10 Finance Summer Programs for High School Students in California
If you are a high school student interested in finance, summer programs can be a great option to explore. These summer programs allow you to acquire practical knowledge about business growth, economic balance, or the impact of technology on financial systems, and develop essential financial and analytical skills. They go beyond theory, illustrating how finance intertwines with leadership, policy, and innovation, and helping you learn the various applications of finance.
Across California, many universities and organizations offer structured opportunities to study topics like economics, accounting, data analysis, and financial modeling. From introductory courses at major universities to specialized research, you can find a learning style that matches your interests. These programs also allow you to learn from professionals and professors, helping you build a network. Whether you are a California local or an out-of-state student, you can find a program that aligns with your interests and lets you explore the various opportunities available to you in the state.
In this blog, we’ve listed 15 finance summer programs for high school students in California that cover a range of skill levels and approaches.
1. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Various locations throughout the U.S., including California; the Student Leaders Summit takes place in Washington, D.C.
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 8 weeks during June to August (including a week-long Student Leaders Summit in Washington, DC from July 21 – 26)
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who are authorized to work in the U.S. and permanent residents of one of the eligible locations
The Bank of America Student Leaders program allows high school juniors and seniors to work with various nonprofit organizations and serve their communities over the course of an eight-week internship. Students support the daily operations of a nonprofit organization and learn how they collaborate with businesses and government agencies to help their communities. They can assist with different tasks, learn about the daily operations, and understand how decisions are made. Participants also attend a week-long Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where they can meet other students and utilize the skills they learn during their internship.
2. Veritas AI's Deep Dive: AI + Finance
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program or have a background in coding
The Veritas AI Deep Dive in AI and Finance introduces high school students to how artificial intelligence is reshaping the financial industry. Over 10 weeks, you’ll work in small groups to build hands-on projects that apply machine learning to real financial problems, like predicting stock prices or detecting fraud. Guided by AI experts and mentors, you’ll learn key concepts such as exploratory data analysis, regression models, and neural networks. The course combines lectures with coding notebooks and practical exercises that simulate real-world financial analysis. It’s an ideal finance summer program for students looking to merge data science with business insight.
3. Investments, Financial Planning & You (IFPY)
Location: University of California, Irvine, CA
Cost: $1,395
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Week 1: July 7 – July 11 | Week 2: July 14 – July 18 | Week 3: July 28 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling until sessions are full
Eligibility: Incoming high school freshmen to recently graduated seniors
This finance summer program for high school students in California walks you through the process of building a personal wealth management plan. You’ll study how investments, real estate, and retirement savings contribute to long-term financial stability. Interactive elements like case studies, simulations, and group projects help you practice financial analysis in real time. The curriculum moves from exploring investment vehicles such as bonds, ETFs, and mutual funds to analyzing portfolios using Bloomberg tools. You’ll also discuss career paths in finance and present your own strategy at the end of the week.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program—Finance Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Academically strong high school students
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program gives students the chance to conduct original research under the guidance of world-class mentors. In the Finance Track, you’ll spend 12 weeks developing a research question, analyzing data, and writing a 15-page paper on a topic such as behavioral economics, financial policy, firm technology adoption, and more. You’ll have one-on-one sessions with a researcher, workshops on research methodology, and writing support throughout the process. The experience culminates with presenting your findings at the Lumiere Research Symposium. This finance summer program for high school students offers a rare opportunity to perform independent academic research, preparing you for future work in economics, finance, and data-driven disciplines.
5. UC Santa Barbara Summer Research Academies—Money Moves Track
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $2,775 (commuter); $8,774 (residential). Scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 25 – July 25
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: 9th, 10th, or 11th grade students minimum 3.60 weighted GPA
If you’re interested in how money, consumption, and corporations shape modern life, this program offers an academic approach to finance and economics. Early in the program, you’ll form a group, develop a research question, and test your ideas through labs and discussion. Later, you’ll analyze your findings and present them in a capstone seminar. The curriculum draws from sociology, political science, economic theory, and philosophy, giving you a broad context for understanding financial systems and decision-making. This finance summer program for high school students helps you develop analytical, writing, and presentation skills that connect social science to finance.
6. UCLA Introduction to Investments Summer Institute
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $350 registration fee + $61 IEI fee + $2,524 (commuter) or $2,170 (virtual). Scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session A (Commuter): June 23 – July 11; Session B (Virtual): June 23 – July 11
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: High school students with a 3.0 cumulative GPA (unweighted) who are at least 15 years old by the start of the program
At the UCLA Introduction to Investments Summer Institute, you’ll build a solid foundation in financial literacy and explore how global markets operate. Through lectures led by university faculty and discussions with economics majors, you’ll examine how money, banking, and investments shape both individual choices and entire economies. This finance summer program for high school students in California introduces you to financial markets, stock ownership, valuation, and quantitative analysis without requiring prior economics or math experience. You’ll analyze real-world case studies to understand how market trends influence investment strategies. Topics also extend to venture capital, private equity, and hedge funds, giving you a well-rounded view of the finance industry.
7. UC Santa Barbara Research Mentorship Program
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Cost: $5,175 (commuter); $12,474 (residential). Scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 4 – 6%
Dates: June 16 – August 1
Application Deadline: March 17
Eligibility: 10th or 11th graders with a minimum 3.80 weighted GPA
Through UCSB’s Research Mentorship Program, you’ll conduct hands-on research alongside university mentors and contribute to active academic projects. The experience begins online, where you’ll learn research methods and meet your mentor before moving to campus for six weeks of intensive work. You’ll dedicate significant time to fieldwork, data collection, and analysis while developing a technical research paper and formal presentation. Projects may span disciplines such as economics, environmental policy, and statistics, giving you the chance to explore how financial and social systems intersect. By the end of this program, you’ll have a stronger grasp of how university-level research supports real-world problem-solving.
8. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY)
Location: Haas School of Business, Berkeley, CA
Cost: $80 application fee + tuition costs (TBA)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 50 students
Dates: Session I: July 5 – 19 | Session II: July 19 – August 2
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school students
At UC Berkeley’s Business Academy for Youth, you’ll explore the fundamentals of entrepreneurship while learning how to turn an idea into a viable business. Over two weeks, you’ll study topics such as marketing, accounting, finance, and management, applying what you learn through a team-based business plan project and culminating in a final business plan presentation. Sessions on leadership, negotiation, and presentation skills help you understand how business decisions are made and communicated. You’ll also examine how funding works for startups and how market research guides product development. This finance and entrepreneurship summer program for high school students in California offers a comprehensive view of how businesses grow from concept to execution.
9. Pacific Summer High School Institute—Business and Society
Location: University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
Cost: $3,800 (discounts available for eligible applicants)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 1 – 11 | Session 2: June 16 – 26
Application Deadline: Session 1: May 11 | Session 2: May 25
Eligibility: High school students
The Business and Society track at the University of the Pacific’s Summer High School Institute offers multiple ways to explore finance and entrepreneurship. This finance summer program for high school students in California combines practical business skills with university-level engagement. You can learn the foundations of building a business, from modeling to investor pitching, or focus on financial literacy through courses like Taking Control of Your Financial Future and Investing in Stocks. Each course combines theory with applied learning, whether it’s designing a business plan or executing trades through the Eberhardt Student Investment Fund. Working in small teams, you’ll practice budgeting, planning, and strategic decision-making.
10. Stanford Summer Session
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Starts at $8,091 (commuter) and $18,443 (residential)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – August 17
Application Deadline: Early decision: December 13 (high school slots are usually filled by this round)
Eligibility: Current sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are aged 16–19
Stanford’s Summer Session gives you the chance to study alongside college students and experience the university’s full academic and campus life. High school students can choose from more than 130 courses, including Introduction to Financial Decision-Making, Accounting for Managers and Entrepreneurs, and Discrete Probability Concepts and Models. You’ll earn official Stanford credit while exploring economics, business, and management topics in small, discussion-based classes. This finance summer program for high school students provides a taste of university-level study at one of the world’s leading research institutions.
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