15 Free Summer Programs for High School Students in Georgia
If you’re a high school student, summer presents a valuable opportunity to explore new fields, develop practical skills, and earn college credit at no cost. Participating in these programs can enable you to learn from college faculty and industry mentors as well as visit labs, museums, and professional workplaces.
Throughout Georgia, there are free programs available for high schoolers where you can engage in STEM research, enhance your leadership abilities, create art, or gain experience in medicine or business. Whether you’re curious about agriculture, technology, healthcare, or the arts, these 15 free summer programs for high school students in Georgia will help you challenge yourself, connect with peers who share your interests, and experience college-level learning.
15 Free Summer Programs for High School Students in Georgia
1. The Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP)
Location: College or university campus in Atlanta, GA (rotates by year)
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Program Dates: Mid-June – Mid-July (4 weeks)
Application Deadline: Opens in the fall and closes in early winter
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors enrolled in a Georgia public, private, charter, or homeschool program
The Georgia Governor’s Honors Program is one of the state’s most competitive summer opportunities, designed for academically talented and artistically gifted students. Over four weeks, you’ll live on campus and take part in advanced coursework across fields like math, science, engineering, world languages, music, theatre, visual arts, and communicative arts. You’ll also get to participate in daily enrichment activities. Classes are taught at a pace beyond the traditional high school level, and evenings include cultural events and peer-led discussions. The experience is immersive, challenging, and built to expand both intellectual and creative horizons.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; 100 % financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Program Dates: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter cohorts (8-12 weeks)
Application Deadline: Deadlines tied to cohort start dates
Eligibility: High school students able to commit 10-20 hours/week
Ladder Internships connects motivated high school students with high-growth start-ups across industries like AI/ML, deep tech, health tech, marketing, journalism, and consulting. Over 8-12 weeks, you’ll work directly on projects with company managers while receiving guidance from a Ladder Coach. The program emphasizes professional skill-building and culminates in a final presentation of your work to your host company. It’s a selective program with rolling cohorts year-round, making it flexible for different schedules.
3. Microsoft’s High School Discovery Program
Location: Microsoft Campus, Atlanta, GA (also offered in Redmond, WA)
Cost/Stipend: None; Paid
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Program Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application Deadline: Opens in February
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors within Atlanta Public Schools, DeKalb, Fulton, Cobb, or Gwinnett County school districts; Must have completed pre-calculus
This four-week paid internship gives you firsthand exposure to careers in technology through project-based learning and mentorship from Microsoft employees. As a Discoverer, you’ll join a small team and contribute to the design phase of a product group project, gaining visibility into software engineering, product management, and UX design. The program emphasizes teamwork, growth mindset, and Microsoft’s values of customer focus and inclusivity. It’s a selective program aimed at helping students transition from high school to college with real-world industry experience.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Remote
Cost: Fully funded
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Program Dates: Multiple 12-week cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students or incoming college freshmen with strong academic records (minimum 3.3 GPA)
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation offers you the chance to conduct original, independent research under the guidance of a Ph.D. mentor at no cost. You’ll dive into a subject of your choice, ranging from economics and computer science to psychology, physics, and international relations, and produce a research paper by the end of the program. The foundation is designed for talented students from low-income backgrounds, giving you access to the same resources as the flagship Lumiere Research Scholar Program while removing financial barriers.
5. Oxford College Summer Experience Program
Location: Emory University’s Oxford College campus, Oxford, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Program Dates: June 3 – 7
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising sophomores and juniors from Newton County School System or Putnam County Charter School System
During this program, you’ll get a taste of college life while studying at a top liberal arts campus. You’ll attend classes in subjects like chemistry, political science, and English, alongside workshops that walk you through the college application process, financial aid, and essay writing. The experience also features field trips, recreational activities, and opportunities to build teamwork and writing skills. By the end, you’ll leave with both academic exposure and practical insight into higher education pathways
6. 21st Century Leaders Summer Leadership Institutes: EarthCare
Location: Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA
Cost: Free
Cohort Size: 100 students selected annually
Program Dates: June 8 – 13
Application Deadline: January 6 – March 1
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in Georgia
The 21st Century Leaders offers several Summer Leadership Institutes, including the week-long residential program, EarthCare. This program blends STEM with leadership training, giving you a chance to explore issues like sustainability, energy, and environmental challenges. You’ll take part in workshops, seminars, and team-building activities while also interacting with Georgia Power business leaders and professionals from related fields. The program emphasizes communication and leadership development through panels, discussions, and group exercises. Past participants have even visited a nuclear power plant, making the experience both practical and eye-opening!
7. Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University: Summer Scholars Research Program
Location: Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: None; $2,400 stipend
Cohort Size: 10-12 students per year
Program Dates: June 9 – July 18
Application Deadline: February 5 (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising or graduating high school seniors (16+); Students from Title I schools, first-generation college students, and those underrepresented in STEM are especially encouraged to apply
The Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University’s Summer Scholars Research Program is a six-week immersion that places you directly into the world of cancer research. As a Winship Summer Scholar, you’ll be matched with a physician or research investigator to work on a hands-on project in a lab or clinical setting. The program includes site visits such as the CDC David J. Sencer Museum and Georgia Tech, and lectures from oncologists and research faculty. Alongside daily lab work, you’ll gain exposure to the different career paths within oncology and present your project findings at a final symposium. With only a small group of students selected each year, this experience is highly competitive and deeply focused on mentorship and real-world research.
8. Georgia Tech’s Science, Technology, and Engineering Pipeline (STEP) Program
Location: Georgia Tech Main Campus, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Program Dates: July 7 – July 18
Application Deadline: March 9
Eligibility: Georgia residents who are at least 16 years old by the program start date
STEP offers high school students a chance to immerse themselves in aerospace and engineering research at Georgia Tech. Sponsored by Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and other industry partners, this program is structured around a real-world challenge problem inspired by active research. You’ll work in a team with guidance from a faculty mentor to design and prototype solutions, with no pre-set outcomes. Alongside technical skills, the program emphasizes problem-solving, teamwork, and creative thinking. At the end of two weeks, you’ll present your findings to faculty, parents, and industry representatives during a formal poster session.
9. CDC Museum’s Disease Detective Camp
Location: David J. Sencer CDC Museum, CDC Headquarters, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: 7-8%
Program Dates: June 24 – 28; July 22 – 26
Application Deadline: December 15 – March 22 (tentative)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors who are at least 16 years old by the first day of camp
The CDC Disease Detective Camp introduces high schoolers to the core principles of public health and epidemiology. Over the course of a week, you’ll explore topics like global health, data analysis, disease surveillance, and emergency preparedness. Practical activities include outbreak simulations, mock press briefings, lab sessions, and environmental health exercises, all guided by CDC scientists. With just 27 participants per session, the camp is highly competitive and offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how the CDC approaches public health challenges.
10. PCOM Summer STEM Program
Location: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) campuses in Suwanee, GA, and Moultrie, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Program Dates: Typically held in June
Application Deadline: April (exact date varies by year)
Eligibility: High school students who live in Southwest Georgia or Gwinnett County and identify as African American, Hispanic, or Latino, or from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine
This program is designed to give you early exposure to healthcare careers through mentorship, clinical activities, and academic enrichment. You’ll be paired with a medical or graduate student mentor, take part in CPR and trauma simulations, and explore anatomy through hands-on labs. Beyond the medical training, the program also includes guidance on the college application process, nutrition workshops, and field trips to healthcare centers. You’ll meet physicians and researchers, shadow professionals, and build a foundation for future studies in medicine and health sciences.
11. VOX Media Café
Location: VOX ATL Office, Downtown Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free (a refundable deposit of $100 required to reserve your spot)
Cohort Size: 12 students per session
Program Dates: Session 1: June 2 – 13; Session 2: June 16 – 27
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until spots are filled
Eligibility: Students ages 13-19 living in metro Atlanta
VOX Media Café is a two-week, project-based program where you’ll learn journalism and multimedia skills in a collaborative setting. As a participant, you’ll practice interviewing, podcasting, photography, videography, graphic design, and public speaking, all while creating original projects for publication on VOXATL.org, YouTube, and Spotify. You’ll also go on field trips across Atlanta to meet working professionals in media and creative industries. Each session wraps up with a showcase where you’ll present your work to peers, family, and community members.
12. University of Georgia: Young Scholars Internship Program
Location: UGA campuses in Athens, Griffin, or Tifton, GA
Cost/Stipend: None; Paid
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Program Dates: June 1 – July 7 (Internship); July 8 – 10 (Research Conference)
Application Deadline: November 3 – January 23
Eligibility: Georgia high school students (16+) who have completed their sophomore year; Must be a first-time participant
The Young Scholars Program is a five-week paid internship for high schoolers interested in agriculture, food, or environmental sciences. You’ll work about 30 hours per week conducting research under the supervision of a UGA faculty mentor, gaining direct lab and field experience. In addition to research, the program includes workshops and visits to agricultural operations to broaden your understanding of career pathways. The experience culminates with a three-day Pre-Collegiate Research Conference on the Athens campus, where you’ll present your work in a professional setting.
13. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Location: Multiple sites across the U.S., including cities and counties in Georgia
Cost/Stipend: None; Paid
Cohort Size: 300 students chosen nationwide each year
Program Dates: 8 weeks (includes one-week summit in Washington, D.C.)
Application Deadline: October 14 – January 15 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who meet community service and leadership criteria; More details here
This program places you in a paid internship with a local nonprofit, where you’ll contribute to community projects and gain hands-on exposure to social impact work. Over the summer, you’ll also develop leadership, teamwork, and organizational skills through real-world nonprofit operations. A highlight of the program is the week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., where participants from across the country come together for leadership training, civic engagement workshops, and networking. The program is designed to help you build practical skills while deepening your understanding of community service and social change.
14. TAG-Ed High School Internship Program
Location: Georgia (placements with host companies across the state)
Cost/Stipend: None; $1,500 stipend
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Program Dates: 8 weeks, beginning June 2
Application Deadline: Typically opens in the fall and closes early in the year
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (age 17+)
The TAG-Ed High School Internship Program connects motivated students with STEM companies across Georgia for an eight-week, project-based summer internship. You’ll work alongside professionals in fields such as robotics, coding, or engineering, applying classroom knowledge to defined projects while gaining hands-on experience. Interns are usually paired in small teams and mentored directly by industry experts. The program emphasizes practical skill-building, teamwork, and professional readiness, while also giving host companies the chance to mentor and identify future talent.
15. Early College Program in Art History and Curatorial Studies
Location: Spelman College, Atlanta, GA (with site visits across the city and region)
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Program Dates: June – July
Application Deadline: February 1 – April 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors of color
This four-week residential program introduces you to the fields of art history and curatorial studies through lectures, hands-on projects, and visits to major cultural institutions in Atlanta. You’ll spend time learning at Spelman College, the Atlanta University Center, and the High Museum of Art while also exploring regional sites. No prior experience in art history or museums is required, just an interest in how art is created, displayed, and interpreted. By the end of the program, you’ll earn three academic credits from Spelman College, recorded on an official transcript, while also gaining insight into college-level study and future careers in the arts.
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