Financial literacy in a class of its own
Having your first job. Getting your first car. Securing that first credit card. Without question, today’s students are making financial decisions earlier than ever—and those choices often follow them for years. For some, they are empowering milestones. For others, it’s the onset of real stress that only grows over time.
That’s where Intuit for Education comes in — delivering free personal and entrepreneurial financial education using engaging, real-world tools. To date, over 9.3 million individuals have engaged with our content, exceeding our goal of reaching 6.2 million. More than 4 million of those individuals were high school students who were introduced to interactive simulations and games powered by Intuit products, Intuit TurboTax, QuickBooks, Credit Karma, and Mailchimp.1
This puts us well on our way toward achieving our goal of helping 50 million students become financially literate, capable, and confident through their use of Intuit for Education content by 2030.
According to a Kansas State University study across 6 high schools using the Intuit for Education curriculum, the improvements were dramatic:
- 56% increase in overall student financial capability2
- 40% increase in student financial confidence3
Our programs also empower educators:
- 94% of educators rate the curriculum as very high quality4
And the momentum keeps building — our curriculum is being used nationwide and meets most personal finance standards across states. This has led to streamlined access and improved usability for educators to consistently deliver high-quality content on a series of student success initiatives.
A new chapter: Our commitment to colleges
Even with a strong high school foundation, many students arrive at college unprepared for the realities of student loans, rent, and everyday costs. It’s no surprise that 70% of students claim they experience financial stress after arriving on campus.5
This lack of financial confidence often leads to higher college dropout rates during the first year. In turn, leaving students with large amounts of student debt and nothing to show for it—highlighting a critical need for college financial literacy.
It inspired Intuit for Education to expand our program beyond high school to educate and elevate college students across the country. Top institutions like University of South Carolina continue signing up to help boost financial confidence for students starting their first year.
Playing to win at financial literacy
We received great insight from instructors and students at University of South Carolina—one of the nation’s leaders in First-Year Experience (FYE) programs—to help create and pilot an interactive new college simulation FinFutures.6 This simulation was created with a fun-forward approach to learning that’s proven to resonate with the younger generation.
“It has been a great collaborative partnership working with the Intuit for Education team, says Dustin Roberts, Associate Director for Administration for University 101 Programs at University of South Carolina. “We’ve created a variety of resources to give instructors the tools they need to make a real impact on campus.”
This new version of “FinFutures” — inspired by our successful high school initiative — is designed to guide college students through real-world financial decisions. Creating and operating budgets. Balancing planned against unplanned expenses. Managing credit and understanding financial aid. Really, learning everything necessary to establish a foundation for sustainable financial wellness.
“My students found the simulation extremely helpful,” said Catherine Evans, University of South Carolina Peer Leader. “The visual representation of their first-year spending helped them see where their money would go, allowing them to prepare for success not only in their first year but also in the future.”
A comprehensive approach to financial education
Intuit for Education provides a robust suite of free financial technology for students at every stage, helping equip them with the tools and skills they need to thrive beyond the classroom and into their careers. This comes to life through products, features and programs like:
- Intuit QuickBooks Online Certification
Real-world accounting lessons that teach job-ready skills and boost student resumes through industry-recognized certifications. Now also available to high schoolers through a new course created just for them. - Dual enrollment programs
Free online dual credit courses for high school students to help give them a head start on college before they even arrive on campus. - Learning Management System (LMS) integrations (new)
Seamless integration with Canvas, Google Classroom, Blackboard and more – making it easy for educators to deliver financial education content where students already learn. - Intuit Academy
Job-ready tax and bookkeeping training specifically for college students that they can apply immediately for future roles as Intuit experts.
From high school classrooms to college campuses, our mission is clear: help students develop the critical skills needed to manage money effectively and set themselves up for a lifetime of financial independence.
As Jeremy Bryson, a business teacher at Laurel Highlands High School in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, put it:
“Intuit for Education’s flexible activities help students make connections between budgeting, saving, and setting meaningful goals — practical skills they’ll carry long after they leave my classroom.”7
Learn more about Intuit for education at intuit.com/education.
1 Refers to Intuit’s “Job Readiness” True North Goal, data is cumulative since FY20.
2 Source: Efficacy Research | At Intuit for Education, we’re dedicated to more than just teaching—we’re committed to proving our programs work. Our efficacy research shows how our initiatives, like the “Measuring financial literacy, capability and confidence in High school” report, are actively shaping students’ financial futures.
Interested in the results? [Let’s Talk]
3 Source: Efficacy Research | At Intuit for Education, we’re dedicated to more than just teaching—we’re committed to proving our programs work. Our efficacy research shows how our initiatives, like the “Measuring financial literacy, capability and confidence in High school” report, are actively shaping students’ financial futures.
Interested in the results? [Let’s Talk]
4 Source: Efficacy Research | At Intuit for Education, we’re dedicated to more than just teaching—we’re committed to proving our programs work. Our efficacy research shows how our initiatives, like the “Measuring financial literacy, capability and confidence in High school” report, are actively shaping students’ financial futures.
Interested in the results? [Let’s Talk]
5 Source: US News
6 Source: US News
7 Source: Jeremy Bryson, quoted in Alison Griffin, “Peace of Mind over Paychecks: The New Financial Literacy Gen Z Needs,” Forbes, April 30, 2025,
Endnotes
These curriculum findings are based on research conducted in collaboration with Kansas State University researchers with expertise in financial planning, along with survey data from Intuit for Education’s 2025 professional development (PD) programming. The student study involved six high schools in Kansas and Pennsylvania (n=66 students) who completed Intuit for Education’s core curriculum—Money Mindsets, Budget, Saving, and Credit—delivered during the Spring 2025 semester. Using validated pre- and post-test instruments adapted from the Council for Economic Education and Lusardi’s “Big Three,” students demonstrated a 56% increase in financial capability and a 40% increase in financial confidence, including significant gains in saving habits and responsible credit management.Separately, educators (n=475) who participated in professional development with Intuit for Education in the 2024-2025 academic year across multiple modes of delivery (in-person and live virtual) reported substantial improvements in their ability to deliver financial literacy instruction. 94% rated the PD instruction, content, and workshop design as very high quality. Teachers highlighted the hands-on simulations, expert facilitators, and ready-to-use classroom resources as core drivers of these outcomes. Together, these results underscore the dual impact of Intuit for Education — building financial knowledge, skills, and confidence among students, while simultaneously strengthening educators’ ability to teach these critical concepts.
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