15 Free Finance Programs for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 3 hours ago
- 10 min read
If you’re a high school student interested in finance, joining a structured program can be a practical way to explore the field early. These programs expose you to college-level academics, financial concepts, and professional environments without the high costs often associated with summer courses or private programs. You can gain experience in various fields such as banking and corporate finance, while building skills such as budgeting, investing, and market analysis. You can also develop connections with mentors, industry professionals, and peers who share similar interests and expand your network.
To help your research easier, we’ve curated a list of 15 free finance programs for high school students.
If you are looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
15 Free Finance Programs for High School Students
Location: Bank of America and local nonprofits across the U.S.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 300 students nationwide
Dates: 8-week program, typically June to August, including the Student Leaders Summit in late July.
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are first-time applicants, legally authorized to work in the U.S., and reside in eligible markets
The Bank of America Student Leaders Program places you in a summer internship with a local nonprofit such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America or Habitat for Humanity, where you gain hands-on experience in community service and nonprofit operations. You’ll work on real community projects while building leadership, teamwork, and workplace skills. You also attend a week-long Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., where you join peers from nearly 100 communities for workshops and meetings with national leaders. The program shows you how nonprofits, government, and businesses drive social and economic change. You can enhance your workforce readiness and financial literacy through professional networks and Bank of America financial education resources, providing valuable experience to highlight on your college and career applications.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Eligibility: You must be enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall and must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper. You can apply here.
Location: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size not specified.
Dates: July 13 - 22.
Application Deadline: March 21.
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors who are first-generation, low-income, and/or have demonstrated interest in commercial real estate; preference for strong academics and extracurricular involvement.
The NAIOP Drexel Summer Real Estate Program introduces you to careers in commercial real estate through a 10-day residential experience on Drexel University’s campus. You’ll explore fields such as development, finance, architecture, construction, brokerage, engineering, and urban planning through real-world case studies and hands-on activities. Working with Drexel professors, industry mentors, and senior corporate executives, you can build a strong foundation in key real estate concepts and career pathways. The program includes team building, college readiness sessions, and enrichment events across campus and the city. You also take part in site visits to major Philadelphia landmarks like FMC and Comcast, gaining firsthand exposure to how commercial real estate shapes cities and careers.
Location: Remote
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort (January for Spring, May for Summer, September for Fall, November for Winter)
Eligibility: High school students who can commit 10-20 hours per week for 8-12 weeks
Ladder Internships places you in a selective, eight-week virtual internship with a high-growth startup, making it a strong option if you are interested in finance, entrepreneurship, or how companies grow. You work directly with startup founders or managers on real-world projects, gaining exposure to budgeting, market analysis, revenue strategy, or business operations, depending on the role. Many partner startups have raised over one million dollars, giving you insight into fundraising, investment, and financial decision-making in early-stage companies. You develop practical skills in data analysis, communication, and problem-solving while contributing to real outcomes. You end the program by presenting your work to the company, giving you hands-on experience that strengthens finance-focused resumes and college applications.
Location: University of Colorado Leeds School of Business
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; small cohort for intensive interaction
Dates: June 21 - 27
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Current high school juniors
The Business Leadership Program at the Leeds School of Business invites you to solve real-world business and finance challenges through a free, hands-on case competition at the No.1 business school in Colorado. You will work in diverse teams to design and pitch a marketing campaign for real corporate partners, building skills in strategy, budgeting, and data-driven decision-making. You’ll learn directly from Leeds professors, staff, and professionals from companies like EY, Deloitte, and KeyBank, gaining insight into business careers and financial pathways. The program boosts your leadership skills, teamwork, and confidence while helping you build a strong network. You also get a preview of college life on CU Boulder’s campus, and if your team delivers the strongest solution, you can earn a $1,000 scholarship to the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business.
Location: UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; focused on Southern California students
Dates: July 27 - August 1
Application Deadline: April 6
Eligibility: Incoming high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
The Future Leaders Initiative (FLI) at UC Irvine equips you with practical business education and financial literacy to prepare for college and careers in finance, technology, and entrepreneurship. Designed for underserved students in Southern California, the program offers in-person learning with UC Irvine faculty, focusing on real-world money skills, career readiness, and leadership development. You will explore topics such as entrepreneurship, venture capital, real estate, innovation, and health care, building a strong foundation in how businesses and finances work. Through a partnership with Google, you will also gain access to Google Career Certificates in areas like data analytics, digital marketing, and project management, helping you develop job-ready skills. FLI supports your growth through mentorship and inclusive learning, giving you tools to strengthen your future and contribute to your community’s economic success.
Location: Loyola Marymount University
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; limited spots filled on a rolling basis
Dates: 3 sessions: June 23 - June 27, July 7 - July 11, or July 14 - July 18
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students
Save It Forward (SIFI) at Loyola Marymount University is a free, student-led summer program that builds your financial skills through hands-on learning on LMU’s campus. You’ll work through real scenarios to learn budgeting, saving, investing basics, and how credit cards, loans, and debt actually function in everyday life. Through interactive workshops and one-on-one mentorship with LMU undergraduates, you will practice making financial decisions such as managing monthly expenses, evaluating risk in the stock market, and planning for major purchases like cars or homes. The peer-led format helps you ask practical questions and gain confidence applying money concepts beyond the classroom. If you are a returning student, you can dive deeper into an advanced investing track with stock simulations and long-term wealth-building strategies.
Location: Indiana University Kelley School of Business (virtual or in-person options)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; selective based on GPA
Dates: Virtual sessions in April or in-person in June & July
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (in-person) and current sophomores, juniors, and seniors (virtual) with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
The Kelley Women’s Leadership Institute introduces you to business and finance through a college-level experience hosted by the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. You will participate in faculty-led lectures and real-world business case projects that expose you to key areas such as leadership, strategy, and financial decision-making. Through collaborative activities, you’ll build communication and leadership skills alongside peers who share an interest in business careers. The program helps you explore how finance and business roles align with your personal goals while learning about the challenges and opportunities facing women in the business world. Whether you attend on campus in Bloomington or virtually, you’ll gain early exposure to college academics, mentorship, and professional pathways that can strengthen your confidence and future college applications.
Location: Select CLA offices across the U.S.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 60-70 students
Dates: 4 weeks during June - August
Application Deadline: Late April or May
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-18 authorized to work in the U.S.
CLA High School Internship Program places high school students in accounting and finance roles at professional firms, where they get paid to work on actual client projects. You’ll support tasks like financial reporting, tax preparation, and basic business analysis, using tools such as Excel while learning how professional services teams operate. Over the summer, you work alongside multidisciplinary teams and gain exposure to auditing, process documentation, and public accounting workflows. The program helps you identify your strengths, understand what careers in accounting and finance really look like, and build practical skills before college. Through this internship, you can have a clear, hands-on preview of finance careers beyond the classroom.
Location: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Washington, D.C.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; limited placements
Dates: May-August for the summer cohort
Application Deadline: December for summer
Eligibility: U.S. citizens enrolled in high school
The Headquarters Student Internship Program places you in a federal agency where finance and public policy shape the U.S. economy. As an intern, you can spend a semester in Washington, D.C., supporting the Treasury's work on economic growth, financial stability, and national security. You’ll contribute through hands-on tasks such as policy research, data analysis, briefing materials, and observing Congressional hearings and high-level meetings. The program builds practical skills in finance, economics, analysis, and public service while helping you explore careers across offices like Domestic Finance, Tax Policy, International Affairs, and Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. By the end, you can gain real exposure to how financial decisions are made at the national level and how public-sector finance connects to long-term career paths.
Location: Kansas City startups
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohorts
Dates: June 2-June 27 or July 7-August 1
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors from the Kansas City area. Students are expected to work 30 hours a week
The Youth Entrepreneurship Program gives you paid, hands-on experience with high-growth startups in the Kansas City area, where financial decisions directly shape how businesses grow and survive. You are matched with a startup that fits your interests and work alongside professionals in finance, analytics, marketing, and product teams, learning how budgets, pricing, and investment choices affect daily operations. Each Friday, you’ll visit a different company to see how founders secure funding, manage resources, and scale responsibly. You also become part of a long-term alumni network that stays connected after the program ends. Through this experience, you can build real workplace skills, understand how financial thinking drives entrepreneurship, and make more informed decisions about your education and career path.
Location: Chicago government and business sites
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 100 students
Dates: June-August
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors residing in Chicago with a B average and family income below $80,000
Chicago Summer Business Institute places you in paid summer internships that introduce you directly to finance and the financial services sector. You can gain hands-on experience in economic research and financial analysis while working at real sites such as the City of Chicago’s Department of Finance. Throughout the program, you’ll complete professional reporting and analysis projects while attending expert-led seminars on leadership, career readiness, and capital markets. Founded in 1991, the institute is designed to motivate you to continue your education while building real workplace skills in business and finance. The experience concludes with a graduation ceremony that formally recognizes your achievements and growth over the summer.
Location: Select cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and others
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified.
Dates: 3 weeks during June - August
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: High school students graduating in spring or summer
KPMG Empower High School Experience is a three-week paid internship that gives you a hands-on introduction to accounting and professional services while you are still in high school. You’ll work in teams on real-world business cases, learn core accounting concepts like auditing, tax, and advisory, and build problem-solving and critical thinking skills that apply directly to finance careers. Through interactive workshops, guest lectures, and mentorship from KPMG professionals, you’ll gain insight into how financial decisions are made inside a global firm. The program also focuses on college and career readiness, helping you understand accounting majors, professional pathways, and workplace expectations. Designed to expand access to the accounting profession, this experience helps you strengthen college applications while building a practical foundation for future finance or business studies.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (including digital materials and certificate)
Application rate/ cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 5 days, July 26 - 30 (Monday - Friday)
Application Deadline: July 1 (based on the previous year)
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders
SFEPD Financial Literacy Camp is a free, fully virtual, week-long program that helps you build a stronger understanding of money and financial responsibility. Over five days, you’ll join daily live sessions with students nationwide to work on team challenges covering budgeting, investing, credit, and financial decision-making. Along the way, you’ll develop communication, leadership, and teamwork skills through interactive activities and friendly competitions. You can earn individual and team prizes, a certificate of completion, a camp t-shirt, and a $25 gift card. By the end of the week, you can gain confidence in managing money, connect with motivated peers, and understand how financial literacy supports your long-term goals and career path.
Location: Virtual
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; open enrollment
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students who identify as girls
The Financial Foundations: Invest in Girls program is a three-course series on personal finance and investing for high school girls. You’ll move from Part 1 Be the Chief Financial Officer of Your Life, where you learn budgeting, credit cards, interest rates, taxes, and student loans, to Part 2 Be the Chief Investment Officer of Your Life, which introduces saving versus investing, stocks, funds, and building a personal investment portfolio, and finish with Part 3 Be the Chief Executive Officer of Your Future, focused on interviews, negotiation, workplace readiness, and creating a financial safety net. Along the way, you’ll learn through free live online and in-person classes with other girls, guided by teachers and finance professionals. Beyond the classroom, you can gain career exposure through mentorship with women in finance, virtual sessions across investment banking and venture capital, internship opportunities, and national finance and economics competitions that turn your knowledge into real experience and long-term career confidence.
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.
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