In today's fast-paced world, financial literacy has become a fundamental skill, but you are not likely to learn much about it in high school. Finance today encompasses a wide range of topics including grasping the mechanisms that drive economies, investments, and personal wealth!
This knowledge is essential for navigating the complexities of modern financial systems and making sound financial choices. One of the best ways to enter the world of finance is by attending a summer program! Participating in these programs gives you valuable insights into budgeting, investing, and risk management, which are crucial for a financially savvy future. Whether you aim to become an entrepreneur, accountant, or investment analyst, the skills and knowledge acquired during these programs lay a solid foundation for your future success.
In this article, we detail 12 finance summer programs for high school students.
1. Veritas AI’s Deep Dive: AI + Finance
Application deadline: The program runs in cohorts throughout the year. The deadline for the summer cohort is May 19, 2024. You can apply here!
Eligibility: Students from grades 8-12 who have a background in python or have completed the AI Scholars program
Program dates: June 9, 2024 – August 11, 2024 (for the summer cohort)
Location: Online
Cost: $1,790
If you’re interested in both AI and finance, this program is a great way to study how they both work together. Over the course of 10 sessions of 2.5 hours each, you will learn about the implementation of artificial intelligence and machine learning in fields like banking, asset management, fraud detection, and more.
Exploratory data analysis, regressions, and convolutional neural networks are a few of the key topics you will dive into. The program is entirely virtual and structured using a combination of lectures and group sessions. You will also work on a final group project featuring hands-on work, such as developing a model to predict stock prices or other financial patterns.
2. Wharton Global Youth Program: Financial Decision Making
Application deadline: June 1, 2024
Eligibility: Students from grades 9-12 who have demonstrated interest in economics
Program dates: Session 1: June 17 - June 28, 2024; Session 2: July 8 - July 19, 2024
Location: Online
Cost: $4,099 + $100 application fee
Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania is a well-known institute famous for its rigorous finance program. The institute runs the Wharton Global Youth Program, which provides various educational and learning opportunities for high school students. The newly launched Financial Decision Making program is ideal for you if you are looking to explore the basics of economics and learn some of the fundamental financial principles.
You will attend daily live lectures curated by Wharton faculty and an hourly recitation led by Teaching Assistants (TAs). You will also work on group projects and work with real-world datasets. This is a highly selective program and you are expected to have a minimum 3.3 unweighted GPA and should demonstrate a keen interest in economics through submission essays.
You also get to be a part of the Wharton Global Youth Meetup (GYM), an online community for students enrolled in Wharton Global Youth’s online summer programs. You will have access to this community for nine weeks to interact with your peers.
3. It's a Small World: Global Finance & Trade in the 21st Century at Fordham University
Application deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to all high school students, including international students
Program dates: July 8-July 12, 2024
Location: Online or In-person, depends on you
Cost: $1000 + $100 application fee/deposit
Hosted at the Gabelli School of Business, this week-long program is suitable for high school students interested in learning about managing personal finance and understanding global finance. You will learn about the basics of finance and also learn about globalization, foreign exchange (F/X), investing in foreign stocks, managing a multinational business, and attracting foreign investment.
The great thing about the program is that it is offered in a hybrid format, so you get to choose whether you want to attend it in person or online. The program focuses more on global finance in general and is taught by a former Wall Street global equity trader.
4. Wall Street Stock Market and Investment Experience by NYIF
Application deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Program dates: July 14 – July 27, 2024. Students can attend the full two-week program and options to attend either the first week or the second week are also available
Location: New York City, NY. Students are accommodated in a hotel. Details of which are shared after confirmation
Cost: $3,399 to attend the 7-day program & $5,999 for the full program
The New York Institute of Finance (NYIF) was established by the New York Stock Exchange in 1922 and it trains roughly 50,000 professionals online and in class, in over 125 countries each year. In collaboration with Westcoast Connection, they conduct Wall Street Stock Market and Investment Experience, a residential summer program for high school students in New York City.
The program aims to equip high school students with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a degree in business or finance. You also get a chance to work on a weekly project with your peers. If you are new to finance, you will be granted complimentary access to 2 courses hosted on the NYIF learning portal. These lessons will explain the basic concepts of the macroeconomy and the microeconomy.
5. The Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy
Application deadline: Closed for 2024. Applications for 2025 open in November.
Eligibility: Open to current rising high school senior with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Program dates: June 14 - 28, 2025 (Based on 2024 program)
Location: UMich Ann Arbor campus
Cost: $5000 + $50 application fee
Michigan Ross Summer Business Academy is a two-week residential program designed for rising high school seniors who want to explore their interest in business. You will learn the basics of how companies run, how leaders solve problems, and experience what it’s like to be a business student at Michigan Ross.
You will complete rigorous, college-level academic work through classes and workshops. The program also includes company treks and weekend team-building activities! As you attend classes conducted by the school faculty, you will brush up on various aspects of your financial knowledge.
6. Columbia University Pre-College Programs: Introduction to Business, Finance, and Economics
Application deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Program dates: Multiple sessions. July 16 - August 2, 2024 session is the first one available
Location: Hamilton Hall, Columbia University, Broadway, New York, NY
Cost: $6,100
Columbia University has a wealth of pre-college programs that they conduct in the summer. If you are interested in studying business, economics, and entrepreneurship, you should consider enrolling in Introduction to Business, Finance, and Economics, a two-week program that explores the finances of a firm’s financial and economic behavior.
You will get to learn about stocks, bonds, and stock markets, as well as valuation models of investments, firms, and securities. You will also gain familiarity with the mechanics and history of the financial markets. Some case studies and independent research work are also part of the program.
The program runs multiple in-person sessions with a batch size of 30 students and the earliest available session takes place between July and August.
7. University of South Florida’s Bulls Finance Camp
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all the slots are filled
Eligibility: Open to high school students (9th-12th grade), including those who have completed 8th grade.
Dates: June 17 - June 21, 2024
Location: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: $499.99
University of South Florida’s Bull Finance Camp aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the exciting and dynamic field of finance, while also emphasizing the crucial aspect of financial literacy and its role in building a business. During this camp, you’ll dive into the fundamentals of finance, where you'll learn about investments, corporate finance, financial planning, and FinTech while also gaining essential skills that will help you in your future entrepreneurial pursuits.
You’ll get to hear from seasoned finance professionals who will share their insights and experiences in the industry. You will also have an opportunity to expand your professional network, collaborate on exciting group projects, and interact with accomplished USF finance majors. Not only will you get to explore the USF campus, but you’ll also learn about the diverse career opportunities in finance. Whether you're considering a career in finance or planning to set up your own business, this camp is a great option!
Application Deadline: Open for select locations only, accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Students who are currently in their sophom*ore or junior year of high school are eligible to apply.
Program Dates: Varies
Location: Multiple locations including virtual
Cost: In-person: $2,300 and Virtual: $800
The Economics for Leaders program is a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application, designed to deepen your understanding of economic principles in a real-world context. Through the use of simulations, the program offers experiential learning opportunities that bring economic theories to life, demonstrating their reliability and relevance in everyday scenarios. These simulations are not just educational but also engaging, allowing you to experience firsthand the dynamics of economic decision-making.
Additionally, the program is led by outstanding economics instructors who are committed to fostering critical thinking about complex social problems. They encourage you to examine current national and international issues, promoting discussions that are not only intellectually stimulating but also pertinent to understanding the global economic landscape.
For a deep dive into EFL, check out this article!
9. Wharton Global Youth Program: Understanding Your Money
Application Deadline: Nothing as such
Eligibility: Open to all high school students.
Program Dates: Self-paced program
Location: Online
Cost: $329
Unlike most of the programs included in this list, Understanding Your Money is a self-paced program, which you can register for at any time. The program is designed with 4 modules that are divided into 16 topic units and 55 lecture videos. It will take 13–15 hours to complete the program, but you can move through at your own pace.
This is an introductory level program and you will learn about fundamental economic concepts, including investing and basic money management skills, this program is designed to help students make smarter financial decisions. Some of the introductory lessons are taught by Mauro F. Guillén, the former Dean of the Cambridge Judge Business School!
10. Finance NYC: An Insider's View @ NYU
Application Deadline: June 7, 2024 (Commuter Program)
Eligibility: High school students who have completed grades 9, 10, or 11
Program Dates: Six week-long sessions are available between June 24 to August 09, 2024, excluding the first week of July
Location: The NYU School of Professional Studies High School Academy, New York, NY
Cost: $2,579 + $50 application fee
This is another introductory-level program that runs multiple weekly sessions during the summer. As a participant, you will learn about the basics of financial analysis and investment management practiced on Wall Street.
You will also gain an introduction to financial systems, the types of assets that are traded, techniques for measuring and managing the risk and return of portfolios, the key role of the Federal Reserve System, the use and abuse of financial derivatives, and current economic conditions. Projects and short assignments will help you apply the newly learned skills.
11. Wall Street 101 @ Bentley University
Application Deadline: June 1, 2024
Eligibility: Students should be entering Junior or Senior year of high school in 2024
Program Dates: There are five week-long sessions running between June 15 - July 15, 2024
Cost: Online: $1,490, Commuter: $2,250, Residential: $3,180. There is also a $75 application fee
Location: Residential and Commuter programs are conducted at the Bentley University campus in Waltham, MA. You can also opt for the online program
Wall Street 101, set up and run by Bentley University, is a unique pre-college program designed to introduce high school students to the world of finance. Established to provide students with hands-on experience in global finance and investing, including stocks, bonds, currencies, and commodities, it stands out by integrating industry-standard software and databases like Bloomberg and FactSet with classes and simulations.
The program consists of three courses, each lasting a week, and available in three formats: residential, commuter, and online. This flexibility ensures that no matter where you are or what your schedule looks like, there's a version of the program that suits you. There are five different courses offered this summer and you can choose just one course per week.
12.Investments, Financial Planning and You @ UCI's Paul Merage School of Business
Application Deadline: Nothing as such
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Program Dates: Week 1: July 8, 2024 - July 12, 2024; Week 2: July 15, 2024 - July 19, 2024
Location: Paul Merage School of Business, Irvine, CA
Cost: $1295, of which $400 is a non-refundable fee
The Todd and Lisa Halbrook Center for Investment and Wealth Management at UCI's Paul Merage School of Business conducts the Investments, Financial Planning, & You (IFPY), a summer program for high school students seeking to expand their financial and investing expertise. This is an intensive week-long commute program as students attend classes from 8:30 am to 5 pm.
You will participate in case studies, group projects, online simulations, and presentations with industry professionals and renowned teachers from the University of California, Irvine's Paul Merage School of Business. As part of the program's capstone project, you will create a personal wealth management plan, laying the groundwork for a long-term financial strategy. The program is taught by accomplished faculty who have years of practical experience in the field.
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