11 Online Economics Programs for High School Students

If you’re a high school student curious about economics, online programs are a solid way to explore the subject, no matter where you live. They teach you practical skills such as basic data analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and policy evaluation. They also often include project work or simulations that mirror real-world tasks. Many online economics programs are offered by universities, research centers, or industry organizations, providing exposure to academic frameworks and professional perspectives. 

Since online programs eliminate travel and relocation expenses, they are often more cost-effective and accessible. Participating in online economics programs can help you build tangible skills, gain early industry experience, and make useful connections with peers, faculty, and practitioners. If you’re thinking about economics, finance, public policy, or related fields, these programs are a practical way to test your interests before committing to college-level study. 

We’ve narrowed down our list to the top 11 online economics programs for high school students. 

1. Summer@Brown Online: Economics Track

Location: Virtual

Cost: Varies by program; Financial aid available

Acceptance Rate: Competitive 

Program Dates: June 16 – July 25

Application Deadline: May 9

Eligibility: High school students finishing grades 9-12 (ages 14-18) 

In this program, you’ll enroll in a college-level economics track through Brown’s flexible online summer program, choosing a session that spans two to six weeks. You’ll study subjects like behavioral game theory, mathematical modeling in finance, and economic development with an emphasis on real-world data and policy implications. You’ll also complete coursework that includes designing economic models, conducting experiments, writing analysis, and engaging in peer discussion and instructor feedback. As a participant, you’ll navigate the material asynchronously, often blending self-paced content with occasional live sessions, building discipline and critical thinking skills along the way. By the end of the program, you’ll receive a digital Certificate of Completion and—if enrolled in a 3-week course or longer—a Course Performance Report.

2. Veritas AI – Finance Track

Location: Remote

Cost: Varies by program type; Financial aid available

Acceptance Rate: Selective 

Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year

Application Deadline: Varies by cohort

Eligibility: High school students

Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the AI + Finance Deep Dive, you will gain a deeper understanding of AI applications in the financial field. You will have the opportunity to participate in lectures and code walkthroughs. You’ll also contribute to real-world projects that use AI and ML models to predict future financial trends using historical data, forecast stock prices, and more. Here is the program brochure and the application form.

3. Economics for Leaders Virtual

Location: Virtual; In-person options available

Cost: $900 (virtual); Scholarships available 

Acceptance Rate: Competitive

Dates: Varies by session 

Application Deadline: Not specified; Rolling until full

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors

In this program, you’ll spend an immersive week exploring how economic reasoning informs leadership and public-policy decisions. You’ll participate in simulations and interactive sessions led by economics instructors that bring foundational concepts, such as scarcity, opportunity cost, and markets in action, to life. As a participant, you’ll also develop your knowledge of the economic concepts that affect the global economy. Additionally, you’ll sharpen your decision-making and leadership skills through practical, hands-on learning and gain a clearer sense of how economics frames real-world leadership challenges.

4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program 

Location: Remote

Cost: Varies by program; Financial aid is available

Acceptance Rate: Highly selective

Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort

Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year

Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale 

The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, founded by researchers from Harvard and Oxford, offers ambitious high school students the opportunity to conduct advanced research in economics through its virtual program. As a participant, you will be matched with a PhD mentor for one-on-one sessions over 12 weeks, during which you’ll explore a self-selected economics topic and produce a university-level research paper. The program is ideal for those eager to dive deep into subjects like behavioral economics, macroeconomic policy, development economics, or interdisciplinary topics combining economics with tech or public policy. The program is highly selective and a strong fit for students considering competitive undergraduate economics programs.

5. Wharton Global Youth Program – Moneyball: Training Camp

Location: Virtual

Cost: $2,299 + $100 application fee; Scholarships and waivers available

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified 

Application Deadline: May 1

Dates: Session 1: June 23 – June 27; Session 2: July 21 – July 25

Eligibility: High school students currently in grades 9-12

Moneyball: Training Camp is a one-week intensive online program designed to teach the fundamentals of sports analytics through the lens of economic and statistical reasoning. As a participant, you’ll learn to use the R programming language and statistical modeling to analyze real-world sports data, transforming raw figures into actionable insights. You’ll participate in live instruction, group discussions, and independent analysis led by Wharton faculty. During your time in this program, you’ll also build quantitative reasoning, coding, and data interpretation skills that apply broadly across disciplines like finance, economics, and research. Upon completion, you’ll receive a Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion, which showcases your ability to translate data into evidence-based decisions.

6. Rice University Precollege Program: The Business of Economics

Location: Virtual 

Cost: $1,795; Need-based scholarships available

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified 

Dates: Multiple 1- to 4-week session options offered year-round

Application Deadline: Varies by session; Rolling admissions

Eligibility: Students ages 13 and up

In The Business of Economics course, you’ll dive into the intersection of economics and business through modules on inflation, supply and demand, the labor market, energy economics, and the Federal Reserve’s role. You’ll also watch engaging, on-demand lectures created by Rice faculty and navigate the content at your own pace, making the program flexible around your schedule. The program also allows you to work on curated assignments and simulations that reinforce your understanding and let you apply theory to real-world business scenarios. You will receive guidance from a mentor who offers feedback on your progress and assists you in preparing your capstone project, which you will present at the end of the program to showcase your understanding of how economic policy influences business decisions. Upon completion, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion from Rice University to include in your academic portfolio.

7. Wharton Global Youth Program: Financial Decision Making

Location: Virtual

Cost: $4,099; Need-based scholarships available

Cohort Size: 20-30 students

Dates: Session 1: June 16 – 27; Session 2: July 7 – 18

Application Deadline: April 2 (priority); May 1 (final) 

Eligibility: Current high school freshmen to seniors; international students are eligible 

The Financial Decision Making is a two-week online program where you’ll learn core economic and financial principles such as saving, investing, inflation, and responsible borrowing. You’ll also explore how taxes and civic participation influence public finance and decision-making. During the program, you will engage in case-based learning and practical examples that help sharpen your analytical and strategic thinking. You’ll be supported by Wharton faculty and peers across the globe through the Wharton Global Youth Meetup (GYM) community. By the end of the program, you’ll have earned a Certificate of Completion from Wharton Global Youth.

8. Brown University Pre-College: Pre-Baccalaureate: Principles of Economics

Location: Virtual 

Cost: $8,586 for one 7-week online course; Scholarships available

Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive

Dates: June 16 – August 1

Application Deadline: January 15 – May 9 (final); Rolling

Eligibility: Rising or recently graduated high school seniors (17+) 

In this program, you’ll enroll in a fast-paced, seven-week, credit-bearing Principles of Economics course alongside Brown undergraduates, delivered entirely online through Canvas. You will have the opportunity to explore fundamental economic concepts, from institutional and theoretical foundations to applying economic analysis to real-world issues within a rigorous academic framework. You’ll also manage your studies with a workload comparable to a semester course, spending an estimated 25-30 hours per week engaging in asynchronous and occasional synchronous instruction. Throughout the program, you’ll be evaluated via letter grades (or pass/no credit in select cases) and will have the option to request a narrative Course Performance Report for college applications. Finally, you’ll wrap up the experience with recognized academic credit and an enhanced understanding of how economics frames contemporary social issues.

9. Harvard Summer School: Economics, Finance, and Public Policy

Location: On-campus at Harvard University or online/commuting through the Secondary School Program (SSP) 

Cost: 7-week Online or Commuting (4 or 8 credits): $4,050 (4-credit) or $7,900 (8-credit); $75 application fee; Financial aid available 

Acceptance Rate: Selective

Dates: June 20 – August 8 

Application Deadline: March 14 (early); March 28 (regular)

Eligibility: Current high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or graduating seniors (ages 16-19) 

During this program, you’ll enroll in college-level courses focused on economics, finance, and public policy, and can even earn official Harvard Summer School credit. You’ll get to choose from one (4-week) or two courses (7-week), with the 7-week option allowing up to 8 credits. During the course, you’ll attend rigorous lectures and seminars covering topics such as macroeconomics/microeconomics, econometrics, and financial decision-making. At the end of the program, you’ll finish with graded coursework and the option to request an academic transcript.

10. Babson Summer Study

Location: Virtual (in-person options available) 

Cost: $6,295 + $95 application fee; Full and partial need-based scholarships available

Acceptance Rate: Not disclosed

Dates: July 6 – 27

Application Deadline: December 1

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (16+) 

In this program, you’ll get to take a three-week, credit-bearing college course (EPS 1110: Introduction to the Entrepreneurial Experience) delivered online or in person and earn 4 Babson College credits upon successful completion. Each morning, you’ll engage in three hours of live instruction with a Babson professor, including lectures with the full cohort and smaller breakout or Zoom-section discussions. You’ll then dedicate about five additional hours daily to collaborating on assignments, group projects, and teamwork outside class time. You’ll learn through Babson’s Entrepreneurial Thought & Action methodology, exploring the United Nations Global Goals and real-world entrepreneurial challenges. Along the way, you’ll connect with a global cohort of peers, participate in panels and guest speaker sessions, receive mentor support, and strengthen your skills in innovation, leadership, business communication, and problem-solving.

11. Wharton Global Youth Program: Understanding Your Money

Location: Virtual (self-paced online)

Cost: $329

Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified 

Dates: Self-paced

Application Deadline: Not specified 

Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-12; International participants welcome

During the Understanding Your Money course, you’ll work through four structured modules that cover economics, money, earning and budgeting, and investing, each with video lessons, readings, glossary terms, and quizzes. You’ll learn foundational economic ideas like supply and demand, opportunity cost, compound interest, plus practical budgeting and investment strategies. The course also lets you explore what money is, how banks operate, and how to manage money over time, given inflation and financial goals. You’ll end the program with a Wharton Global Youth Program Certificate of Completion to recognize your achievement.

Image Source - Brown University logo