Topics We Cover:
- Why Do Internships in High School?
- How to Find Finance Internships for High School Students
- 10 Finance Internships for High School Students
- Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Internships
- Email Template for Finding a High School Internship
A finance internship for high school students can be the first step on an exciting career path in fields such as investment banking, wealth management, or financial planning. These internships offer real-world experience, valuable skills, and the chance for students to explore a field before making a full commitment. Looking for JPMorgan Chase’s high school internship? It’s one of the most searched-for programs, but JPMorgan Chase’s well-known high school programs aren’t currently offered in the U.S., so we’ve included several great alternatives in the list below.
Looking for programs near you? See our lists of finance internships in Boston, finance internships in Chicago, and finance internships in Los Angeles.
Why Do Internships in High School?
Finance internships for high school students—and high school internships in general—provide a significant boost in a student’s odds of admission at a top college. The University of Chicago’s student-run consultancy, PRISM, found that 70% of students attending U.S. News Top 50 universities completed at least one internship while in high school.
Engaging in a high school internship demonstrates to colleges a student’s ambition to explore areas of interest outside the classroom and a commitment to confirm their interests with real-world experience. A high school resume is a great way for students to stand out among competitive fields of college applicants.
A high school internship can also open the door to future activities. For example, securing a high school finance internship can make it easier to land an internship in college. It can also make it easier to gain admission to pre-professional groups such as the Future Business Leaders of America, DECA, investment clubs, and affinity groups like Women in Finance.
How to Find Finance Internships for High School Students
Online search tools and lists are a proven method for discovering high school internships. StandOutSearch is one notable tool—it’s the largest free online database of internships for high school age students. MIT Admissions also provides a helpful collection of prestigious summer internships and programs for high schoolers.
Official internship programs are often extremely competitive, making cold outreach—reaching out directly to potential internship providers to inquire about opportunities—one of the best strategies for securing an internship. In the world of finance, networking is key, especially for high school students.
Cold outreach can be intimidating; however, the guide and templates located at the end of this article help simplify the process and make the process of securing an internship straightforward.
10 Finance Internships for High School Students
Most of the finance internships for high school students below have an acceptance rate of 20% or lower, given that there are many more high school students looking for finance internships relative to official programs that provide them. We recommend choosing at least five opportunities to apply to. If you see an opportunity that excites you, take a moment to write the deadline on your calendar!
1. StandOut Connect
Ages: 15-19
Location: Virtual
Timeline: Summer, Spring, Fall, or Winter
Deadline: November 23, 2026 (Winter cohort)
StandOut Connect is a program that helps match gifted high school students with online internships in their industry of interest. Potential sectors include finance, STEM, medicine, law, arts, and more. StandOut Connect is funded by StandOutSearch, the largest free database for high school internships. The program has been featured in Forbes and was created with the help of investment from The University of Chicago's Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
2. 1435 Capital Management
Ages: Juniors and Seniors
Location: Skillman (near Princeton), New Jersey
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: April 4, 2027
This 10-week, paid summer internship is a fantastic chance for students interested in finance to gain firsthand experience working with venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. Interns will assist with tasks such as:
- Investment analysis
- Portfolio monitoring
- Deal sourcing
- Market research
- Administrative support
Competition is intense for this internship, with hundreds of high schoolers vying for just three or four positions.
3. Chicago Summer Business Institute
Ages: Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (March 31 in 2026)
Financial services is the main focus of the Chicago Summer Business Institute (CSBI), a nonprofit that places Chicago high school students in paid summer internships at companies that sponsor the program. Over six weeks, each intern works under a supervisor who helps set goals and evaluates the work. Friday afternoons bring workshops run by volunteers and program coordinators, and guest speakers describe their own career paths. To be eligible for 2027, students must live in the City of Chicago, be a sophomore, junior or senior in 2026-27, hold at least a B average and have a household income under $80,000.
4. Kansas City Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP)
Ages: 16-18
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: February 1, 2027
The Young Entrepreneurs Program (YEP) partners with high-growth companies in the Midwest to place high school students in internships across fields including finance, analytics, sales, marketing, product management, and engineering. The program is built for students interested in entrepreneurship and making an impact in their communities.
Applicants must be completing their junior or senior year. Most internships are in person at companies in Kansas City, though some remote options exist, and Friday company visits are held in person.
5. Futures and Options Internship Program
Ages: Juniors and Seniors
Location: New York, New York
Timeline: Summer and school year
Deadline: Not yet announced
Futures and Options runs a paid, mentored internship program for juniors and seniors attending New York City high schools. Interns are matched individually to sites, including small businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and multinational corporations, based on their abilities, goals, and interests. Alongside their internship hours, students attend career readiness workshops on communication, interviewing, financial literacy, and resume writing, and join career exploration field trips with employer partners.
6. Federal Reserve Bank of Boston TIP Internship
Ages: Rising Juniors
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced
Run by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Today's Interns, Tomorrow's Professionals (TIP) puts Greater Boston high school students to work inside one of the country's regional central banks. Each intern starts with a paid summer job paired with coaching and workshops, with training centered on interpersonal skills such as complex problem solving and conflict resolution. After the summer, some interns are chosen for a year-round internship that can last up to three years, from junior year of high school through the first year of post-secondary education. The program is open to income-eligible Boston Public Schools students who have finished their sophomore year, and students apply through the Boston Private Industry Council.
7. Genesys Works
Ages: 17-18
Location: Bay Area, Chicago, Houston, Jacksonville, Nashville, Washington, DC area, New York City, Tulsa, and the Twin Cities
Timeline: Summer and school year
Deadline: Not yet announced
Genesys Works prepares high school juniors for paid corporate jobs in their senior year. Accepted students first complete about 160 hours of summer training over eight weeks, learning the IT skills the jobs require along with interviewing, résumé writing, teamwork and public speaking. Trainees can then be matched with one of the organization's 245-plus corporate partners and work about 20 hours weekly during senior year, typically in afternoon shifts. Genesys Works estimates that interns earn $10,000 to $13,000 over the year. Coaches also help with college and financial aid applications. Juniors at partner high schools who are on track to graduate and can work in the U.S. are eligible.
8. Urban Alliance High School Internship Program
Ages: Rising Seniors
Location: Baltimore, Washington, DC, Chicago, and Detroit
Timeline: Senior year and summer
Deadline: Not yet announced
The Urban Alliance High School Internship Program is a paid internship that runs through senior year for students in Baltimore, Washington, DC, Chicago and Detroit. After about six weeks of job skills training, interns work with public, private and nonprofit employers, part time during the school year and full time in the summer, earning up to 500 hours of paid work. Weekly workshops cover job skills, life skills and planning for life after high school, and each intern is paired with a program lead and a one-on-one workplace mentor.
9. Accounting and Information Management (AIM) Academy
Ages: Rising Juniors
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: March 31, 2027
Rising high school juniors get a week-long grounding in accounting and information management at this free, six-day summer program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Haslam College of Business. In workshops led by university faculty and staff, participants cover accounting, entrepreneurship, finance and financial statements, the building blocks of most finance careers. A financial literacy workshop, team-building activities and sessions with business professionals on etiquette and networking round out the schedule, along with college readiness sessions on ACT prep, campus life and applying to college. Crowe LLP sponsors the program, and the 2027 session runs July 11 to July 16.
10. NYC Ladders for Leaders
Ages: Rising Seniors
Location: New York City, NY
Timeline: Summer
Deadline: Not yet announced (January 16 in 2026)
NYC Ladders for Leaders places students in paid six-week summer internships with companies, nonprofits, and government agencies across New York City, a good fit for students who want experience in a professional office. Most recently, interns worked 25 to 40 hours a week and earned at least $16.50 an hour.
Run by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, the program is open to rising high school seniors who live in the five boroughs and have prior paid or volunteer work experience. Before being referred to a company, participants may complete up to 30 hours of training in résumé writing, interviewing, and workplace etiquette.
For related fields, see our marketing internships for high school students.
Cold Outreach Strategy for High School Internships
If none of the finance internships for high school students listed above are a good fit for you, consider forming a cold outreach plan. Many students find cold outreach intimidating, but the guide below should lessen any anxiety—plus, the ability to build connections and create opportunities are two skills that are extremely valuable to careers in finance.
How to Find Companies to Reach Out to for a High School Internship
LinkedIn is a powerful tool for high schoolers searching for internship opportunities. Use it to discover small companies or startups where you can assist with jobs like entering data, organizing documents, and assisting with presentations. Smaller companies and startups typically need more hands on deck and are more likely to hire high school students.
When reaching out to professionals, be sure to express your interest in and understanding of the finance world, and clearly share what specifically interests you—such as investment banking, consulting, private equity, marketing, or real estate. This is especially true when your interests align with the work of the person you’re reaching out to. Also, look to make connections on a more personal level, such as coming from the same hometown, sharing a hobby, or a passion for a particular sports team.
When reaching out to professionals you don’t know, be sure to exercise caution. Virtual meetings and interviews provide a safe alternative to meeting in person.
How to Find Professors to Reach Out to for a High School Research Position
University faculty directories online are a great place for finding professors who might be open to having a high school student assist with their research. Remote roles are relatively uncommon, as most professors rely on high school interns to help with hands‑on tasks.
One exception is computational research. Projects that involve data analysis or coding sometimes allow for remote participation. The caveat is that they typically expect you to have at least a beginner’s grasp of coding languages like Python or R. The good news is that you can build those skills independently, at no cost, and within a few months through resources like Coursera’s Python for Everybody and R Programming.
How to Structure and Send Outreach Emails
Aim to send at least 50 emails to potential internship providers as part of your cold outreach strategy. Limit your resume to one page and include it as a Google Drive link to your email (ensure the link’s settings allow anyone with it to view its contents). Links are preferable to PDFs and Docs, which can negatively impact email deliverability.
Also, make sure to include any relevant work experience—for example, expertise with Excel, familiarity with customer management systems, or the results of a competition, like a stock market simulation you participated in.
If you don’t have a resume yet, now is the perfect time to create one—you’ll use it throughout your academic and professional career. Our resume guide and template will help you get started crafting a resume that can land you internships and, eventually, jobs. The University of Chicago also provides a handy resume toolkit.
Email Template for Finding a High School Internship
If you are unsure how to structure your outreach emails to potential internship providers, here are some basic templates you can customize to your needs.
Template for Finding an Internship
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Mr./Ms.____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I read about your company on LinkedIn and found the concept quite interesting. For context, [briefly state how the company relates to your interests or experience].
I was wondering if you might be looking for interns. I know I would have a great deal to learn from working with you, and I would love to contribute in any way I can. I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Template for Finding a Research Position
Subject: Student Reaching Out
Dear Professor/Dr. ____,
I hope you are having a great day! My name is [your name], and I am a rising [grade] at [your school]. I recently read your paper on [restate the abstract] in [name of publication] and was quite intrigued by [part you found interesting]. I was wondering if I might be able to intern for you over this summer. [Elaborate on your relevant skills and experience and why you are passionate about the field].
I have included my resume here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Conclusion
Whether you’re pursuing well‑known programs or sending cold outreach emails, sticking with the search is ultimately what often makes or breaks landing a finance internship in high school. These positions are competitive and sometimes discouraging to chase, but many students discover that the early exposure and experience are well worth the effort.
If this guide was useful, bookmark it or pass it along to someone else who might benefit. Wishing you success in your internship hunt!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get a finance internship in high school?
Yes, but it is competitive. Investment banks and private equity firms generally do not hire students until at least their sophomore year of college. For high schoolers, university career advancement offices recommend interning at a financial technology startup, a real estate company, an early-stage private equity or venture capital firm, or a fast-growing tech startup. Structured high school finance programs are another strong starting point.
Do big banks like J.P. Morgan offer high school internships?
Rarely. Large banks focus their internships on college and graduate students and usually do not hire below the college sophomore level. Most high schoolers gain finance experience instead through dedicated high school programs or by reaching out to smaller firms such as fintech startups, real estate companies, or early-stage investors.
Are there free finance internships for high school students?
Yes. Several finance programs for high schoolers are free to attend or offer a stipend, while others are tuition-based. Always check each program's details, since many also provide financial aid.
Are there online finance internships for high school students?
Yes. Some programs run fully online, and remote roles at fintech startups and finance nonprofits are often easier to land than in-person positions. You can also get matched with an online finance internship through StandOut Connect or filter for online options in internship databases like StandOutSearch.
