If you’re interested in understanding how financial decisions are made, winter finance programs for high school students can be a practical place to start. These short programs are designed to fit into a school break, making them well-suited for focused skill-building without the time commitment of a full semester.
Participating in winter finance programs for high school students can help you develop concrete skills such as budgeting, risk evaluation, market analysis, data interpretation, and basic financial modeling. Because of their compressed format, these programs often move quickly from concepts to application. You are more likely to work through case studies, simulations, datasets, or structured projects than broad theoretical surveys.
Why pick a winter program?
Most winter finance programs for high school students focus on a specific area of finance, such as investing, fintech, entrepreneurship, behavioral finance, or economic research. This thematic structure allows you to engage more deeply with a narrow set of questions and practice quantitative reasoning in realistic contexts.
If you’re interested in supplementing your experience in leadership with business, you may want to explore our blog on business internships here.
15 Winter Finance Programs for High School Students
1. Pathways Internship Programs – U.S. Department of State
Cost/Stipend: No cost | Stipend varies by post
Location: Varies
Program Dates: Vary | Internship Experience Program (IEP) during academic terms | Internship Temporary Program (ITEP) during seasonal breaks
Application Deadline: Varies by posting
Eligibility: U.S. citizen | Age 16+ | Minimum GPA of 2.0+ | Must maintain student status throughout internship
The Pathways Internship Programs place you in federal offices where you support routine tasks and learn how different agencies operate. You may work in areas such as finance, insurance, public policy, foreign affairs, or environmental oversight. You’ll gain structured exposure to federal operations while completing assignments tied to each office’s needs. Positions fall under either the Internship Experience Program, which may include advancement pathways, or the Internship Temporary Program, which offers short-term roles aligned with academic schedules. Work is supervised by agency staff who outline expectations and provide feedback.
2. Winter Session Pre-College Program – University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Cost: $439 to $6,426, depending on credits and residency
Location: Baltimore, MD
Program Dates: January 5–23
Application Deadline: December 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Acceptance Rate: Open to qualified applicants; limited spots per course
During UMBC’s winter session, you take college-level courses that follow the same structure used for undergraduate students. You can select subjects in business, economics, finance, and other fields to explore potential academic interests. Coursework is intensive due to the short session, which encourages steady engagement and consistent study habits. Classes are led by UMBC faculty, and you complete assignments similar to those expected in a standard semester.
3. Joint Enrollment Program – Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
Cost: $100 application fee plus standard tuition | Five credit hours per course
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: January 5–March 12
Application Deadline: Rolling prior to start of the quarter
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors aged 16+
SCAD’s program allows you to take two online college courses per quarter, thereby earning five credit hours for each completed class. Winter offerings include business and management courses that introduce key principles related to organizational and financial decision-making. Assignments follow a regular college workload and require consistent participation in lectures, projects, and discussions. You’ll work directly with SCAD instructors and interact with classmates through virtual platforms.
4. Becoming an Investor: An Inside Look at Finance – Georgetown University
Cost/Stipend: $1,895 | Certificate awarded
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Multiple winter sessions (1-week intensives, 2-week sessions, and 4-week sessions)
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Students aged 13 years and above
This course introduces you to how financial markets operate and how investors assess companies. Lessons cover valuation models, trading concepts, and emerging developments, including fintech and digital assets. You receive guided feedback from mentors who comment on your analysis and capstone work. A major component is the final project, where you research a public company and evaluate its risks and potential returns. The program focuses on foundational investment concepts, through videos, readings, and practical exercises.
5. Financial Management Specialization – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Cost/Stipend: Free with Coursera Plus | Paid certificate available
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Flexible | About 3 months to complete
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: High school students with prior interest in finance
This specialization covers strategic financial management concepts across six sequential courses. You study accounting principles, investment analysis, and corporate finance while completing assessments modeled on real financial tasks. Assignments require you to apply concepts to datasets and structured scenarios. Peer-reviewed work and quizzes help reinforce the material in each module. You progress at your own pace and can revisit lessons as needed.
6. Cornell Precollege Winter Online Program – Cornell University
Cost: $1,940 per credit hour
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: January 2–17
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors ages 15–19
This three-week session allows you to take Cornell undergraduate courses for credit. Offerings include subjects such as business, economics, and hospitality, each taught by Cornell faculty. The condensed schedule requires regular participation in both synchronous and asynchronous activities. You complete assignments that reflect college-level expectations and communicate with instructors through the university’s online platforms. Interaction with peers is part of course discussions and group tasks when included by the instructor. The program focuses on academic engagement within selected disciplines.
7. Introduction to Finance and Accounting Specialization – University of Pennsylvania
Cost/Stipend: Free with Coursera Plus | Paid certificate available
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Flexible | About 4 weeks to complete
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Open to high school students
This four-course series introduces you to key finance and accounting concepts. Topics include the time value of money, risk and return, retirement planning, asset valuation, and financial statement analysis. Excel-based exercises help you practice calculations and modeling techniques. Coursework includes videos, quizzes, and graded assignments that build progressively across the series.
8. Foundations of Finance – University of Cambridge
Cost/Stipend: Free with Coursera Plus | Paid certificate available
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Flexible | About 3 weeks to complete
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Open to high school students
This introductory course explains core financial concepts with examples from business settings. You study financial reporting, cash flows, risk, and return on investment through structured modules. Interviews with practitioners supplement the lessons and illustrate how concepts are applied in real-world cases. Interactive assessments verify understanding of each topic before proceeding. The course also fits within a larger specialization for those who want additional coursework, focusing on applied finance fundamentals.
9. Introduction to Finance: The Basics – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Cost/Stipend: Free with Coursera Plus | Paid certificate available
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Flexible | About 2 weeks to complete
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Open to high school students
This course offers a concise overview of fundamental financial management principles. You learn about financial decision-making, business organization types, and the responsibilities of financial managers. Modules include practical exercises in ratio analysis and time–value-of-money calculations. The structure follows a self-paced format with videos, quizzes, and guided examples. By the end, you will have worked through common techniques used in basic financial analysis.
10 . Winter Programs – Teach Me Wall Street
Cost: $397 (Wall street 101) | $797 (Investing and Trading) | $200 (Teen Investor Cup competition-only entry)
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Winter sessions run online on Saturdays and Sundays (January 10–24 for Wall Street 101 | January 10–February 14 for Investing and Trading) | February 16–April 2 (Teen Investor Cup)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
The winter program covers three sequential areas: Wall Street 101, Investing and Trading, and an optional Teen Investor Cup competition. The winter format includes guided homework and self-study exercises in addition to the three live sessions. Lessons introduce market terms, investment products, technical and fundamental analysis, and simulated trading. Depending on the option selected, you may also join weekly coaching calls during the competition.
11. Excel, Finance, & Investing Program (Self-Paced) – NextGen Bootcamp / Noble Desktop
Cost: $1,299
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Start anytime | Self-paced
Application Deadline: Year-round
Eligibility: High school and college students interested in finance | No prior experience required
The self-paced format provides access to pre-recorded video lessons, hands-on exercises, and instructor support for any questions you may have. You work through Excel fundamentals, intermediate functions, and advanced tools, such as PivotTables and macros, followed by modules on financial statements, valuation, and stock market basics. You progress through the curriculum on your own schedule with access to course content at all times. Exercises include building Excel models and applying concepts to real company examples. You also receive the same workbook and project materials used in the live version.
12. StandOut Connect Winter – StandOut Connect
Cost: $1,950 | Scholarships available
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: January 25–April 24 (five weeks of training followed by a two-month internship)
Application Deadline: October 20 (early) | November 30 (regular)
Eligibility: Students aged 15 or older | International students must demonstrate English fluency
The winter program begins with five weeks of online weekend workshops supported by short homework assignments and optional office hours. You work through modules on resumes, interviewing, networking, professional communication, and basic tools used in modern workplaces. Students interview with companies during training and receive at least one internship offer through the matching process.
13. Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital: From Idea to Investment – William & Mary
Cost: $1,595
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and up
This course introduces you to the process of how startups raise money and how venture capital firms evaluate investment opportunities. You study the funding process from early research to valuation and deal terms, then apply those ideas by creating a pitch for a seed-stage investor. The curriculum is self-directed and includes mentor support as you complete assignments and prepare your final project. You work asynchronously through video modules, simulations, and guided tasks with flexibility to progress at your own pace.
14. The Business of Economics – Rice University
Cost/Stipend: $1,795
Location: Virtual
Program Dates:Multi-length courses available throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Students aged 13 and up
This course introduces how economic forces shape business decisions across various areas, including pricing, hiring, investment, and energy use. You study supply and demand, inflation, labor markets, and loanable funds through video modules, case studies, and guided assignments. The asynchronous format allows you to progress through lessons at your own pace while receiving support from a mentor on each assignment. The capstone project asks you to analyze stagflation and propose policy ideas based on course concepts.
15. Young Finance Scholar (YFS) Program – New York Institute of Finance
Cost/Stipend: $950
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Self-paced | Available year-round
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students aged 13–17
YFS curriculum introduces key areas of business, economics, and finance through four structured sections. You progress through recorded modules on entrepreneurship, personal finance, capital markets, and financial services, completing exercises that reinforce core concepts. The self-paced format allows you to navigate the 50-hour curriculum independently with flexibility to review material as needed.
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!
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