High School Financial Literacy
Compete in the Illinois Personal Finance Challenge 2027
We are excited to host an in-person event for the Illinois State Finals and award Bright Start 529 college savings scholarships to the first-place and second-place teams. National Finals offers cash prizes to nationally ranked teams. Each winning team member will receive:
- 1st Place: $2,000
- 2nd Place: $1,000
- 3rd Place: $500
- 4th Place: $250
The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office is proud to present the Illinois Personal Finance Challenge (IPFC). This fun, motivating team competition gives students the opportunity to become financially savvy and demonstrate their money management skills.
- High school teams in Illinois can showcase their expertise in earning income, managing spending and saving, managing credit, investing, and managing risk through online exams offered during the fall and spring testing windows. All teachers will be able to access their students’ scores.
- One team of 3-4 high school students with one teacher will qualify to represent Illinois at the National Personal Finance Challenge by winning the Illinois State Finals.
- Registration is FREE, and practice tests and resources are available online for all teams.
- Check out the teacher toolkit with lessons and activities for the six personal finance subjects.
How It Works
- Teacher Registration: High school teachers must register at least one team of three to four students. There is no limit to the number of teams a teacher may sponsor, and multiple teachers from the same school are welcome to participate. Teachers who have participated before may sign in using their existing login information.
- Online Exam: Students begin the competition by completing the first round online during the designated testing window.
- Illinois State Finals: Top-performing teams advance to the in-person finals in Springfield, Illinois.
- National Finals: The team that wins the Illinois State Finals advances to represent Illinois at the National Finals, held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia.
Illinois State Finals 2026 Winners
- 2nd Place: $1,000 scholarship – Neuqua Valley High School
- 1st Place: $1,500 scholarship – Naperville Central High School
Financial Literacy Resources
Financial Life Cycle Education Corp (FiCycle)
FiCycle is a nonprofit organization that provides free, research-based financial education curriculum and classroom resources. Its materials include FiCycle Math, a full-year Algebra II-level personal finance course, as well as individual lessons and Calculate Your Future modules that teachers can use across subject areas.
FiCycle also offers free digital resources, teacher training, and student learning experiences, including Career Chats and interactive tools that help model real-world financial scenarios.
Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE) Chicago
CARE Chicago is a Chicago-based nonprofit that provides financial education workshops for middle school, high school, young adult, and adult audiences. Volunteers with experience in bankruptcy, financial services, business, and related fields teach topics such as credit, budgeting, student loans, scams, and identity theft.
CARE Chicago also offers scholarships to eligible high school juniors and seniors who have participated in a CARE workshop.
Financial Literacy Standards
Standards implemented include requirements for financial literacy and inquiry skills. Inquiry skills equip students for college, career, and civic life. You can read the standards at the links below.
Gives students a chance to compete and showcase their money management skills.
Get ready for the Illinois Personal Finance Challenge 2027. Questions? Reach out to Maggie Owen at mowen@illinoistreasurer.gov.