If you’re a high school student looking for a focused way to explore finance, a finance summer camp can be a good option. These camps can help you learn about investing, budgeting, entrepreneurship, and the basics of how banks and markets operate.
Finance camps are usually shorter and more hands-on than regular finance programs. While programs can last months, camps typically run for a few weeks and provide practical experience through activities such as company visits or team projects. You’ll get to meet finance professionals, work on real challenges, and see how business works in action.
Camps help you develop skills that matter in the real world, including problem-solving, financial literacy, and leadership. You’ll also get mentorship and guidance that can help you think strategically and communicate clearly. For students who want to launch a startup, explore what it’s like to work in professional finance settings, or strengthen college applications without committing to a long program, finance camps are a smart choice.
With that, here are 15 finance camps for high school students to check out!
15 Finance Summer Camps for High School Students
1. University of South Florida’s Bulls Finance Camp
Location: Muma College of Business, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: $650; the residential add-on costs $995
Cohort Size: Maximum 50 students
Dates: July 14 – July 18 | July 21 – July 25
Application Deadline: Applications open on February 1; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students
The University of South Florida’s Bull Finance Camp introduces students to the field of finance while highlighting the importance of financial literacy in business. Led by USF faculty and experts from the USF Federal Credit Union, the program covers investments, corporate finance, financial planning, FinTech, and other finance fundamentals. In addition to lectures, you’ll hear from finance professionals, participate in interactive activities with USF students and professionals, and work on group projects. You’ll get to connect with finance majors, take part in a team challenge, and explore the USF campus.
2. Stevens School of Business Finance and Investing Virtual Bootcamp
Location: Virtual (synchronous)
Cost/Stipend: $1,500 | None
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not listed
Dates: July 7 – July 11
Application Deadline: December 20 – March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Stevens School of Business offers the Finance and Investing Virtual Bootcamp, which is a week-long opportunity for students interested in exploring finance and investing. You’ll take on the role of a portfolio manager and learn about equity analysis, diversification, and risk management. Using the S&P Capital IQ platform, you’ll manage both real and simulated portfolios, collect data, run backtests, and apply strategies to improve returns. You can also work toward S&P certifications like Capital IQ Pro 101, Pro 201, Banking 101, and Ratings Direct 101, credentials that can be a solid addition for college applications or future careers. You will participate in lectures with hands-on sessions led by teaching assistants.
3. Wharton Global Youth Program — Moneyball Academy
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,799 + $100 non-refundable application fee; scholarships are available
Cohort Size: 75 students
Dates: July 5 – July 25
Application Deadline: January 29 (priority deadline) | April 2 (final deadline)
Eligibility: High school students with strong math skills and an interest in sports, including international students, can apply; programming experience isn’t required but recommended
The Moneyball Academy, offered by Wharton’s Sports Analytics and Business Initiative (WSABI) and taught by Professor Adi Wyner, allows you to apply advanced statistical concepts to sports analytics. You’ll cover material from Wharton’s STAT courses, learn to code in R, and gain the skills to perform analyses like those found in FiveThirtyEight or Fangraphs. You’ll work with peers on a final data project that may be published in the Wharton Sports Analytics Journal and hear from guest speakers with real-world experience, such as team executives and data scientists from major sports organizations. Classes run Monday to Friday and cover topics like introductory statistics, probability, statistical reasoning, and regression analysis by examining sports data.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on the program; financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate: Around 10–25%
Dates: Cohorts run in fall, summer, winter, and spring
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary based on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students with an unweighted minimum 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale are encouraged to apply
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program matches you with a PhD mentor to help you design and complete your own research project. You can explore fields such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences, with numerous options including psychology, linguistics, mathematics, computer science, data science, history, engineering, and more. If none of the listed areas fit what you’re curious about, you and your mentor can create a custom topic together. Throughout the program, you’ll get access to research workshops, writing support, and even a writing coach to help you turn your project into an academic paper. While the program isn’t connected to a university, there’s a chance to earn UCSD credit for your work. You can view more details and application information here.
5. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 26%; Horizon Seminar classes typically have about 4–6 students, while Horizon Labs is designed for individual mentorship
Dates: Cohorts run throughout summer, fall, winter, and spring. Lab schedules are flexible, but you must apply at least four weeks before your preferred start date.
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.67 or higher are eligible to apply. Most students are in 10th or 11th grade. Some tracks have additional prerequisites, which can be viewed here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs with over 600 topics to choose from, covering areas such as political science, neuroscience, physics, machine learning, economics, psychology, philosophy, AI, data science, international relations, and more. During the program, you’ll formulate a research question and select a method to solve it. You can choose between qualitative and quantitative research based on your interests. If you’re interested in finance, you can explore topics like Behavioral Economics, AI, Machine learning, and Data Science, or Algorithms and Data Structures. You will work with a mentor, such as a professor or PhD scholar, and receive personalized feedback and guidance to enhance your project. By the program’s end, you’ll complete a 20-page research paper that you can even submit to academic journals. You’ll receive a recommendation letter to support your college or research applications. Application information is available here.
6. Purdue University Northwest’s Personal Finance and Investments Summer Camp
Location: Purdue University Northwest, Hammond Campus, IN
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; limited spots are available
Dates: July 7 – July 11
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students aged 14–17
Purdue University Northwest’s Personal Finance and Investments Summer Camp is a free, week-long program designed for high school students interested in finance. Hosted by PNW’s College of Business, the camp will allow you to learn about budgeting, banking, and investing. You will have the opportunity to participate in discussions about managing your personal finances. You’ll also create a budget, build a personal financial statement, and try your hand at a stock market game. Additionally, you’ll hear from industry professionals through career spotlights and get useful resources on financial topics.
7. Morgan State University’s Summer Accounting Academy
Location: Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: Free | Unpaid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective program
Dates: July 7 – July 11
Application Deadline: April 30 (regular deadline) | June 15 (extended deadline)
Eligibility: High school juniors, seniors, and community college students with a minimum 3.0 GPA who plan to major in accounting
The Summer Accounting Academy is a free, week-long program for students interested in majoring in accounting. You’ll get an introduction to the field, learn the basics of college-level accounting, ratio analysis, and Excel, and explore career paths. You’ll get to hear from industry professionals from corporate, public, and government accounting who will share their experiences. You’ll also take a field trip to a Big Four firm or another business institution to see the workplace in action. You will also get to work in a group on a case study where you’ll use financial ratios to analyze a business and present your findings to your peers.
8. North Carolina Central University’s Peggy Ward Financial Education Center (PWFEC) Wealth Management Camp
Location: North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC
Cost: $50
Cohort Size: 25 students
Dates: June 23 – June 27
Application Deadline: May 28
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th-grade students aged 14–18
North Carolina Central University runs summer camps that allow high school students to explore careers in areas like wealth management, entrepreneurship, accounting, cybersecurity, and real estate through hands-on learning. If you’re interested in finance, the Peggy Ward Financial Education Center (PWFEC) Wealth Management Camp is a week-long, in-person program that focuses on financial education and wealth management. You’ll work on team challenges, build skills in leadership, communication, and professional development, and strengthen your understanding of personal finance. You’ll also compete for prizes and scholarships, earn a certificate of completion, and take meaningful steps toward financial independence.
9. Western Michigan University’s Dollars and Sense Camp
Location: Greenleaf Trust Trading Room at WMU’s Haworth College of Business, Kalamazoo, MI
Cost: $299
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: August 4 – August 8
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students who have completed grades 8–12 by June 15
Western Michigan University’s Dollars and Sense Camp allows students to develop financial skills. During the camp, you’ll explore different career paths, plan for college or skilled trades, and develop a strategy to cover education costs. You will learn about budgeting, insurance, saving, investing, risk management, and newer topics like blockchain and cryptocurrency. You’ll also explore real estate, participate in finance games, and visit business professionals to see real workplaces. Throughout the week, you’ll work on developing a financial plan that stretches from high school to retirement and present it to finance experts.
10. Montclair State University’s Wall Street and the Investment Experience Pre-College Program
Location: Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
Cost: $1,800
Cohort Size: Around 250 students participated last year
Dates: July 20 – July 26
Application Deadline: November 25 – June 13
Eligibility: Current 9th–11th grade students
Montclair State University’s Wall Street and the Investment Experience Pre-College Program gives high school students a chance to explore finance by learning to analyze data, interpret business news, and trade assets like stocks, commodities, gold, oil, and cryptocurrency. You’ll explore how AI is changing finance, study well-known investors like Warren Buffett, and examine how Wall Street is shown in movies and media. You’ll also participate in a field trip to New York City’s Financial District, where you’ll get to tour Wall Street, visit financial institutions, and interact with industry professionals. The program offers a great opportunity to see how the finance world really works and explore career paths in the field.
11. Stevens Institute of Technology’s Business Explorer Residential Program
Location: Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ
Cost: $3,150
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not listed
Dates: July 6 – July 12 | July 13 – July 19
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students
The Business Explorer Residential Program at Stevens Institute of Technology is a week-long summer program for high school students interested in business and finance. Taught by faculty from the School of Business, the program covers finance, marketing, management, entrepreneurship, economics, and business ethics. You’ll work on real case studies, team projects, and use industry tools in the Hanlon Financial Systems Labs to practice reading financial statements and making data-driven decisions. You’ll also participate in a site visit to a major New York City company. Past trips have included companies such as Google, Bloomberg, and LinkedIn.
12. Fordham University’s Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom
Location: Hybrid; virtual or in person at Gabelli School of Business, Fordham University, Rose Hill Campus, Bronx, NY
Cost: $1,200; need-based discounts are available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Small class sizes
Dates: June 16 – June 20 | June 23 – June 27 | July 21 – July 25 | July 28 – August 1
Application Deadline: Applications open in January; rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12
The Gabelli School of Business offers the Finance Institute, a one-week program designed for high school students interested in exploring a career in finance. You’ll get a solid introduction to finance, hear from guest speakers at top firms, and connect with recent Gabelli graduates. The program covers economic basics, the history of finance, the time value of money, and an introduction to financial markets. You’ll explore personal finance topics like saving, investing, and managing debt, as well as investments such as stocks and bonds, plus monetary policy. You’ll also learn about hedge funds, private equity, asset management, risk management theory, and cryptocurrency.
13. North Carolina Central University’s Isaiah Tidwell Accounting Program: BASE Camp
Location: North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 25 students
Dates: June 16 – June 20
Application Deadline: May 28
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th-grade students aged 14–18
North Carolina Central University runs summer camps that allow high school students to explore careers in areas like wealth management, accounting, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and real estate through hands-on learning. If you’re interested in finance, the Business Accounting Summer Enrichment (BASE) Camp will allow you to explore finance through accounting and business management. You’ll get an introduction to accounting, learn from experienced professionals, and explore different career paths in the field. You’ll receive mentorship, go on site visits, work on projects, and get networking opportunities, which will help you develop practical skills, identify your strengths, and gain exposure to a diverse range of accounting options.
14. Wake Forest University’s Finance and Investing Institute
Location: Wake Forest University Reynolda Campus, Winston-Salem, NC
Cost: $3,200 + $50 non-refundable application fee; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 25–30 students per session
Dates: June 15 – June 20 | June 22 – June 27
Application Deadline: Applications open on November 1; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Current 9th–12th grade students in good academic standing
The Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program’s Finance and Investing Institute gives high school students a hands-on look at how investing works. You’ll study stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other financial products as well as learn strategies like market analysis, financial statement review, and the power of compounding. The program also demonstrates how finance is connected to both personal and professional life, and you’ll explore career paths in the field. Throughout the week, you’ll work with Wake Forest School of Business faculty and industry professionals, gaining insight into finance from college-level learning to real-world practice. You’ll pitch investments, refine your public speaking skills, and build your own portfolio. You’ll also visit a financial institution and trading floor, create a portfolio, hear from financial leaders, and participate in a mock investment competition.
15. Bentley University’s Wall Street 101 Program
Location: Virtual or in person at Bentley University, Waltham, MA,
Cost: $1,490 (Online) | $2,250 (Commuter) | $3,180 (Residential) + $75 non-refundable fee for all selected sessions; need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective
Dates: Online session: June 9 – June 13; In-person sessions: June 16 – June 20 | June 23 – June 27 | June 30 – July 4 | July 7 – July 11 | July 14 – July 18
Application Deadline: June 1; rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors with at least two years of college preparatory coursework can apply. International students must show English proficiency. Students must be at least 16 years old by September 1 to participate in the residential program.
Bentley University’s Wall Street 101 Program provides students with an introduction to finance through courses such as Stock Market and Investment Research, Personal Finance, Macroeconomics and Financial Markets, and FinTech Business Startup. Taught by Bentley faculty with industry experience, the program maintains small class sizes and incorporates simulations, debates, and guest speakers from Wall Street. You’ll learn to value stocks, bonds, and other assets using databases such as FactSet, Bloomberg, and the Financial Trading System. You’ll study how financial technology is changing the industry and how psychology shapes investment decisions. You’ll also team up with peers to pitch stocks, take part in economic simulations and debates, analyze strategies, and design entrepreneurial projects involving FinTech and AI.
Image source – Bentley University