If you’re a high school student keen on pursuing economics at the undergraduate level, consider applying to a high school economics program early on! Free and online programs, specifically, are great (and affordable!) stepping stones that can help you engage with the subject outside of the classroom.
These programs offer an opportunity to engage with college-level coursework, explore macroeconomic and microeconomic concepts, and apply quantitative methods to real-world problems — all in a virtual format, at no cost. You will work with data analysis tools, financial models, and policy frameworks, gaining practical experience in economic decision-making.
In this blog, check out our list of 15 free online economics summer programs, internships, research programs, and courses for high school students.
1. Horizon Professor Seminar Programs – Behavioral Economics Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Full financial aid available
Application Deadline: April 20 (Regular I Deadline)
Dates: 10-12 weeks starting June 16
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12
Horizon Professor Seminar Programs provide an intensive research experience through small-group classes, office hours, and independent study. The Behavioral Economics Track allows you to explore the intersection of psychology and economic decision-making, analyzing how cognitive biases shape financial choices and market behavior. You will participate in live experiments, gaining hands-on experience with research methods in behavioral economics.
Course topics include heuristics, risk aversion, misinformation in markets, and policy design. Your final project will be a 20-page research manuscript exploring an original or pre-approved topic, such as designing behavior-based pension schemes, insurance policies, or tax collection strategies. The program provides in-depth exposure to behavioral economic theories and methodologies, preparing you for advanced study and research in the field.
2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Economics Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: Full financial aid available
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June – August), Fall (September – December), Winter (December – February), and Spring (March – June).
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is an intensive research program designed specifically for high school students. This program provides you with the opportunity to engage in in-depth, 1-on-1 research with a Ph.D. mentor, allowing you to explore a wide range of academic disciplines.
Over the course of 12 weeks, participants work closely with their mentors to develop an independent research paper. The program covers various fields, including psychology, physics, and data science among others. In economics, students can explore topics such as Behavioral Economics and Economic Policy Analysis. For more details on the application process and program structure, click here.
3. Summer@Brown Online: Economics Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,454 – $6,238 (Financial aid is available)
Application Deadline: May 9
Dates: June 16 – July 25
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9 to 12, ages 14 to 18 by June 15
Summer@Brown Online provides a flexible yet rigorous program, letting you engage with college-level academics. The Economics track includes courses like Behavioral Game Theory, where you’ll study decision-making in strategic settings. The course challenges the assumption of purely rational behavior, incorporating experimental data to reveal how people make choices.
You’ll work with economic models, analyze real-world cases, and design experiments to test behavioral theories. This interdisciplinary approach sharpens your ability to think critically, interpret data, and understand economic strategy. Your coursework is supported by peer discussions and expert feedback, mirroring real college academics. Completing the course earns you a Digital Certificate.
4. Wharton Global Youth Program – Moneyball: Training Camp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,299 + $100 application fee (Scholarships and application fee waivers are available)
Application Deadline: May 1
Dates:
- Session 1: June 23 – June 27
- Session 2: July 21 – July 25
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 9–12
The Wharton Moneyball Training Camp introduces you to sports analytics through statistics — a core skill in economics. Over one week, you’ll explore statistical modeling, coding in R, and data-driven decision-making. Led by Wharton Professor Adi Wyner, the course balances theory with hands-on projects, helping you analyze real sports data. While the focus is on sports, the statistical techniques you’ll learn are foundational in economic research, financial modeling, and policy analysis.
With live lectures, group discussions, and independent work, this program builds analytical skills applicable beyond athletics. Once you complete the program, you’ll receive a Wharton Global Youth Certificate of Completion.
5. Harvard Secondary School Program (7-Week Online): Economics Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: (Financial aid is available)
- $4,050 (4-credits)
- $7,900 (8-credits)
Application Deadline: February 12
Dates: June 21 – August 9
Eligibility: Students graduating high school and entering college in 2025, 2026, or 2027, ages 16 years and older by June 21, 2025, and not turning 19 years before July 31
The Harvard Secondary School Program (SSP) is a 7-week academic experience that allows you to take college-level courses for credit, preparing you for the rigor of university study. With flexible online options, you’ll engage with Harvard faculty, develop time management skills, and gain exposure to college-level curriculum.
The Economics Track covers macro and microeconomic principles, financial decision-making, and strategic planning. Courses like Principles of Economics and Introduction to Financial and Managerial Economics introduce you to key economic forces, financial markets, and government policies. You’ll explore economic growth, inflation, fiscal policy, and financial management, equipping yourself with analytical skills relevant to business, policy, and finance.
6. Harvard Social and Economic Networks: Models and Analysis
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (without a certificate); paid after free trial (for a verified certificate). Financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Dates: 29 hours of self-paced learning
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Harvard’s Social and Economic Networks: Models and Analysis course explores the mathematical and strategic foundations of network formation and its impact on social and economic behavior. You’ll study random and strategic network models, learning how networks shape information flow, economic transactions, and social dynamics. Topics include contagion, diffusion, learning, and peer influence, drawing from research in economics, sociology, and mathematics.
Through models like the DeGroot learning model, network games, and Bayesian learning, you’ll analyze real-world phenomena such as market trends, policy decisions, and financial networks. Participants are recommended to have a foundation in linear algebra, probability, and statistics.
7. Economics for Leaders
Location: Virtual or In-person
Cost: $900 (Financial aid is available)
Application Deadline: April 9
Dates: Dates vary depending on the session you apply for
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors
Economics for Leaders equips you with the economic reasoning and leadership skills necessary to navigate complex policy issues. Through interactive simulations and discussions, you’ll explore key topics like opportunity cost, market structures, inflation, and international trade.
Leadership training follows the Leadership Pyramid Matrix, emphasizing personal, relational, and contextual leadership. You’ll learn how to analyze economic challenges and lead teams effectively, preparing for roles in policy, business, and global decision-making. The program is highly competitive and offers limited seats.
8. Wharton Global Youth Program – Financial Decision Making
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,099 + $100 application fee (Scholarships and application fee waivers are available)
Application Deadline: May 1
Dates:
- Session 1: June 16 – June 27
- Session 2: July 7 – July 18
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 9-12
Wharton’s Financial Decision Making program introduces you to core economic and financial principles through data-driven analysis and real-world application. Over two weeks, you will work with real datasets, apply financial models, and examine market behavior.
Topics include inflation, taxation, credit management, and investment strategies—essential for both personal finance and economic decision-making. Through lectures, collaborative projects, and hands-on exercises, you will develop quantitative reasoning and financial literacy, skills that are fundamental to economic analysis.
9. Behavioral Finance – Duke University
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (without a certificate); paid after free trial (for a verified certificate) – financial aid is available
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Dates: 5 hours of self-paced learning
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Duke University’s Behavioral Finance program explores systematic biases in financial decision-making. You will study heuristics, cognitive biases, and probability distortions that lead individuals to make predictable errors in investing, saving, and risk assessment. The course introduces prospect theory, loss aversion, and framing effects, emphasizing their impact on market behavior. You will also analyze real-world financial data using decision models and statistical tools to evaluate bias-driven choices.
Through case studies and research-based discussions, you will develop analytical frameworks to identify and mitigate irrational decision-making in personal finance and broader financial markets. The program builds quantitative reasoning and behavioral modeling skills, essential for finance, economics, and policy research.
10. Udemy – Economics is for Everyone
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Dates: Nearly 4 hours of self-paced learning
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Economics is for Everyone on Udemy introduces economic reasoning through real-world scenarios, bridging everyday decisions with foundational economic concepts. You will study supply and demand dynamics, cost-benefit analysis, and market efficiency, progressing toward more complex applications like price controls, externalities, and economic policy debates.
The course challenges you to apply theoretical models to practical decision-making while also addressing misconceptions and overuse of economic principles. The program includes assessments to reinforce key ideas, ensuring a structured approach to economic problem-solving.
11. Cornell Summer/Winter Online Program – Economics Track
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,840 per credit (Financial aid is available)
Application Deadline:
- 3-week Session 1: May 5
- 3-week Session 2: May 19
- 3-week Session 3: June 16
- 6-week Session: May 19
Dates:
- 3-week Session 1: June 2 – June 20
- 3-week Session 2: June 23 – July 11
- 3-week Session 3: July 14 – August 1
- 6-week Session: June 23 – August 1
Eligibility: Rising/Current high school juniors & seniors, ages 15 to 19
Cornell’s Summer/Winter Online Program offers Ivy League coursework, allowing you to earn credits, engage with Cornell faculty, and develop analytical skills. The economics track includes Introduction to Macroeconomic Theory and Policy, covering GDP measurement, inflation, employment, and economic growth models.
You will explore macroeconomic data sources, apply theoretical models to policy debates, and develop quantitative reasoning for analyzing economic trends. The course builds data literacy, teaching you to evaluate national economic performance and policy decisions. Designed for students preparing for college economics, this program sharpens critical thinking and empirical analysis.
12. BerkeleyX: Real-World Applications of Economics
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (without certificate); $99 for a verified certificate
Application Deadline: April 14
Dates: 5-10 hours of self-paced learning for 3 months
Eligibility: Open to high school students
BerkeleyX’s Real-World Applications of Economics integrates economics, data science, and Python programming. Using real-world datasets, you will analyze inequality, econometrics, game theory, environmental economics, and finance. The course introduces Lorenz curves, Gini coefficients, econometric modeling with statistical models, and finance APIs for stock price analysis.
You will implement randomized controlled trials for international development, examine oligopoly models, and apply marginal abatement cost curves for emissions reduction. By engaging with intermediate economic concepts through Python, you develop quantitative reasoning and empirical analysis skills. The prerequisites for taking this course are Data 88.1EX: Fundamentals of Economics and Data 88.2EX: Advanced Concepts in Economics.
13. OxfordX: From Poverty to Prosperity: Understanding Economic Development
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (without certificate); $249 for a verified certificate
Application Deadline: May 20
Dates: 2-3 weeks of self-paced learning for 6 weeks
Eligibility: Open to high school students
OxfordX’s From Poverty to Prosperity examines the political, social, and economic processes that drive development. You will explore state formation, governance, identity, urbanization, and industrialization, assessing how societies transition from anarchy to centralized and inclusive states. The course covers economic scale, specialization, and external influences such as trade, capital, and labor flows.
You will analyze policy interventions, development trajectories, and governance structures using case studies. By engaging with real-world challenges, you develop critical reasoning and policy evaluation skills. The final assignment allows you to apply course concepts to analyze development obstacles. This course provides a structured framework for understanding economic growth and institutional change.
14. IMFx: Macroeconomics of Climate Change: Science, Economics, and Policies
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (without certificate); $25 for a verified certificate
Application Deadline: April 15
Dates: 2-3 hours of self-paced learning for 3 weeks
Eligibility: Open to high school students
IMFx’s Macroeconomics of Climate Change dives into the intersection of climate science, economics, and policy. You will analyze emission drivers, economic damages, and fiscal risks, assessing how climate change influences growth and human welfare. The course explores global climate agreements, mitigation strategies, and adaptation policies, highlighting policy challenges and economic trade-offs.
You will also study the IMF’s role in climate-related fiscal and monetary policy. By the end, you will develop a framework for understanding climate risks, policy interventions, and the role of economic institutions in global climate governance.
15. Udemy – Energy Economics and the Environment
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Dates: 4 hours of self-paced learning
Eligibility: Open to high school students
Udemy’s Energy Economics and the Environment investigates how energy production affects economies, policies, and the environment. You will explore the oil sector, electricity markets, and renewable energy, analyzing the economic trade-offs of energy use. The course covers carbon pricing, regulatory strategies, and sustainability frameworks, offering insights into climate policy and investment decisions.
You will also examine ethical and geopolitical considerations in energy economics. This course provides a structured understanding of energy’s role in shaping economic and environmental policies.
Image source – Cornell University