For high school students, participating in an economics-focused program can be an opportunity to explore complex topics like market behavior, international trade, public policy, and data analysis. These programs can be beneficial for anyone looking to sharpen critical thinking, develop analytical tools, or even gain exposure to advanced software like R or STATA.
Here’s a list of 10 economics programs for high school students in the 2025 academic year.
10 Economics Programs for High School Students in 2025
1. Horizon Academic Research Program - Economics/Business track
Location: Virtual
Program Dates:
- Summer - June 16, 2025 - July 25, 2024
- Fall- March 3, 2025 - June 16, 2025
- Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Application Deadline: December 1, 2024 (Winter), May 21, 2024 (Summer), September 25, 2024 (Fall)
Eligibility: High school students, typically in 10th or 11th grade with a 3.67+ GPA. Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, public health and safety, social psychology, and medicine. It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research! In the business track, you can explore topics such as behavioral economics, public policy, and data analytics. Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
The program includes a letter of recommendation for every student, plus comprehensive feedback on projects that can assist with future work and college applications. Apply here!
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops.
Cost: $2,900 (3 weeks). Need-based financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year. The upcoming summer cohort’s deadlines are as follows:
Early deadline: February 9, 2025
Priority deadline: March 9, 2025
Regular deadline: May 11, 2025
Dates: 12-week Individual Program (June 2, 2025 start) or Group Program (June 9-29, 2025 | August 4-24, 2025)
Eligibility: Open to all high school students.
Led by Harvard alumni, the Young Founders Lab offers a startup boot camp designed for high school students. The program guides you in developing a revenue-generating startup that addresses a real-world issue. With mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and professionals from companies such as Google, Microsoft, and X, you’ll gain practical experience in the startup ecosystem. The curriculum includes interactive classes covering business fundamentals, ideation workshops, skill-building sessions, and case studies.
The program features interactive classes that cover business fundamentals, ideation workshops, skill-building sessions, and case studies. It is organized into three phases:
Foundational business education and ideation.
Conducting market and user research to create a prototype.
Launching your startup, gaining traction, and generating revenue.
You will present your startup at a demo day, which offers you an opportunity to pitch to potential investors. You can find the application here!
Location: Remote
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA
Application Deadline: The Winter Cohort II application deadline is December 29, 2024. Summer deadlines are usually in March, April, and May.
Program Dates: June to August (summer). Fall, winter, and spring cohorts are also available.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program, founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers, offers high school students the opportunity to work one-on-one with PhD mentors to develop an independent research project in their subject area. If selected, you’ll work closely with mentors to create a college-level research paper based on your project, with additional support from writing coaches.
You can choose your subject track in the application form, such as economics, as well as a specific area of focus, such as market behavior throughout your research experience!
Cost: $1790 (financial aid available)
Location: Virtual
Duration: 10 sessions, 2.5 hours per session
Program Dates: The Spring Program starts March 3, 2025, and the Summer Programs begin June 2, 2025.
Application Deadline: Spring – January 5, 2025.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed the AI Scholars program or have prior Python experience.
Run by Harvard graduates, Veritas AI is a program designed to teach ambitious high school students about artificial intelligence. Through the AI + Finance program, 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 application form.
Application Deadline: Spring Cohort: February 9th
The Ladder Internship is a selective program that offers high school students an opportunity to work with startups in fields such as technology, machine learning, AI, finance, sustainability, healthcare, media, and more.
During the internship, you will work on a real-world project and present your work at the end. You’ll be guided by a startup manager and a Ladder Coach, who will act as a second mentor and help you navigate the startup environment. The internship lasts 8 weeks and follows a coaching-plus-work model, not commonly found in similar programs.
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: High school students (15 years or older by the program start date) in good academic standing
Application Deadline:
- Early bird: January 31, 2025
- Final: April 15, 2025
Program Dates: June 29–July 18, 2025
Cost: $7,700 (residential); $5,800 (commuter)
At Georgetown’s Economics Policy Academy, you’ll explore the intersection of economics and political science to understand how governments shape markets and policies. You’ll engage with topics like globalization, poverty, monetary policy, and behavioral economics, applying theory to real-world issues through hands-on workshops and case studies. Field trips to policy organizations around Washington, D.C., will provide insights into how policies are crafted and implemented. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a research project, earn a Certificate of Participation, and have worked on improving your analytical skills.
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Eligibility: You must be 16–18 years old by July 20, 2025, a current high school sophomore or junior, graduating in 2026 or 2027 (Northern Hemisphere) or 2025 or 2026 (Southern Hemisphere).
Application Deadline:
- Early Action: November 15, 2024
- Regular Decision: January 10, 2025
Program Dates:
- Session I: June 22 - July 4, 2025
- Session II: July 6 - July 18, 2025
- Session III: July 20 - Aug 1, 2025
Cost: $6,500 (need-based financial aid available)
In the Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE) session of YYGS, you’ll explore economic theories, governance systems, and legal frameworks through an interdisciplinary lens. You’ll tackle key questions about governance, inequality, market regulation, and AI's role in policymaking, engaging with Yale professors and peers from around the globe. Through seminars on topics like game theory, constitutional interpretation, and international policy, you can hone critical thinking and analytical skills. The program culminates in collaborative capstone projects and discussions, encouraging critical thinking on societal challenges.
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: You must be a current 10th-grade student, at least 14 years old, and enrolled in a U.S. high school.
Application Deadline: March 5, 2024
Program Dates: June 9–11, 2024
Cost: Free (tuition, room, and board covered; travel funding available for eligible students)
The Voltage Scholars program offers high school students an introduction to economics through hands-on lectures and workshops. You’ll explore macroeconomics and microeconomics topics while engaging with the ideas from The Voltage Effect text. Beyond academics, you’ll network with undergraduate students from the Becker Friedman Institute’s Expanding Diversity in Economics program and learn about college admissions and careers in the field. Designed to foster diversity in economics, this three-day program allows you to connect with peers and faculty in a collaborative, inquiry-driven setting and culminates with a certificate of participation.
Location: Various partner sites, primarily in Boston, MA (MIT campus for high school workshops)
Eligibility: High school students interested in economics, with a focus on underrepresented groups (current programming for high school students is on hold).
Application Deadline: Not specified (program details are under review for the high school component).
Program Dates: TBD (high school programming being restructured).
Cost: Free
The Economics Transformation Project (ETP) aims to diversify the field of economics by offering pathways for students from historically excluded groups. For high school students, ETP has provided introductory workshops focusing on student-led interests, such as applying economic methods to address pressing social issues like poverty or climate change. These workshops incorporate hands-on activities and practical applications of economic concepts, including randomized evaluations. While the high school programming is currently being restructured, ETP partners with organizations like Summer Search Boston and Excel Academy Charter Schools to provide opportunities for exploration and mentorship in economics.
Location: UCLA Campus, Los Angeles, CA (commuter program)
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12) in Spring 2025; must be at least 15 years old by June 23, 2025.
Application Deadline: June 13, 2025 (rolling admissions begin February 15, 2025).
Program Dates: July 14–August 1, 2025
Cost: approximately $461
The UCLA Economics Summer Institute is a three-week commuter program designed to teach you how to analyze economic data and policies using methods applied by a professional economist. Through lectures, workshops, and team-based projects led by UCLA faculty and undergraduate facilitators, you’ll engage with topics such as international trade, taxation, rent control, and the costs of regulation. You’ll learn to justify positions using empirical data and present your findings through weekly presentations. With a focus on economic issues affecting the U.S. and the world, this program can equip you with the analytical and problem-solving skills relevant to economics.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.