How Do Business Competitions help High Schoolers?
High-achieving high school students with an interest in business often seek opportunities to challenge themselves, hone their skills, and gain recognition. Extracurricular business competitions provide platforms for these students to demonstrate their prowess, gain real-world experience, and earn prestigious accolades that complement their academic success. Here are 8 Top Business Competitions for High School Students in the United States.
Published by: Mason Sun
#8: National Economics Challenge (NEC)
Region: National
Circuit: Council for Economic Education (CEE)
The NEC is a rigorous competition that tests high school students’ knowledge of economic concepts and their ability to apply them to real-world scenarios. It features both written and quiz bowl-style rounds, with top teams advancing to the national finals.
#7: DECA Competitive Events Program
Region: National
Circuit: DECA Inc.
DECA’s Competitive Events Program offers a variety of competitions in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Students compete in role-plays, written events, and presentations, progressing from local to state and then to the international level.
#6: Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Competitions
Region: National
Circuit: FBLA-PBL Inc.
FBLA provides students with the opportunity to compete in over 70 different events covering various aspects of business including accounting, entrepreneurship, and business ethics. Competitions occur at the regional, state, and national levels.
#5: Junior Achievement Company of the Year Competition
Region: National
Circuit: Junior Achievement (JA)
JA Company Program challenges high school students to start and run their own businesses. Teams create a business plan, execute it, and compete in regional and national contests where they present their companies to panels of judges.
#4: High School Fed Challenge
Region: National
Circuit: Federal Reserve System
The Fed Challenge is an economics-based competition where students analyze economic and financial conditions and formulate monetary policy recommendations. The competition emphasizes teamwork, research, and presentation skills.
#3: Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs
Region: National
Circuit: University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship
The Diamond Challenge is a unique competition that encourages high school students to develop and pitch their own business concepts. It includes both social innovation and business innovation tracks, with finalists competing for significant cash prizes.
#2: Wharton Global High School Investment Competition
Region: National
Circuit: Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
This competition simulates the world of high finance, offering students a chance to manage a portfolio and make real-world investment decisions. Teams present their strategies to a panel of judges, competing for the title of global champion.
#1: Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge
Region: National
Circuit: Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)
The NFTE Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge invites students to develop innovative business ideas and present them to a panel of judges. The competition emphasizes creativity, feasibility, and social impact, with winners receiving cash prizes and mentorship opportunities.
Why Should You Join Hands-on Business Competitions
These competitions offer invaluable experiences for aspiring business leaders, helping them develop critical skills such as strategic thinking, teamwork, and public speaking. Participating in these events can open doors to future educational and professional opportunities, making them an essential part of a high school student’s journey towards a successful career in business. For more information, visit the official websites of these competitions. You can also discover additional opportunities or share your own at vibeforyouth.com.
