Economics for Leaders (EFL): everything high school students need to know in 2026

TL;DR: Economics for Leaders (EFL) is a selective residential programme run by the Foundation for Teaching Economics that introduces high school students to economic reasoning and leadership. It is competitive, free to attend, and runs across multiple US locations. If you want a verifiable research output alongside or instead of EFL, RISE Research produces a peer-reviewed published paper in economics. Our deadline is closing soon.

What is the Economics for Leaders (EFL) overview and why does it matter?

The Economics for Leaders (EFL) overview begins here: EFL is a week-long residential programme designed specifically for high school students who show leadership potential and an interest in economics. It is run by the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE), a non-profit organisation that has delivered economic education programmes for over four decades. The programme operates at multiple university campuses across the United States each year.

The challenge most students face is this: gaining real, substantive economics experience before college is difficult. Most classroom economics courses stay at the introductory level. EFL goes further, but it produces no published output, no journal credit, and no externally verified research record.

For students who want an economics credential that appears directly in their Common App Activities section, RISE Research is the programme that produces a peer-reviewed published paper in economics, regardless of which other programmes a student attends. RISE works alongside EFL, not against it.

What is Economics for Leaders and who is it for?

Economics for Leaders is a free, selective, week-long residential programme for high school students in Grades 10 to 12 who demonstrate leadership in their schools and communities. It is run by the Foundation for Teaching Economics and hosted at university campuses across the US. Students study economic reasoning, explore policy trade-offs, and develop leadership skills through seminars and group work.

The Foundation for Teaching Economics has operated since 1975. Its mission is to introduce young leaders to economic ways of thinking. EFL is its flagship student programme. It is not a general economics course. It targets students who already hold leadership roles, such as student council officers, team captains, or community organisers, and who want to apply economic thinking to real-world decisions.

Each session is hosted on a university campus and typically runs for five to six days. Students live in campus housing, attend sessions led by professional economists and FTE faculty, and work through case studies and simulations. The programme is free to accepted students, with costs covered by FTE. Students are responsible for travel to and from the host campus.

EFL is open to US high school students. International students studying in the US may apply, but the programme is primarily designed for domestic students. Full eligibility details and application information are available at the official FTE website: fte.org/students/economics-for-leaders.

Students interested in exploring broader economics competitions and programmes for high school students will find EFL listed among the most accessible free options available.

How competitive is Economics for Leaders?

EFL is selective. The Foundation for Teaching Economics does not publish an official acceptance rate, but the programme receives significantly more applications than it has spaces. Successful applicants typically hold leadership positions, have strong academic records in social studies or economics, and submit compelling short-answer responses that demonstrate genuine curiosity about economic reasoning.

Because EFL is free and well-known among high school counsellors, the applicant pool is large relative to the number of available spots across all host locations. Students who apply without a clear leadership record or without demonstrating specific interest in economics tend not to advance.

A strong application to EFL includes evidence of a leadership role, a clear explanation of why economic thinking matters to the student's goals, and responses that show the student can think beyond surface-level opinions to consider trade-offs and incentives.

RISE Research accepts students based on research readiness and genuine intellectual curiosity rather than prior prestige or leadership titles. Any student in Grades 9 to 12 who is ready to engage with original research can apply. RISE carries a 90% publication success rate, meaning the outcome is not left to chance. Students exploring the best economics research programmes for high school students will find RISE consistently produces the strongest verifiable output.

What does Economics for Leaders actually involve?

EFL is a structured week of seminars, case studies, and group simulations. Students do not produce a research paper or published output. The programme focuses on building economic reasoning skills and applying them to leadership decisions. Sessions are led by economists and FTE faculty who guide students through real policy scenarios.

A typical EFL week includes morning lectures on core economic concepts such as incentives, trade-offs, and market behaviour. Afternoons involve small group case studies where students analyse policy problems and debate solutions. Students also participate in leadership development sessions that connect economic thinking to decision-making in organisations and communities.

At the end of the programme, students receive a certificate of completion from the Foundation for Teaching Economics. This certificate can be listed in a college application, but it does not carry external verification of research or original intellectual contribution. It signals participation and selection, not output.

For students who want an output that goes beyond a certificate, RISE Research produces a peer-reviewed published paper in an independent academic journal. That paper appears in the Common App Activities section as an externally verified contribution to the field. It is the difference between showing you attended a programme and showing you advanced knowledge in it. You can see examples of what RISE scholars have produced on the RISE publications page.

How does Economics for Leaders compare to doing research with RISE?

EFL and RISE serve different purposes, and many students pursue both. Understanding what each produces helps students make a deliberate choice about where to invest their time.

EFL is a free, selective, residential programme that builds economic reasoning and leadership skills over one week. It produces a certificate and a meaningful experience. It is highly regarded among economics teachers and counsellors. It does not produce a published paper or an externally verified research record.

RISE Research is a fully online, 1-on-1 mentorship programme that runs for ten weeks. Students work with a PhD-level mentor from an Ivy League or Oxbridge institution to design and complete an original economics research project. The outcome is a peer-reviewed paper submitted to one of 40+ academic journals. RISE carries a 90% publication success rate. That paper is directly listable in the Common App Activities section as a published work.

RISE scholars have a 3x higher acceptance rate to Top 10 universities compared to the general applicant pool. The Stanford acceptance rate for RISE scholars is 18%, compared to 8.7% for the standard applicant pool. The UPenn acceptance rate for RISE scholars is 32%, compared to 3.8% for the standard applicant pool. These outcomes are documented on the RISE results page.

For students targeting top universities with an economics focus, combining EFL's leadership credential with a RISE-published paper creates an application profile that is both broad and deep. EFL shows leadership. RISE shows original intellectual contribution. Together, they signal a student who does not just study economics but advances it.

Our deadline is closing soon. Book a free Research Assessment to find out what is achievable in your timeline.

RISE Research is open to students at any stage of their economics journey, including those applying to or returning from EFL. Our deadline is closing soon. Book a free Research Assessment to find out what is achievable in your timeline.

What to do if you do not get into Economics for Leaders

If you are not accepted to EFL, RISE Research is the strongest immediate alternative. RISE accepts students based on research readiness, not prior programme credentials. A rejection from EFL does not affect your eligibility for RISE, and the output RISE produces, a peer-reviewed published paper, carries more weight in a college application than an EFL certificate alone.

Rejection from selective programmes is common and does not reflect your potential as an economics student or future leader. EFL receives far more applications than it has spaces. Many students who are not accepted go on to produce outstanding work through independent research and publication.

Beyond RISE, students who want to build economics experience can explore the following verified options:

• RISE Research: 1-on-1 mentorship, peer-reviewed publication, 90% success rate. riseglobaleducation.com

• The Federal Reserve's economic education resources: Free self-study materials and competitions for high school students. federalreserve.gov

• National Economics Challenge: A team-based economics competition open to high school students across the US, run by the Council for Economic Education. councilforeconed.org

Students looking for ideas to build an economics research project independently can also explore economics research project ideas for high school students to identify a topic before booking a Research Assessment.

Frequently asked questions about Economics for Leaders

How do I apply to Economics for Leaders?

Applications to EFL are submitted through the Foundation for Teaching Economics website. Students complete an online application that includes short-answer questions, a teacher recommendation, and evidence of a leadership role. Applications open each year and are reviewed on a rolling basis. Visit fte.org/students/economics-for-leaders for the current application portal and instructions.

Is Economics for Leaders free or paid?

EFL is free to accepted students. The Foundation for Teaching Economics covers tuition, housing, and meals for the residential week. Students are responsible for their own travel costs to and from the host university campus. There is no application fee.

Does Economics for Leaders help with college admissions?

EFL strengthens a college application by signalling selection, leadership, and genuine interest in economics. It is a recognised programme among admissions officers at selective universities. However, it produces a certificate rather than a published research output. Students who combine EFL with a peer-reviewed publication through RISE create a significantly stronger economics profile. See how RISE scholars perform at top universities.

What do I do if I do not get into Economics for Leaders?

RISE Research is the first and strongest alternative. RISE accepts students based on research readiness and produces a peer-reviewed published paper in economics, which carries more direct admissions value than a programme certificate. Our deadline is closing soon. Book a free Research Assessment to find out what is achievable in your timeline. Students can also explore the National Economics Challenge and Federal Reserve education resources as supplementary options.

Can international students apply to Economics for Leaders?

EFL is primarily designed for US high school students. International students currently enrolled in a US high school may be eligible to apply, but the programme does not have a formal international admissions track. Students outside the US who want a rigorous economics programme with a published research outcome should consider RISE Research, which is fully online and open to students in any country. Explore top economics research programmes for high school students for a full comparison of options available globally.

Conclusion

Economics for Leaders is one of the most respected free economics programmes available to US high school students. It builds genuine economic reasoning skills and recognises students with leadership potential. For students who are accepted, it is a valuable week of learning and community.

RISE Research is the programme that goes further. It produces a peer-reviewed published paper in economics, a credential that is externally verified, directly listable in the Common App, and proven to correlate with higher acceptance rates at Top 10 universities. RISE scholars have access to over 500 mentors published in 40+ academic journals, and the programme is open to any qualified student in Grades 9 to 12, regardless of location.

Whether you are applying to EFL, have already attended, or are looking for an alternative, published research is the strongest economics signal you can put on a college application. Our deadline is closing soon. If you want an economics credential that produces a real published paper, schedule a free Research Assessment and we will tell you exactly what is achievable in your timeline.