15 Finance Competitions for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Jun 9
- 14 min read
If you are working toward a competitive college application profile, distinguishing yourself through selective extracurriculars can help you stand out, and competitions are among the most worthwhile options to explore. Participating in competitions while you are in high school can also be a practical way to experience college-level academic rigor, engage in advanced skill development, and gain meaningful exposure to a field of choice.
If you are curious about finance, competitions can help you tackle challenges and test your technical skills. Finance competitions can help you gain firsthand experience with concepts such as portfolio management, financial modeling, and economic analysis while connecting you with industry professionals, mentors, and like-minded peers.
Why should I participate in a finance competition in high school?
The benefits of competing in a finance competition during high school extend well beyond any trophy or prize. These competitions provide you with a structured environment to explore advanced financial concepts, including investment strategy, risk assessment, and corporate valuation, the kind of exposure typically reserved for undergraduates. You will also develop the ability to communicate complex ideas under pressure, collaborate within a team, and think critically in high-stakes situations, which are all competencies that translate directly to collegiate academics and early career success. Many competitions also provide direct access to finance professionals and institutions through networking sessions and mentorship, offering you the opportunity to build industry connections years before entering the job market.
To help you shortlist suitable options, we have curated a list of 15 finance competitions for high school students.
If you’re looking for free online competitions, check out our blog here.
Location: Virtual; finals in person in Atlanta, GA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open to all high schoolers; 3-4 students/team
Dates: Online challenges held at the state-level in fall and spring; NPFC National Finals: May 31 – June 1
Submission deadline: Varies depending on the state
Eligibility: High school students
Cost and Prizes: No cost; prizes—First place: $2,000/member | Second place: $1,000/member | Third place: $500/member | Fourth place: $250/member
The National Personal Finance Challenge is a nationwide competition designed to help high school students develop and demonstrate proficiency across core personal finance domains, including earning income, spending, saving, investing, credit management, and risk management. The competition spans multiple rounds: teams will begin with a 30-question online assessment, with high-scoring teams advancing to state finals and state champions proceeding to the National Finals. At the national level, teams will construct a comprehensive financial plan for a fictitious family scenario, and the top 16 teams here compete in a Quiz Bowl format for the national championship title. You will deepen your understanding of how income is influenced by taxation, interest rates, and inflation while learning how to evaluate personal budgets and expenditures. The experience also offers insights into how compound interest and financial institutions function, how credit scores affect consumer decision-making, how investment instruments such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds relate to risk and return, and how insurance and identity theft awareness contribute to sound financial risk management.
Location: Virtual and in-person across various locations in the United States
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open to all; each entry can consist of 1 – 3 students, depending on the competition.
Dates: Varies depending on the competition
Submission deadline: Varies by competition
Eligibility: High school students
Cost and Prizes: DECA membership fee: $8/person; prizes include scholarships and cash awards
DECA's Competitive Events Program is a curriculum-integrated initiative in which you will participate in industry-validated events aligned with National Curriculum Standards. The program's evaluation process combines a written component, such as an exam or report, with an interactive component judged by an industry professional, reinforcing skills in creativity, problem-solving, and presentation. With more than 60 events spanning role-plays and case studies, prepared events, and online simulations, DECA offers competitive opportunities across four career clusters: marketing, finance, hospitality, and management, as well as entrepreneurship and personal financial literacy. You may have as little as 10 to 15 minutes to develop and present solutions, simulating the pace and expectations of a professional business environment. The program also recognizes outstanding achievement through scholarships and cash awards.
Location: Virtual + Global Finale at Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open to all high schoolers; 4 – 6 students/team
Dates: Trading window: September 29 – December 5; Submission of report: December 12; Announcement of semifinalists: January 27; Semifinals (virtual): Week of March 9; Global Finale: April 24 and 25
Submission deadline: Advisor registration: September 12; Team account set-up deadline: September 18
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14 – 18, in grades 9 – 12 worldwide; teams should be composed of 4 – 6 students and accompanied by a teacher advisor from the same high school.
Cost and Prizes: Free; prizes include certificates + free/discounted access to Wharton’s high school programs.
The Wharton Global High School Investment Competition is a free, experiential investment challenge open to high school students in teams of four to six who will compete under the guidance of a teacher advisor. Using the Wharton Investment Simulator, you and your team will be given $500,000 in virtual capital and 10 weeks to develop an investment strategy, analyze industries and companies, and build a portfolio. You will be presented with a case study featuring a real Wharton graduate as a fictitious client, and you will be tasked with constructing a strategy that meets that client's long-term investment goals. Winners will be selected based on the strength and clarity of their strategy rather than portfolio performance. The competition culminates in a structured selection process: judges review team submissions and select 50 semifinalist teams, who will then present their strategies to an expert panel in a virtual Semifinals round. The top 10 teams advance to the Global Finale, held in person at the Wharton School campus in Philadelphia.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; 3 – 8 students/team
Dates: Preliminary Round: May 16 | Final Round: June 20
Submission deadline: April 20
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14 – 18
Cost and Prizes: $63 (10,000 yen)/team registration fee; prizes include trophies and award certificates
The Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge is an online 12-hour business idea competition open to high school students worldwide, designed to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset while deepening your understanding of business and innovation. You will join a team of three to eight to develop innovative, sustainable business solutions that address pressing global issues, including environmental sustainability, social welfare, and education, and all proposed solutions must be grounded in science and technology. The competition is structured across two stages, and teams must first win a preliminary round to qualify as their country's representative before advancing to the global finals. In both stages, the challenge prompt will be announced at 8:00 AM on competition day, and teams must submit their business idea within the 12-hour window. Submissions consist of a two-page document and a three-minute video presentation, and are evaluated by judges across four criteria: creativity and innovation, finance and production, marketing, and communication. Winning teams will receive a trophy and a certificate of achievement, while all participating teams are provided a certificate of participation along with a feedback sheet.
Location: Virtual competitions; BPA NLC: Nashville, TN
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Vary by event; BPA National Leadership Conference (NLC): May 6 – 10
Submission deadline: December 1
Eligibility: High school students who are members of BPA
Cost and Prizes: Virtual membership fee: $14; prizes vary
Business Professionals of America (BPA) runs virtual competitions for students that let students explore different areas of business and test their skills without requiring qualification through regional or state-level rounds. These competitions, which include events such as the Financial Portfolio Investment challenge, are designed to help you use your knowledge and skills to prepare financial reports, make investment plans, analyze case studies, and calculate earnings and savings, depending on the event. You can enter individually or with a team. Submissions are evaluated by judges prior to the National Leadership Conference, and top finalists from each virtual event are invited to participate in the National Showcase at the Conference. The National Showcase provides you with the opportunity to present your work in person, get your work assessed by judges, and stand a chance to earn the Best in Show tag. All components of the competition outside of the National Showcase, including submission and finalist selection, take place entirely online.
Location: Virtual and in-person in New York City, NY
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open to all students in high school; two students/team
Dates: Quarterfinals/Global Youth Investment Summit: May 28 – 29
Submission deadline: February 20
Eligibility: High school students
Cost and Prizes: Registration Fee: $25/person; prizes not specified
The Global Stock Pitch Competition brings together high schoolers to test the financial analysis they have developed through YIS programs. Competing individually or in pairs, you will select a publicly traded company and develop a well-researched stock pitch centered on a clear Buy or Sell recommendation. The process involves in-depth research and financial analysis, and may include direct engagement with company management. Each entry requires three components: a written stock pitch report, a PowerPoint presentation, and a YouTube video of the student or team presenting their pitch. Finalists will present and defend their analysis before a panel of industry professionals. The top 100 teams are invited to the Global Youth Investment Summit, a two-day, in-person event in New York City featuring workshops, expert speakers, finance games, case-study competitions, and networking opportunities. At the Summit, the top 100 teams compete in the Quarterfinals, from which 24 advance to the Semifinals, and five ultimately compete in the Championship Round.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Not specified; information available upon registering
Submission deadline: Not specified; check here for updates.
Eligibility: Middle school, high school, and college students; the challenge requires schools/teachers to register
Cost and Prizes: Free; prizes not specified
The Bank of America Financial Skills Challenge, developed in partnership with StockTrak, is a six-hour gamified financial literacy simulation designed for high school students. The experience is split into two phases: you will begin as college students managing a part-time income alongside shared living expenses, and later transition to full-time employment, navigating the added financial responsibilities that come with independent living, health insurance, and student loan repayment. Throughout the simulation, you will practice balancing savings goals against both fixed and variable expenses, with core objectives centered on building an emergency savings fund, maintaining a consistent savings goal, and improving your credit score while sustaining a reasonable quality of life. The program also incorporates reward opportunities for students and facilitators who meet specific participation criteria, providing additional incentive for engagement. Overall, the simulation aims to equip you with the practical financial decision-making skills needed to avoid common monetary pitfalls and develop sound long-term money habits.
Location: Virtual and in-person at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open to all; 3 – 5 students/team
Dates: Trading: February 2 – May 8; Final Performance Report deadline: May 11; Announcement of results: May 12; Campus Visit and Final Presentations: Dates TBA
Submission deadline: February 6
Eligibility: High school students
Cost and Prizes: Fees not specified; prizes—1st Place: $1,000/team member | 2nd Place: $750/team member | 3rd Place: $500/team member
The High School Investment Competition is a virtual investment challenge in which you will work in a team of up to five students and manage a simulated portfolio using real market data through the StockTrak platform. Each team will begin with $1,000,000 in virtual capital and will be tasked with maximizing the Net Asset Value of their portfolio by the close of the competition. In addition to managing the investments, you and your team will be required to document an investment synopsis outlining your strategy, the rationale behind your decisions, and a reflection on your portfolio's performance. Portfolios will be evaluated on the basis of total returns, risk-adjusted returns, and the quality of the strategy documentation and presentation. Top-performing teams will be invited to visit the Kansas State University campus, where they will have the opportunity to learn more about the institution and its programs in business and finance.
Location: Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; four students/team
Dates: February 5
Submission deadline: January 27
Eligibility: High school students and community college students
Cost and Prizes: Free; prizes include scholarships and team trophies
The Southern Illinois University Accounting Challenge is an annual academic competition open to high school students, structured around two distinct components: a written accounting exam and a team-building competition. You will complete an individual written exam and have the chance to win scholarships if you are among the top three scorers across three categories: Accounting 1, Accounting 2, and the Community College exam. Study guides will be provided to registered teachers in advance of the event to help you prepare. The competition includes a team-building component, which immerses pre-assigned groups of four students, selected by their teacher, in collaborative activities to compete for a team trophy. Beyond the competitive elements, the event offers you the opportunity to interact with SIU accounting faculty, staff, and current students, as well as to connect with peers from other participating institutions.
Location: Virtual; State finals: Mesa Community College’s Red Mountain Campus, Phoenix, AZ; National challenge: Atlanta, GA
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open to all; 3 – 4 students/team
Dates: Case Study Qualifying Round: March 27 and March 30 | State Finals: April 17 | National Personal Finance Challenge: May 31 – June 1
Submission deadline: March 6
Eligibility: High school students who have completed an economics or economics-related course
Cost and Prizes: Free; cash prize of $500 available
The Personal Finance Case Study competition is a free academic event for high school students interested in testing their financial literacy. Competing in a team of three to four, you will take on the role of a financial consultant tasked with analyzing the financial situation of a fictitious family and developing a set of recommended strategies to address its challenges. You will receive the case study in advance of the competition, getting some time to research and construct a comprehensive financial plan, which you will then present orally to a panel of judges on competition day. The event also serves as a qualifying round for the National Personal Finance Challenge, with the high school team earning the highest combined score across the case study presentation and the Personal Finance Challenge online test advancing to the national competition.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Global Test: August 22; International Final: September 5 – 12; Announcement of results: September 19
Submission deadline: August 12
Eligibility: Students enrolled in high school/secondary/pre-collegiate education at the time of competition and graduating in the next year or after
Cost and Prizes: Fee varies by country and provider; prizes include medals, grade certificates, and additional honors
The International Finance Olympiad is a global competition in finance and economics, open to secondary school students worldwide and designed to identify and develop the next generation of financial talent. The competition emphasizes critical thinking, analytical ability, real-world financial problem-solving, and an internationally informed perspective on finance. You will begin with the Global Grand Test, which is a 150-minute online exam comprising 300 questions administered with remote proctoring, and it determines advancement at the national and regional level; and the International Final, which consists of two modules. The first module is a 120-minute case-based objective test of 100 questions, while the second requires teams to complete a case analysis over seven days and deliver a seven-minute presentation to a panel of judges. You will stand a chance to win a gold, silver, or bronze medal, and other prizes based on your performance.
Location: Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open to high schoolers; 3 – 6 students/team
Dates: Trading window: November 17 – April 3
Submission deadline: November 16; late registration deadline: December 15
Eligibility: High school students
Cost and Prizes: Fee not specified; prizes—First Place: $3,000 ($1,500 for team members/$1,500 for their high school) | Second Place: $2,000 ($1,000 each for the team and school) | Third Place: $1,000 ($500 each for the team and school)
The Ithaca College High School Investment Competition is an annual challenge in which teams of three to six students, supported by a teacher or faculty advisor, manage a virtual portfolio of $1,000,000 in simulated capital. Over the course of the competition, you will gain firsthand exposure to stock market dynamics, learning core investment principles as you navigate real-time market fluctuations. Portfolios are evaluated on the basis of overall performance, with cash prizes ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 awarded to top-finishing teams. Additionally, seniors who apply to Ithaca College will be eligible to receive an application fee waiver.
Location: Virtual and in-person at Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Virtual Trading Competition: February 1 – 28; Live Trading Competition Event: May 1
Submission deadline: January 20
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
Cost and Prizes: Registration Fee: $20/student | First Place Prize: $500
Stevens Trading Day, hosted by the School of Business at Stevens Institute of Technology, is a two-part investment competition open to high school students. The experience begins with a month-long virtual investing competition in February, during which you will manage a simulated equities portfolio and develop foundational investing knowledge through an interactive format. All participants receive a certificate of involvement upon completion, which may serve as a meaningful addition to a college application. The top 25 portfolios from the virtual round are invited to compete in the live finals on campus, where you will work within the Hanlon Financial Systems Center's professional-grade trading environment, utilizing 24 Bloomberg terminals and receiving insight from Stevens finance faculty on current market trends.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; 3-4 students/team
Dates: Round 1: Online Qualifying Round’s Fall Session – December 1–31; Online Qualifying Round Spring Session: March 1 – 30; In-Person State Competition: April 24; In-Person National Finals: May 31 – June 1
Submission deadline: Fall Session: November 30 | Spring Session: March 6 | In-Person State Competition: April 17 | National finals deadline TBA
Eligibility: Minnesota high school students; teachers will register teams of 3 – 4 students.
Cost and Prizes: No cost; cash prizes and trophies available for students and teachers (Check the full list here)
Location: Virtual and in-person at the University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
The Minnesota Personal Finance Challenge is a statewide competition open to high school students across Minnesota. In a team of three to four students, you will begin the contest with an online qualifying round, completing assessments that cover core personal finance topics, including earning, spending, saving, investing, managing credit, and managing risk. Qualifying rounds are held in both fall and spring, and the top-scoring teams, approximately twelve schools, are invited to the in-person State Competition. At the state level, teams will analyze a financial case study and present their recommendations to a panel of judges, followed by a quiz bowl round. The winning team from the State Competition advances to represent Minnesota at the National Personal Finance Challenge.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Submission and voting phase: March 2 – June 5; Announcement of winners: June 23
Submission deadline: May 4
Eligibility: Students, ages 13 and up
Cost and Prizes: None
The Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition is an international competition open to aspiring entrepreneurs, with a focus on developing business ideas that advance social impact and contribute to one or more of the 17 United Nations SDGs. The competition is organized across three phases: you will begin by submitting a short pitch, completing a set of entrepreneurship courses, and filling out an Entrepreneurial Design Canvas; all submitted ideas are then published for a public voting phase in which you can gather community support. Finally, the 10 highest-voted submissions are reviewed by an expert jury, who will select the competition winners. Upon completing the entrepreneurship courses and the competition, you will receive an official certificate from Stiftung Entrepreneurship (Foundation Entrepreneurship).
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.