PayDay Academy — Financial Literacy Simulation for High School Classrooms
Teach financial literacy in a safe classroom simulation.
How the simulation works
A full financial journey — one month at a time one decision at a time
Choose a career
Students pick from 29 real-world careers across four education paths — each with a unique salary and student loan burden.
Advance through months
Each month brings a paycheck, bills to pay, and a random life event that can help or hurt your finances.
Manage money wisely
Open savings accounts, invest in stocks and retirement funds, and build your credit score over time.
Earn achievements
Unlock 36 achievements across 8 categories. Compete on the class leaderboard and finish the year strong.
Everything students need to learn financial literacy
29 Career Paths
Four education tiers from no degree to graduate school, each with realistic salaries.
Stocks & Retirement
13 stocks, 2 index funds, 401(k) with employer match, and Roth IRA with annual caps.
Credit & Banking
Checking, savings, HYSA, CDs, and a credit card with real APR and credit score tracking.
Homes & Vehicles
Buy, finance, and sell property with credit-score-based rates and appreciation.
Life Happens Events
A spin wheel of random financial events keeps every simulation unpredictable and engaging.
Teacher Controls
Manage attendance, issue bonuses, run the class store, and track every student's progress.
Built with student privacy first
PayDay Academy is designed from the ground up to meet FERPA requirements and keep student data safe. Here's our commitment to you.
Ready to bring PayDay Academy to your class?
Create a free teacher account, set up your class in minutes, and your students can start their financial simulation today.
Have questions? Contact us or email admin@paydayacademy.com