14 Finance Programs for High School Students in Chicago
If you are a high school student curious about saving, investing, running a business, and managing money, consider a finance program. Structured finance programs can introduce you to concepts like budgeting, investing, financial analysis, and risk management, and help you connect them to real applications through projects, case studies, and exercises. You will also learn from professors as well as finance professionals and analysts. As a participant, you may boost financial literacy and study aspects of money management at the personal, business, and even global levels.
Why should you attend a program in Chicago?
Chicago is home to top universities, financial institutions, and well-known organizations offering programs in finance, business, and economics. Through these programs, you may participate in stock market simulations, investment research, and financial literacy sessions that connect you with experts and like-minded peers. The programs can be a valuable stepping stone for all high school students interested in finance, whether you live in the city or are visiting Chicago to explore opportunities.
To help you find the right opportunity, we have narrowed down 14 finance programs for high school students in Chicago.
If you’re looking for programs in Chicago, check out our blog here.
1. Chicago Summer Business Institute
Location: Varies based on host company
Stipend: Paid; amount varies based on the host company
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies based on host company
Dates: Six weeks in the summer; dates vary
Application deadline: March 31; applications open on February 1.
Eligibility: 10th and 11th graders who live in Chicago, hold a “B” or 3.0 average, and have household incomes less than $80,000/year
The Chicago Summer Business Institute is a paid summer program that offers high school students the opportunity to explore careers in business and finance. As a participant, you will join a local organization and take on tasks that offer you real workplace experience focused on business and financial operations. In addition to carrying out site-specific tasks, you will attend weekly workshops focused on financial literacy, leadership, career readiness, and community involvement. The host organization will provide close mentorship and insights to help you plan a career in finance.
2. Veritas AI’s Deep Dive: AI + Finance
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 virtual lectures, code 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. One Summer Chicago
Location: Various companies across Chicago
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies
Dates: Typically, June – August
Application deadline: May 29
Eligibility: Chicago residents ages 14 to 24; students under 18 must secure their parents' or guardians' consent.
One Summer Chicago places high school students in local organizations and government institutions for internships or jobs. You will fill out an online application, and if an employer likes your profile, you will be invited to interview. Following your placement, you will typically work 20 to 25 hours/week during the summer months, engaging in assigned organization-specific tasks. The tasks vary by role, but this can be an opportunity to gain exposure to real workplaces and the daily operations of a local organization, including its financial decision-making.
4. Ladder Internship Program: Finance Track
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size:
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application deadline: Varies by cohort: January deadline for Spring cohort, May deadlines for Summer cohorts, September deadlines for Fall cohorts, and November deadline for Winter cohorts
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10 to 20 hours/week for 8 to 12 weeks
Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program that connects high school students with high-growth start-ups that typically raise over $1 million. Internships span a variety of industries, from finance, deep tech, and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. As an intern, you will work closely with a start-up manager and a Ladder Coach on projects that align with your interests and the organization’s goals. The experience can help you contribute to real-world projects in a professional setting and access opportunities to build professional skills. At the end of the virtual internship, you will present your work to the start-up. You can check details and apply here.
5. Genesys Works Chicago
Location: Multiple U.S. cities, including Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Eight-week summer training (before your senior year) + year-long internship (~20 hours/week during the school year)
Application deadline: Varies by city and school; typically, the application window opens in the fall or winter of junior year and decisions are announced by spring.
Eligibility: High school juniors who are on track to graduate and can work in the U.S.
Genesys Works offers high school juniors professional development opportunities that combine summer training with a paid internship at a corporate partner. You will start with an eight-week training program that covers business-tech skills, workplace communication, and project planning. Following training, you will join an organization where you will work during your senior year, contributing to various activities, including business and finance-related tasks. Throughout the internship, you will receive college and career coaching to help you navigate the college applications and financial aid processes.
6. Junior Economic Club: Chicago Chapter
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round events and activities
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
The Junior Economic Club of Chicago is a student-led nonprofit that allows you to become a member and attend events covering finance, economics, and entrepreneurship in a hands-on way. You can attend various finance-focused events, including sessions led by Federal Reserve economists, fintech founders, and executives from CME Group, and work on projects that let you apply economic thinking to real-world challenges. The club also runs the Careers in Business Internship Program, which places you in paid internships at startups, investment firms, or financial education organizations to gain experience in financial research, developing literacy tools, or policy work. In the past, interns have been placed at FinLit, Dekos Capital, and the Henry George School of Social Science.
7. On the Money (OTM) Internship
Location: Youth agencies in Chicago, IL
Stipend: $17.05/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 31; fall opportunities also available
Application deadline: April 17 (summer)
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors and college students who are Chicago residents
The On the Money Magazine Internship is a paid, hybrid program for high school students in Chicago who want to boost their financial literacy while learning to guide others in learning about finance. You will become a money mentor, undergoing training to conduct and lead hybrid financial education presentations for youth employees. Over the course of the program, you will find opportunities to meet with professionals in a career field of your interest. You will also earn a financial literacy certification.
8. After School Matters Programs
Location: Across multiple sites in Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by program type and site
Dates: Cohorts available in spring, summer, and fall
Application deadline: Varies by the cohort
Eligibility: Students who live and attend a high school in Chicago and are typically 14 to 18 years old
After School Matters is a non-profit that offers apprenticeship and outreach assistantship programs for high school students interested in boosting their career readiness. You will join a paid work program aligned with your interests, with roles typically available in business, marketing, and media. The experience can offer you insights into key organizational operations, including financial activities. If you apply for the apprenticeship program, you will gain hands-on experience in a specific subject. In the outreach assistantship, you will be introduced to the workplace environment and have the opportunity to contribute to group projects while receiving mentorship.
9. Summer Finance Day @ University of Illinois Chicago
Location: University of Illinois Chicago East Campus, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 26 (one-day event)
Application deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, 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.
The Summer Finance Day at the University of Illinois Chicago is a one-day program that introduces high school students to the world of finance and to future academic opportunities in the field. You will join interactive sessions led by UIC professors and current students to learn how corporate finance works and what studying finance in college is really like. The program covers topics like banking, corporate finance, and investment management. You will have the chance to ask questions, take part in activities, and explore different career paths. The event can offer you a glimpse into campus life, help you meet peers with similar interests, and connect you with current students and faculty.
10. NABA, Inc.’s Accounting Career Awareness Program (ACAP)
Location: Various college or university campuses across the U.S., including in Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: One week in the summer + year-round support; dates vary by year and site
Application deadline: April 17; applications open on January 20.
Eligibility: 9th and 10th graders with a minimum GPA of 2.0 + 11th and 12th graders with a minimum GPA of 2.5
ACAP, a program run by the non-profit NABA, Inc., is designed for students who want to explore paths in business, accounting, finance, and related areas. The program runs year-round, but a key feature is its one-week summer residential component. During the week, you will engage in career exploration activities, enroll in college-level classes on a university campus, and network with professionals through company visits. You will find opportunities to build financial literacy and skills in organization and communication. You will also work on projects, tour accounting firms and private-sector companies, and explore case studies. You will live on campus and get a glimpse of college life.
11. Invest for Kids Summer Investment Challenge @ DePaul University
Location: DePaul University, Chicago, IL
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students/session
Dates: Session 1: July 27 – 31 and Session 2: August 3 – 7 (tentative)
Application deadline: June 1
Eligibility: High school students
The Summer Investment Challenge at DePaul University is a free program that introduces high school students to the fundamentals of finance and investing. During the program, you will learn about financial markets, asset classes, and investment strategies through seminars and workshops. You will gain hands-on experience using tools such as Excel and Bloomberg terminals while working in teams to analyze a company and develop an investment recommendation. Additionally, you will meet finance professionals and learn more about careers in the industry. The program concludes with a stock pitch presentation, where you will share your investment ideas with a panel and receive feedback on your work.
12. Chicago State University’s Summer Business Career Exploration Camp
Location: Chicago State University campus, Chicago, IL
Cost: $100
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – July 2
Application deadline: June 22
Eligibility: 10th, 11th, and 12th graders
Chicago State University’s Career Exploration Camps offer high school students opportunities to explore various fields through activities and guided instruction. One of the pathways focuses on business, introducing you to areas such as finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, and leadership. As a participant, you will learn through classroom lessons, field trips, and projects designed to help you explore business functions and develop workplace skills. This is also a chance to explore life on a university campus and get a glimpse into college-level academics.
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
Dates: June 15 – 26 | July 6 – 17
Application deadline: Priority deadline: January 28; rolling admissions thereafter
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 12
This virtual program allows you to explore the fundamentals of personal and corporate finance through virtual sessions. You will spend two weeks exploring topics like budgeting, saving, financial markets, credit, and investment analysis. You will work with real financial datasets and Excel to study how data informs decision-making in markets and everyday life. Through case studies, lectures, and exercises, you will learn about economic principles, boost your financial literacy, and understand how to make sound financial choices. Upon completing the program, you will earn a Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion.
14. Stevens Institute of Technology’s Quantitative Finance Virtual Summer Research Experience
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 31
Application deadline: March 16 (priority); June 1 (final)
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 introduces high schoolers to quantitative finance and research in the field over four weeks. The program covers the overlap between finance, data science, and programming, allowing you to explore statistical techniques, practice coding in Python and R, and learn foundational financial modeling skills. The curriculum emphasizes applying data to real financial decision-making. You will also earn Bloomberg Market Concepts and Capital IQ certifications, gaining exposure to industry-standard tools and credentials that you can use for future career opportunities.
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