More than 1,300 Kentucky students will put their financial skills to the test this week as Northern Kentucky University hosts the state’s Personal Finance Challenge.
NKU’s Center for Economic Education is hosting the Kentucky Personal Finance Challenge for a third year, allowing middle and high school students from across the Commonwealth to test their knowledge of real-world financial skills.
The personal finance challenge is a national program provided by the council for economic education designed to help students build and demonstrate their understanding of essential financial concepts, including money management, credit, investing and insurance.
The 2026 Kentucky Personal Finance Challenge is taking place on Friday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University Center Ballroom.
Students first participate in a qualifying round, with the top teams advancing to the in-person state finals at NKU. This event provides students with an opportunity to explore career pathways by stepping into the role of a financial advisor and developing financial recommendations for a fictitious client.
Participation in Kentucky’s Personal Finance Challenge has grown significantly in recent years, with more than 1,300 students participating this year, nearly triple the number of participants in 2024.
“The continued growth of the Personal Finance Challenge shows that financial literacy is becoming a higher priority in classrooms across the Commonwealth,” said Director of the Center for Economic Education at Northern Kentucky University Ryan Goss. “NKU is proud to play an important role in expanding access to financial literacy education and helping students build confidence in financial decision-making.”
The winning high school team will go on to represent Kentucky at the National Personal Finance Challenge and will look to best the top eight finish of last year’s winning team.