5 Economics Summer Research Programs for High School Students
If you're considering a future in economics, applying to a research program in high school is a great step. These programs allow you to develop analytical skills and gain a deeper understanding of economic concepts. By working on real-world issues, you’ll enhance your ability to interpret data, apply models, and assess policy impacts. This experience sharpens your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Working with experts gives you insight into how economic theories work in practice. Conducting research in high school can also benefit your college applications by signaling your intellectual curiosity and abilities. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
Here are 5 economics summer research programs for high school students!
Lumiere Education, founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers, offers high school students the chance to conduct economics research through its Research Scholar Programs. Each participant is paired with a top PhD mentor for one-on-one guidance, leading to the creation of a university-level research paper. The fully virtual program varies in length, allowing students to choose how deeply they'd like to dive into their research. Topics range from pure economics to interdisciplinary studies combining economics with STEM. Past projects have explored the impact of non-profit employment on GDP and used machine learning to forecast cryptocurrency returns.
Location: Remote
Program Dates: June to August (summer). Fall, winter, and spring cohorts are also available
Cost: $2,990 (12 weeks) | $5,900 (16-20 weeks). Financial aid is available
Eligibility: High school students with a minimum 3.3 out of 4 GPA
Application Deadline: Summer deadlines are usually in March, April, and May
The University of California, Santa Barbara’s Research Mentorship Program gives you the chance to engage in interdisciplinary research. You'll work with a mentor—either a faculty member, graduate student, or postdoc—on an independent project, including options in economics. In addition to your research, you'll learn new techniques and professional skills by attending lectures, seminars, and presentations throughout the program. To learn more about this program, check out our full guide here.
Location: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Program Dates: June 16 – August 1
Cost: $4,975 (commuter) | $11,874 (residential). Some scholarships are available
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 or 11 (or advanced 9th-grade students) with a minimum 3.80 GPA
Application Deadline: December 15 – March 17. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis
The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.
Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.
Cost: The total cost to attend the 3-week program is $2,900. There is need-based financial aid
Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops
Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students
Program Dates: The program started on June 5 and spanned over 4 weeks
Application Deadline: May 12. You can access the application link here!
Hosted by the University of California, Los Angeles, the Economics Summer Institute offers a three-week program in residential and virtual formats. This program introduces you to economic analysis, teaching you to think critically, analyze data, and explore economic policies like an economist. You’ll build strong data analysis skills and apply them to real-world economic issues throughout the course.
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA or virtual
Program Dates: Virtual: June 24 – July 12, Commuter: July 15 – August 2
Cost: Virtual: $1,916, Commuter: $2,486 (additional fees apply)
Eligibility: Current 9th-12th graders who will be at least 15 years old by the start of the program
Application Deadline: June 1
The Stanford Compression Forum offers a summer program for high school and early community college students interested in interdisciplinary research. This program groups students into projects that match their interests and strengths while introducing them to new fields. Past research areas have included engineering, the arts, the science of information and communication, linguistics, neuroscience, philosophy, technology, and more. If you are interested in Economics, you can design a research project that incorporates that field. Projects are mentored by Stanford faculty, students, and staff.
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: June 17 – August 9
Cost/Stipend: No tuition, $50 application fee. Need-based stipends available
Eligibility: High school juniors or seniors who will be at least 14 years old by the program start date
Application Deadline: March 1
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. 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.