10 Finance Competitions for High School Students
If you are an ambitious high school student looking to pursue finance at university, you should definitely consider participating in finance competitions. These competitions offer unique problem-solving opportunities, enable networking with high-achieving peers, and can significantly impress college admissions officers.
In this blog, we outline 8 finance competitions that high school students should consider to enhance their skills and boost their college applications.
Location: Conferences vary in location (different cities around the US)
Cost: Fees vary per conference
Contest Dates: Varies with most conferences in April
Application Deadline: The deadlines typically close in the month of November
Eligibility: All high schools are eligible to join their schools’ chapters
If you're a high school student with an interest in business, DECA competitions are an excellent opportunity to consider. These competitions align with National Curriculum Standards across various areas such as marketing, business management and administration, finance, and hospitality and tourism.
As a first-year DECA member, you can start with the Principles of Business Administration Events, where you have to articulate fundamental business concepts in a competitive setting. As you advance, Individual Series Events challenge you to handle complex business scenarios through role-plays in specialized career areas, enabling you to apply theoretical knowledge practically.
These are only a few of the competitions that DECA offers. If you are interested in participating and learning more, you can view this comprehensive guide here!
2. Wharton Global High School Investment Corporation
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Contest Dates: September 30th onwards you can find the key competition dates here
Application Deadline: Applications are open till September 13, 2024
Eligibility: All high school students between the ages of 14-18 are eligible
The Wharton Global High School Investment Competition is a complimentary, hands-on challenge that allows you to delve into the world of investing. Alongside a team of four to seven members and guided by a teacher advisor, you will navigate the complexities of financial markets using an online stock market simulator. This competition enables you to make real-time investment decisions based on current market conditions and future projections.
Throughout the competition, your team will focus on building strategies, learning effective communication, assessing risks, and applying diversification principles. You'll perform comprehensive analyses of companies and industries to understand the broader economic factors influencing stock performance.
This blog covers the major details of the program and is a good start if you’re looking to participate!
3. Business Professionals of America - BPA
Location: Conferences vary in location (different cities around the US)
Cost: Membership fees vary
Contest Dates: Dates vary by competition
Application Deadline: Varies per competition
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible
The Business Professionals of America (BPA) Competition’s Workplace Skills Assessment Program (WSAP) is a core aspect of BPA, blending real-world business skills with leadership development. The WSAP features over 90 competitive events across six key areas: Finance, Business Administration, Management Information Systems, Digital Communication & Design, Management, Marketing & Communication, and Health Administration.
To address travel and budget limitations faced by some students, BPA offers Virtual Competitions at the national level. These virtual events allow students to participate in national competitions without the need for regional or state qualifiers. This ensures that all BPA student members have the opportunity to compete, gain recognition, and demonstrate their skills, regardless of their geographical or financial circumstances.
4. Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Contest Dates: April to May
Application Deadline: Applications open in February and close by March (based on previous years)
Eligibility: All high school students between the ages of 14-19 are eligible
If you're a high school student passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation, the Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge at Silicon Valley is an excellent opportunity. This competition invites students from around the world to bring their innovative ideas to fruition through comprehensive training and development. Participants engage in interactive workshops and receive personalized coaching focused on entrepreneurship. The workshops cover essential topics such as the Entrepreneurship Mindset, Design Thinking, Marketing & Finance, and Leadership for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Throughout the Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, you'll immerse yourself in Silicon Valley's vibrant entrepreneurial culture. You'll be mentored by elite executives from leading Silicon Valley companies, who will help you develop sustainable projects to pitch at the competition's finale. This experience includes direct interactions with industry leaders and academics from prestigious institutions like UPenn and UCSB, providing insights into real-world business challenges and innovative practices. Additionally, you'll have the chance to contribute to global initiatives such as the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
5. The National Personal Finance Challenge
Location: Varies for state-level rounds
Cost: Free
Dates: Varies from state to state, National Finals are typically held in may
Application Deadline: Varies from state to state, you can access state-wise applications here
Prizes: Cash prizes of up to $2,000 for each team member
Eligibility: All high school students residing in the US
Another prestigious event hosted by the Council for Economic Education is the National Personal Finance Challenge (NPFC), which focuses on enhancing students' financial literacy and testing their application of personal finance concepts in real-life scenarios.
Each year, over 20,000 students participate in the NPFC. The competition covers essential financial topics such as earning income, spending, saving, investing, managing credit, and managing risk. After advancing through state-level rounds, teams reaching the National Finals are tasked with developing and presenting a personal finance plan based on a fictitious family scenario to a panel of judges.
For those new to finance or economics, the CEE offers a free toolkit to help you get started and prepare for the competition.
6. InvestWrite
Location: Virtual submission
Cost: Free
Dates: To be announced in January 2025 (based on previous year’s dates)
Application Deadline: Early January 2023 for Spring entries (based on previous year’s dates)
Prizes: Certificates, gift cards
Eligibility: Students from Grades 4th-12th can participate
InvestWrite challenges students to demonstrate their grasp of financial concepts and effectively communicate them to a panel of industry experts. Participants are required to write an essay of up to 1000 words based on the Stock Market Game program, which is designed to teach the fundamentals of investing and financial markets.
Essays are evaluated on the clarity of the participant's understanding of the topic, the conciseness of their delivery, and the strength of their critical analysis. This competition is ideal for students who excel in written research and enjoy articulating their findings on paper.
Selected essays advance to National and International Rounds, where they are judged further for excellence in financial writing and analysis.
7. Northwestern Economics Tournament (NET)
Location: Virtual/Northwestern University campus
Dates: The competition typically takes place in the month of April
Application Deadline: Registration for 2024 is now closed.
Prizes: Cash Prizes
Eligibility: Open to all high-school students
The Northwestern Economics Tournament (NET) is an annual competition held at Northwestern University that tests high school students on their knowledge of AP-level Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, economic history, current events, and contemporary economic research through both individual and team-based rounds.
The tournament attracts hundreds of talented high school students from across the country and consists of two main rounds: an asynchronous, team-based Power Round and an in-person Econ Bowl. Besides competing, participants have the opportunity to engage with Northwestern professors and students, attend lectures, and deepen their understanding of economics. The NET is open to all high school students, regardless of their prior experience in economics.
Location: Virtual
Dates: The competition usually takes place in the month of March
Application Deadline: Applications typically close by February
Prizes: Publication and recognition in the Journal of Future Economists.
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply regardless of background in the subject
The High School Fed Challenge, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, is a prestigious competition that tasks students with conducting economic research and offers them the chance to be published in the Journal of Future Economists.
Participants work in teams to enhance their skills in teamwork, research, data literacy, and analytical writing. Each year, the competition provides a specific theme, and students must conduct research and analysis on related topics. The academic papers submitted by the teams are evaluated by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
The winning team not only earns the honor of having their work published in a highly regarded economics journal but also receives significant recognition for their achievement.
9. Harvard Pre-Collegiate Economics Challenge (HPEC)
Location: In-person on the Harvard campus and virtual
Dates: April 2025 (based on previous year’s dates)
Application Deadline: Registration for 2024 is now closed
Cost: $125
Prizes: Awards, prizes
Eligibility: All high school students enrolled in grades 9th-12th
The Harvard Pre-Collegiate Economics Challenge (HPEC) is recognized as one of the most prestigious economics competitions globally. It invites talented students from all corners of the world to deepen their understanding of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and global economics. Participants can join in teams of 1-4 and compete in various rounds, including a written exam round and a Quiz Bowl round.
Beyond the competition, participants have the opportunity to engage with Harvard professors, graduate students, and leading economists, offering a real-world perspective on economic theories and their applications. The final round of HPEC takes place at Harvard University, with finalists enjoying an all-expenses-paid trip to the university, enhancing their learning experience and exposure to the field of economics.
10. Global Stock Pitch Competition
Location: State-level submissions are virtual, while the Global Stock Pitch Competition was held at Cornell Tech University in NYC in 2024
Dates: May 2024 (based on previous year’s dates)
Application Deadline: April 2025 (tentatively)
Prizes: Cash Awards for top 3 scorers
Eligibility: All high school students are eligible to apply
The Global Stock Pitch Competition, organized by the Young Investors Society, tests students' skills in financial analysis and investment strategies. Participants, either in teams of two or as individuals, select a publicly traded company to evaluate and develop a "best stock idea," sometimes involving interactions with the company's management.
Each team or individual produces a detailed report with a "Buy" or "Sell" recommendation for their selected firm. They then present and defend their analysis in front of a panel of university professors and business professionals through both a written report and a brief presentation.
Winners from state-level competitions advance to regional events, which include the East Coast, Midwest, West Coast, Asia, Access Initiative, and International Open. This structure provides a comprehensive platform for young investors to showcase and refine their financial acumen.
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