Online courses are structured academic offerings that teach a subject through lectures, readings, assignments, quizzes, and assessments. Depending on the provider, they may be self-paced or instructor-led and often award a certificate or college credit upon completion. Unlike research programs or mentorship-based experiences, courses are designed primarily to help you develop subject knowledge and technical skills through a defined curriculum.
If you’re interested in understanding how individuals, businesses, and governments make decisions under conditions of scarcity, online economics courses for high school students introduce undergraduate-level concepts while allowing you to learn remotely and, in some cases, earn transferable college credit or a certificate. These courses vary in focus. Some cover the fundamentals of microeconomics and macroeconomics, while others explore specialized areas such as labor economics, behavioral economics, public policy, international trade, or economics for finance.
Below is a curated list of 15 online economics courses for high school students. If you’re looking for more opportunities beyond courses, check out our guide on economics summer programs for high school students here.
What do online economics courses for high school students include?
Online economics courses for high school students focus on the analytical methods economists use to study markets, institutions, and public policy. Depending on the course, you’ll learn core concepts such as supply and demand, market equilibrium, consumer and producer theory, inflation, unemployment, fiscal and monetary policy, international trade, and economic growth. Many courses also introduce specialized topics like behavioral economics, game theory, labor economics, or development economics.
Beyond theory, many university-level courses incorporate quantitative analysis using real-world datasets. You may interpret economic indicators such as GDP, inflation, and unemployment, analyze policy outcomes through case studies, build introductory regression models, or work with tools like Excel and Python for data analysis. Coursework typically includes problem sets, data interpretation, discussions, simulations, and policy analysis that mirror how economists evaluate real-world economic questions.
Key Takeaways
- Online economics courses for high school students range from college-credit bearing options at Harvard, Columbia, Cornell, and Syracuse to non-credit courses through programs like Summer@Brown and Rice University’s Pre-College Online Program
- Several courses go beyond traditional micro and macroeconomics into specialized topics like behavioral game theory, labor economics, entrepreneurial finance, and business analytics with AI
- Courses vary significantly in length and intensity, from short one-week sessions like Columbia’s Pre-College courses to extended eight-week credit-bearing programs like Syracuse’s Accelerated Semester Online
- Many courses incorporate quantitative skills directly relevant to economics, including Python for data analysis, regression modeling, and working with real economic indicators like GDP and inflation data
- For students who want to move beyond structured coursework into independent, mentored research, Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs offers a path toward producing a formal academic paper in economics or a related field
15 Online Economics Courses for High School Students
1. 10039 How a Nation’s Economy Works: An Introduction to Macroeconomics — Summer@Brown Online Pre-College Programs
Location: Online through Canvas, Brown’s learning management system
Cost: $4,656 (3 weeks) | $6,520 (6 weeks) | Scholarships are available
Dates: June 15–July 24 (6 weeks) | June 22–July 10 (3 weeks) | July 6–24 (3 weeks)
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students finishing grades 9–12, aged 14–18 by June 14 | No background in economics is required | Familiarity with Algebra II-level mathematics is recommended
Summer@Brown Online Program offers more than 35 courses across fields such as economics, business, engineering, technology, legal studies, psychology, and political science, as well as workshops and extracurricular activities. In the How a Nation’s Economy Works: An Introduction to Macroeconomics course, you’ll learn how economists analyze national economies using real-world data and economic theory. You’ll study key macroeconomic indicators, fiscal policy, monetary policy, economic terminology, and the institutions involved in economic decision-making. You’ll learn how policymakers influence the economy, how to collect and interpret economic data, and evaluate how major events affect economic outcomes. The course will also introduce you to different macroeconomic models and schools of thought, and help you compare their strengths and limitations.
2. ECON S-1016 Labor Economics — Harvard University’s Secondary School Program (SSP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,180 (4-credits) + $75 application fee | Financial aid is available
Dates: June 20–August 8 (7-week session)
Application Deadline: January 7 (early deadline) | February 11 (regular deadline) | April 1 (late deadline)
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–19 who plan to start college in the next few years
Harvard Summer School’s Secondary School Program allows high school students to enroll in college-level courses for credit. You can choose a four-week residential option with one course or a seven-week session offered in residential, online, or commuting formats, with the option to take one or two courses. The Labor Economics course introduces key topics in labor markets, economic policy, and applied microeconomics. You’ll examine the effects of minimum wages, immigration, transfer programs, unemployment insurance, taxes, mandated benefits, and disability insurance on employment, wages, and labor force participation. You’ll explore education, human capital, teacher and college effectiveness, income and wealth inequality, and intergenerational mobility. You’ll also learn econometric and theoretical methods used in economic research and apply them in your own writing and analysis.
3. Econ 10P Python for Economics and Finance — UCLA Economics Summer Precollege Focus Series Courses
Location: Online
Cost: $2,770 | Scholarships are available
Dates: June 22–July 10
Application Deadline: June 12
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 who are at least 15 years old by June 22 and have a minimum 3.2 GPA | No background in Python is required
UCLA’s Economics Summer Precollege Focus Series offers Python for Economics and Finance, a three-week course that introduces Python programming for economic and financial data analysis. You’ll learn how economists and data scientists use Python to explore, analyze, manipulate, and visualize data. You’ll study data types, probability and statistics, data analysis, basic regression, and time series analysis using examples drawn primarily from economics and finance. You’ll work with data to create visualizations, interpret results, justify conclusions with evidence, and solve both quantitative and open-ended problems. You’ll also get to attend lectures, interact with UCLA faculty and undergraduate students, earn college credit, and build foundational skills in data analysis and economic research.
4. ECON0103 Introduction to Microeconomics — Columbia University’s Pre-College Online Summer Program
Location: Online
Cost: $2,867–$4,017 per session + $80 application fee + around $50 for textbooks and supplies + course-specific fees
Dates: June 22–26 | July 6–17 | July 20–31
Application Deadline: March 10 (early deadline) | March 24 (general deadline)
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th-grade domestic and international students, including current seniors
Columbia University’s Pre-College Online Summer Program offers more than 40 courses for high school students, which they can enroll in for one week, two weeks, or both. The Introduction to Microeconomics course provides an overview of how individuals and businesses make decisions under limited resources, trade-offs, and constraints. You’ll study core economic concepts such as opportunity cost, comparative advantage, scarcity, and economic rent, and explore questions related to work, pricing, leisure, and business decisions. You’ll participate in hands-on activities, exercises, and collaborative group work that will help you apply economic ideas to real-world topics such as environmental regulation and the effects of new technologies on the labor market. By the end of the course, you’ll have a stronger foundation for future studies in economics and related fields.
5. How Business Works — Pre-College @ UMass Amherst
Location: Online (synchronous)
Cost: $1,985 + $45 non-refundable application fee | A limited number of partial, need-based scholarships are available
Dates: July 13–24
Application Deadline: May 15 | Check here
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
Pre-College @ UMass Amherst offers How Business Works, an introductory course that explores business and economics in the modern world. You’ll study topics such as economics, management, finance, accounting, operations, globalization, marketing, entrepreneurship, start-ups, and business careers. You’ll also examine how technology influences business and innovation. Learning takes place through live online sessions, individual exploration, team activities, and a final group project. You’ll analyze ethical and social responsibility issues in business, evaluate the relationship between the global and U.S. economies, and learn about management functions and challenges. You’ll also learn about human resource management, marketing strategies, accounting processes, and the role of U.S. financial and investment systems in supporting business activity.
6. The Business of Economics — Rice University’s Pre-College Online Program
Location: Online
Cost: $1,795
Dates: Multi-length courses run throughout the year
Application Deadline: Applications are due one week before each session starts
Eligibility: Students aged 13 or older
Rice University’s The Business of Economics course explores how economic principles influence business decisions and operations. You’ll learn why companies must respond to production disruptions, changes in labor and energy markets, and government policies. The course covers supply and demand, the role of economics in business, and career paths such as financial planner, pricing analyst, research analyst, account executive, and CFO. You’ll examine how the Federal Reserve affects economic conditions, study real-world case studies, and explore how businesses make hiring and investment decisions. Topics also include taxes, interest rates, regulations, loanable funds, energy sources, and their advantages and challenges. As a final project, you’ll create a presentation on stagflation and propose policies that address high unemployment, inflation, and inequality despite social welfare programs.
7. Essentials of Business, Finance, and Economics — Columbia University’s Academic Year Weekend
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,868 per session for a single course ($2,700 for each additional course) + $80 application fee + at least $50 toward course materials | You can check additional costs here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Maximum 22 students per session
Dates: January 23–March 29 (Spring Session) | October 9–November 22 (Fall Session)
Application Deadline: Spring Session: October 9 (early deadline) and December 15 (general deadline) | Fall Session: July 17 (early deadline) and September 11 (general deadline)
Eligibility: Domestic and international students enrolled in grades 9–12
Columbia University’s Academic Year Weekend is a 10-week virtual program in which you can take up to 4 online courses in subjects such as psychology, technology, business, economics, law, finance, marketing, STEM, and research. The Essentials of Business, Finance, and Economics course provides an introduction to important concepts across these fields. You’ll learn how companies evaluate investments, raise capital, and operate within financial markets. You’ll learn about major financial instruments, like stocks and bonds, and how markets determine the value of companies and securities. You’ll also explore economic models used to understand business decisions, investment strategies, and financial risk. Short case studies and guided analysis will help you examine how businesses and financial markets interact within the global economy.
8. ECON 201Z Principles of Microeconomics — Ecampus at Oregon State University
Location: Virtual
Cost: $409 per credit + $35 non-refundable application fee and additional expenses for books and supplies | You can calculate the total cost here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Maximum 50 students per class
Dates: Multiple cohorts run in spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the session | Check here
Eligibility: High school students who have a minimum 3.0 GPA
Oregon State University’s Ecampus allows high school students to take online college courses for credit as nondegree-seeking students, with the option to pursue a degree later. You’ll study with Oregon State students and learners from different backgrounds. The Principles of Microeconomics course examines how consumers and businesses make decisions when resources are limited and how those choices influence production, prices, and government policy. You’ll study how buyers and sellers determine prices in markets, including the forces that affect stock, bond, and commodity markets. You’ll also learn about market structures like perfect competition, monopolies, and oligopolies, as well as production costs, profit maximization, stock valuation, corporate earnings, and information gaps that affect market regulation, credit risk, and insider trading laws.
9. ECON S-10AB Principles of Economics — Harvard University’s Secondary School Program (SSP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: $8,160 (8 credits) + $75 application fee | Financial aid is available
Dates: June 20–August 8 (7-week session)
Application Deadline: January 7 (early deadline) | February 11 (regular deadline) | April 1 (late deadline)
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–19 who plan to start college in the next few years | Knowledge of high school algebra is required
Harvard Summer School’s Secondary School Program allows high school students to enroll in college-level courses for credit. You can choose a four-week residential option with one course or a seven-week session offered in residential, online, or commuting formats, with the option to take one or two courses. The Principles of Economics course introduces you to both microeconomics and macroeconomics. You’ll study how supply and demand affect the prices and quantities of goods, services, and factors of production, as well as the role of international trade and government intervention in markets. You’ll also learn about economic growth, employment, financial institutions, inflation, short-term economic fluctuations, open economy macroeconomics, and the impact of government policies on national and global economies.
10. 10038 Behavioral Game Theory: Experiments in Strategic Interaction — Summer@Brown Online Pre-College Programs
Location: Online through Canvas, Brown’s learning management system
Cost: $5,554 | Scholarships are available
Dates: June 22–July 17 (4 weeks)
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students finishing grades 9–12, aged 14–18 by June 14 | Students should be familiar with basic math concepts, like solving linear and quadratic equations, graphing linear functions, and calculating averages | Some knowledge of probability is helpful
Summer@Brown Online Program offers more than 35 courses across fields such as economics, business, engineering, technology, legal studies, psychology, and political science, as well as workshops and extracurricular activities. In the Behavioral Game Theory: Experiments in Strategic Interaction course, you’ll explore how economists study human behavior and decision-making. You’ll get an introduction to Game Theory and examine strategic situations like rock-paper-scissors, driving conventions, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. You’ll learn how economists model decision-making by weighing costs and benefits and explore why rational choices do not always lead to the best outcomes. The course helps you examine cognitive biases and predictable decision-making errors, including overconfidence, temptation, self-control, the gambler’s fallacy, and herd behavior. It also shows you how economists use these insights to design policies and improve decision-making.
11. ECN 101 Intro to Microeconomics — Syracuse University ’s Accelerated Semester Online
Location: Online synchronous
Cost: $750 per credit (3-credit courses cost $2,250 and 4-credit courses cost $3,000) + $35 non-refundable application fee
Dates: August 24–October 15 (Fall 8-Week I Courses) | October 19–December 10 (Fall 8-Week II Courses)
Application Deadline: July 28 (Fall 8-Week I Courses) | September 15 (Fall 8-Week II Courses) | Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Current high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA
Syracuse University’s Accelerated Semester Online Program allows high school students to take online, credit-bearing courses that run for eight weeks during the academic year. Each course includes a live 90-minute session every week, along with 8–10 hours of independent work, such as videos, readings, and assignments. The Introduction to Microeconomics course introduces the core principles of economic decision-making using the same undergraduate-level curriculum taught by Syracuse University’s Maxwell School. You’ll study scarcity, economic modeling, opportunity cost, and the benefits of trade, as well as how supply and demand determine prices and market equilibrium. You’ll also learn about consumer and business decision making, production costs, taxes, price controls, externalities, competitive markets, monopolies, oligopolies, economic efficiency, and the role of social welfare in public policy.
12. PLSC 10300 40 The Global Political Economy: Power and Inequality — University of Chicago’s Pre-College Summer Online
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,980 + $75 non-refundable application fee | Need-based financial aid is available
Dates: July 7–23
Application Deadline: February 11 (priority deadline) | March 12 (regular deadline)
Eligibility: Current 9th–12th grade students
The University of Chicago’s Pre-College Summer Online Program offers college-level courses in subjects such as economics, psychology, law, and biology. Students in grades 9–11 take courses designed for high school students, and those in grades 11 and 12 can enroll in undergraduate UChicago courses and earn grades and 100 units of college credit. In the Global Political Economy course, you’ll examine the rise of socioeconomic inequality since the 1970s and explore arguments that inequality is shaped by dispossession, wealth transfers, and institutions that often reflect the interests of powerful groups. Based on work by political economists, historians, journalists, and activists, you’ll study the roles of colonialism, capitalism, and chattel slavery, as well as the connections between inequality, gender, ethnicity, and climate change. You’ll also learn about economic models that prioritize use over profit as possible responses to inequality.
13. BANA 270 Introduction to Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence — Ecampus at Oregon State University
Location: Virtual
Cost: $409 per credit + $35 non-refundable application fee and additional expenses for books and supplies | You can calculate the total cost here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Maximum 55 students per class
Dates: Multiple cohorts run in spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the session | Check here
Eligibility: High school students who have a minimum 3.0 GPA
Oregon State University’s Ecampus allows high school students to take online college courses for credit as nondegree-seeking students, with the option to pursue a degree later. You’ll study with Oregon State students and learners from different backgrounds. The Introduction to Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence course explores how organizations use data analytics and AI to make better decisions and gain a competitive advantage. You’ll learn basic IT strategy concepts and identify opportunities where analytical and AI solutions can be applied. The course introduces machine learning methods and provides experience using software tools to implement them. You’ll also examine how analytics and AI are used to address challenges in customer relationship management, information security, internet marketing, supply chain management, and human resource management.
14. FINC0108 Entrepreneurial Finance and New Venture Management — Columbia University’s Pre-College Online Summer Program
Location: Online
Cost: $2,867–$4,017 per session + $80 application fee + around $50 for textbooks and supplies + course-specific fees
Dates: June 22–26 | July 6–17 | July 20–31
Application Deadline: March 10 (early deadline) | March 24 (general deadline)
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th-grade domestic and international students, including current seniors | Students with prior coursework in business, economics, or entrepreneurship are encouraged to apply
Columbia University’s Pre-College Online Summer Program offers more than 40 courses for high school students, which they can enroll in for one week, two weeks, or both. Entrepreneurial Finance and New Venture Management is an economics and business course that introduces the financial and operational side of building a startup. You’ll learn how to identify business opportunities, validate ideas, develop business models, and evaluate funding options. Topics include the startup lifecycle, lean startup methods, minimum viable products, value proposition design, venture capital, angel investing, crowdfunding, accelerators, valuation, term sheets, SAFE and convertible notes, and key business metrics like TAM, LTV, CAC, churn, burn, and traction. You’ll also study growth management, scaling challenges, and venture pitching, as well as work in teams on a startup project that ends with an investor-style presentation.
15. AEM 1300 Introduction to Macroeconomic Theory and Policy — Cornell SCE Precollege Studies Summer Online Program
Location: Online
Cost: $1,940 per credit + $75 non-refundable application fee | You can check additional fees here
Dates: July 13–31 (3 weeks)
Application Deadline: June 2 (application form) | June 16 (application materials) | June 30 (enrolment deposit) | July 7 (final payment)
Eligibility: Rising or current high school juniors and seniors aged 15–19
Cornell University’s School of Continuing Education offers online summer pre-college courses that allow high school juniors and seniors to get an early start on college academics. You can earn 3–12 transferable college credits and receive an official Cornell transcript after completing the program. The Introduction to Macroeconomic Theory and Policy course provides a college-level overview of macroeconomics and the economic policy issues that shape national debates. You’ll learn about the structure of the U.S. economy and study a basic macroeconomic model that explains economic growth and employment. You’ll also learn about how important economic indicators like inflation, GDP, and employment are measured, where macroeconomic data comes from, and how economists use this information to analyze and evaluate current economic issues.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re interested in studying economics beyond structured coursework, 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!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are online economics courses for high school students?
Online economics courses for high school students are structured academic offerings that teach economic concepts through lectures, readings, assignments, and assessments, often modeled on undergraduate curricula. Unlike research programs or mentorship-based experiences, these courses focus primarily on building subject knowledge through a defined syllabus, and many offer transferable college credit or a certificate upon completion.
Do I need prior economics knowledge to enroll in these courses?
Most courses require no prior economics background. Summer@Brown’s macroeconomics course and Columbia’s Introduction to Microeconomics explicitly state no background is required. Some courses do expect comfort with specific math skills. UCLA’s Python for Economics and Finance requires no prior Python knowledge, but Brown’s Behavioral Game Theory course expects familiarity with basic algebra and probability concepts.
Which online economics courses offer college credit?
Harvard’s Secondary School Program courses, UCLA’s Econ 10P, Oregon State’s Ecampus courses, Syracuse’s Accelerated Semester Online courses, University of Chicago’s Pre-College courses for older students, and Cornell’s Precollege Studies courses all offer transferable college credit recorded on an official transcript. Summer@Brown’s online courses and Rice University’s Pre-College courses are generally non-credit but offer comparable academic rigor.
Which courses focus on data analysis or programming skills within economics?
UCLA’s Python for Economics and Finance teaches data analysis, regression, and time series analysis using Python. Oregon State’s Introduction to Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence explores machine learning methods applied to business decision-making. Several other courses, including Harvard’s Labor Economics course, incorporate econometric methods and data interpretation as part of their broader curriculum.
Which courses are best for students interested in business or entrepreneurship rather than traditional economics?
Columbia’s Entrepreneurial Finance and New Venture Management course covers startup fundamentals, venture capital, and business metrics, culminating in an investor-style pitch presentation. UMass Amherst’s How Business Works course spans management, marketing, accounting, and operations. Rice University’s The Business of Economics course connects economic principles directly to business decision-making and career paths in finance and analysis.
Are there economics courses that explore policy or social issues specifically?
Yes. University of Chicago’s Global Political Economy course examines socioeconomic inequality through the lens of colonialism, capitalism, and institutional power. Harvard’s Labor Economics course covers minimum wage policy, immigration, and income inequality. Syracuse’s Introduction to Microeconomics also touches on the role of social welfare and public policy in market outcomes.
When should I apply to online economics courses for high school students?
Harvard’s Secondary School Program has an early deadline of January 7, with regular and late deadlines through April 1. University of Chicago’s priority deadline is February 11. Columbia’s Pre-College courses close in March, and Summer@Brown closes May 15. Cornell’s Precollege Studies program has a series of deadlines beginning June 2. Oregon State’s Ecampus and Syracuse’s Accelerated Semester courses run on rolling, session-based deadlines throughout the year, so checking the specific session you’re interested in is worthwhile.
Image source: Rice University