8 Economics Internships for High School Students
8 Economics Internships for High School Students
Written by
Written by
George Gatsios, Founder of Delta Institute
George Gatsios, Founder of Delta Institute
Published on
Published on
Pursuing a career in economics requires more experience than classroom learning. You need real-world, hands-on experience to understand what the subject and day-to-day of the profession involves. For high school students, internships are a great way to do this while building skills that will be valuable in both college and future careers. They allow you to learn from industry experts, understand the different career paths, and gain valuable work experience.
Here are 8 economics internships for high school students to help you explore your interests and stand out in competitive college or job applications.
This 4-week virtual work-experience program is designed for high school students to work directly under the guidance of mentors from global consulting firms like EY and BCG. As part of the program, you take part in learning modules with industry experts, networking sessions with senior executives from BCG or EY, professional development, and unlimited office hours.
Under the mentor’s guidance, you and your group will work on a real-world project that addresses challenges a consulting firm would be faced with. At the end of the program, you’ll pitch this project to company representatives and receive valuable feedback, a completion certificate, and an exclusive letter of recommendation from the company.
Cost: $4,900
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: May 31 (summer III deadline)
Program Dates: June 20 to July 26, 2026 | January 9, 2027 to February 13, 2027
Eligibility: Open to high school students globally
The Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI) offers a 6-week finance internship for interested high school students. As an intern, you will gain practical experience in the financial services sector, engage in classroom learning, workshops, seminars, and projects. If you’re interested in understanding what the day-to-day of a professional in finance and business looks like, what the various opportunities are, and want to gain access to professional growth opportunities, this is a great opportunity for you.
Cost: No cost; stipend (not specified)
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Application Deadline: March (based on previous years)
Program Dates: June - August
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school sophomores or juniors who are residents of the City of Chicago, have a GPA of at least 3.0, and family household income below $80,000/year
The Bank of America runs a Student Leaders Program where high school students can intern with local non-profit organizations. The objective of the program is to help students succeed in the workforce through leadership training and work-experience. This program is highly selective and allows students to participate in the National Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., and helps them understand how non-profits, governments, and business can collaborate to identify and meet local needs.
This program combines leadership skill development and real-world experience, making it valuable for students interested in economics, public policy, and business.
Cost: No cost
Location: Washington, D.C.
Application Deadline: Typically in October
Program Dates: Typically from the end of the school year
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. can apply
Delta Institute’s Immersive programs, while not a traditional internship, offer high school students to work on a highly personalized project at the intersection of AI/code and economics. The two immersive programs focus on the intersection of artificial intelligence, coding, and real-world applications like economics. You can opt for either Delta AI Immersive, Delta Code Immersive, or both to learn skills such as data analysis, python, and machine learning through 1:1 mentorship with industry experts from companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and more.
These programs allow you to explore your passion for economics by building projects like inflation and cost of living tracker, labor market and unemployment analyzer, GDP and economic growth forecaster, and more. After presenting your completed project, you receive detailed feedback, a roadmap for your future, and an expert mentor testimonial highlighting your achievements and skills.
Cost: $4,800
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: May 31 (summer III deadline). Students can apply here
Program Dates: Year-round (flexible start dates)
Eligibility: High school students globally
You can check out other coding programs here!
Georgetown’s Economics Policy Academy is a 3-week pre-college program that runs in the summer. While not a traditional internship, it allows students to work on relevant economic and political science concepts and apply them to real-world issues globally and has a strong focus on policy and decision-making.
As a participant, you build a strong understanding of the intersection of economics and policy in practice, and gain exposure to public policy, economic reasoning, and government decision-making in a university setting.
Cost: Residential tuition and meals $9,085; commuter tuition $7,085
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Application Deadline: April 15
Program Dates: 3-weeks in June/July
Eligibility: Open to high school students who meet Georgetown Summer Programs requirements
Cornell’s CICER Summer High School Program focuses on business, economics, and data analytics. The program is designed for high school students who want exposure to economics and related analytical fields in a more structured summer format.
You gain exposure to economics, business, and data analysis in a university setting, along with a clearer academic direction if you want to keep exploring those areas. This is a good fit for you if you want to pursue economics along with applied analytics rather than as a stand-alone theoretical course.
Cost: $5,700
Location: Cornell University / Cornell SC Johnson
Application Deadline: April (tentatively, based on previous years)
Program Dates: July
Eligibility: Open to high school applicants who meet the program’s admissions requirements
The US Treasury offers high school students the opportunity to explore public service careers in economics, finance, public policy, and other fields. As an intern, you gain hands-on experience by supporting various departments within the Treasury. Students also work on projects that address economic policy and issues, financial regulation, and budgetary analysis. They also benefit from mentorship and professional development opportunities through the internship.
Cost: No cost
Location: Washington D.C.
Application Deadline: Spring - October | Summer - December | Fall - June
Program Dates: Spring - January to May | Summer - May to June | Fall - September to December
Eligibility: US citizens enrolled or accepted at an accredited institution
Kaiser Permanente is a company primarily involved in the healthcare industry, but it offers internship opportunities in other fields as well. The KP Launch program allows high school students to engage in finance, business, and administrative roles. You can pick from a variety of departments – finance, consulting services, communications, operations, human resources, and more – based on what aligns with your interests.
The 7-week internship consists of workshops on personal and professional skill development, mentorship, and networking opportunities with peers and senior leaders through work-based activities, community service projects, and social events.
Cost: No cost; stipend of $24/hour
Location: Varies based on closest Kaiser Permanente location
Application Deadline: January (tentatively, based on previous years)
Program Dates: June 15 – July 31
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 16-19 who have a permanent residence in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area.
Pursuing a career in economics requires more experience than classroom learning. You need real-world, hands-on experience to understand what the subject and day-to-day of the profession involves. For high school students, internships are a great way to do this while building skills that will be valuable in both college and future careers. They allow you to learn from industry experts, understand the different career paths, and gain valuable work experience.
Here are 8 economics internships for high school students to help you explore your interests and stand out in competitive college or job applications.
This 4-week virtual work-experience program is designed for high school students to work directly under the guidance of mentors from global consulting firms like EY and BCG. As part of the program, you take part in learning modules with industry experts, networking sessions with senior executives from BCG or EY, professional development, and unlimited office hours.
Under the mentor’s guidance, you and your group will work on a real-world project that addresses challenges a consulting firm would be faced with. At the end of the program, you’ll pitch this project to company representatives and receive valuable feedback, a completion certificate, and an exclusive letter of recommendation from the company.
Cost: $4,900
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: May 31 (summer III deadline)
Program Dates: June 20 to July 26, 2026 | January 9, 2027 to February 13, 2027
Eligibility: Open to high school students globally
The Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI) offers a 6-week finance internship for interested high school students. As an intern, you will gain practical experience in the financial services sector, engage in classroom learning, workshops, seminars, and projects. If you’re interested in understanding what the day-to-day of a professional in finance and business looks like, what the various opportunities are, and want to gain access to professional growth opportunities, this is a great opportunity for you.
Cost: No cost; stipend (not specified)
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Application Deadline: March (based on previous years)
Program Dates: June - August
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school sophomores or juniors who are residents of the City of Chicago, have a GPA of at least 3.0, and family household income below $80,000/year
The Bank of America runs a Student Leaders Program where high school students can intern with local non-profit organizations. The objective of the program is to help students succeed in the workforce through leadership training and work-experience. This program is highly selective and allows students to participate in the National Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., and helps them understand how non-profits, governments, and business can collaborate to identify and meet local needs.
This program combines leadership skill development and real-world experience, making it valuable for students interested in economics, public policy, and business.
Cost: No cost
Location: Washington, D.C.
Application Deadline: Typically in October
Program Dates: Typically from the end of the school year
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. can apply
Delta Institute’s Immersive programs, while not a traditional internship, offer high school students to work on a highly personalized project at the intersection of AI/code and economics. The two immersive programs focus on the intersection of artificial intelligence, coding, and real-world applications like economics. You can opt for either Delta AI Immersive, Delta Code Immersive, or both to learn skills such as data analysis, python, and machine learning through 1:1 mentorship with industry experts from companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and more.
These programs allow you to explore your passion for economics by building projects like inflation and cost of living tracker, labor market and unemployment analyzer, GDP and economic growth forecaster, and more. After presenting your completed project, you receive detailed feedback, a roadmap for your future, and an expert mentor testimonial highlighting your achievements and skills.
Cost: $4,800
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: May 31 (summer III deadline). Students can apply here
Program Dates: Year-round (flexible start dates)
Eligibility: High school students globally
You can check out other coding programs here!
Georgetown’s Economics Policy Academy is a 3-week pre-college program that runs in the summer. While not a traditional internship, it allows students to work on relevant economic and political science concepts and apply them to real-world issues globally and has a strong focus on policy and decision-making.
As a participant, you build a strong understanding of the intersection of economics and policy in practice, and gain exposure to public policy, economic reasoning, and government decision-making in a university setting.
Cost: Residential tuition and meals $9,085; commuter tuition $7,085
Location: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Application Deadline: April 15
Program Dates: 3-weeks in June/July
Eligibility: Open to high school students who meet Georgetown Summer Programs requirements
Cornell’s CICER Summer High School Program focuses on business, economics, and data analytics. The program is designed for high school students who want exposure to economics and related analytical fields in a more structured summer format.
You gain exposure to economics, business, and data analysis in a university setting, along with a clearer academic direction if you want to keep exploring those areas. This is a good fit for you if you want to pursue economics along with applied analytics rather than as a stand-alone theoretical course.
Cost: $5,700
Location: Cornell University / Cornell SC Johnson
Application Deadline: April (tentatively, based on previous years)
Program Dates: July
Eligibility: Open to high school applicants who meet the program’s admissions requirements
The US Treasury offers high school students the opportunity to explore public service careers in economics, finance, public policy, and other fields. As an intern, you gain hands-on experience by supporting various departments within the Treasury. Students also work on projects that address economic policy and issues, financial regulation, and budgetary analysis. They also benefit from mentorship and professional development opportunities through the internship.
Cost: No cost
Location: Washington D.C.
Application Deadline: Spring - October | Summer - December | Fall - June
Program Dates: Spring - January to May | Summer - May to June | Fall - September to December
Eligibility: US citizens enrolled or accepted at an accredited institution
Kaiser Permanente is a company primarily involved in the healthcare industry, but it offers internship opportunities in other fields as well. The KP Launch program allows high school students to engage in finance, business, and administrative roles. You can pick from a variety of departments – finance, consulting services, communications, operations, human resources, and more – based on what aligns with your interests.
The 7-week internship consists of workshops on personal and professional skill development, mentorship, and networking opportunities with peers and senior leaders through work-based activities, community service projects, and social events.
Cost: No cost; stipend of $24/hour
Location: Varies based on closest Kaiser Permanente location
Application Deadline: January (tentatively, based on previous years)
Program Dates: June 15 – July 31
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 16-19 who have a permanent residence in a Northern California Kaiser Permanente designated service area.
About the Author
George Gatsios holds a BA and MA in Economics from the University of Cambridge and is the founder of Delta Institute. He leads the organisation’s global strategy, overseeing programme design, partnerships, operations, and product innovation across education, career development, and technology. His work centers on building scalable, hands-on learning experiences that connect students with real-world industry exposure and future-ready skills. Alongside his leadership at Delta Institute, George serves as a Research Assistant in Economics at the University of Cambridge and London Business School, contributing to research at the intersection of economic theory, empirical analysis, and policy. He is an active member of the International Baccalaureate Educator Network (IBEN) and a strong advocate for lifelong learning and internationally minded education.
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