projects, and company visits. The program is credit-bearing and designed to mirror the pace of a real university business course. You’ll earn two college credits and gain exposure to collaborative academic work. There is also ongoing support for college and career planning after the program ends. This option is well-suited if you want a brief yet immersive introduction to business education.
8. Washington Business Week Summer Programs
Location: Various universities in Washington State
Cost: $600 – $1,350; Scholarships and financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by location
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students
Washington Business Week places you in a simulated company environment where you’ll run a business as a team. You’ll make decisions related to finance, marketing, and operations while competing with other teams. You’ll also benefit from mentors from the business community who will guide you through daily challenges and hear from guest speakers across different industries. The program emphasizes leadership, teamwork, and decision-making rather than academic theory. This is a practical, hands-on option for students exploring business broadly.
9. University of Washington: Business and Leadership Program
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost: Varies
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: July 5 – 17
Application Deadline: Spring (Exact date not specified)
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders and graduating seniors with an interest in business
The Business and Leadership Program is a two-week intensive summer experience that introduces you to business concepts, leadership skills, and real-world corporate insights, blending interactive workshops, team projects, and visits to leading Seattle companies. Hosted by the UW Foster School of Business, the program develops critical thinking, communication, and career readiness. You’ll engage in hands-on learning, collaborative case studies, and networking that prepare you for business pathways in college and beyond. You’ll also get to work together with other students in an academically challenging environment in the heart of Seattle’s dynamic economy.
10. TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) Seattle Program
Location: Seattle, WA (hybrid)
Cost: $399 (Discounted); $499 (Regular); Need-based scholarships available
Cohort Size: Up to 50 students
Dates: October 8 – January 7
Application Deadline: September 21
Eligibility: Washington State high school students (grades 9–12)
TYE focuses on entrepreneurship with strong exposure to startup finance. As a participant, you will work in teams to build a venture from idea to pitch, guided by experienced mentors. Topics include business models, customer research, and financial planning. The program uses lean startup frameworks and real-world case studies. It will conclude with a pitch competition for entrepreneurs and investors. This is a solid choice if you’re interested in finance through entrepreneurship.
11. University of Washington – Lead Forward: Fostering Equity in Business Program
Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: August 3 – 8
Application Deadline: February – April 30
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors in Washington state who want to explore business and leadership
The University of Washington’s Lead Forward program offers structured exposure to business, leadership, and professional environments through immersive programming. Over five days, you’ll participate in workshops, lectures, site visits, and roundtable discussions with professionals, faculty, and staff. The program emphasizes leadership development, teamwork, and understanding of how businesses operate in real-world settings. You’ll also explore potential college majors and career paths connected to business and related fields. Networking is a key component, with intentional opportunities to connect with peers and mentors.
12. Wharton Global Youth Program: Financial Decision Making
Location: Online
Cost: $4,099
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: June 15 – 26; July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: Priority: January 28; Final rolling
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
The Financial Decision Making program builds rigorous, applied financial reasoning skills that support future tech, business, and data-driven careers. Over two weeks, you’ll study personal and corporate finance through a curriculum developed by a Wharton professor specializing in capital markets. You’ll work with real-world datasets and practice using Excel to analyze financial decisions. Some core topics you’ll cover include budgeting, credit, investing, inflation, and risk management. The program emphasizes data-driven decision-making over memorizing theory.
13. Georgetown University – Becoming an Investor: An Inside Look at Finance
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895; Financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up
The Becoming an Investor: An Inside Look at Finance course provides a structured introduction to finance, investing, and fintech concepts that align closely with technology-driven careers. You’ll explore how financial markets work, how stocks are priced, and how investors evaluate risk and return. The course emphasizes applied learning through portfolio-building exercises and a final capstone project focused on analyzing a public company. You’ll also study valuation models, market infrastructure, and emerging areas like fintech and cryptocurrencies. Mentorship is built into the program, with guidance available throughout assignments and the capstone.
14. Wharton Global Youth Program: Understanding Your Money
Location: Virtual
Cost: $329
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Self-paced
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
The Understanding Your Money program builds foundational financial and economic literacy that supports future tech, business, and entrepreneurship pathways. As a participant, you’ll complete the program through Wharton Online at your own pace, working through four structured modules covering economics, money, budgeting, and investing. Instruction is delivered through video lectures by Wharton faculty, along with readings, activities, and quizzes to reinforce learning. The total time commitment is around 13-15 hours, making it manageable alongside school or other commitments. Upon completion, you will receive a Wharton Global Youth Program certificate that documents your academic interest in economics and finance.
Image source - Ladder Internships