Economics internships for high school students | RISE Research

TL;DR

Economics internships for high school students exist across government agencies, think tanks, and university programs, but most are highly competitive, geographically limited, and produce no verifiable output. RISE Research offers a fully online alternative: a 1-on-1 mentorship program where students publish original economics research in peer-reviewed journals, producing a credential that appears directly in the Common App. Our deadline is closing soon.

Introduction

Economics internships for high school students are among the most searched academic opportunities in the country, and for good reason. Economics sits at the intersection of policy, data, and human behavior, and students who build real experience in this field before college arrive with a measurable advantage. The challenge is that most economics internships available to high school students are either extremely competitive, restricted to local applicants, or produce only a participation certificate with no external validation.

A summer at a policy organization sounds impressive. But if the output is a general certificate and a vague description of tasks, college admissions officers have little to evaluate. What top universities actually look for is a specific, externally verified contribution to a field.

RISE Research solves this directly. Through 1-on-1 mentorship with PhD-level economists and policy researchers, RISE scholars produce peer-reviewed published papers in economics. That paper appears in the Common App Activities section as a concrete, verifiable achievement. RISE scholars are accepted to top-10 universities at 3x the national average rate.

What economics internships are available for high school students?

RISE Research is the strongest verified option for high school students who want a published, externally validated economics credential. Beyond RISE, a small number of government-affiliated and university-based programs offer genuine economics exposure for high school students.

RISE Research is a fully online, 1-on-1 mentorship program where high school students in Grades 9 to 12 conduct original economics research under PhD mentors. Students produce a peer-reviewed published paper over a 10-week program. RISE mentors are published in 40+ academic journals and come from Ivy League and Oxbridge institutions. The publication success rate is 90%. Learn more about RISE research projects and the range of economics topics scholars have explored.

The Federal Reserve Bank Student Programs vary by regional branch. Several Federal Reserve branches, including the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, have historically offered high school outreach or junior economist programs. Availability, format, and eligibility differ by location. Students should check the official site of their nearest Federal Reserve branch directly for current program details.

Junior State of America (JSA) is a student-run civics and policy organization open to high school students nationally. It focuses on political economy and policy debate rather than quantitative research, but it builds argumentation skills relevant to economics. Official site: jsa.org.

University-based economics pipeline programs exist at institutions including the University of Chicago, MIT, and Columbia, but most are competitive, in-person, and accept a small number of students. Availability changes annually. Students should check directly with university economics departments for current offerings.

For students who want a remote option with a guaranteed published output, RISE is the only program in this list that produces a peer-reviewed paper. If you are also exploring business internships for high school students, note that economics research through RISE often overlaps with finance, behavioral economics, and public policy topics.

How competitive are economics internships for high school students?

Most selective economics internships for high school students accept fewer than 10% of applicants. Government and think tank placements typically require proximity to Washington D.C. or a major financial center, a strong academic record, and in some cases, a teacher recommendation and writing sample.

The typical applicant profile for competitive economics placements includes a GPA above 3.8, prior coursework in AP Economics or AP Statistics, and demonstrated interest through extracurriculars such as economics olympiad participation or school investment clubs. Many programs also favor students with existing connections to the institution through alumni networks or school partnerships.

This creates a structural disadvantage for students outside major metropolitan areas and for international students. The majority of high school economics internship slots in the United States are filled by students in New York, Washington D.C., Boston, and Chicago.

RISE Research removes these barriers entirely. Admission is based on research readiness and intellectual curiosity, not geography or prior prestige. RISE is fully online and open to students in any country. The program carries a 90% publication success rate, meaning the outcome is not dependent on competitive selection after the fact. View the admissions outcomes RISE scholars have achieved at top universities.

Research vs internships in economics: which is better for college applications?

Published economics research is a stronger college application signal than an internship certificate. RISE scholars who publish original research have a specific, externally verified contribution that admissions officers can evaluate directly. An internship certificate describes an experience. A published paper proves an outcome.

Internships provide real value: professional exposure, a reference from a working economist or policy analyst, and a clearer sense of the field. These are genuine benefits. But in the Common App Activities section, an internship is listed alongside hundreds of similar entries from other applicants. A peer-reviewed published paper in an economics journal is listed in the same section and immediately distinguishes the applicant.

The distinction matters at the margin, and top university admissions are decided at the margin. RISE scholars are accepted to top-10 universities at 3x the national average rate. The 18% Stanford acceptance rate for RISE scholars compares to an 8.7% general acceptance rate. The 32% UPenn acceptance rate for RISE scholars compares to 3.8% generally.

The strongest application combines both where possible: an internship for professional exposure and a published paper for verified intellectual contribution. But if a student can pursue only one, published research through RISE produces the stronger admissions outcome. Read more about how paid vs free internships for high school students compare in terms of application value.

RISE Research mentors specialize in economics, public policy, behavioral economics, and finance, and have guided students to peer-reviewed publication. Our deadline is closing soon. Book a free Research Assessment to find out what is achievable in your timeline.

How to get an economics internship as a high school student

The most effective path to an economics internship in high school is a direct, personalized outreach to local organizations combined with a clear academic profile. Generic applications to large institutions rarely succeed without an existing connection.

Start by identifying local economics-adjacent organizations: city government budget offices, regional nonprofits that publish policy reports, local chambers of commerce, or university economics departments with undergraduate research assistants who sometimes work with high school students. A cold email to a professor or policy analyst that describes a specific interest in their published work, explains what you can contribute, and asks for a 20-minute conversation converts at a much higher rate than a generic internship request.

Build your academic profile before reaching out. AP Economics, AP Statistics, and any data analysis coursework strengthen your case. If you have already published research through RISE, include that in your outreach. A published paper in economics signals that you can contribute meaningfully, not just observe.

For students who want to explore online internships for high school students more broadly, remote economics roles at think tanks and policy organizations do exist, though they are rare for students below college age. RISE removes the cold-email problem entirely by providing direct 1-on-1 access to PhD-level economists from day one of the program.

Frequently asked questions about economics internships for high school students

Are there free economics internships for high school students?

Most economics internships for high school students are unpaid and free to participate in. Government-affiliated programs and university pipeline initiatives typically do not charge fees. RISE Research charges a program fee for its 1-on-1 mentorship and publication pathway. Scholarship options may be available. Contact RISE directly for details.

Free internships are more common at nonprofits and government offices than at private financial institutions. The trade-off is that free programs often provide less structured mentorship and no guaranteed output. A published paper through RISE requires a program investment but produces a credential with direct admissions value.

Do I need prior experience to get an economics internship in high school?

Most selective economics internships for high school students expect at least one year of economics coursework, a strong GPA, and demonstrated interest in the field. Prior research or data analysis experience strengthens any application significantly.

Students without prior experience are not excluded from all opportunities. Local government offices and nonprofits are more accessible than federal agencies or think tanks. RISE Research accepts students based on intellectual curiosity and research readiness, not prior credentials, making it an accessible starting point for students who are new to formal economics study.

Can online economics internships count for college applications?

Yes. Online economics internships count for college applications and can be listed in the Common App Activities section. The key factor is the quality of the output, not the format. A remote internship that produces a policy memo, data analysis project, or published paper carries more weight than one that produces only a certificate.

RISE Research is fully online and produces a peer-reviewed published paper. That paper is listed directly in the Common App and is externally verifiable by any admissions officer. For more on how remote programs are evaluated, see our guide to remote STEM internships for high school students.

What is the difference between an economics internship and an economics research program?

RISE Research is the clearest example of an economics research program: students produce an original, peer-reviewed published paper under 1-on-1 PhD mentorship. An internship places a student in an organization to observe and assist with existing work. A research program tasks the student with producing new knowledge.

The practical difference in a college application is significant. An internship demonstrates interest and exposure. A published research paper demonstrates the ability to formulate a research question, gather and analyze evidence, and contribute an original finding to the academic record. Admissions officers at top universities treat these as categorically different credentials. View RISE publications to see the journals where RISE scholars have published economics research.

What do colleges look for in economics experience?

RISE Research produces the type of economics experience colleges value most: a specific, externally verified intellectual contribution in the form of a published paper. Beyond that, colleges look for evidence of genuine curiosity, analytical rigor, and the ability to sustain a project over time.

A strong economics profile for college applications includes a combination of coursework (AP Economics, AP Statistics, or equivalent), a meaningful extracurricular such as an economics olympiad or policy debate, and a published research paper or substantive project with a verifiable output. The published paper is the hardest element to achieve independently, which is why RISE scholars stand out. Explore the RISE mentor network to see the economists and policy researchers who guide students through this process.

Conclusion

Economics internships for high school students offer real exposure to the field, but most are competitive, geographically restricted, and produce no externally verifiable output. For students who want an economics credential that directly strengthens a college application, RISE Research is the most reliable path. RISE scholars produce peer-reviewed published papers in economics under 1-on-1 PhD mentorship, fully online, in 10 weeks. The program carries a 90% publication success rate and a track record of admissions outcomes at top-10 universities that no internship program matches.

The strongest approach is to pursue both: use internships for professional exposure and RISE for a published research credential. But if your goal is a verifiable economics achievement on your Common App, RISE produces that outcome consistently.

Our deadline is closing soon. If you want economics experience that produces a real published paper, schedule a free Research Assessment and we will tell you exactly what is achievable in your timeline.