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§ Economics

Economics programs for high schoolers.

40 programs indexed in economics. 29 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

  1. Adam Smith Society
    Adam Smith Society HS Essay

    Essay contest exploring market economics and policy.

    📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  2. CFA Institute
    CFA Institute Research Challenge

    Global equity research and analysis competition with high school divisions in some regions.

    📍 Global⏱ Year-long📅 Fall🎓 11, 12
    Selective
  3. Coolidge Scholars Foundation
    Coolidge Senators Program

    Fully-funded public policy program at the Coolidge Foundation in Vermont.

    📍 VT (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 January🎓 10, 11
    Selective
  4. Cornell University
    Cornell Summer College Business

    Three-week pre-college program in hotel admin, business, marketing.

    📍 Ithaca, NY⏱ 3 weeks📅 May🎓 10, 11, 12
    Moderate
  5. Federal Reserve
    Fed Challenge

    Free team competition analyzing monetary policy — top teams present at the Federal Reserve.

    📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Year-long competition📅 October🎓 11, 12
    Selective
  6. 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🎓 10, 11
    Selective
  7. Harvard International Review
    Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest

    A rigorous economics essay competition organized on a global scale.

    📍 Online⏱ N/A📅 October 1🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  8. 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🎓 10, 11, 12
    Moderate
  9. Horizon
    Horizon Academic Research Program

    Trimester-style research cohort with university faculty. Full scholarships available.

    📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 10 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Highly Selective
  10. 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🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  11. IEO
    International Economics Olympiad

    International economics olympiad for high school students with national selection rounds.

    📍 Varies (International)⏱ 1 week📅 Summer🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  12. 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🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  13. John Locke Institute
    John Locke Institute Essay Competition

    Global essay competition across philosophy, economics, history, politics, theology, law.

    📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 June🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  14. University of Pennsylvania
    Knowledge@Wharton Comment & Win

    Monthly free contests where students comment on Knowledge@Wharton articles for cash prizes.

    📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Monthly🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  15. Wharton/Penn
    Knowledge@Wharton High School

    Free online business journal and articles plus essay competitions for high schoolers.

    📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  16. Wharton/UPenn
    Knowledge@Wharton High School Comment & Win

    Monthly essay/comment contest on business topics.

    📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Monthly🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  17. London School of Economics
    LSE Summer School

    University-level economics, finance, IR, and law courses in London.

    📍 London, UK⏱ 3 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 11, 12
    Highly Selective
  18. 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🎓 11, 12
    Highly Selective
  19. Lumiere Education
    Lumiere Research Scholar (Aid)

    Independent research papers with PhD mentors. Need-based financial aid up to 100%.

    📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 12 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  20. 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🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  21. Council for Economic Education
    National Economics Challenge

    Premier US high school economics competition with state and national rounds.

    📍 United States⏱ 1 day📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  22. Council for Economic Education
    National Economics Challenge

    Premier econ competition for US high school students.

    📍 Multiple cities⏱ Academic year📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  23. 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🎓 10, 11, 12
    Highly Selective
  24. 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🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  25. QuestBridge
    QuestBridge College Prep Scholars

    Fully-funded summer programs at top universities for high-achieving, low-income juniors.

    📍 Multiple campuses (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 1-5 weeks📅 Late March🎓 11
    Highly Selective
  26. Federal Reserve Banks
    RBA / Federal Reserve Essay Contests

    Various regional Fed essay and case competitions for high schoolers.

    📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 Varies🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  27. 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🎓 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  28. Stanford SIEPR
    Stanford International Youth Forum

    Policy and economics forum for international and US high school students.

    📍 Stanford, CA⏱ 1 week📅 March🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Moderate
  29. Stanford
    Stanford Pre-Collegiate Economics & Finance

    Summer courses in microeconomics, behavioral econ, finance.

    📍 Stanford, CA⏱ 3 weeks📅 February🎓 8, 9, 10, 11
    Moderate
  30. SIFMA Foundation
    Stock Market Game

    Free K-12 simulation of investing in real-world markets used in classrooms nationwide.

    📍 Online⏱ 10-14 weeks📅 Rolling🎓 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  31. 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🎓 11
    Selective
  32. 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🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  33. University of Chicago
    UChicago Financial Markets Program

    Summer immersion in financial markets and economics.

    📍 Chicago, IL⏱ 3 weeks📅 April🎓 10, 11, 12
    Highly Selective
  34. 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🎓 10, 11
    Moderate
  35. 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🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  36. Wharton/UPenn
    Wharton Global High School Investment Competition

    Free online team investment simulation for high schoolers worldwide.

    📍 Online⏱ 4 months📅 September🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  37. Wharton (UPenn)
    Wharton Global Youth Future of the Business World

    Online Wharton-led business program. Some scholarships available.

    📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ 3 weeks (summer)📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12
    Moderate
  38. University of Pennsylvania
    Wharton Leadership in the Business World

    Wharton business program. Need-based aid available.

    📍 PA⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 11
    Moderate
  39. 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🎓 10, 11, 12
    Selective
  40. 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🎓 10, 11
    Moderate

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