15 Free Finance Summer Programs for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in or considering a career in finance, a free summer program is a great way to explore the field and gauge your potential, without any cost. Summer programs offer opportunities to explore topics that are often not covered in the high school curriculum. You’ll gain practical skills, discover new interests, and build confidence in applying financial concepts to real-world situations. Since these summer programs are free of cost, it makes them accessible to more people.
Some programs provide a solid introduction to financial basics like budgeting, while others help you with advanced topics around investing and risk management. Whether you're interested in combining finance with AI, mastering corporate accounting, or building skills to launch a career in finance, these programs offer a solid foundation. You can also work with and learn from professionals in the field and interact with like-minded individuals to start building your network.
With that, here is a list of 15 free summer programs in finance for high school students. All the programs are either free of cost or offer financial assistance.
15 Free Finance Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Young Entrepreneur Program Kansas City (YEP KC)
Location: Remote + In-person options in various locations across Kansas City, Missouri
Cost/Stipend: $12-14 per hour and $2,500 scholarship ($1,250 per session)
Dates: Session 1: June 2 – June 27 | Session 2: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: February 17
Eligibility: High school students completing their junior or senior year
The Young Entrepreneur Program is a finance internship for high school students with a focus on entrepreneurship. You’ll be placed at one of the 15 high-growth startups that YEP partners with, and work in fields like finance, engineering, and analytics, among others. You’ll be expected to work 30-hour workweeks at a company based on both your interests and talent. Beyond this, you’ll go for weekly site visits to gain on-field knowledge of how startups function. Past internships have included working in the finance, marketing, and sales departments at C2FO.
2. Veritas AI's Deep Dive: AI + Finance
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type.
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
The Veritas AI Deep Dive is a 10-week course for ambitious high school students interested in the field of AI and finance. Through the AI + Finance Deep Dive, students gain a deeper understanding of AI applications in the financial field. They get a chance to engage in lectures, code walkthroughs, and real-world projects using AI & ML models to predict future financial patterns using past data, forecasting stock prices, and more. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
3. University of Kansas: Summer Venture in Business (SVB)
Location: The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Dates: Session 1: June 15 – June 20 | Session 2: July 13 – July 18
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising 11th- and 12th-grade students
The Summer Venture in Business (SVB) at the University of Kansas is a pre-college summer academy for high school students interested in the field of business. Hosted by KU’s School of Business, this program offers a taste of college life, covering both academics and social aspects, while also giving you a glimpse into business topics. You’ll participate in sessions led by KU School of Business faculty and take part in panel discussions with peers and alumni. Apart from this, you’ll engage in workshops and go for industry tours with SVB corporate sponsors.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation - Finance Track
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; full financial aid is available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. In the finance track, you can choose research topics from subjects such as finance, economics, business, entrepreneurship, and more. This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper. You can apply here!
5. Loyola Marymount University Save It Forward (SIFI)
Location: Loyola Marymount University (Hilton Center for Business), Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Dates: June 23 – June 27 | July 7 – July 11 | July 14 – July 18
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students
The Save It Forward Initiative (SIFI) at Loyola Marymount University is a summer residential program designed for high school students to develop financial literacy skills. You’ll learn practical money management through real datasets and interactive workshops, under mentorship from current LMU undergraduate students. The curriculum also includes investing basics, the stock market, credit and loan management, and preparing for major life purchases, such as a home or a car.
6. Leeds School of Business: Business Leadership Program (BLP)
Location: University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Dates: June 21 – 27
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Current high school juniors
The Business Leadership Program (BLP) at the University of Colorado offers a residential summer learning experience focusing on problem-solving in an evolving business world. The program is hosted by the Opening Doors to Achievement (ODA) office at the Leeds School of Business. Throughout the week, you’ll gain insights from Leeds professors and staff through interactive hands-on activities. You’ll team up with peers to create and execute a marketing campaign for one of CU Boulder’s corporate partners. If your team wins the case challenge set, you’ll receive a $1,000 scholarship to the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business.
7. UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business: Future Leaders Initiative
Location: UC Irvine, Irvine, CA
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Dates: July 21 – 26
Application Deadline: April 6
Eligibility: Incoming high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Merage School Future Leaders Initiative (FLI), offered as part of UC Irvine’s pre-college programs, provides underserved Southern California high school students an opportunity to explore careers at the intersection of STEM and business. Through the six full-day sessions at UC Irvine, you’ll develop the fundamentals of financial literacy under the mentorship of UC faculty. Key areas of instruction include Investment, Healthcare Management, Digital Transformation, and Entrepreneurship. You’ll also have access to Google Career Certificates in fields like Data Analytics, E-commerce, and User Experience Design, among others. Beyond on-campus activities, you’ll go for local site visits to companies including NVIDIA, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Samsung, and Hyundai.
8. Kelley Women's Leadership Institute
Location: Indiana University in Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, or Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded
Dates: Virtual Sessions: November 5 & November 12
Application Deadline: October 3
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
The Kelley Women's Leadership Institute is designed to introduce high school students to business career opportunities and provide them with a college experience. You’ll engage in lectures with the Kelley School of Business faculty, explore business case projects with peers, and identify your areas of interest for career options. The institute aims to increase the representation of women in business by equipping them with relevant skills.
9. Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI)
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Stipend based on your assigned project
Dates: Varies based on work-site
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors living in Chicago who have at least a B average and a family income under $80,000 a year
The Chicago Summer Business Institute provides on-the-job experiences to high school students willing to learn practical skills in the field. Past internships through CSBI have included working in the City of Chicago’s Department of Finance, Siebert Brandford Shank and Co., and Cabrera Capital Markets, among others. You’ll divide your time between your working site and weekly seminars around career readiness and leadership skills. The program culminates in a graduation ceremony with a talk by the Mayor or the City Treasurer of Chicago.
10. NYC Ladders for Leaders Internship Program
Location: Placements in NYC-based corporations, nonprofits, or government agencies in NYC, NY
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded, stipend offered of ~$16.50 an hour
Dates: Varies based on project
Application Deadline: February 3
Eligibility: High school and college students, ages 16–21, residing in New York City; must be eligible to work in the U.S.
Through the Ladders for Leaders Summer Internship Program, high school students can take part in paid summer internships with NYC corporations, non-profits, and government agencies for six weeks. Offered as part of NYC’s Summer Youth Employment Program, this experience helps you build on your educational and career interests. You begin with a 30-hour pre-employment training, then work through the summer at your assigned site for 25 to 40 hours per week, and leave with an alumni network to connect with prospects.
11. Invest in Girls & Brown Advisory Summer Internship
Location: Brown Advisory offices in Boston, New York City, and Baltimore
Stipend: $650
Dates: July 7 – 10, 14 – 17, and 21 – 24
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: Rising 11th or 12th grader who is either a current or past participant in an IIG Program, a past competitor in the National Personal Finance Challenge, or a past competitor in the National Economics Challenge.
The Invest in Girls and Brown Advisory Summer Internship is a three-week opportunity for high school students to explore finance career options directly in the field at a leading investment and strategic advisory firm. Over a total of 50+ hours, you’ll learn from Brown Advisory staff and leaders across the firm, shadow individuals, and finally complete a project related to investments and current events, including the intersection of AI in finance. IIG is run by the Council for Economic Education, which provides resources for the K-12 pipeline.
12. IU CIBER – Business Is Global: Summer Language Program
Location: Indiana University in Bloomington, Bloomington, IN
Cost: $2,000; Need-based full program scholarships available
Dates: June 22 – July 5
Application Deadline: April 14
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Business Is Global: Summer Language Program at Indiana University is a two-week summer residential program for high school students interested in the intersection of business, language, and culture. Past areas of focus have included languages spoken in the economies of the Middle East, Brazil, East Asia, and Europe, along with international business fundamentals. The program consists of two-day sections, with mornings dedicated to attending a business and a language session. Afternoon sessions will include interactive exercises around the current political and business climate. You’ll work in teams on a group project throughout the two weeks, and present it on the final day at the closing reception.
13. Wharton Global Youth Program: Essentials of Finance
Location: Philadelphia, USA (on campus)
Cost/Stipend: $7,899. Need-based scholarships and financial awards help with full or partial funding for selected participants.
Dates: June 8 – 21 | June 22 – July 4 | July 13 – 26 | July 27 – August 9
Application Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 9–11
Wharton's Essentials of Finance is a two-week summer program for high school students to explore personal and corporate finance fundamentals through hands-on, real-world learning. You’ll attend lectures and presentations from Wharton faculty, lecturers, and PhD students on topics like the time value of money, the trade-off between risk and return, equities, and corporate accounting. As part of the program, you'll work on an analysis project in a small team with your peers. You'll also get to experience campus life firsthand by living on campus and engaging with the university community.
14. Financial Foundations: Invest in Girls
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: High school students who identify as girls
The Financial Foundations course by Invest in Girls is a three-course series designed to increase the diversity of women in the finance field. In Part 1, you will learn the basics of personal finance through live courses, with a group of high school girls and a dedicated teacher. For part 2, you’ll explore the basics of investing, including stocks and funds, and how to build your investment portfolio. Part 3 prepares you for applying to college, finding internships, and pursuing a career in finance. IIG is a program of the Council for Economic Education, providing resources for the K-12 education pipeline.
15. Wharton Global Youth Program: Financial Decision Making
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $4,099. Need-based scholarships and financial awards help with full or partial funding for selected participants.
Dates: June 16 – June 27 | July 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students
Financial Decision Making is a two-week summer program for high school students. You’ll attend live lectures from program instructors for about two hours, plus an hour of recitation led by Teaching Assistants (TAs). You’ll collaborate with peers on group projects centered around future financial planning while developing skills through working with real financial data. You’ll also join the Wharton Global Youth Meetup (GYM), an online community for students in Wharton Global Youth’s online summer programs. This community is open for ten weeks, giving you the chance to explore new topics and learn alongside your peers.