Ever wondered why prices keep rising or how major financial decisions impact our daily lives? If you're a high school student with questions like these, online economics programs might be a great way to find answers. These programs allow you to explore how the economy operates in real life.
You’ll discover how businesses generate profit, why global markets fluctuate, how policies influence economies, and much more. Plus, with everything offered online, your location won’t be an obstacle. Whether you aim to start a business, work in finance, or understand the world better, these programs provide the tools to explore a field that connects to everything.
Here’s a list of 10 online economics programs for high school students in 2024-2025.
10 Online Economics Programs for High School Students
The Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP): Economics Track is designed for you to develop key academic and professional skills through rigorous research in economics. You gain proficiency in critical thinking, problem-solving, and data analysis as you investigate topics like behavioral economics, data science, and political theory. It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research!
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.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and on college applications.
Eligibility: Open to high school students (grades 10–12) with a GPA of 3.67 or higher.
Program Dates: Spring 2025: March 3, 2025; Summer 2025: June 16, 2025! Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Location: Online
Cost: $5950 onwards; financial aid options available
Application Deadlines: Spring 2025: February 16, 2025; Summer 2025: February 16 (early), March 23 (priority), April 20 (regular-I), May 18 (regular-II)!
The Deep Dive: AI + Finance program, offered by Veritas AI, introduces you to the applications of artificial intelligence in financial markets and understanding of the deeper economic trends. This 10-week online program explores topics such as financial instruments, risk management, and natural language processing, combining theoretical knowledge with practical applications.
Through interactive lectures and hands-on group sessions, you develop coding skills, gain insights into financial and economic modeling, and learn how AI is transforming the economy. The program culminates in a collaborative project where you apply AI techniques to solve real-world financial and economic problems, enhancing your analytical, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.
Eligibility: Open to high school students in grades 9 - 12.
Program Dates: Offered year-round, with multiple cohorts.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,290. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: The Spring cohort deadline is January 5, 2025. Multiple cohorts offered year round.
If you’re passionate about startups and economics, the Young Founders Lab: Economics Track is for you. This online entrepreneurship incubator draws inspiration from Y Combinator and focuses on financial literacy, market analysis, and economic decision-making.
You’ll gain practical skills through workshops, team projects, and mentorship from experts with experience at Google, Microsoft, and Meta. Key topics include market demand, budgeting, financial forecasting, and pricing strategies. Through case studies and exercises, you’ll see how these concepts apply to real-world startups. The program concludes with you launching a startup project and presenting it in a final pitch, supported by mentors and peers.
Eligibility: Open to high school students worldwide with a passion for entrepreneurship and innovation.
Program Dates: Spring Cohort: Starts June 5, 2025.
Location: Online.
Cost: $2,900 for the 4-week program. Financial aid totaling $390,000 has been awarded to ensure accessibility.
Application Deadline: February 9, 2025.
The Understanding Your Money program, offered by the Wharton Global Youth Program, is a self-paced online course designed to help you build a foundation in personal finance, investing, and money management. The program introduces essential economic concepts and practical financial decision-making skills.
Through video lessons from Wharton faculty, along with readings, activities, and quizzes, you’ll learn about earning, budgeting, and investing. The course highlights how financial literacy affects overall well-being. You’ll complete four modules covering topics like the nature of money, financial strategies, and investment planning, with 13–15 hours of content.
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Program Dates: Enrollment is open year-round; the course is self-paced.
Location: Online via the Wharton Online platform.
Cost: $399.
Application Deadline: None; open enrollment.
The Economics Online Research Programme by Immerse Education helps you explore advanced economic topics with personalized mentorship. You’ll learn economic theories, their real-world applications, and build critical research skills.
You’ll work one-on-one or in small groups with tutors from top universities like Cambridge, Oxford, and Ivy League schools. The program focuses on a topic you choose, ending with a full-length academic research paper. You’ll develop analytical thinking, problem-solving, and academic writing skills. At the end of the program, you’ll earn 8 UCAS points to boost your university applications.
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Program Dates: Flexible start dates to accommodate individual schedules.
Location: Online, accessible globally.
Cost: £2,495.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; early application is recommended due to limited spots.
The Economics, Finance, and Public Policy track within Harvard’s Secondary School Program (SSP) allows you to experience college-level coursework in economics, finance, and public policy. You can choose from courses such as Principles of Economics: Microeconomics, Principles of Economics: Macroeconomics, and Public Finance to explore key concepts and applications in these disciplines.
Through lectures, assignments, and discussions, you develop critical thinking, financial literacy, and strategic decision-making skills. The program’s flexible course offerings include online and on-campus formats, enabling you to tailor your academic experience.
Eligibility: Open to high school students who will graduate and enter college in 2025, 2026, or 2027, and are at least 16 years old by June 21, 2025, but will not turn 19 before July 31, 2025.
Program Dates: June 21 – August 9, 2025 (7-week session).
Location: Courses offered in online and on-campus formats.
Cost: $4050 onwards; financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Applications are open now, please visit the website for the latest information.
The Behavioral Finance course, offered by Duke University through Coursera, examines the psychological factors influencing financial decision-making. The course helps you understand how biases and heuristics impact financial choices, enabling you to improve your decision-making processes.
You’ll dive into key topics like classical economic models, behavioral biases, prospect theory, and heuristics. The course focuses on practical applications, teaching you how to identify and avoid common financial mistakes.
Eligibility: Open to anyone interested in behavioral finance; no prerequisites required.
Program Dates: Self-paced; enrollment is open year-round.
Location: Online via Coursera.
Cost: Free access to course materials; optional certificate available for a fee.
Application Deadline: None; open enrollment.
The Foundations of Finance course, offered by the University of Cambridge through edX, provides an introduction to essential financial principles and practices. The course is designed for you if you are interested in understanding corporate finance, financial and economic management, or pursuing careers in economics/ finance.
Using real-world case studies and expert insights, you explore key topics such as risk management, investment strategies, and financial decision-making. The course integrates theoretical concepts with practical applications, equipping you with the skills to collaborate effectively with financial specialists and make informed financial decisions. You progress through the material at your own pace, supported by interactive content and assessments. This program helps you build a solid foundation in financial and economic literacy, preparing you for future academic or professional endeavors in finance and related fields.
Eligibility: Open to all learners; no prior knowledge required.
Program Dates: Self-paced; enrollment is open year-round.
Location: Online via edX.
Cost: Free access to course materials; optional verified certificate available for $299.
Application Deadline: None; open enrollment.
The Economics Summer Institute (Virtual Program) at UCLA introduces you to foundational concepts in economics and policy evaluation. This online program is designed to provide you with insights into microeconomics, macroeconomics, and global economic challenges through engaging coursework and activities.
You participate in virtual lectures, discussions, and assignments led by UCLA faculty, building critical thinking, data analysis, and problem-solving skills. The program fosters collaboration, guiding you to explore real-world economic issues and policymaking processes. By the end, you’ll have a strong grasp of economic principles and their applications.
Eligibility: Open to high school students in grades 9–12 as of Spring 2025, who are at least 15 years old by June 23, 2025.
Program Dates: June 23 – July 11, 2025.
Location: Online (virtual program).
Cost: $2,290 for the virtual program. Additional fees may apply.
Application Deadline: June 13, 2025
Economics for Everyone: Basics of Economics on Udemy is an introductory course designed to make economics simple and accessible. It’s ideal for high school students or anyone new to economics, offering clear explanations without complex jargon.
You’ll learn key concepts like supply and demand, market structures, pricing, and basic economic theories. Taught by experienced instructors, the course shows how economics connects to daily life and decision-making. It’s a user-friendly way to build a solid understanding of economic principles.
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Everyone is eligible to enroll in this course.
Application Deadline: Rolling Basis
Course Dates: Self-Paced (approx 4 hours)
David Wilkinson is a freelance writer for Horizon and currently resides in the United States.