If you are a high school student curious about economics, structured programs can be a practical starting point! Programs combine classroom instruction with real-world application, exposing you to fundamental concepts in finance, business, and economic systems. As a participant, you will learn how economies, the government, businesses, and money work through lectures, case studies, projects, and discussions designed to help you develop critical thinking skills and knowledge that go far beyond traditional classroom learning. Economics programs may also feature presentations, competitions, trading simulations, and mentorship opportunities designed to deepen your understanding of how markets function and how economic decisions impact individuals and society.
Additionally, you will gain exposure to professional environments and university campuses, engage in advanced skill development, and connect with economists and academics. These experiences can help you assess if a career in the field is the right option for you.
Why should you choose a program in Arizona?
Arizona is home to institutions like Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, and the Arizona Council on Economic Education, which offer high school students a range of learning opportunities. Whether you are looking for competitive academic courses, hands-on internship experiences, or introductory exposure to economic principles, Arizona’s diverse ecosystem of economics programs offers options for students with various experience levels and interests.
To help you get started, we have put together a list of 15 economics programs for students in Arizona.
If you are also looking for opportunities beyond Arizona, check out our selection of economics summer programs across the U.S. here and research programs in the field here.
1. University of Arizona’s Entrepreneurship Summer Academy
Location: University of Arizona’s McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship, Tucson, AZ
Cost: $500 (includes housing and meals) + $50 registration fee due upon acceptance; scholarships available
Dates: June 7 – 12
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Current 9th to 12th-grade students
This one-week residential program is designed to help you explore fundamental concepts of entrepreneurship, ethics, and economic freedom through instruction led by University of Arizona faculty and business professionals. You will learn about Intuit’s “Design for Delight” methodology, connect with university undergraduates, and participate in site visits to local businesses and the Arizona State Capitol. You will collaborate with peers on team-based projects to develop original business ideas. The experience culminates in a Shark Tank-style pitch competition where top teams receive awards. The curriculum is structured to help you gain practical experience in business planning, communication, teamwork, and critical thinking.
2. Arizona State University’s Rising Leaders Program
Location: Arizona State University (ASU) W. P. Carey School of Business, Tempe, AZ
Cost: $1,400
Dates: June 21 – 26
Application deadline: Priority consideration: February 15; Regular consideration: March 15;
Final consideration: May 4
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
This week-long residential pre-college program is designed for rising high school seniors interested in exploring business, entrepreneurship, economics, finance, and related disciplines. You will live on the ASU campus, complete a faculty-led applied project, and earn college-level coursework credit. The program allows you to explore various business and related career pathways through various activities. You will connect with peers, university staff, and faculty during the program. At the end, you will receive course credit for your participation and an ASU application fee waiver.
3. ASU Fleischer Scholars Program
Location: Online + in person at Arizona State University W.P. Carey School of Business, Tempe, AZ
Cost: Free
Dates: June 1 – 5
Application deadline: Priority consideration: February 15; Late consideration: March 15; Final deadline: May 6
Eligibility: Arizona high school juniors; the selection team focuses on factors like financial need, school and community involvement, status of first-generation college student, and academic performance.
The Fleischer Scholars Program is a free, primarily virtual summer program offered by ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business for Arizona high school juniors. Over five days, you will work on building strategic thinking and adaptive learning skills that can help you prepare for college and careers, including paths in economics. The program connects you with ASU staff, mentors, and a community of peers who are interested in leadership and making a positive impact. You will also receive information about scholarships, financial aid, and college admissions resources. During the first four days, you will connect with ASU staff and faculty virtually, and on the last day, you will visit the ASU campus.
4. Arizona Council on Economic Education’s Economics Challenge
Location: Virtual and in-person events in AZ
Cost: No cost to participate; winner gets $500!
Dates: Fall Testing: November 3 – December 5; Spring Testing: March 2 – March 27; State Finals: April 17
Application deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Middle and high school students who have taken economics or economics-related courses; teams of three to four students required to participate.
This statewide competition challenges you to test your knowledge of economics, monetary policy, and international trade. You will compete as part of a team of three to four students, starting with an online testing round focused on economics questions. Top teams then advance to an in-person Quiz Bowl at the State Finals. The online testing can be completed flexibly, during or outside school hours. Top-scoring teams in each division at the state finals receive monetary awards, with winning teams earning $500. Although not a typical program, the competition can help you examine questions in economics and apply your classroom knowledge in a competitive setting.
5. University of Arizona’s Ethics, Economy, and Entrepreneurship High School Program
Location: Tucson, AZ (in-school course, taught at your high school)
Cost: $176.50 tuition + $35 textbook; no application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Fall semester (tuition due mid-October) and spring semester (tuition due mid-March); no specific start or end dates listed
Application deadline: Not specified; applications accepted in fall or spring via the University of Arizona’s non-degree seeking online application
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in the course through their school; no grades, transcripts, or immunization records required to apply.
This program is a high school course developed by the University of Arizona’s Center for the Philosophy of Freedom that helps you dive into economics coursework that goes beyond what’s covered in standard high school classes. The curriculum, created by high school teachers and UA faculty, covers core economics concepts alongside ethics and topics relevant to careers in fields like business, law, politics, and journalism. You will learn about the link between ethical decision-making, economic principles, and entrepreneurial innovation. The curriculum also lets you explore how ethical considerations shape economic policies, the role of markets in boosting prosperity, and the responsibility of entrepreneurs in contributing to sustainable growth. If you complete the course, you can apply to earn three transferable college credits from the University of Arizona.
6. Economics for Leaders Virtual
Location: Virtual
Cost: $35 non-refundable processing fee + $900; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple week-long sessions in the summer
Application deadline: May 6
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
Economics for Leaders Virtual is a five-day online program offered by the Foundation for Teaching Economics, where you will learn how to think through economic problems and develop leadership skills. Sessions are led by economics professors and leadership instructors. You will work through real-world scenarios, group activities, and public policy discussions. The program will cover concepts like how markets work, property rights, labor markets, monetary policy, and international trade. You will also explore what it means to be an effective leader during the program.
7. Salt River Project (SRP) High School Internship
Location: Various SRP facilities across the Phoenix metropolitan area (Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale), AZ
Stipend: Paid
Dates: Year-round opportunities; dates vary by role
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school seniors living in the Phoenix Valley area who are enrolled in a Cooperative Office Education (COE) or Industrial Cooperative Education (ICE) program
This program offers high school students real work experience by placing them in professional teams within SRP, a major utility company. You will work on actual projects and initiatives across various departments, gaining practical knowledge of business operations, state and national economics, customer service, and energy management in a large corporate environment. This paid internship allows you to develop professional skills, including time management, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. You may also receive mentorship from experienced SRP employees who can provide guidance on career development and professional growth within the utility industry.
8. University of Pennsylvania’s Pre-Baccalaureate Program— BEPP 0001: Business Economics and Public Policy
Location: Online
Cost: $4,230 tuition + $81 online service fee + $76 course materials fee + $100 non-refundable application fee; waivers available for Philadelphia public and charter high school students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple sessions in summer, spring, and fall
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: High school students (not yet graduating or enrolling at Penn) with a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA; international students can apply.
BEPP 0001 is an online, for-credit college course offered through the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania as part of its Pre-Baccalaureate Program for high school students. The course introduces you to behavioral economics, which is the study of how psychology influences the way people make economic decisions, and focuses on what that means for government policy and how businesses operate. You will attend live, synchronous class sessions over Zoom, complete readings and assignments, and participate in online discussions. You will get graded based on participation, assignments, and a final exam. If you complete the course, you will earn a transcript from the Wharton School, which may be transferable to college later.
9. University of Arizona Business Careers Awareness Program (BCAP)
Location: University of Arizona campus, Tucson, AZ
Cost: Free (all costs covered by an EY scholarship)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 31 – June 5
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Current high school juniors
BCAP is a free, week-long residential program at the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management, sponsored by the global accounting firm EY. During the week, you will attend classes in entrepreneurship, marketing, business communications, and accounting while exploring what it’s like to be a college student on a university campus. You will also take part in a business plan case competition, where winning teams can earn book scholarships. You will also meet and network with business professionals. The program is designed to help you explore business careers and build connections before you start college.
10. High School Fed Challenge
Location: Remote
Cost: Free
Dates: Registration opens September 9; paper submission deadline March 16
Application deadline: February 17
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 at U.S. high schools; one team per school may register.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York runs a competition each year for students interested in economics and research. As a contestant, you will work with your teammates to research and write an academic paper on a topic related to the annual competition theme, which for the current year is “Economics of Music”. Your team will act as future economists, conducting research, analyzing data, and developing thoughtful conclusions about an economic issue of choice. While not a typical program, the challenge can help you build skills in data literacy, analytical writing, teamwork, and project management. If your paper is selected, it will be published in the Journal of Future Economists, which showcases student work from across the Federal Reserve System. All participating schools receive recognition certificates.
11. ASU’s INSPIRE Program
Location: ASU campus, Tempe, AZ
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 21 – 25
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 – 12 in the fall; a GPA of 2.7 or higher is recommended, but not mandatory.
INSPIRE is a free, week-long summer program at Arizona State University where you will live on campus and get a firsthand look at what college life is like. During the program, you will take part in hands-on activities, cultural experiences, and community engagement sessions led by community leaders and ASU staff. The experience can offer you insights into economics, business, and entrepreneurship pathways you can take after graduating from high school. You will also connect with current ASU students, staff, and faculty, which can help you feel more prepared and comfortable as you think about your future after high school. You will be supervised by trained ASU student staff called Camp Ambassadors throughout the week.
12. Pima County Summer Youth Employment Program
Location: Pima County, AZ
Stipend: Starts at $16.54/hour
Dates: June 1 – 26 | July 6 – 31
Application deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Youth, ages 14 – 21
Pima County’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) is a paid summer internship opportunity open to students interested in gaining work experience. You will be placed at a real worksite, with opportunities spanning public service offices, parks, libraries, hospitals, nonprofits, and private businesses. You can indicate a preference for a placement offering economics exposure. As an intern, you will work 20–30 hours each week on site-specific tasks. Additionally, you will build workplace readiness skills like professional communication, time management, and budgeting through job coaching and skills training integrated into the experience.
13. Tempe Union High School District Financial Literacy Program
Location: Tempe Union High School District schools, AZ
Cost: No cost; program integrated into school curriculum
Dates: Integrated into school year coursework in approved courses
Application deadline: No application required; available through school course enrollment during registration
Eligibility: High school students completing approved personal finance courses through the Tempe Union High School District
This program recognizes high school students who demonstrate strong proficiency in personal finance. You will be invited to work on earning the Arizona Seal of Personal Finance while taking approved personal finance courses during the traditional school year. In the process, you will refine your understanding of financial concepts. The seal will be placed upon your diploma and marked on your transcript, providing formal recognition of your financial literacy achievement. You will additionally develop an understanding of budgeting, credit, savings, investing, and consumer economics. Through this program, you will graduate with official recognition of financial competency.
14. Brown University Pre-College: How a Nation’s Economy Works
Location: Online option available for AZ students
Cost: $6,416; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – July 24
Application deadline: May 8
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14 – 18, completing grades 9 – 12
This six-week Brown University course introduces macroeconomic concepts with a focus on how economies respond to policy decisions. Through lectures and simulations, you will learn how governments influence employment, inflation, and growth. You will also spend time analyzing economic indicators and their implications. Over the course of the program, you will refine your understanding of how policymakers rely on data to guide decisions. Activities will help you assess economic trends using structured frameworks, and collaborative discussions will help you practice expressing analytical ideas.
15. Rice University Pre-College: The Business of Economics Course
Location: Online (asynchronous)
Cost: $1,795; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Courses available year-round; options range from one to four weeks.
Application deadline: Typically, a week before each session starts.
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 and up
This online, asynchronous course is designed by Rice University faculty for high school students interested in exploring how economic principles apply in business contexts. You will learn about monetary policy, the role of the Federal Reserve, market supply and demand, the effects of disruptions in inflation and supply chain, and international economic conflict through video lectures, discussions, and assignments. The course also focuses on energy markets and business economics. You will work on a capstone project that requires you to apply and utilize the course material to share your insights. Mentors will help you work through the course content and clear any doubts you may have.
One more option—Horizon Academic Research Program
If you are looking for a competitive mentored research program in economics, policy, econometrics, and international trade, you can consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! It is a selective virtual research program that allows you to engage in advanced research and come up with a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1,000+ high school students so far, offering 600+ research specializations to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image Source – Rice University