15 Finance Summer Programs for High School Students in Illinois
If you are a high school student interested in finance, summer programs can be a great way to explore the field beyond the classroom. Finance programs offer you exposure to real industry insights and case studies and the guidance of faculty and industry mentors to help you dive into finance and develop analytical thinking, decision-making skills, and financial literacy. As a participant, you may work on investment simulations, learn the basics of corporate finance, explore markets, or practice presenting business insights, all while strengthening your communication and teamwork skills.
Why should you attend a program in Illinois?
Illinois is home to leading universities and business and investment hubs that offer accessible summer programs focused on finance. From learning experiences led by renowned business schools to exposure to Chicago’s vibrant financial district, these programs can help you explore accounting, economics, data-driven financial analysis, entrepreneurship, and investment strategy. Illinois programs also offer access to strong mentors, diverse course offerings, and proximity to major financial institutions, making the region a great place to explore your interests and build a meaningful network.
To help you get started, we have put together 15 finance summer programs for high school students in Illinois.
If you are looking for internships in Illinois, check out our blog here.
1. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Various locations throughout the U.S., including Illinois + one-week Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C.
Stipend: Available; amount not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~300 students across the U.S./year
Dates: Eight-week summer internship; dates vary
Application deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors eligible to work in the U.S.
Bank of America Student Leaders connects high school students with meaningful, paid summer internship experiences at nonprofit organisations in their communities. Over eight weeks, you will work full-time supporting a nonprofit’s operations, outreach, marketing, fundraising, and/or communications, taking on real responsibilities and gaining exposure to professional environments. Throughout the summer, you will build practical skills like project management, written communication, problem-solving, and teamwork while contributing to mission-driven work that impacts local communities. In addition to working with the local nonprofit, you will have access to a week-long Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., where you will engage with peers nationwide, participate in workshops, and learn about civic engagement and service leadership.
2. Veritas AI’s AI + Finance Deep Dive
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, with sessions running in the spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application deadline: May deadlines for summer cohorts. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students who have either finished the AI Scholars program or have prior coding experience
Veritas AI’s AI + Finance program is designed to help high school students explore how artificial intelligence is used in financial analysis. Led by Harvard graduate instructors, the virtual program combines instruction and practical exercises to help you learn how to work with AI tools to analyze financial datasets. Through online lectures, coding walk-throughs, and guided projects, you will explore how machine learning models detect patterns, predict market behavior, and inform decision-making in finance. At the end of the program, you will present your work with your team. You can learn more about the program through its brochure.
3. Genesys Works Chicago
Location: Multiple U.S. cities, including Chicago
Stipend: Paid internship (typically, $10,000 – $13,000)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Eight-week summer training (before senior year) + year-long internship (~20 hours/week during school year) for selected candidates
Application deadline: Varies by city and school; typically, the application window opens in the fall or winter of junior year; decisions are announced by spring.
Eligibility: High school juniors who are on track to graduate and are able to work in the U.S.
Genesys Works offers high school juniors a paid professional development experience that combines summer training with a year-long paid internship at a corporate partner. You will start with an intensive eight-week summer program where you learn business-tech skills, workplace communication, and project planning. After training, you will be placed in an organization where you will work during your senior year, contributing to tasks such as IT support, data entry, process improvement, and client communication. Throughout the internship, you will receive ongoing support, including college and career coaching to help with applications, financial aid, and long-term planning.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Finance Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, with sessions running in the spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application deadline: May deadlines for summer cohorts
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program allows you to investigate a topic in finance through individualized research work under the guidance of a Ph.D. mentor. You will select an area of interest, formulate questions, and develop a full research paper with the help of your mentor’s feedback and sessions with a writing coach. You can choose focus areas like macroeconomic analysis, investment theory, fintech, or market behavior. You will complete the program with an independent research paper, which you can present at the Lumiere Research Symposium to mentors and peers.
5. Chicago Summer Business Institute Internships
Location: Chicago Summer Business Institute, Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Six-week internship; typically, June–August
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors who are residents of the City of Chicago; applicants must have a B (3.0) GPA or higher and come from a family with a household income below $80,000/year.
The Chicago Summer Business Institute runs a paid internship program that gives Chicago high school students hands-on exposure to the business and financial world. Over six weeks, you will work in real office settings, such as banks, law firms, accounting offices, or corporate departments, contributing to meaningful tasks alongside professionals. In addition to workplace experience, the program combines classroom seminars and workshops that can help you explore business fundamentals, build leadership skills, and practice professional communication. You will also attend sessions led by guest speakers from finance or business.
6. Economic Awareness Council’s On the Money Internship
Location: Chicago, IL
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohorts/session
Dates: Summer internship typically runs from June to August
Application deadline: On a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students residing in Chicago
On the Money is a paid internship for Chicago high school students interested in finance. During the program, you will undergo training in economics, finance, and entrepreneurship while working toward a financial literacy certification. You will also write articles for On the Money Magazine, contribute to team projects, and help facilitate financial education workshops. You will attend weekly meetings, present your work, and get mentorship from professionals in business and finance. Your articles and presentations will be published and shared with audiences across the city.
7. UIC Business Summer Finance Day
Location: University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 13 (one-day event)
Application deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors in high school with at least a 3.0 GPA and an interest in business/finance; preference given to students who are considering UIC following high school graduation.
UIC Business Summer Finance Day is a concentrated, one-day introduction to finance and business for high school students curious about financial careers and college‐level business academics. Hosted on the University of Illinois Chicago campus, the event includes workshops, presentations, and discussions led by university faculty, giving you a peek into topics like financial systems, investment basics, and the real-world relevance of economic decision-making. Here, you will get a feel for campus life, meet peers with similar interests, and connect with current students and faculty. The program also offers insights into careers in finance.
8. DePaul University’s Invest for Kids Summer Investment Challenge
Location: DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: Five days in the summer
Application deadline: Not specified; check here for updates.
Eligibility: High school students
The Invest for Kids Summer Investment Challenge is a fully funded five-day program for high school students interested in finance. You will engage in workshops and seminars on DePaul University’s Lincoln Park and Loop campuses and across Chicago, diving into the city’s financial industry. You will learn about financial markets, asset valuation, and financial instruments while practicing working with Excel, Bloomberg terminals, and financial data. The program ends with a stock pitch presentation, allowing you to share your ideas with industry professionals and receive feedback.
9. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Gies College of Business’s Emerging Business Leaders
Location: Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
Cost: $250; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Week-long summer program (exact dates to be announced)
Application deadline: Applications typically open early in the year
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with a 3.2+ GPA
Emerging Business Leaders is a week-long summer experience designed to introduce rising high school seniors to the world of business and finance at a collegiate level. Hosted on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus, the program allows you to engage with Gies faculty, current business students, and alumni through discussions, interactive group work, and career-focused sessions. You will collaborate on business problem-solving activities, participate in workshops on personal branding and communication, and learn about the college-admissions process. On completing the program, you will receive a University of Illinois undergraduate application fee waiver.
10. Chicago State University’s Summer Business Career Exploration Camp
Location: Chicago State University campus, Chicago, IL
Cost: $100
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: June 30 – July 24
Application deadline: Not specified; TBA
Eligibility: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Chicago State University’s Career Exploration Camps give high school students the chance to explore various career fields through hands-on activities and guided instruction. One of the pathways focuses on business, introducing you to areas such as finance, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Here, you will take part in classroom lessons, field trips, and projects designed to help you understand business professions and develop essential workplace skills. This is also a chance to explore life on a university campus and college-level academics.
11. UChicago Summer Three-Week Immersion: Economics, Policy, and Finance Tracks
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: Residential: $9,300 | Commuter: $6,100; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Session 1: June 15 – July 3 | Session 2: July 7 – 23
Application deadline: Priority: February 11; Regular: March 12
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 11
UChicago’s Summer Immersion program offers high school students a three-week residential experience featuring undergraduate-level courses in economics, policy, and finance. Taught by university faculty, these classes reflect the rigor and academic intensity of regular UChicago courses. You will explore topics like economic theory, public policy evaluation, and financial systems through daily lectures. You will also get to learn from researchers and finance professionals through workshops, research projects, and other hands-on activities. If you choose the residential format, you can live in campus housing and get a realistic preview of college life.
12. Invest in Girls Financial Foundations
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not disclosed
Dates: Multiple sessions available throughout the year
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students who identify as girls
The Financial Foundations program offered by Invest in Girls is a three-part course series designed to increase female representation in finance. In Part 1, you will join live classes with other high school girls to learn essential personal finance skills. Part 2 introduces you to investing fundamentals such as stocks, mutual funds, and portfolio building. Part 3 focuses on preparing you for college applications, internships, and future careers in finance. On completing all sessions, you will receive a certificate of completion.
13. UPenn Wharton Global Youth Program: Financial Decision Making
Location: Online
Cost: $4,099 + $100 non-refundable application fee; fee waivers available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohorts/year
Dates: June 15 – 26 | July 6 – 17
Application deadline: Priority deadline: January 28; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12
UPenn Wharton’s Financial Decision Making program is an opportunity to explore the fundamentals of personal and corporate finance through virtual sessions. The program covers topics like financial markets, budgeting, saving, credit, and investment analysis. You will use real financial datasets and Excel to explore how data informs decision-making in markets and everyday life. Through lectures, case studies, and exercises, you will study economic principles, boost your financial literacy, and learn how to make sound financial choices. Upon completing the program, you will receive a Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion.
14. Dartmouth Precollege Online Program’s Finance: Investing & Market Insights Course
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,895; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple start dates available throughout the year, including in the summer; session lengths range from one to four weeks.
Application deadline: One week before the session starts
Eligibility: High school students, ages 13 and up
Dartmouth’s Finance: Investing & Market Insights course offers high school students a flexible way to build foundational finance knowledge under the guidance of Dartmouth instructors. You will explore core topics like financial markets, investment strategies, risk-return tradeoffs, company valuation methods, and financial statement analysis through video lessons. The curriculum breaks down complex concepts such as IPO mechanics, discounted cash flow valuation, and risk assessment into accessible units. You will also apply what you learn through a final capstone project, for which you will evaluate an actual investment opportunity. This virtual course can be an opportunity to explore how markets operate and how financial decisions are made.
15. Stevens Institute of Technology’s Quantitative Finance Virtual Summer Research Experience
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 30 – August 11
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; students with some coding and Excel experience are preferred.
This virtual program offered by the Stevens Institute of Technology is a six-week learning opportunity for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in quantitative finance. It is designed to introduce you to the overlap between finance, data science, and programming. You will study statistical techniques, practice coding in Python and R, and learn foundational financial modeling skills. The curriculum emphasizes the application of data to real financial decision-making. You will also get to earn Bloomberg Market Concepts and Capital IQ certifications, gaining exposure to industry-standard tools and credentials you can use for future career opportunities.
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