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Youth

Nation's Most Financially Savvy Teenagers Emerge Winners of the 2025 National Personal Finance Challenge

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Teams of high schoolers from across the country gathered in Atlanta for the 14th annual National Personal Finance Challenge, a competition hosted by the Council for Economic Education (CEE) in partnership with Voya Financial. Over 30 teams from 28 states vied for the top spot, with Scripps Ranch High School from San Diego, California, emerging as the champion. The winning team demonstrated exceptional knowledge of personal finance and economics, tackling complex questions and creating a financial plan for a fictional family.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 2025 National Personal Finance Challenge was hosted by the Council for Economic Education (CEE) in partnership with Voya Financial, attracting over 30 teams from 28 states.
  • Scripps Ranch High School from San Diego, California, emerged as the champion, winning cash prizes for their team members and coach.
  • The competition involved creating a financial plan for a fictional family and competing in a quiz bowl to crown the winning team.
  • The Council for Economic Education believes that financial knowledge is for everyone, with research highlighting the association between financial literacy and successful real-life financial decision-making.
  • 14 states do not require personal finance coursework in high school, which CEE aims to address through its Access Zone program and financial education initiatives.
  • Research has documented the benefits of financial literacy, including planning for retirement, financial resilience, reduced debt, and decreased likelihood of holding credit card balances.

Statistics:

  • 18,000 high schoolers from across the country competed in the highly accessible school-level round of the NPFC.
  • 6 teams from CEE's Access Zone program participated in the competition, promoting financial education in Title I schools nationwide.
  • The National Final was held at Voya's headquarters in Atlanta on June 1-2, 2025.
  • Cash prizes for winning teams including $2,000 per team member and coach for 1st place, $1,000 per team member and coach for 2nd place, $500 per team member and coach for 3rd place, and $250 per team member and coach for 4th place.

Sources:

  • Council for Economic Education (CEE)
  • Voya Financial
  • "2025 National Personal Finance Challenge" (NewsRx LLC)
  • "Council for Economic Education" (Council for Economic Education)
  • National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)
  • Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)
  • Council for Economic Education (www.councilforeconed.org)

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