If you’re a high school student interested in business, investing, or economics, free university finance summer programs for high school students can be a great way to explore these topics in depth. Many universities offer free programs that introduce students to key financial concepts, from budgeting and financial literacy to stock markets and corporate finance.
Along with teaching fundamental concepts such as budgeting and saving, free university finance summer programs for high school students also dive into complex concepts such as investment fundamentals, financial statement analysis, time value of money, valuation models, financial risk management, and more. You will engage in real-world application of these concepts in the form of stock market simulations, case studies, group project participation, and personal finance plan development.
In this blog, we’ve listed 15 free university finance summer programs for high school students that help them build practical skills, learn from experts, and get early exposure to careers in finance and business.
15 Free University Finance Summer Programs for High School Students
1. University of Houston’s EXPLORE Financial Empowerment Institute
Location: University of Houston campus, Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive | Not specified
Dates: 4-5 days in June (tentatively, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: Typically in April
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors and seniors
This residential program allows high school students to experience life as a finance major while building key personal finance skills. Through interactive sessions and real-life case studies, you’ll explore topics like budgeting, goal setting, saving, debt management, and expense management. You will engage in case studies, and be part of financial simulations and group projects. The program is designed to equip you with practical tools to plan for your financial future. By the end of your time on campus, you’ll walk away with a stronger understanding of how to make informed financial decisions.
2. University of Texas at Dallas’s Top Trader Stock Market Competition
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None; $50 registration fee | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Fairly open | Large cohort of students
Dates: June 3 – July 25
Application Deadline: May 23
Eligibility: All rising high school students
This online competition offers a hands-on introduction to investment and personal finance by letting you manage a simulated stock portfolio. You’ll start with a virtual $1 million to invest in stocks and ETFs, learn to track performance, assess risk, and make strategic decisions along the way. The experience is supported by educational videos and quizzes, and you can earn certificates in Investment and Personal Finance Knowledge as you progress. Open to students worldwide, this program is ideal if you’re curious about financial markets or investment management and want to apply your learning in a practical, competitive setting. Prizes include $600 for first place, $500 for second, $400 for third, $300 for fourth, and $200 for fifth.
3. The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
Location: University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus, MI
Cost/Stipend: $5,500 + $75 application fee (full scholarships are available) | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | 72 students
Dates: June 13 – 27
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: Current rising high school senior | Minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA
The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy is a two-week, on-campus program for rising high school seniors who are curious about the world of business. Through a mix of lectures, case studies, and hands-on workshops, you’ll explore how companies operate and how leaders make strategic decisions. You’ll take part in college-level coursework taught by Ross faculty, gaining exposure to core business topics like finance, marketing, and leadership. Outside the classroom, you’ll participate in company visits, group projects, and team-building activities that help build both professional and interpersonal skills. The experience offers a realistic preview of life as a business student at Michigan Ross.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10-25%
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June – August), Fall (September – December), Winter (December – February), and Spring (March – June).
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school | Students must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. It offers extensive research opportunities across a broad range of subject areas and 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, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. Upon successful completion of the program, you will also be eligible to earn credit from the University of California at San Diego (UCSD). You can find more details about the application here.
5. Summer Venture in Business (SVB) @ University of Kansas
Location: University of Kansas, School of Business
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | Approximately 50 students
Dates: First session:June 15 – 20 | Second session: July 13 – 18
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising 11th-12th graders
The Summer Venture in Business (SVB) is a pre-college summer program hosted by the University of Kansas School of Business, designed for high school students curious about business and entrepreneurship. You will learn corporate and personal finance, investment basics, money markets, capital markets, the role of financial institutions, and the role of finance in business. You will be part of workshops, group projects, and hands-on activities that teach business topics. SVB also gives guidance on college applications and access to KU’s academic resources, helping you build a strong foundation for your future. You’ll connect with mentors, develop practical business skills, and gain insight into career pathways within the field.
6. Business Leadership Program (BLP) @ Leeds School of Business
Location: Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | Not specified
Dates: June 22 – 28
Application Deadline: March 30
Eligibility: Current high school juniors (Priority consideration for Colorado Residents and students enrolled in a Colorado High School)
The Business Leadership Program (BLP) at the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business offers high school students a dynamic introduction to the world of business and finance. Throughout the program, you’ll collaborate in teams to create marketing strategies for real companies, gaining hands-on experience and insight into business decision-making. A highlight of BLP is its case competition, where teams present solutions to real-world challenges – winners earn a $1,000 scholarship to the Leeds School of Business. In addition to sharpening your leadership and problem-solving skills, you’ll have the chance to connect with faculty, staff, and business professionals throughout the week.
7. Chicago Summer Business Institute
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: None | Provided (unspecified amount)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | Not specified
Dates: Six weeks during the summer (June – August)
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Must be a high school sophomore or junior residing in Chicago
The Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI) is a paid summer internship program designed to introduce high school students to the foundations of business, finance, and leadership. As a participant, you’ll gain first-hand exposure to the professional world through internships at corporate partner organizations, while also attending weekly seminars on topics like financial literacy, professional development, and civic engagement. The program is geared toward students from lower-income households and aims to empower them with the skills and confidence to pursue future academic and career success. It’s a good choice if you’re looking to build practical business experience while giving back to your community.
8. Entrepreneur Leadership Initiative High School Camp
Location: East Lansing, MI
Cost/Stipend: None | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | 55+ students
Dates: June 20 – 22
Application Deadline: April 11
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores and juniors
Michigan State University’s Entrepreneur Leadership Initiative High School Camp is a four-day program for high school students eager to explore entrepreneurship and business leadership. Hosted by the Broad College of Business, the camp includes hands-on workshops, lectures, and collaborative projects on topics like market research, financial planning, and business strategy. You’ll work with experienced entrepreneurs and industry professionals to develop practical skills and bring your business ideas to life. The program also offers valuable opportunities to network with peers and mentors, helping you build confidence and a strong foundation in entrepreneurial thinking.
9. Wall Street 101 – Bentley University
Location: Residential and commuter programs at the Bentley University campus in Waltham, MA | Online
Cost/Stipend: Online: $1,490, Commuter: $2,250, Residential: $3,180 + $75 application fee (full financial aid and scholarships are available) | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive | 30 students (maximum 120 students across multiple courses)
Dates: June 9 – July 18
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Students should be entering Junior or Senior year of high school | Completed at least two years of college preparatory coursework at the high school level | Must be 16 years old by September 1 of the program year
Wall Street 101 is a pre-college program by Bentley University that gives high school students hands-on exposure to global finance, investing, financial analysis, risk management, trading, macroeconomics, and capital markets. Through the use of professional tools like Bloomberg and FactSet, students explore core topics such as stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, and financial markets. You will work in small teams, elevate your portfolios with new investment ideas, and practice presentation and interpersonal skills. This summer, five-course options are available: Stock Market and Investment Research, Macroeconomics and Financial Markets, Personal Finance, and FinTech Business Startup. Students can enroll in one course per week and dive deep into a specific area of finance or entrepreneurship.
10. Today’s Interns, Tomorrow’s Professionals (TIP) Internship Program
Location: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: None | Provided (unspecified amount)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive | Not specified
Dates: July – August (typically, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: No fixed, single application deadline. The application process is integrated with the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) and begins for students during their sophomore year of high school, often leading to an “Early Engagement” program in March before summer selection.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their sophomore year in any Boston public school.
The TIP Internship is designed to empower underrepresented high school students by providing hands-on experience and foundational training in finance and accounting. Throughout the summer, you’ll take part in skill-building workshops and receive job coaching focused on core topics like financial analysis, tax preparation, audit procedures, and general accounting principles. Interns are mentored by experienced professionals and work on real-world projects, gaining both technical knowledge and workplace confidence. For students who show strong interest and commitment, there is the opportunity to extend the experience into a year-round internship for up to three years.
11. Wharton Global Youth Program: Financial Decision Making
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $4,099 (Full financial aid available) | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective | Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 16 – June 27 | Session 2: July 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: High school students currently enrolled in grades 9-12 with a demonstrated interest in economics and finance | Minimum 3.3 unweighted GPA
The Wharton Global Youth Program: Financial Decision Making is a two-week virtual course designed to help high school students build a strong foundation in personal finance. Through daily live lectures and small-group recitations with Wharton teaching assistants, you’ll dive into essential topics like saving, investing, borrowing, inflation, and taxes. You’ll also work hands-on with real-world financial datasets and participate in collaborative group projects that simulate real decision-making scenarios. This program offers both academic insight and practical tools to help you navigate your financial future with greater confidence. You will develop strong analytical skills and decision-making abilities.
12. UCLA Introduction to Investments Summer Institute
Location: Virtual | UCLA campus, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: $2,985 (Full financial aid available) | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | Generally, UCLA Summer sessions have a cohort of 30-70 students
Dates: June 23 – July 11
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9 – 12
This three-week summer course at UCLA offers high school students a comprehensive introduction to investing and financial markets. You’ll explore key topics such as stocks, bonds, commodities, market cycles, and company valuation, along with the roles of banking institutions and the Federal Reserve in shaping the economy. The program also introduces personal financial planning, helping you develop practical money management skills. No prior experience in economics or advanced math is required, making this an accessible and informative starting point for anyone curious about finance or considering a career in the field.
13. Brown Pre-College Mathematical Modeling of Finance: An Introduction to Quantitative Analysis
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $5,314 + $65-$100 application fee (Full financial aid available) | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | Not specified
Dates: June 23 – July 18
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Students completing grades 9 to 12 | Aged 14 to 18 by June 15 of the program year
Brown University’s Mathematical Modeling of Finance is a four-week program designed to help high school students explore the mathematical principles behind financial decision-making. You’ll study key concepts such as simple and compound interest rates, present and future values of annuities, and loan amortization and calculations, and then apply probability to understand how risk and uncertainty are modeled in finance. Throughout the course, you’ll sharpen your quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical skills by solving real-world financial problems. The program has self-paced asynchronous lectures and is a strong fit for students interested in both mathematics and the practical applications of finance.
14. Foundations of Finance by the University of Cambridge (edX)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free without a certificate | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment | Not defined, open to all
Dates: 5 weeks, self-paced
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all
The Foundations of Finance course by the University of Cambridge on edX is a free online program designed to introduce students to essential financial principles. You’ll explore topics like cash flow analysis, investment evaluation, risk assessment, risk management, money and capital, and the time value of money through a mix of real-world case studies and interactive assignments. The course also features insights from finance professionals and Cambridge faculty, giving you a practical lens on how financial decision-making works in various contexts. It’s an ideal starting point for students looking to build foundational skills in finance.
15. ColumbiaX: Introduction to Corporate Finance
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free without a certificate | None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment | Not defined, open to all
Dates: 4-weeks, self-paced
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all
Columbia University’s Introduction to Corporate Finance is an entry-level online course that introduces you to key financial concepts used in business decision-making. You’ll learn how to value companies, assess investment opportunities, and apply tools like net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR). The course covers foundational topics such as the time value of money, capital budgeting, and cost of capital. You’ll also use Excel to work with real-world financial data—calculating returns, evaluating stocks and bonds, and interpreting risk. It’s a practical way to build the analytical skills needed for corporate finance.
Bonus options
1. Veritas AI’s AI + Finance Deep Dive
Location: Virtual
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies depending on cohort
Eligibility: High school students from around the world are eligible to apply, completion of the AI Scholars program or prior Python experience is necessary.
Veritas AI is an AI program for ambitious high school students, founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Through the AI + Finance program, students gain a deeper understanding of AI applications in the financial field. They get a chance to engage in lectures, code walkthroughs, and real-world projects using AI & ML models to predict future financial patterns using past data, forecasting stock prices, and more. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, 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 – Brown University