New York City is one of the world’s biggest financial hubs, home to Wall Street, major investment firms, and global markets that drive economies. If you are a high school student living in NYC and want to explore finance, there’s tons of options you can check out!
NYC is home to multiple organizations and banks that offer multiple well-structured finance summer programs for high schoolers. These programs go beyond textbooks, giving you hands-on experience in financial modeling, investment strategies, data analysis, risk management, and economic research. Whether you want to understand the stock market, explore corporate finance, or see how technology is changing banking, these programs will help you develop problem-solving, quantitative reasoning, and decision-making skills that are useful in many fields.
To help you get started, here are 15 finance summer programs for high school students in NYC!
15 Finance Summer Programs for High School Students in NYC
1. Ladder Internships – Finance Track
Cost: Full financial aid available.
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts throughout the year. April 13 for the summer session.
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
The Ladder Internship gives high school students the chance to work directly with startups in fields like technology, AI, finance, sustainability, healthcare, and media. These startups are fast-moving, often backed by major investors, and led by founders with experience at companies like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook.
Over eight weeks, you will take on a real-world project, gaining experience in problem-solving, market research, product development, or data analysis. You will be guided by both a startup manager and a Ladder Coach, who will help you navigate challenges and build professional skills. The internship lasts 8 weeks and follows a coaching-plus-work model not commonly found in similar programs.
2. Fordham University’s Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom
Cost: $1,200 (includes $100 deposit)
Location: Rose Hill Campus, Fordham University, Bronx, NY
Program Dates: June 16–20; June 23–27; July 21–25; July 28–August 1
Application Deadline: Priority will be given to registrations received before April 1!
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Fordham University’s Finance Institute: Wall Street in the Classroom is a one-week course that gives you an early look at how finance works, from market basics to personal money management and risk. You’ll cover ideas like the time value of money, asset allocation, and how newer tools like cryptocurrency are changing the field. A former Wall Street trader leads the course, and you’ll also hear from other finance professionals and alumni who’ll share how they got started and what they work on now.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
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 finance, economics, math, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
4. NYU Finance NYC – An Insider’s View
Cost: $2,579 (plus $50 application fee; optional housing/dining: $640)
Location: NYU School of Professional Studies, NYC
Program Dates: June 23 to August 8 across multiple sessions!
Application Deadlines: March 15 (International), May 15 (Residential U.S.), June 13 (Commuter U.S.).
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grades 9, 10, or 11
If you are trying to figure out whether finance is the right fit for you, NYU Finance NYC – An Insider’s View gives you a direct look at how the field works. This week-long pre-college course shows you how finance works behind the scenes on Wall Street.
You will explore topics like investment management, financial derivatives, and portfolio theory while learning core concepts such as the time value of money, capital budgeting, and risk-return trade-offs. The course is taught by a finance professional who brings industry experience into the classroom.
5. NYU Introduction to Financial Technology
Cost: $2,579 (plus $50 application fee; optional housing/dining: $640)
Location: NYU School of Professional Studies, NYC
Program Dates: June 23–27; July 14–18
Application Deadlines: International Students: March 15; Residential U.S.: May 15; Commuter U.S.: June 13.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grades 9, 10, or 11
NYU’s Introduction to Financial Technology is a one-week course that blends core finance concepts with cutting-edge technologies like machine learning, neural networks, and blockchain. You will explore how innovations such as FedNow and securitized mortgage platforms are transforming global markets. The curriculum covers key topics like risk and return in fintech, looking at both traditional assets and decentralized financial systems.
6. Fordham University’s Global Finance Summer Program
Cost: $1,200 (includes $100 deposit)
Location: Rose Hill Campus, Fordham University, Bronx, NY
Program Dates: July 7–11
Application Deadline: Not specified; early application recommended
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
This weeklong course provides a global perspective on finance, covering topics like international trade, foreign exchange markets, and multinational investment strategies. You’ll examine historical changes in financial systems, from the gold standard to fiat currencies, and analyze how trade dynamics affect global markets.
Topics also include investing in foreign equities, attracting foreign capital, and evaluating emerging trends such as emerging markets and Brexit. Taught by a former global equity trader, the course combines macroeconomic theory with practical investment scenarios.
7. Wall Street Stock Market & Investment Experience Summer Teen Program
Cost: 1 Week: $3,599 (plus airfare); 2 Weeks: $6,399 (plus airfare); Commuter option available for residents (contact program for pricing)
Location: New York Institute of Finance, NYC
Program Dates: July 13–26
Application Deadline: Rolling (early application recommended)
Eligibility: High school students currently in grades 9–12
The Wall Street Stock Market & Investment Experience Summer Teen Program is a two-week finance program that covers trading, venture capital, hedge funds, cryptocurrency, and financial analysis, all taught by veteran Wall Street professionals. In the first week, you’ll create a sustainable business and pitch it to a mock venture capital panel. In the second week, you’ll build and defend a portfolio as part of an equity research challenge.
The program explores global finance, wealth management, blockchain, and financial statement analysis, with a strong focus on communication and collaboration. Along with classroom learning, you’ll participate in NYC-based activities like district tours, career networking, and applied finance workshops.
8. Columbia University Summer Immersion
Cost: $6,310 (Commuter) | $12,764 (Residential)
Location: Columbia University, NYC
Program Dates: Session A: June 30–July 18 | Session B: July 22–August 8
Application Deadlines: Early: February 2; General: April 2 (applications remain open until spots are filled)
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9–12
Columbia’s Summer Immersion program offers in-person finance courses such as Introduction to Corporate Finance, Investment Portfolio Management, Statistics Applications in Finance, and Introduction to Finance & Investment Management. These courses focus on quantitative analysis, risk modeling, investment strategies, and market structures, using tools like Excel and real market case studies. You’ll learn in a college-style setting, with access to Columbia faculty and the chance to connect with peers interested in business, finance, and economics.
9. Fordham University’s Invest in Her: Financial Literacy and Leadership for Women
Cost: $1,200 (includes $100 deposit)
Location: Rose Hill Campus, Fordham University, Bronx, NY
Program Dates: July 14–18
Application Deadline: Priority given to applications received before May 1
Eligibility: Female high school students can apply!
Fordham University’s Invest in Her: Financial Literacy and Leadership for Women is a one-week in-person program designed to introduce young women to essential financial literacy while building confidence in professional and leadership settings.
You will explore topics like financial markets, accounting principles, and how to analyze financial statements with guidance from Fordham faculty and guest speakers from top firms. The program also focuses on developing executive presence, collaboration, and critical thinking skills, which are important for succeeding in business environments.
10. LaGuardia Community College Summer Youth Employment Program
Cost: Paid; $16.50/hour for up to 25 hours per week
Location: LaGuardia Community College, Long Island City, NYC
Program Dates: July–August (6 weeks)
Application Deadline: Not specified; early application recommended
Eligibility: NYC residents ages 14–24 who are legally allowed to work in the U.S.
The SYEP at LaGuardia offers paid summer work experiences where you can develop skills in areas like business administration, education, and customer service, including some finance-related roles. You’ll learn money management, career development, and project management while gaining experience working in a professional setting. This program helps you build skills that are useful for future jobs, like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.
11. Summer Springboard – Finance & Investing Program
Cost: Residential $5,898 (meals, lodging, excursions), Commuter $3,298 (lunch, course, programming), Application Fee $99.
Location: Barnard College, Columbia University, NYC
Program Dates: Session 1: July 6–July 18 | Session 2: July 20–August 1
Application Deadline: April 20
Eligibility: High school students (typically entering grades 9–12)
The Summer Springboard – Finance & Investing Program is a two-week course that introduces you to key finance concepts like portfolio theory, asset allocation, stock valuation, and financial statement analysis. You’ll manage a simulated investment portfolio with stocks, bonds, and options and compete in a trading challenge.
The program includes a Wall Street tour and access to a professional trading room with Bloomberg terminals. You’ll also explore topics like derivatives, margin trading, and private equity, giving you both analytical knowledge and hands-on experience in investment decision-making.
12. Bank of America Student Leaders
Cost: Paid internship
Location: Local nonprofit placements across NYC and other eligible areas, plus a national summit in Washington, D.C.
Program Dates: June–August (8-week program, including Student Leaders Summit: July 21–26)
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Bank of America Student Leaders is a selective internship that places you at a nonprofit in your local community, where you’ll work full-time on service and administrative projects. You’ll get exposure to nonprofit finance operations, fundraising, and community impact evaluation.
A key part of the program is the weeklong Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you’ll learn how businesses, government, and nonprofits work together to drive economic mobility. While not directly focused on finance, the program builds skills in leadership, budgeting, and economic equity, essential for future careers in finance or business.
13. Mercy University’s Summer Leadership Academy
Cost: $695 (covers meals and activities; tuition and housing are free)
Location: Mercy University Westchester Campus (Dobbs Ferry, NY), with a visit to the Manhattan campus and NYC-based companies
Program Dates: Session 1: July 6–July 12; Session 2: July 13–July 19; Session 3: July 20–July 26
Application Deadline: Rolling (early application encouraged due to limited spots)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with a GPA of 90+ and demonstrated interest in leadership, public speaking, and business
Mercy University’s Summer Leadership Academy is a one-week residential program that introduces high school students to careers in business with a strong focus on leadership, personal branding, and communication. You’ll take part in faculty-led sessions on finance, accounting, and marketing, work on group projects like a Shark Tank pitch, and visit Fortune 500 companies. The program also includes workshops on leadership styles and the career mindset, providing a solid foundation for those interested in business pathways.
14. New York Institute of Technology High School Business Bootcamp
Cost: None
Location: New York Tech Manhattan Campus, NYC (with virtual options)
Program Dates: July 25 (NYC in-person session); additional online sessions run monthly from March–December
Application Deadline: Rolling registration for each session
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
The New York Institute of Technology High School Business Bootcamp is a free boot camp series that introduces students to key business concepts through hands-on workshops led by NYIT faculty. The in-person sessions in NYC focus on resolving conflict in culturally diverse business environments, while virtual sessions cover financial literacy, investment strategies, and personal finance management.
Each session highlights career readiness and business communication, and students earn certificates for each session attended. While the program isn’t exclusively finance-focused, the investing and personal finance modules are particularly relevant for students exploring financial careers.
15. Adelphi University Pre-College Summer Program – Business and Entrepreneurship
Cost: Residential $5,415 (housing, meals, 3 credits), Commuter $3,120 (lunch, programming), Application Fee $35, Deposit $350.
Location: Adelphi University, Garden City Campus (NYC Metro Area)
Program Dates: July 13–August 2
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (early application encouraged)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Adelphi University Pre-College Summer Program – Business and Entrepreneurship is a three-week credit-bearing course that introduces you to the full value chain of a business, from ideation to execution. You’ll use tools like business model design, value proposition analysis, and risk management frameworks while exploring areas such as marketing, operations, finance, accounting, and human resources.
The program also includes a pitch session, giving you hands-on experience in presentation and strategic thinking. It’s led by a former C-suite executive with decades of leadership experience in both startups and major corporations.
Image source – New York University