If you’re a high school student looking to explore finance at the university level,, a pre-college finance program is something you should consider! These programs help you understand how money moves in the real world, and are structured just like an undergraduate degree that you may wish to pursue after high school. You’ll work on topics like investment strategies, risk management, global markets, and personal finance, often through hands-on projects and case studies.
How are pre-college programs different from regular summer programs?
What sets pre-college programs apart from regular summer programs is their structure and depth. Hosted by highly rated universities, they mimic the pace and intensity of college-level academics while offering a glimpse into campus life. You might also attend lectures from finance professors, work on group projects, or even earn college credit.
To make your search easier, here’s our list of 10 of the most popular finance pre-college programs for high school students!
10 Finance Pre-College Programs for High School Students
1. UCLA’s Pre-College Introduction to Investments Summer Institute
Location: The program is available as a commuter option at the University of California, Los Angeles, CA, or online.
Cost: $2,985 (Commuter) | $2,631 (Virtual); scholarships based on both need and merit are available
Application Deadline: June 13
Program Dates: June 23 – July 11
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old, in grades 9–12, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher are eligible to apply. Additional requirements can be found on the specific pre-college summer institute page.
The UCLA Introduction to Investments Summer Institute is a three-week program for high school students interested in finance and investing. Hosted by UCLA’s economics department, the program offers college credit while building financial literacy. It covers money, banking, personal investment, and the structure of U.S. and global financial markets.
You’ll learn through lectures from UCLA faculty and smaller discussion sessions led by UCLA Economics majors. The program also uses case studies to apply financial concepts to real-world scenarios. Topics include financial markets, stock ownership, bonds, the Federal Reserve, economic cycles, valuation methods, venture capital, private equity, hedge funds, and finance career paths.
2. NYIF’s Young Finance Scholar Program
Location: Live Virtual Classes
Cost: $2,200
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Program Dates: August 4 – August 15
Eligibility: Students aged 15–18
The Young Finance Scholar (YFS) program at NYIF introduces pre-college students to finance and business. The program builds financial knowledge, research skills, and practical experience through courses on microeconomics, macroeconomics, and corporate finance. You’ll study GDP, fiscal policy, inflation, interest rates, and supply and demand, while also learning how to analyze a company’s financial health, including assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and cash flow.
The program also covers Wall Street’s structure and history, investment banking, and the role of securities brokers and dealers. You’ll explore sustainable finance and fintech, including blockchain, bitcoin, and the digitization of financial systems. For hands-on learning in stock analysis, trading, and investment education, you can also consider NYIF’s Young Equity Analyst Program.
3. Summer@Brown – Financial Mathematics: Applications in Investment Analysis
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: The cost ranges from $2,960 to $10,386, depending on the program length and course format, with additional fees for some courses. Scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: Rolling basis until May 9
Program Dates: Various on-campus courses, lasting 1 to 3 weeks, will be offered between June 22 and July 25.
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9–12 and aged 14–18 by June 15, are eligible to apply. Additional prerequisites may apply to specific courses.
Brown University’s Pre-College Programs offer high school students a chance to study a wide range of subjects through over 230 non-credit courses. The programs provide a college-level academic experience without the pressure of grades or credits. Courses are taught by experienced instructors, and students participate in workshops, activities, and events alongside their studies.
For students interested in finance, the Financial Mathematics: Applications in Investment Analysis course explores key financial concepts and models. You’ll study probability theory, Markov processes, portfolio theory, and risk management. The course covers how investors, hedge funds, and banks allocate wealth across assets like stocks, bonds, and derivatives. You’ll also work with historical data to conduct financial simulations and apply concepts like asset returns, portfolio optimization, and risk balancing.
4. UPenn’s Wharton Global Youth Program: Financial Decision Making
Location: Live online classes
Cost: The program costs $4,099, plus a non-refundable $100 application fee. Scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: Priority deadline: April 2; Final deadline: May 1
Program Dates: June 16 – June 27 | July 7 – July 18
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12, including international applicants
The Wharton Global Youth Program: Financial Decision Making is a two-week summer program designed for high school students interested in economics and finance. The program focuses on building a strong understanding of financial principles and their real-world applications. You’ll work with real-world datasets and practical examples to develop analytical and decision-making skills.
The curriculum is modeled on Wharton’s undergraduate finance program. It includes daily live lectures led by program instructors, recitation sessions with Teaching Assistants, and opportunities to work with people from around the world.
5. Harvard University’s Pre-College Summer School Program for High School Students – Invention, Innovation, and Markets
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $5,800 + $75 application fee. Need-based financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Early deadline: January 8; Regular deadline: February 12; Late deadline: April 9
Program Dates: Session I: June 22 – July 3; Session II: July 6 – July 11; Session III: July 20 – August 1
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors aged 16–19 who will graduate high school in the next two years.
Harvard’s Pre-College Program is a two-week summer experience where high school students live on campus and take college-level courses with peers. You will choose from over 30 non-credit courses taught by Harvard-affiliated instructors in small classes of 12 to 18. Classes meet for three hours daily and include homework and research presentations.
If you’re interested in finance, the Invention, Innovation, and Markets course examines the micro- and macroeconomic impacts of technological progress on consumers, businesses, and governments. It explores both the benefits and challenges of innovation, focusing on how medical advancements influence social security, engine technology affects trade policy, and automation impacts wages, using examples like Uber.
6. Georgetown University’s Pre-College Online Program – Becoming an Investor: An Inside Look at Finance
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,795
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Program Dates: The program offers 1-week intensives, 2-week sessions, and 4-week sessions, available from January to May and June to August. You can check the exact dates here.
Eligibility: Students at least 13 years old
Georgetown University’s Pre-College Online Program: Becoming an Investor helps high school students understand financial markets and investment strategies. You’ll explore valuation models, stock pricing, and market operations while building an investment portfolio aligned with your financial goals. The course also introduces fintech innovations like cryptocurrencies and NFTs and their impact on global markets.
The program offers 20 to 30 hours of instruction through video lessons, multimedia content, and simulations. You’ll receive mentor support and complete a capstone project that analyzes a public company’s investment potential by assessing risks, returns, pricing, and future opportunities. Upon completion, you’ll earn a Certificate of Completion from Georgetown University.
7. NYU SPS High School Academy’s Finance NYC: An Insider’s View
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: Tuition is $2,579 per course, with an optional housing and dining fee of $640 and a non-refundable application fee of $50.
Application Deadline: The application deadlines are May 15 for residential U.S. students, June 13 for commuter U.S. students, and March 15 for international students.
Dates: June 23 – June 27 | July 7 – July 11 | July 14 – July 18 | July 21 – July 25 | July 22 – July 31 | July 28 – August 1 | August 4 – August 8
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grades 9, 10, or 11
NYU SPS High School Academy’s Finance NYC: An Insider’s View introduces high school students to finance and provides insight into the industry. The course covers financial analysis and investment management as practiced on Wall Street, along with an overview of the financial system, asset types, portfolio risk and return management, the Federal Reserve’s role, financial derivatives, and current economic trends.
You will also explore key finance concepts, including the time value of money, capital budgeting techniques, and the fundamentals of risk and return. Taught by an industry expert, this course provides a strong foundation for those interested in finance and business-related fields in college and beyond. Upon completion, you will receive an NYU transcript with your grades, though the course does not offer college credit or a certificate of completion.
8. Bentley University’s Wall Street 101 Program
Location: Offered in person at Bentley University in Waltham, MA, or online
Cost: Tuition is $3,180 for residential students, $2,250 for commuters, and $1,490 for online participants, plus a one-time, non-refundable $75 fee for all selected sessions. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a space-available basis until June 1 and are reserved only after full tuition payment is received.
Program Dates: Online session: June 9 to June 13 | In-person sessions: June 16 to June 20, June 23 to June 27, June 30 to July 4, July 7 to July 11, July 14 to July 18
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors with two years of college prep coursework. Non-U.S. students must show English proficiency. Residential students must be 16 by September 1; younger students can join as commuters or take online courses.
Bentley University’s Wall Street 101 Program offers an experiential, finance-focused learning opportunity for high school students. This year’s courses include Stock Market and Investment Research, Macroeconomics and Financial Markets, Personal Finance, and FinTech Business Startup. Taught by Bentley faculty with real-world industry experience, the program features small class sizes, interactive financial simulations, policy debates, and guest lectures from Wall Street professionals.
You’ll gain practical skills in financial analysis and investment research, including valuing stocks, bonds, and other assets using industry-standard databases like Bloomberg, FactSet, and the Financial Trading System. You’ll also explore how financial technology (FinTech) and AI shape the industry and understand how human psychology impacts investment decisions.
9. Columbia University’s Pre-College Summer Programs – Introduction to Business, Finance, and Economics
Location: Offered in person at Columbia University, New York, NY, or online
Cost: Residential: $12,750 (3 weeks) | Commuter: $2,825 (1 week), $6,300 (3 weeks) | Online: $2,810 (1 week), $3,960 (2 weeks). Fees: $80 application fee, ~$50 for materials. Scholarships are available for eligible NYC commuters.
Application Deadline: Early deadline: February 2; General deadline: March 2 (residential) | April 2 (commuter and online)
Program Dates: Residential: June 30 – July 18 | July 22 – August 8; Commuter: June 30 – July 18 | July 22 – August 8 | August 11 – August 15; Online: July 7 – July 18 | July 21 – August 1 | August 11 – August 15
Eligibility: Domestic and international students entering grades 9–12 in the fall, as well as current 12th graders, are eligible to apply. For the NYC Residential Summer program, students must be at least 16 years old by the start date.
Columbia University’s Pre-College Summer Programs offer college-level courses in art, architecture, business, journalism, law, politics, and more, giving high school students a taste of academic life at an Ivy League school. If you’re interested in finance, the Introduction to Business, Finance, and Economics course explores how firms make financial and economic decisions.
You’ll learn about investment valuation models, funding sources, financial instruments, and microeconomic models of firm behavior. The course covers stocks, bonds, stock markets, and financial market history. You’ll also analyze investment strategies, interpret financial statements, and evaluate risk factors, gaining practical skills for future finance studies.
10. Harvard University’s Secondary School Program – Personal Finance and Financial Well-Being
Location: The program is available online or in person at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA.
Cost: $4,050–$14,950 + $75 application fee; financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Early: Jan 8; Regular: Feb 12; Late: Apr 9
Program Dates: 4-week session: Jul 13 – Aug 9 (residential) | 7-week session: Jun 21 – Aug 9 (residential, online, or commuting)
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–19 graduating and starting college in the next 1–3 years
Harvard Summer School’s Secondary School Program (SSP) is a 4- or 7-week academic program where high school students can take college courses for credit. With over 200 courses available, you can study subjects like physics, biology, literature, computer science, economics, finance, investments, psychology, and more. Coursework typically requires 8–12 hours of work per week outside of class, though this varies by course and assignment.
If you’re interested in finance, the Personal Finance and Financial Well-Being course provides an introduction to financial planning. Most households lack the basic financial knowledge needed for effective money management and long-term financial well-being. This course addresses that gap by teaching fundamental principles and skills of financial planning. It examines key personal finance topics and emphasizes the behavioral biases that affect households’ financial decisions as they work toward their goals.
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11. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starts at $2,490; financial aid is available
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. The Summer Cohort priority application deadline is March 9!
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can commit to working 5–15 hours per week for 8–16 weeks Ladder Internships, founded by Harvard alumni, is a selective program that connects high school students with virtual internships at startups and nonprofits worldwide. Internships are available in fields such as finance, AI, and more!
As an intern, you will work on projects that contribute to the goals of your assigned startup or nonprofit, culminating in a final presentation of your work. The program provides training in essential skills such as communication and time management, group sessions with fellow interns, and mentorship from both a site manager and a Ladder coach. To explore available internships, you can complete the application form.
12. Veritas AI’s Deep Dive: AI + Finance
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. The summer early admission application deadline is March 23.
Duration: 25 hours over 10 weeks (weekends); 2.5 hours per session
Program Dates: Multiple year-round cohorts are available
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12 who have completed the AI Scholars program or have prior coding experience
Veritas AI offers programs for high school students interested in exploring artificial intelligence and its real-world applications. If you’re into finance, the Deep Dive: AI + Finance program combines lectures, coding activities, and a capstone project focused on AI’s impact on financial markets. You’ll use AI and machine learning models to predict financial trends, forecast stock prices, and analyze risk.
The curriculum, developed by Harvard alumni and PhD students from institutions like Oxford, covers predictive modeling, banking, asset management, and fraud detection. Veritas AI also offers AI Scholars and AI Fellowship programs, which build foundational AI knowledge. Students in these programs have worked on AI projects across various fields, including finance.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like finance, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source: University of California, Los Angeles
