If you often hear terms like inflation, supply and demand, or economic growth, and want to understand what they actually mean, an economics program can help you explore these ideas more clearly while you are still in high school.
Economics programs allow you to explore topics beyond the regular classroom syllabus. You may study economic policy, market behavior, and the role of data in understanding economic trends. Through discussions and case studies, you can see how economists analyze real economic situations.
Why should you choose a program in South Carolina?
South Carolina provides several opportunities for high school students to explore economics through academic programs hosted by universities and educational organizations. These programs allow you to study economic ideas in structured learning environments.
Choosing a program in South Carolina can also make the experience easier to manage because you may not need to travel far or arrange housing. Participating in these programs can also strengthen your college applications by showing that you actively pursued your interest in economics outside the classroom.
With that in mind, here are 15 economics programs for high school students in South Carolina! If you’re looking for free online economics summer programs, you can find them here. You can also check out college summer programs for high school students in South Carolina here.
15 Economics Programs for High School Students in South Carolina
1. USC’s Carolina Master Scholars Adventure Series
Location: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Cost: $675–$750 (Commuter) | $1,150–$1,250 (Residential); the cost varies by registration date. Early bird discounts are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Maximum 20 students per camp
Dates: June 7 – 12 | June 14 – 19 | June 21 – 26 | July 5 – 10 | July 12 – 17
Application Deadline: Registrations open in January; applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until all slots are filled
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th-grade students with a GPA of 3.25 or higher
The Carolina Master Scholars Adventure Series allows you to participate in weeklong camps taught by USC faculty, researchers, and local experts. You’ll explore different subjects and develop academic and personal skills, and also meet other students from across the country, explore possible careers, and experience student life at USC. If economics interests you, the Adventures in Sales Techniques camp will introduce you to concepts such as value creation, market demand, consumer behavior, and the psychology of buying, which relate to microeconomics and business. The Adventures in Leadership camp also covers topics such as organizational management, resource allocation, and sometimes social entrepreneurship, helping you build basic economic thinking skills.
2. Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) Airport District Internships & Job Shadow Opportunities
Location: Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), Greer, SC
Cost: Free | Internships pay a stipend of $15 per hour; job shadowing is unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round opportunities are available
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Local high school, trade school, and college students, as well as recent graduates
At the GSP Airport District, you can explore airport business and operations through internships and job shadowing. As an intern, you’ll work with different departments and build experience that can improve your chances of getting hired later. All openings are posted on the GSP job board. If you choose job shadowing, you’ll spend time observing professionals working in areas such as Fire, IT, Operations, HR, Police, Finance, Air Cargo, Communications, and Commercial Fuel. This will give you a closer look at how each role operates and the kinds of skills required to do the job well. If you want more information, you can reach out to the Human Resources team at [email protected]. You’ll also learn how the airport supports nearly $4 billion in local output and over 20,000 jobs. By seeing passenger traffic, cargo operations, international flights, commercial development, and FBO services up close, you’ll gain practical insight into aviation and regional economics.
3. Junior Leadership Spartanburg
Location: OneSpartanburg, Inc., Spartanburg, SC
Cost: $150 tuition
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 45 students
Dates: Nine months during the school year (September – May)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors from anywhere in Spartanburg County are eligible. School guidance counselors select the students who will represent their schools.
Junior Leadership Spartanburg introduces you to the business and civic systems that shape the Spartanburg community. Over several months, you attend sessions with local organizations, companies, and community leaders. Through discussions and activities, you explore how businesses operate, how local economies grow, and how leadership influences economic development. You also learn about business ethics, resource management, and community needs. By meeting professionals and visiting organizations across the county, you see how economic decisions affect jobs, businesses, and public services within a local economy.
4. Clemson University Summer Scholars Program — Future Innovators Summer Workshop (Business Management & Entrepreneurship)
Location: Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Cost: $1,400 tuition (includes $200 non-refundable registration deposit); a $150 early bird discount is available if students register before March 2
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions run between June 7 and July 24
Application Deadline: Registrations open on January 12; applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders can apply. Those who turn 18 before or during the session are not eligible. Grade requirements for each course are set by instructors based on the course content and project expectations.
Clemson University’s Summer Scholars Program allows you to explore academic and career interests in a college setting. You’ll choose from week-long courses in areas like business, engineering, architecture, recreation, and science. If economics interests you, the Future Innovators Summer Workshop is a five-day course that will introduce you to business and entrepreneurial management. You’ll participate in team activities, learn about group dynamics, and use the design thinking process. By the end of the week, you’ll apply what you learned through a hands-on group project. The course covers basic economic principles, new venture creation, market demand, and how business models work in practice.
5. Bob Jones University Business Startup EDUCamp
Location: Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC
Cost: $450 (Overnight Camp) | $350 (Day Camp) + $20 registration fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 19 – 24
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th-grade students and recent high school graduates
At Business Startup EDUCamp at Bob Jones University, you spend several days developing a business idea from the ground up. You work in teams to identify a problem, design a solution, and present your idea as a startup concept. Throughout the camp, you explore how markets work, how businesses reach customers, and how financial decisions influence a company’s success. Mentors guide discussions on marketing, accounting, and pricing so you understand how economic choices shape a business model. The program ends with a pitch presentation where you explain how your idea could function in a competitive market.
6. South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Business Week
Location: South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Columbia, SC
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 13 – 18
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until all spots are filled
Eligibility: South Carolina rising high school juniors, seniors, and college freshmen
South Carolina Business Week introduces you to the free enterprise system through a week-long business simulation. During the program, you operate a mock company and make decisions about production, pricing, and strategy, and examine how supply and demand affect markets and how companies respond to competition. Sessions also discuss business finance, ethics, and leadership while connecting those ideas to economic systems. Industry professionals lead workshops and discussions about how businesses adapt to market trends and global economic forces.
7. USC Carolina Catalyst — Invent Your Own Civilization
Location: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Cost: Tuition is $250 per course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Maximum 30 students per course
Dates: March 21 and 28
Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: Students in grade 9
Carolina Catalyst at the University of South Carolina is a set of two-day Saturday courses for middle and high school students. Held on the Columbia campus, the program brings in experienced educators to lead hands-on sessions that help you build curiosity, problem-solving, and teamwork. Classes run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you’re interested in economics, the Invent Your Own Civilization course will allow you to design a society from the ground up. Over two Saturdays, you’ll work with other participants to solve different challenges and present your final society to a mock World Council. You’ll study real empires, manage limited resources, debate trade-offs, and plan how your civilization will function. You’ll also practice resource allocation and strategic planning, and analyze the impact of economic decisions, much as in real-world policymaking.
8. Bob Jones University Accounting EDUCamp
Location: Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC
Cost: $450 (Overnight Camp) | $350 (Day Camp) + $20 registration fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 5 – 10
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th-grade students and recent high school graduates
Accounting EDUCamp at Bob Jones University introduces you to accounting as the foundation of business decision-making. Through workshops and exercises, you learn how financial records help businesses track revenue, costs, and profitability. You practice interpreting financial information and see how accounting data helps companies manage resources and plan for growth. Mentors guide activities that demonstrate how financial reporting connects to larger economic ideas,s such as market performance and business sustainability. The program ends with a team presentation that analyzes financial outcomes.
9. College of Charleston Dual Enrollment Economics Courses
Location: College of Charleston, Charleston, SC
Cost: $450 per course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Semester-long courses
Application Deadline: The deadline usually matches the regular undergraduate admission deadlines. For more details about dual enrollment, applicants can contact Mat Garrison at [email protected]
Eligibility: Local high school juniors and seniors with strong academic records
The College of Charleston offers Dual Enrollment courses for local high school juniors and seniors. You must apply as a non-degree student, submit the dual enrollment application, and complete a permission form. Academic departments review applications and accept students based on available space. Since the classes carry full college credit, you must follow all College of Charleston academic and student policies. If you’re interested in economics, the Introduction to Economics course explores how modern economic society developed and examines issues such as inflation, recessions, unemployment, government policy, and international trade. The Economics of Globalization course is another beginner-friendly option that covers the history and impact of global integration, including trade, financial integration, and the post-World War II monetary system. You’ll also debate how globalization affects domestic economies, production, policy, labor markets, and the environment. You can check out more economics courses here.
10. Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeships
Location: Trident Technical College, Charleston, SC (training) | Various participating companies across Charleston, SC (apprenticeships)
Cost: Free | A stipend is paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Two-year program
Application Deadline: The hiring cycle begins each spring
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors, seniors, and graduating seniors who live in Charleston, Berkeley, or Dorchester County and are at least 16 years old by June 1
Charleston’s regional employers allow you to participate in a youth apprenticeship. If you are hired by a participating company, the program covers the cost of your college courses. Career paths include fields like automotive service, healthcare, bookkeeping or pre-accounting, banking, engineering, IT, culinary arts, HVAC, supply chain, welding, and more. You’ll get around 30 free college credits from TTC, a certificate that can count toward an associate degree, national credentials from the U.S. Department of Labor, and a high school diploma if you are still completing high school. If you’re interested in economics, the Bookkeeping & Pre-Accounting pathway will allow you to work with financial transactions, manage accounts payable and receivable, reconcile bank statements, and assist with budget preparation. You can also choose pathways like Supply Chain Analyst or Bank Loan Officer, where you’ll analyze trends, manage inventory, and learn how goods and money move through the economy.
11. Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Location: Several lab locations across the country, including Charleston, SC
Cost: Free | New participants get a $4,000 stipend, and returning participants receive $4,500
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: < 10% | 265 high school students participated in last year’s program
Dates: 8-week summer internship, with optional 2-week extension
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 or older, are U.S. citizens, and have completed at least grade 9, including graduating seniors, can apply; some labs may have extra requirements
The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program places you in real research projects with Navy scientists and engineers at Department of the Navy labs. You can work in areas like computer science, engineering, economics, math, chemistry, business, meteorology, public policy, and astronomy. You can list up to three lab choices, and placement depends on your interests, recommendations, grades, and personal statement. If you’re looking for opportunities in South Carolina, you can apply to the Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic in Charleston. There, you’ll learn how a major acquisition command manages billions of dollars in systems and services. You’ll gain exposure to government contracting, supply chains, requests for proposals, and how public funds are allocated. You’ll also learn how technology-focused industries support local economic growth and the role of specialized, high-wage labor in the knowledge economy.
12. Boeing South Carolina (BSC) Student Development Program
Location: Boeing’s Airport Campus in North Charleston, SC
Cost: Free | Interns earn a stipend of $17.50 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: June 5 – July 30
Application Deadline: March 27
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors enrolled in Berkeley County School District, Charleston County School District, or Dorchester County District 2 schools
The Boeing South Carolina Student Development Program places you inside the operations of a major aerospace manufacturer. Working in engineering or supply chain departments, you observe how production systems, materials sourcing, and logistics function within a large industrial company. These operations illustrate how manufacturing contributes to regional economies and global trade. You also see how companies manage costs, coordinate suppliers, and move products through international markets. Through this experience, you understand how large industries shape employment, supply chains, and economic activity.
13. Anderson University’s Leadership and Diplomacy Fellowship
Location: Anderson University, Anderson, SC
Cost: $125
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots are available
Dates: June 1 – 3
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, as well as rising college freshmen
Anderson University’s Leadership and Diplomacy Fellowship prepares you to handle global and cultural challenges as a student leader. You’ll learn about international relations, leadership theory, conflict resolution, and public service while taking part in simulations, seminars, and workshops focused on diplomacy, cross-cultural communication, negotiation, and ethical decision-making. You’ll explore economics through global policy and international relations, as well as learn how foreign policy, security, ethics, environmental issues, and economic factors connect in long-term decision-making. You’ll also go on site visits, work on service projects, and network with leaders in nonprofits, government, and international organizations. You’ll also receive guidance from policy professionals, faculty, and practitioners. The program will help you strengthen leadership skills and build a broader global perspective.
14. The Foundation for Teaching Economics’ Economics for Leaders (EFL)
Location: Virtual or in-person at various locations
Cost: $900 (virtual) + a $35 non-refundable application processing fee; need-based scholarships range from $100 to $600 for virtual programs
Cohort Size: Competitive
Dates: Virtual Sessions: June 8 – 12 | June 29 – July 3 | July 6 – 10 | July 20 – 24 | August 3 – 7
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors
Economics for Leaders Virtual is a live online course that runs from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm. In the program, you’ll learn key economic concepts and develop leadership skills. You’ll study topics like scarcity, incentives, open markets, opportunity costs, money, growth, and inflation through discussions and hands-on simulations that connect ideas to real situations. Simulations and group work take place in breakout rooms. You’ll also complete leadership training based on the Leadership Pyramid Matrix and take part in team activities that link leadership with economic thinking. The program will help you build an economic mindset so you can weigh costs, benefits, and incentives and make informed decisions in a business or nonprofit setting.
15. University of South Carolina’s Business Success Academy
Location: Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 49 students participated in last year’s program
Dates: Five-day program during the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors in South Carolina
The Business Success Academy at the University of South Carolina introduces you to several areas of business study within the Darla Moore School of Business. Workshops cover topics such as accounting, data analytics, business communication, and economics. Through lectures and group activities, you see how these fields interact when companies make financial and strategic decisions. Faculty explain how economic ideas such as markets, competition, and resource allocation shape business outcomes. The program also gives you a chance to experience university learning while exploring possible careers in business and economics.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, and financial markets, 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 – University of South Carolina