§ Economics

Economics programs for high schoolers.

44 programs indexed in economics. 31 are free or pay a stipend. 9 prioritize under-resourced or underrepresented students. This page updates whenever we add a new economics program.

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All economics programs

Adam Smith Society
Adam Smith Society HS Essay
Essay contest exploring market economics and policy.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
CFA Institute
CFA Institute Research Challenge
Global equity research and analysis competition with high school divisions in some regions.
📍 Global⏱ Year-long📅 Fall🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Coolidge Scholars Foundation
Coolidge Senators Program
Fully-funded public policy program at the Coolidge Foundation in Vermont.
📍 VT (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Cornell University
Cornell Summer College Business
Three-week pre-college program in hotel admin, business, marketing.
📍 Ithaca, NY⏱ 3 weeks📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
Federal Reserve
Fed Challenge
Free team competition analyzing monetary policy — top teams present at the Federal Reserve.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Year-long competition📅 October🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Fundação Getulio Vargas
FGV International Summer Program
Business, economics, and public policy courses at one of Brazil's leading institutions.
📍 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil⏱ 3 weeks📅 May🎓 Grade 12
Moderate
University of Georgia / GOSA
Georgia GHP - Agriscience Research
A residential summer academy for Georgia students focusing on agricultural and environmental sciences through hands-on research.
📍 Athens, GA⏱ 2 weeks📅 May 1🎓 Grades 10–11
Selective
Harvard International Review
Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest
A rigorous economics essay competition organized on a global scale.
📍 Online📅 October 1🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Harvard University
Harvard Pre-College (Need-Based Aid)
Pre-college courses with substantial need-based scholarships covering up to full tuition.
📍 MA (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 2-7 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grades 10–12
Moderate
University of Cambridge
HE+ Cambridge
Free supracurricular resources, subject taster videos, and reading lists from Cambridge academics — designed to stretch Year 12/13 students preparing for competitive applications.
📍 Remote (UK/Global)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling · anytime🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Horizon
Horizon Academic Research Program
Trimester-style research cohort with university faculty. Full scholarships available.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 10 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Highly Selective
University of Notre Dame
Inequality in America: America's Social and Economic Inequities
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📍 Notre Dame, IN📅 July 18, 2026🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
IEO
International Economics Olympiad
International economics olympiad for high school students with national selection rounds.
📍 Varies (International)⏱ 1 week📅 Summer🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
John Locke Institute
John Locke Institute Essay
Annual global essay competition in philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology, and law. Free entry; cash and Oxford summer school prizes.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 June 30🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
John Locke Institute
John Locke Institute Essay Competition
Free essay competition in philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology, and law. Open worldwide, ages up to 18.
📍 Global📅 June🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
John Locke Institute
John Locke Institute Global Essay Competition
International essay competition across philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology, and law.
📍 Global📅 Late June🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
University of Pennsylvania
Knowledge@Wharton Comment & Win
Monthly free contests where students comment on Knowledge@Wharton articles for cash prizes.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Monthly🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wharton/Penn
Knowledge@Wharton High School
Free online business journal and articles plus essay competitions for high schoolers.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wharton/UPenn
Knowledge@Wharton High School Comment & Win
Monthly essay/comment contest on business topics.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Monthly🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
London School of Economics
LSE Pre-University Programme
Two-week academic summer programme at LSE for 15–18 year olds in economics, international relations, law, or business — bursaries available for financial need.
📍 London, UK⏱ 2 weeks (July/August)📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
London School of Economics
LSE Summer School
Three-week summer courses at LSE for ages 17+, plus pre-university programs.
📍 London, UK⏱ 3 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
London School of Economics
LSE Summer School (Pre-Uni)
Pre-university summer courses at LSE in economics, law, business, and international relations.
📍 London, United Kingdom📅 May🎓 Grades 11–12
Highly Selective
Lumiere Education
Lumiere Research Scholar (Aid)
Independent research papers with PhD mentors. Need-based financial aid up to 100%.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 12 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Marshall Society (Cambridge)
Marshall Society Essay Competition
Global economics essay prize run by the Cambridge Marshall Society.
📍 Remote (Global)📅 August🎓 Grades 11–12
Selective
Council for Economic Education
National Economics Challenge
Team economics competition with state and national rounds. Open to all US high schoolers; many states offer scholarships.
📍 State + national⏱ Multi-round📅 March-April🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Pioneer Academics
Pioneer Academics (Aid)
Accredited college-level research with US professors. Need-based aid up to full tuition.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 15 weeks📅 Multiple cycles🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
Polygence
Polygence Scholars (Financial Aid)
1:1 research mentorship with PhDs across any field. Full financial aid for qualifying students.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 10-20 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Federal Reserve Banks
RBA / Federal Reserve Essay Contests
Various regional Fed essay and case competitions for high schoolers.
📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of South Dakota
South Dakota Business Student Summer Leadership Academy
A rigorous residential program for high school students in South Dakota to explore the business world and entrepreneurship.
📍 Vermillion, SD⏱ 1 week📅 March 1🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Stanford SIEPR
Stanford International Youth Forum
Policy and economics forum for international and US high school students.
📍 Stanford, CA⏱ 1 week📅 March🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
Stanford
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Economics & Finance
Summer courses in microeconomics, behavioral econ, finance.
📍 Stanford, CA⏱ 3 weeks📅 February🎓 Grades 8–11
Moderate
SIFMA Foundation
Stock Market Game
Free K-12 simulation of investing in real-world markets used in classrooms nationwide.
📍 Online⏱ 10-14 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 6–12
Selective
The Coolidge Foundation
The Coolidge Scholarship
Full merit scholarship for students demonstrating academic excellence and interest in public policy, including a summer program in Vermont.
📍 Plymouth, VT⏱ 4 years📅 January 23🎓 Grade 11
Selective
The NSHSS Foundation
The NSHSS Foundation
Fosters the growth of students pursuing the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), business, economics, public policy, and environmental science and sustainability fields. Connects young scholars with additional opportunities to advance their education, personal growth and career interests.
📍 US🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Notre Dame
The Power of Investing: Financial Literacy and the Miracle of Compound Interest
A course offered as part of the Notre Dame Leadership Seminars program.
📍 Notre Dame, IN📅 July 18, 2026🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
University of Chicago
UChicago Financial Markets Program
Summer immersion in financial markets and economics.
📍 Chicago, IL⏱ 3 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 10–12
Highly Selective
University of Oxford
UNIQ Summer School
Free residential summer school for UK state-school students in Year 12 — subject-specific academic sessions on the Oxford course you'd apply to.
📍 Oxford, UK⏱ 1 week (July)📅 January (Year 12)🎓 Grade 11
Selective
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Wharton Essentials of Finance
An intensive academic program at Wharton's Philadelphia campus introducing students to the world of finance through lectures and a trading simulation.
📍 Philadelphia, PA⏱ 2 weeks📅 January 31🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
University of Pennsylvania
Wharton Global High School Investment Competition
Free team-based simulated investing challenge with Wharton MBA mentors. Open globally.
📍 Online⏱ 10 weeks📅 September🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective
Wharton (UPenn)
Wharton Global Youth Future of the Business World
Online Wharton-led business program. Some scholarships available.
📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 3 weeks (summer)📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12
Moderate
University of Pennsylvania
Wharton Leadership in the Business World
Wharton business program. Need-based aid available.
📍 PA⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grade 11
Moderate
University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources
Wyoming Youth Energy Leadership Program
A year-long series of workshops and mentorship sessions for Wyoming high school students focused on leadership in energy and natural resources.
📍 Laramie, WY⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12
Selective
Yale University
Yale Young Global Scholars Politics, Law & Economics
Two-week residential interdisciplinary program in politics, law, and economics.
📍 New Haven, CT⏱ 2 weeks📅 Spring🎓 Grades 10–11
Moderate
Wharton Global Youth
Young Tycoons Business Challenge
Team competition run by Wharton for high schoolers worldwide — investment, comparative marketing, and business tracks.
📍 Global📅 Varies by track🎓 Grades 9–12
Selective

Economics programs for high schoolers.

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