If you are a high school student interested in economics, consider participating in a summer program! An economics summer program is a solid way to gain practical experience, learn about and contribute to real-world economic policies, network with professionals, and build professional skills. Economics is a pretty vast field, with its analysis applicable to areas like international relations, politics, business, finance, engineering, gender, science, and family. Pursuing an economics program in high school will help you build a robust skillset, one that can be applied to research, internships, or even your passion projects. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
If you’re curious, take a look at the following list of 14 economics summer programs for high school students.
1. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP) – Economics Track
Location: Virtual
Application Date: May 21 for the summer cohort, and September 25 for the fall cohort
Program Dates: Summer seminar – June 24 – September 2
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders!
Horizon offers trimester-long quantitative and qualitative research programs for high school students across subject areas, including economics. You can opt for a behavioral economics course to learn about our psychology’s impact on economic decisions, insurance, unemployment policies, pensions, and more.
Once you select your subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and college applications. Apply here!
2. U.S. Department of the Treasury Headquarters Student Internship Program
Location: Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: High school students who are U.S. citizens
Application Deadline: December (for summer internships)
Dates: May-August (summer)
Cost: Free. No stipend is paid.
The Headquarters Student Internship Program allows you to gain work experience in economics and related fields like political science, international affairs and development, public policy, business management, finance, law, and others. Your duties may include collecting and analyzing data, making presentations and reports, attending meetings and official hearings, organizing meetings and conferences, and contributing to initiatives.
Depending on openings, you can work in departments like Economic Policy, Tax Policy, Domestic Finance, and International Affairs.
3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Economics Track
Location: Remote
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 GPA
Application Deadline: Summer deadlines are in March, April, and May.
Program Dates: June-August (summer). Fall, winter, and spring cohorts are also available.
Cost: $2,800 (12 weeks) | $5,400 (16-20 weeks). Financial aid is available.
Founded by Harvard and Oxford graduates, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs high school students with PhD mentors, who assist in pursuing an independent research project. By the end of the program, you will have a college-level academic paper in hand. You will present this paper at the program’s final symposium. A separate program for research and publication is also available.
Indicate your preference for the Economics track in your application.
4. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Multiple locations + week-long residential Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: Current high school juniors or seniors who live in one of the eligible locations
Application Deadline: Applications will reopen in fall.
Dates: June-July (8 weeks). The summit will be held on July 22-27.
Cost: Free. Students are paid hourly and given access to a fully funded trip to the Student Leaders Summit.
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program connects over 300 students to skills development and employment opportunities. You will intern and work with local nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity and Boys and Girls for America to see how they function and understand how governments, nonprofits, and businesses collaborate on projects.
The internship will culminate in the Student Leaders Summit where you will hear from and interact with professionals.
5. Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP)
Location: Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: Individuals aged 14-24 who can commute daily to the host company’s location
Application Deadline: Applications usually close in March.
Dates: June-August
Cost: Free. Students are paid a stipend (amount not specified).
The MBSYEP, sponsored by the Department of Employment Services (DOES), places students in private and government sectors, allowing them to gain work experience, learn professional development skills, experience collaborative work, and explore career options. The program’s curriculum includes financial literacy, business development, project learning, and financial industry internships.
The program concludes with you and your peers presenting your projects and business plans to professionals and your cohort.
6. KP Launch High School Program
Location: You can intern at a Kaiser Permanente Medical Center or business office closest to your home. Find a location near you.
Eligibility: Current high school students aged 16-19 who reside in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates: June 17 – August 2 (7 weeks)
Cost: No cost. Students are paid $15.50 – $18 per hour (the exact amount varies by city)
The KP Launch High School Program allows students to experience administrative and supporting careers in health care. The program features departmental work, weekly workshops, close mentorship, work-related activities, social events, and community service projects.
Departments may vary each year, but relevant past options have included administration, business, accounting, communications, and patient care services, all of which require office-based work.
7. UC Santa Barbara’s Research Mentorship Program
Location: UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 or 11 (or advanced 9th-grade students) with a minimum 3.80 GPA
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates: June 17 – August 2
Cost: $4,975 (commuter) | $11,874 (residential). Some scholarships are available.
UC Santa Barbara’s Research Mentorship Program allows you to conduct hands-on interdisciplinary research. You will work one-on-one with a mentor (faculty, graduate student, or postdoc) on an independent research project from various disciplines, one of which includes economics.
You will also work on learning new research techniques and professional skills while attending lectures, seminars, talks, and presentations.
8. Young Entrepreneurs Program
Location: Kansas City, MO / Columbus, OH
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who reside in Kansas City or Columbus
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in February.
Dates: June 2 – June 27 (session 1) | July 7 – August 1 (session 2). Students can attend either or both.
Cost: Free. Students are paid $12 per hour and given a $1,250 scholarship per session.
The Young Entrepreneurs Program partners with local companies in the Midwest and provides a chance to learn from professionals in fields like economics, finance, marketing, sales, analytics, engineering, and others. The program will provide you with practical experience, leading to professional development, entrepreneurial thinking, and the skills to develop projects and impact your community.
Running since 2017, this program has served over 100 students from 26 high schools.
9. Port of Seattle High School Internships
Location: Seattle, WA
Eligibility: High school students (including recent graduates) who are at least 16 years old and have U.S. work authorization
Application Deadline: Applications for the summer internship will open in May. The deadline is not mentioned.
Dates: June-August for summer (length varies)
Cost: Free. Students are paid a stipend (amount not specified).
The Port of Seattle offers high school internships wherein you can gain experience working at a reputed public organization. You will contribute to real-world projects with a real impact on local communities and the economy.
You will learn corporate skills, process improvement, project management, communications, and leadership while attending tours, workshops, and meetings. You can choose from career areas like aviation operations, maritime operations, green jobs, governance, and community engagement.
10. Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Internship Program
Location: Miami, FL
Eligibility: High school, college, and graduate students
Application Deadline: Applications for summer usually close in April/May. Make sure to check the website for the summer application in spring.
Dates: 14 weeks in summer
Cost: Free. Both paid and unpaid opportunities are available.
This program allows high school students to experience a career in public service and make an impact on the County’s communities. If selected, you will work with the County’s employees and staff who will mentor you and teach you about the functions and operations of your department, which may include accounting, big data analysis, community engagement, housing and planning management, administration, and others.
You can also work in the Mayor’s Office to hone your writing, communication, and networking.
11. Economics for Leaders (EFL) by the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE)
Location: Multiple
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
Application Deadline: Applications will reopen in December.
Dates: June-August (several weeklong programs available)
Cost: $2,300 (residential) | $800 (virtual). Scholarships are available.
The EFL program aims to teach you to integrate economics into public policy decision-making. You will take a course in economic concepts like opportunity cost, economic growth and scarcity, open markets, labor markets, property rights, money and inflation, international markets, incentives and innovations, and more. You will also learn about reasoning and leadership theory.
You will also participate in social events and activities, leadership exercises, excursions and trips, and an award ceremony.
12. Economics, Finance, and Public Policy at Harvard Summer School
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: January (early) | February (regular) | April (late)
Dates: June 22 – August 10
Cost: $3,900–$14,250 + $75 application fee
The Economics, Finance, and Public Policy program is a 7-week program that allows you to take two courses from options like micro and macroeconomics, financial and managerial economics, strategy, conflict, and cooperation, financial accounting, statistics and data analysis, public finance, and neuroinvesting, among others.
This is a particularly solid program that can help you better understand economic principles and financial well-being while developing your business acumen – something that is super useful for an undergraduate degree in the field. You will also earn college credit for each course.
13. UCLA’s Economics Summer Institute
Location: UCLA, Los Angeles, CA / Virtual
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9-12)
Application Deadline: Applications usually close in June.
Dates: June 24 – July 12 (virtual) | July 15 – August 2 (commuter)
Cost: $2,947 (commuter) | $1,916 (virtual). Scholarships are available.
UCLA’s Economics Summer Institute will teach you about economic policy issues and financial analysis principles. You will learn how to apply the theory and methods to real-world institutions and policies. You will learn from accomplished UCLA professors and students through lectures, team projects, discussions, trips and tours, activities, presentations, and case studies.
Topics in the curriculum will include empirical data analysis, international trade, costs of taxation, price ceilings and floors, rent control, and more.
14. Yale Young Global Scholars’ Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE)
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors who are 16-18 years old
Application Deadline: November (early) | January (regular)
Dates: June 23 – July 5 (session I) | July 7 – July 19 (session II) | July 21 – August 2 (session III)
Cost: $6,500. Financial aid is available.
The Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE) program at Yale explores economic theories, government practices, legal frameworks, public policy, climate, human rights, governance structures, market regulation, conflict and cooperation, and international policy. You will utilize political, legal, and economic approaches to analyze key issues and social systems.
You will participate in lectures, seminars, discussions, projects, presentations, trips, and social activities.
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