If you are a high school student, participating in free economics programs can help you build advanced skills, work with industry tools, and explore potential academic and career pathways without financial barriers.
These programs range from hands-on internships to immersive learning opportunities, allowing you to engage with market analysis, behavioral economics, and economic policy. Whether you’re interested in finance or looking to understand economic systems, the experiences gained through these programs can give you a strong foundation for future endeavors.
Here’s a list of 10 free economics programs for high school students in 2024-2025! These programs are free or offer full financial aid.
Location: Virtual
Application Deadlines:
- Spring Cohort: February 16, 2025
- Summer Cohort: May 18, 2025
Program Dates:
- Spring Seminar: March 3, 2025 onwards
- Summer Seminar: June 16, 2025 onwards
- Lab schedules are flexible, but applications must be submitted at least four weeks in advance
Eligibility: Open to high school students in good academic standing (minimum GPA: 3.67/4.0). While most accepted participants are in 10th or 11th grade, the program has tracks suited for students with varied levels of experience. A few tracks may require formal prerequisites—details are available here
Subject Areas: Economics, Business, Data Science, Machine Learning, Political Theory, and more
Horizon’s Academic Research Program (HARP) offers high school students the chance to conduct advanced research across a variety of fields, including economics, business, data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more. Notably, it is one of the few high school research programs that allows you to choose between quantitative and qualitative research approaches, providing a customized experience.
The program offers personalized mentorship, pairing you with professors or PhD scholars from top universities who guide you through your research journey. You will create a 20-page, university-level research paper with the opportunity to submit it to prestigious journals. Alongside mentorship, you will receive detailed feedback to enhance your projects, a letter of recommendation from your mentor, and valuable support for future academic pursuits, including college applications. This program is a great opportunity to explore specialized fields under guidance and develop professional-level research skills.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290 (financial aid available)
Application Deadlines: January 5, 2025, for the upcoming spring cohort
Program Dates: Multiple year-round cohorts
Eligibility: Open to high school students worldwide. To apply, you must have completed the AI Scholars Program or have prior Python experience
Subject Areas: Computer Science, Machine Learning, Finance, Data Analysis, Artificial Intelligence
Veritas AI’s AI + Finance Deep Dive program, designed by Harvard graduate students, is for ambitious high school students. This program lets you explore how AI and machine learning are changing the financial world. You’ll gain practical experience in using AI to predict financial patterns, forecast stock prices, and analyze market trends—all while working on real-world projects guided by expert instructors.
Through a blend of lectures, interactive code walkthroughs, and hands-on projects, you’ll develop technical skills in Python programming, machine learning models, and financial data analysis. Whether you're forecasting market trends or experimenting with AI algorithms, this program will equip you with the tools to solve real-world problems and make informed decisions in the field of finance.
Location: Remote
Application Deadlines: December 29, 2024 for the upcoming winter cohort
Program Dates: Multiple dates throughout the year. Winter cohort II starts January 20, 2025
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in high school with an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher; no prior knowledge in your field of interest is required
Subject Areas: Economics, Data Science, Computer Science, International Relations, and more
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program offers a unique and rigorous opportunity for high school students to engage in independent research across a broad range of subjects. This program connects you with a PhD mentor who will guide you in conducting independent research, providing 1-on-1 support. Over the course of 12 weeks to a year, you’ll work closely with your mentor to develop an in-depth research paper. The program is designed to help you explore complex topics in fields like economics, computer science, psychology, and more, giving you the chance to dive deep into your areas of interest while developing valuable research skills.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,900 (need-based financial aid available)
Application Deadlines: February 9, 2025, for the upcoming spring cohort
Program Dates: March 3, 2025 onwards for the spring cohort
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Subject Areas: Business Fundamentals, Entrepreneurship, Start-Up Development
The Young Founders Lab is a start-up boot camp designed and led by Harvard entrepreneurs to give you hands-on experience in launching a real-world business. Over the course of this program, you’ll work toward building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses pressing, real-world problems. Guided by seasoned entrepreneurs and professionals from top companies like Google, Microsoft, and others, you’ll create your own start-up and learn business fundamentals through workshops, skill-building sessions, case studies, and panel discussions. This program gives you a chance to explore both theoretical and practical frameworks for creating a successful business, all while developing entrepreneurial skills that can be useful for future endeavors.
5. Ladder Internships—Business and Finance tracks
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Program Dates: December 16, 2024 onwards for the upcoming winter cohort
Location: Virtual
Subject Areas: Business, Marketing, Finance, Healthcare, Medicine, Health Technology, and more
Cost: $2,490 (financial assistance available)
Application Deadlines: December 10, 2024 for the upcoming winter cohort
Ladder Internships connects high school students with leading startups, offering an immersive experience in entrepreneurship and innovation. Founded by Harvard entrepreneurs, the program bridges academic learning with real-world application. You’ll work on meaningful projects, gaining skills and confidence while exploring the startup world.
This 8-week online program requires 10-15 hours per week, with access to startup founders and teams. You'll work on personalized projects, receive professional development training, and get mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs. By the end of the program, you’ll have developed practical skills, expanded your network, and gained insight into career opportunities in startups.
Location: Department of the Treasury, Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free (no stipend provided)
Application Deadline:
- Spring: Apply in October 2025
- Summer: Apply in December 2025
- Fall: Apply in June 2025
Program Dates:
- Spring: January – May 2025
- Summer: May – August 2025
- Fall: September – December 2025
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens
Subject Areas: Economics, Political Science, International Affairs, Public Policy, Business Management, Finance, Law
The U.S. Department of the Treasury Headquarters Student Internship Program offers a unique opportunity to gain firsthand experience in economics and related fields. As an intern, you’ll conduct tasks like collecting and analyzing data, preparing presentations and reports, attending official meetings and hearings, organizing events, and contributing to key initiatives.
Depending on openings, you may work in specialized departments such as Economic Policy, Tax Policy, Domestic Finance, or International Affairs, where you’ll gain valuable insights into the operations of a vital federal agency. This program is a great way to explore career paths in government and economics, build professional skills, and make meaningful contributions to impactful projects.
Location: Kaiser Permanente Medical Center or business office closest to your home (Northern California service areas)
Cost: Free (paid internship: $23/hour)
Application Deadline: To be declared. Applications open from November 18, 2024
Program Dates: June 16 – August 1, 2025 (7 weeks)
Eligibility: Current high school students aged 16–19 residing in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area
Subject Areas: Healthcare Administration, Business, Accounting, Communications, Patient Care Services
The KP Launch High School Program offers you a hands-on introduction to administrative and support roles within the healthcare industry. Over seven weeks, you’ll participate in departmental work, weekly workshops, mentorship sessions, work-related activities, social events, and community service projects, all designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of healthcare operations. You’ll be able to work in diverse departments, such as administration, business, accounting, communications, and patient care services, gaining real-world experience and valuable skills in an office-based environment. This paid internship exposes you to potential career paths in healthcare and provides a supportive and enriching learning experience.
Location: Multiple locations with a week-long residential Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C.
Cost: Free (hourly paid internship + fully funded summit trip)
Application Deadline: January 15, 2025
Program Dates: June – July (8 weeks); Summit held July 21 – 26, 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors residing in eligible locations who are eligible to work in the U.S. and are in good standing at their school
Subject Areas: Leadership Development, Nonprofit Management, Community Engagement
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program is an eight-week summer initiative that connects more than 300 high school students to valuable skills development and hands-on employment opportunities in their communities. As an intern, you’ll work with local nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity or Boys and Girls Clubs of America. You'll gain firsthand experience in how organizations collaborate with governments and businesses to drive community projects. The program culminates in a fully funded Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you’ll meet and interact with professionals, engage in leadership workshops, and explore the intersections of public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Location: Hybrid in Kansas City, MO
Cost: Free (paid $12/hour + $1,250 scholarship per session)
Application Deadline: February 1, 2025
Program Dates: You can attend either session or both
- Session 1: June 2 – June 27, 2025
- Session 2: July 7 – August 1, 2025
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Subject Areas: Entrepreneurship, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Sales, Analytics, Engineering
The Young Entrepreneurs Program is a summer initiative that partners with local Midwest companies to give high school students hands-on exposure to economics, finance, marketing, engineering, and analytics. Through real-world projects and professional mentorship, you’ll gain practical experience that enhances your entrepreneurial thinking, professional development, and community impact skills. Since its inception in 2017, the program has helped over 100 students from 26 high schools enter the professional world.
Location: Multiple locations (residential and virtual options available)
Cost: $2,300 (residential) | $800 (virtual); scholarships are available
Application Deadline: To be declared. 2025 applications will open in December 2024
Program Dates: June – August (multiple weeklong sessions)
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
Subject Areas: Economics, Leadership, Public Policy
The Economics for Leaders (EFL) program by the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE) equips you with the tools to integrate economic concepts into public policy decision-making while building essential leadership skills. Throughout the week, you’ll explore topics like opportunity cost, scarcity, economic growth, labor markets, international markets, property rights, incentives, and innovation, all within the context of real-world applications.
Beyond the classroom, the program offers social events, leadership exercises, excursions, and an award ceremony, fostering personal growth and connections with like-minded peers. Whether you choose the residential or virtual format, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how economics shapes public decisions and hone the leadership skills essential for effecting change.
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.