12 Actuary Summer Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 1 hour ago
- 8 min read
If you’re a high school student interested in actuarial science, participating in a summer program can be one of the best ways to see how math, statistics, and finance work together beyond the classroom. You’ll get the chance to work on actual problems, understand risk analysis, and learn how actuaries evaluate financial decisions.
Many universities and organizations offer actuarial summer programs for high school students. Most of the programs in this list are short and focused. You may analyze data sets, work on probability models, learn to use industry software, or explore how actuaries evaluate financial risks. This kind of experience also gives your CV a solid edge, showing that you’ve taken the initiative to learn about actuarial work early.
To help you get started, we’ve gathered 12 actuarial summer programs for high school students!
Location: Remote, you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost/Stipend: Varies by the program. Full financial aid is available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a 12-week research experience for high school students who want to complete an independent research project. You are paired one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor from a university to develop a research paper in subjects such as economics, business, STEM, or the humanities. The program includes nine sessions with your mentor, two sessions with a writing coach, and five workshops on the research process. Over the course of the program, you select a topic, create a research question, write and revise your paper, and present your findings at the Lumiere Research Symposium. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Lincoln, NE
Cost: Free; includes housing, meals, and materials
Dates: June 8–10
Deadline: Not specified; apply by late March for priority consideration
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors with strong math skills
The Discover Actuarial Science program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a free, three-day residential program for high school sophomores and juniors with strong math skills and an interest in actuarial science. You work in teams to solve a real-world business problem using actuarial methods, meet actuaries, and visit their workplaces. The program also includes sessions on preparing for college, understanding financial aid, and experiencing campus life while staying in residence halls. It ends with a reception hosted by the Nebraska Actuaries Club.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by the program. You can apply here.
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
The Veritas AI Deep Dive: AI + Finance is a 10-week online course for students in grades 8–12 who have either completed the AI Scholars program or already have coding experience. You study how artificial intelligence is applied in finance by learning concepts like exploratory data analysis, regression, convolutional neural networks, and time series forecasting. Each week, you join a 2.5-hour session that combines lectures with small-group mentoring. As part of the course, you work on projects such as predicting stock prices and modeling financial risk. Here is the program brochure and the application form.
Location: Howard University, Washington, D.C.
Cost: No cost
Dates: July 13 – 18
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors
The Summer Enrichment Program at Howard University is a free, week-long residential program for high school students entering 10th or 11th grade. Hosted by the School of Business, it offers four academic tracks, including actuarial science. If you choose the actuarial science track, you attend classes taught by Howard faculty, visit companies, and work in teams to design a business or product that applies actuarial methods to real-world problems. The program also includes leadership sessions, team-building activities, and cultural enrichment experiences.
Location: Virtual
Stipend: $20,000 in college scholarships ($5,000 annually for four years)
Dates: Begins senior year of high school and continues through college
Application Deadline: Typically closes in early spring
Eligibility: High school students from underrepresented social, cultural, and economic backgrounds in the actuarial profession.
The STEM Stars Actuarial Scholars Program is a national scholarship and mentorship program run by The Actuarial Foundation in partnership with the Society of Actuaries. If selected, you receive a $20,000 scholarship over four years, plus access to mentorship, networking, internships, and job shadowing opportunities. The program begins with a summer orientation where you learn about the actuarial profession and build skills in financial mathematics, probability, and data analysis. You are paired with a professional mentor who supports you through college, helps you prepare for actuarial exams, and introduces you to careers in insurance, consulting, and risk management.
Location: Illinois State University, Normal, IL
Cost: Free
Dates: July 13 – 18
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: Rising seniors with at least a 3.2 GPA
The Redbird Risk Management Challenge at Illinois State University is a free, week-long residential program for high school seniors with at least a 3.2 GPA. Hosted by the Katie School of Insurance and Risk Management, it places you in simulated financial crisis scenarios where you act as a senior risk manager making decisions to keep your company profitable and avoid bankruptcy. You stay in campus dorms, attend lectures, and join evening activities that include team-building and recreation. The program ends with an Innovation Sprint, where you and your team present your solutions to industry professionals at a closing reception.
Location: Nassau, 1 American Row, Hartford, CT
Cost: $250
Dates: July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: May 23
Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who will be a high school senior in the fall, a graduating senior by June, and must be currently taking or have completed Honors Calculus, Calculus AB, or Calculus BC.
The Actuarial Boot Camp by Connecticut Insurance and Financial Services (CT IFS) is a free, one-week program for high school seniors and college freshmen interested in actuarial careers. You take part in sessions on negotiation, writing, and professional ethics, while also getting guidance on internships and actuarial exam preparation. The program gives you the chance to network with actuaries from companies such as The Hartford, Aetna, Cigna, Travelers, and Nassau Financial Group, which also hosts the closing ceremony. You spend a day job shadowing professionals and learn about career opportunities in insurance, finance, government, and consulting.
Location: Virtual + final week at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD
Cost: No cost. Stipend provided.
Dates: June 29 – July 24
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Rising 11th or 12th graders, or graduating seniors entering Morgan State, must be interested in math, actuarial science, or computer science
The Summer Academy of Actuarial and Mathematical Sciences (SAAMS) at Morgan State University is a four-week hybrid program for rising high school juniors, seniors, and incoming Morgan State freshmen. For the first three weeks, you take part in virtual coursework, seminars, and case studies in actuarial science, mathematics, and computer science. In the final week, you stay on campus with room and board provided. During the program, you compete in an actuarial science competition judged by professionals, attend workshops on career skills, and learn about the college admissions process. You also join field trips, receive mentorship, and earn a stipend.
Location: Bryant University, Smithfield, RI
Cost: $600
Dates: August 11 – 15
Application Deadline: July 1
Eligibility: High school students
The Actuarial Science and Statistics Summer Program at Bryant University is a residential program for high school students who want to explore actuarial careers. You study both basic and advanced statistical methods, practice data analysis, and apply actuarial science to real-world problems. The program is taught by Bryant faculty and includes workshops, group projects, and college-level coursework. You also learn about actuarial exams, career options, and industry tools. At the end of the program, you receive a Certificate of Completion from Bryant University.
Location: Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA
Cost: $950
Dates: June 22–27, July 6–11
Application Deadline: Rolling basis till all spaces fill
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
The Actuarial Science Summer Camp at Lebanon Valley College is a one-week residential program for rising high school seniors who want to explore actuarial careers. You stay on campus, live in residence halls, and eat meals at the Allan W. Mund College Center while working in teams to solve actuarial problems. The curriculum introduces you to applied mathematics, finance, economics, and software tools used in the field, as well as actuarial exam pathways and professional bodies like the Society of Actuaries and the Casualty Actuarial Society. Each day includes morning sessions with visiting actuaries, hands-on workshops, and evening activities led by current LVC students. The program runs from Sunday check-in to Friday check-out.
Location: Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Starts at $3,200, with an additional $325 for this four-credit course (total $3,525)
Dates: July 7– August 1
Application Deadline: April 14
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Mathematical Patterns course at Temple University’s four-week Summer Academy is a credit-bearing undergraduate class for rising high school juniors and seniors. You study topics central to actuarial science, including finance, mathematical modeling, statistics, probability, cryptography, and problem solving. The course meets Temple’s Quantitative Literacy requirement and focuses on logical reasoning, data interpretation, and symbolic analysis. Alongside the core class, you join two project-based, non-credit workshops that build collaborative and applied learning skills.
Location: Columbia University,
Cost: $6,310
Dates: June 30 – July 18
Application Deadline:
Eligibility: High school students with a basic knowledge of statistics and probability mathematical concepts.
The Statistics Applications in Finance course at Columbia University is part of the school’s Pre-College Summer Program and introduces high school students to how statistics shapes financial decision-making. Over three weeks, students analyze real financial data and apply methods such as probability, regression analysis, and portfolio modeling to study market behavior and risk. Classes run in person Monday through Friday with two daily sessions taught by Columbia faculty. The program combines lectures with group projects, stock market simulations, and case studies, giving students a foundation for future study in finance, economics, actuarial science, or data science.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. 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.
Image Source - Columbia University logo