Finance is one of the most dynamic fields, combining mathematics, economics, and complex decision-making. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, consider pursuing research in finance early on! Finance research opportunities for high school students offer a unique chance to go beyond classroom learning and gain exposure to the analytical side of business.
Whether you’re exploring stock market behavior, learning portfolio management, or applying quantitative models to financial data, these programs help you develop technical expertise in areas like Excel, Python, Bloomberg, and Capital IQ while also strengthening critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The structured mentorship and research-driven projects also prepare you for the rigor of college-level academics and provide experiences you can showcase in applications.
Here’s our curated list of 15 finance research opportunities for high school students.
15 Finance Research Opportunities for High School Students
1. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June – August), Fall (September – December), Winter (December – February), and Spring (March – June)
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Cost: Varies by program
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school, with an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler.
The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! A few tracks require prerequisites, see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects.
3. Wharton Global Youth: Financial Decision Making
Location: Online
Program Dates: June 16–June 27, July 7–July 18
Application Deadline: Priority – April 2; Final – May 1
Cost: Not specified (paid program, financial aid may be available)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 worldwide; prior finance knowledge not required.
This two-week intensive, designed by Wharton Professor David Musto, introduces you to capital markets and financial decision-making through the lens of everyday consumer and investment choices. You’ll study topics like borrowing, saving, inflation, and taxation, while working with real-world datasets to strengthen your analytical and applied decision-making skills. Instruction combines two hours of daily lectures, one hour of TA-led recitations, and structured group projects that simulate financial problem-solving. You’ll also build quantitative reasoning and practical modeling skills similar to those taught in Wharton’s undergraduate finance curriculum. Students who complete the program earn a Wharton Global Youth certificate of completion.
4. Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
Location: University of Michigan Ross campus, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $5,500 (need-based full and partial scholarships available; $75 application fee)
Application Deadline: January 21, 3 p.m. EST
Program Dates: June 13 – June 27
Eligibility: Rising 12th-grade students with a minimum GPA of 3.0; applicants from first-generation and resource-limited households are especially encouraged
This two-week pre-college program immerses you in business fundamentals taught by Michigan Ross faculty. Through workshops, lectures, and case-based projects, you’ll analyze how high-performing companies operate, exploring functional areas like finance, management, and strategy. The program emphasizes collaborative problem-solving, field trips to company partners, and interaction with industry experts. You’ll gain practical exposure to financial frameworks within broader business decision-making, preparing them to think critically about market forces and organizational performance.
5. Bentley University: Wall Street 101
Location: Bentley University, Waltham, MA, or online
Program Dates: Weekly sessions in summer (each course lasts one week)
Application Deadline: June 1
Cost: $1,490 (online); $2,250 commuter / $3,180 residential for 5-day courses (scholarships available; $75 application fee)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors; must be 16+ for the residential option. International students with English proficiency
Bentley’s Wall Street 101 offers high school students week-long deep dives into finance through courses such as Stock Market and Investment Research, Macroeconomics and Financial Markets, Investment and Trading Strategies, Introduction to FinTech, and Artificial Intelligence in Finance. You will gain practical exposure to platforms such as Bloomberg, FactSet, Morningstar Direct, and CapIQ while working on projects that require financial modeling in Excel or Google Sheets. You’ll not only learn how to analyze capital markets, but also interpret real-world financial data using the same tools employed by investment professionals. The program’s short, intensive structure makes it ideal for building technical fluency in finance before college.
6. UC Irvine: Investments, Financial Planning and You (IFPY)
Location: UC Irvine, Paul Merage School of Business (commuter only), Irvine, CA
Program Dates: One-week sessions in summer (daily 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Application Deadline: Applications for 2025 closed; 2026 cycle opens in January
Cost: $1,395 (includes $600 non-refundable deposit; commuter only; optional lunch plan available)
Eligibility: Open to incoming freshmen through recently graduated seniors; no prior finance background required
This week-long commuter program introduces you to wealth management through a case-based and simulation-driven curriculum. Topics include wealth creation, retirement savings, stock and bond investing, asset allocation, and portfolio construction. You’ll gain technical exposure to Bloomberg terminals, bond math, and fundamental vs. technical analysis, while also practicing soft skills through group projects and presentations. The capstone project requires building and defending a personal wealth management strategy — simulating real-world advisory work and preparing you for future finance or economics pathways. Faculty-led sessions and industry speakers round out the intensive training, making it one of the more applied high school finance programs in California.
7. Foundation for Teaching Economics: Economics for Leaders
Location: Multiple U.S. universities and online
Program Dates: June–July (one-week residential and virtual sessions across multiple sites)
Application Deadline: Early – February 5 ($200 tuition discount); Priority – March 12; International – March 19; Final – April 9
Cost: Varies by location (tuition assistance and scholarships widely available)
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors; requires a transcript, personal statement, and teacher recommendation.
This one-week program introduces you to economic reasoning and leadership frameworks taught by university professors and FTE instructors. You’ll work through applied modules, such as market simulations, policy debates, and decision-making exercises, while also developing leadership skills in small group settings. The curriculum emphasizes how economics informs choices on both personal and societal levels, from market efficiency to public policy. You’ll leave with stronger analytical reasoning, data interpretation, and applied problem-solving abilities that mirror college-level economics training. FTE also offers advanced tracks and thematic programs in global entrepreneurship and environmental economics for returning students or those seeking a more specialized focus.
8. NYIF: G2020 Young Finance Scholar Program
Location: Online (with potential international research/internship sponsorship)
Program Dates: Self-paced; available year-round with optional extensions into research and internships
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (register interest online)
Cost: Not publicly listed; payment plans available (starting from $86/month with Affirm)
Eligibility: High school students interested in finance and business, as well as international students.
This program, offered by the New York Institute of Finance, provides a structured curriculum that covers both microeconomics and macroeconomics, financial markets, equity trading, corporate finance, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). You will progress through modules on IPOs, bond issuance, business ethics, fintech, and sustainable finance. A major feature is the Fund Manager Game, a capstone-style group project simulating investment decision-making. Breakout discussions, case studies (like the Uber IPO), and exposure to ESG investing will strengthen your applied learning. You’ll also have the opportunity to extend your experience into global research and internships sponsored by international organizations during your high school years.
9. NYIF: G2020 Young Equity Analyst Program
Location: Online
Program Dates: Self-paced (with flexible enrollment; online format)
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (register interest online)
Cost: Not publicly listed; monthly payment plans available (from $160/month with Affirm)
Eligibility: High school students interested in stock analysis and financial modeling; open internationally
This program trains students to approach equity markets like professional analysts by combining financial statement analysis, valuation methods, and forecasting. You’ll study how industry cycles affect company performance, interpret financial statements using ratios, and apply concepts like CAPM, WACC, and free cash flow modeling. Case studies feature major companies such as Apple, Tesla, Netflix, and Starbucks, giving you direct practice in dissecting business models. The program culminates with a completed stock valuation project, which you can present as part of a future portfolio. Graduates earn an NYIF Young Equity Analyst Certificate, may receive a reference letter, and gain access to advanced opportunities such as volunteer experience with the Global PAI Project and connections to NYIF’s professional alumni network.
10. University of Chicago: Economics from an Experimental Perspective
Location: University of Chicago campus, Chicago, IL (residential)
Program Dates: June 14 – July 4
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in March; competitive admissions with limited spots
Cost: $8,900 (need-based financial aid available, $500–$6,600)
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–11; requires a transcript, essays, a writing sample, a recommendation, and parent confirmation
This three-week immersion course introduces you to experimental economics, a field pioneered at UChicago. You’ll conduct lab-based experiments and analyze how individuals and groups make decisions about markets, environmental resources, and charitable behavior. Core skills include economic modeling, data analysis, and applied problem-solving in group and individual projects. Discussions link experimental results to underlying principles of exchange, market structure, and incentives. By the end of the course, you’ll not only understand experimental methods but also practice presenting and defending your findings — mirroring the process of academic economic research.
11. Stevens Institute of Technology: Quantitative Finance Virtual Summer Research Experience
Location: Online (virtual, synchronous sessions + self-paced modules)
Program Dates: June 30 – August 11 (meets Mon/Wed/Fri, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST)
Application Deadline: March 1 (application live December 20; notifications by April 15)
Cost: $2,000 (includes Bloomberg and Capital IQ certifications)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors; coding experience preferred; familiarity with Excel recommended
This six-week research program introduces you to quantitative finance through interactive lectures, case studies, and coding-based applications. You’ll build technical skills in Python and R for statistical modeling, probability, and financial analysis, while also earning Bloomberg Market Concepts and Capital IQ certifications — widely used in investment research and corporate finance. Coursework includes hands-on exploration of financial datasets, valuation models, and data-driven decision-making. The program’s focus on quantitative methods and applied tools makes it ideal preparation for students interested in finance, data science, and economics research.
12. Stevens Institute of Technology: Trading Day Competition
Location: Virtual (with final round at Stevens’ Hanlon Financial Systems Center, Hoboken, NJ)
Program Dates:
- Registration: Dec 1 – Jan 20
- Virtual Trading: Feb 1 – Feb 28
- Live Competition: May 2
Application Deadline: January 20
Cost: Free (travel to Hoboken, NJ, for finalists is self-funded)
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors; open to both domestic and international students
This month-long trading simulation lets you practice equities research and portfolio design using the Dow Jones MarketWatch Virtual Stock Exchange. Each student starts with a $1,000,000 virtual fund, making decisions on asset allocation, security selection, and market timing with access to real-time financial data and news. The top 25 performers advance to Stevens’ campus for a live final round in the Hanlon Financial Systems Center, where they work on Bloomberg terminals and receive a “Bloomberg 101” tutorial. The program emphasizes practical financial modeling, portfolio evaluation, and data-driven investment strategies, all within a competitive research environment.
13. Stevens Institute of Technology: Finance and Investing Intensive Virtual Bootcamp
Location: Online (virtual, synchronous)
Program Dates: July 7 – July 11 (daily, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. EST with lectures and breakout sessions)
Application Deadline: March 1 (application live December 20; notifications by April 15)
Cost: $1,500 (includes access to S&P Capital IQ and certifications)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors entering fall 2025
This one-week intensive bootcamp simulates the role of a professional portfolio manager using the S&P Capital IQ academic platform. You’ll learn to design and optimize portfolios, conduct equity screening, and analyze company performance using real financial data. The program also includes preparation for S&P certifications such as Capital IQ Pro 101/201 and Banking 101, giving you early exposure to industry-standard credentials. Daily breakout sessions reinforce applied skills in portfolio theory, risk management, and financial analytics, while the final project has you present your own investment portfolio.
14. Wharton Global Youth: Essentials of Finance
Location: University of Pennsylvania campus, Philadelphia, PA
Program Dates: June 7 – 20; June 21 – July 4; July 12 – 25; July 67 – August 8
Application Deadline: Priority – January 29; Final – April 2
Cost: $7,899 (financial aid available)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11 and international students
This two-week program introduces you to personal and corporate finance concepts, emphasizing tools like the time value of money, risk-return tradeoffs, equities, and corporate accounting. You’ll engage in lectures and case studies led by Wharton faculty and PhD students, while applying theory to practice through a team-based finance analysis project. The curriculum, designed by Professor Michael Roberts, blends corporate valuation, venture capital, and alternative investments with fundamental principles. You’ll finish the program with a Wharton Global Youth certificate and a deeper understanding of how finance functions in both individual decision-making and corporate strategy.
15. Berkeley Business Academy for Youth (B-BAY): High School Entrepreneurship
Location: UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Program Dates: Two-week sessions in July (exact dates vary each year)
Application Deadline: March 1 (rolling admissions until then)
Cost: $6,292 (CA residents); $7,332 (out-of-state); limited need-based scholarships available
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12 and international students
At B-BAY, you’ll collaborate in teams to research markets, analyze financial feasibility, and build a complete business plan under the guidance of Berkeley Haas professors. Classroom learning is reinforced by independent research, computer lab assignments, and mentorship from corporate guest speakers. The program emphasizes financial modeling, venture planning, and business case development, culminating in a final pitch of your team’s startup plan. Through applied research and data-driven decision-making, you’ll gain skills in business analysis, finance fundamentals, and structured problem-solving, all while experiencing college life on Berkeley’s campus.
Check out more research opportunities for high school students in finance and other areas of interest on Horizon’s blog.
Image source – UC Berkeley