Summer programs are a great way for high school students in Georgia to explore academic interests, gain hands-on experience, and develop essential skills like research, problem-solving, and collaboration. Whether you’re looking for a pre-college experience, career-focused learning, or opportunities to connect with peers and professionals, these programs provide a structured way to make the most of your summer.
To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 10 summer programs for high school students in Georgia, including internships, pre-college programs, immersions, and research programs hosted in the state!
1. Emory University Winship Cancer Institute’s Summer Scholars Research Program
The Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University offers a research internship for high school seniors interested in oncology. As an intern, you will work with a physician or researcher on a cancer-related project in a lab or clinical setting. The program includes lectures on cancer research from Winship oncologists and faculty, and you’ll develop skills in laboratory work, data collection, analysis, and presentation under the guidance of a mentor.
Participants also take field trips to locations such as the CDC Museum and Georgia Institute of Technology and explore oncology-related career paths. The program concludes with a final symposium where you’ll present your project to Winship professionals and graduate students. Admission is competitive, with only 10–12 students selected each year.
Subject areas: Oncology
Location: Emory Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: No cost. Stipend of $2,400 provided
Application deadline: February 4
Program dates: June 9 — July 18
Eligibility: Rising or graduating high school seniors who are at least 17 years old by the program’s starting date can apply.
2. 21st Century Leaders Summer Leadership Institutes
21st Century Leaders is a non-profit organization that offers high school students in Georgia an opportunity to explore different career paths through its Summer Leadership Institutes. These week-long programs are free and provide the chance to live on a college campus while learning about various fields that you may want to explore after high school.
The 3 available institutes focus on specific industries:
- EarthCare Institute: Explore environmental and sustainability topics, along with leadership challenges and STEM careers.
- Film & Entertainment Institute (FEI): Learn about career opportunities in the film and entertainment industry.
- Healthcare/IT Institute (HII): Focus on careers in healthcare and technology.
Each program includes workshops, corporate site visits, discussions with business leaders and alumni, a group project, and team-building activities. These experiences are designed to help you develop practical skills, gain insight into different industries, and build connections with peers and professionals. Check out last year’s program flyer here!
Subject areas: STEM, healthcare, sustainability, film, and media, among others. The precise subject area can vary as per the chosen program
Location: Multiple locations in Georgia
Cost: Fully funded
Application deadline: March 1
Program dates: One-week sessions held in June – July
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors in Georgia can typically apply. Some programs may accept rising sophomores as well.
3. Microsoft Discovery Program
Microsoft’s High School Discovery Program is a paid internship for students interested in careers in computer science and technology. You’ll participate in the design phase of the product development cycle, applying skills in software engineering, computer science, and UX design.
As part of a team, you’ll work on a project, analyze customer needs, and assist with product development. The program also helps build professional skills like communication, collaboration, and problem-solving, alongside technical expertise. You’ll have opportunities to interact with Microsoft employees, gaining insight into the tech industry and learning from their experiences.
Subject areas: Computer science, software engineering, product development and management,
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Cost/Stipend: No cost. $20 stipend per hour.
Application deadline: TBA. Applications for 2025 will open in late February 2025.
Program dates: July 7 — August 1
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors and rising college freshmen who live in or around Atlanta, GA, can apply. Check the detailed eligibility criteria here before applying.
4. CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp
The CDC Museum’s Disease Detective Camp is a week-long program for high school students interested in public health and epidemiology. The camp provides an introduction to the work of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through hands-on activities and discussions. You will engage in activities such as simulated outbreak investigations, environmental and global health projects, mock press conferences, lectures from CDC scientists, and laboratory sessions.
The program emphasizes data collection and analysis, focusing on how this information is used to improve health outcomes. Throughout the camp, you’ll develop skills in laboratory techniques, disease surveillance, data analysis, and scientific communication. The program also offers insights into career paths in public health.
Subject areas: Public health, environmental health, emergency preparedness, laboratory technology, epidemiology, public health law, and other related fields
Location: David J. Sencer CDC Museum, CDC headquarters, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Fully funded
Application deadline: March 7
Program dates: Multiple one-week sessions are typically held in June–July
Eligibility: Current high school sophomores and juniors who will be juniors or seniors in the 2025–2026 school year and are at least 16 years old by the camp’s start date can apply.
5. Bank of America Student Leaders Program
Bank of America’s Student Leaders program is designed for high school students interested in community service and leadership. As part of the program, you’ll intern at a local non-profit organization, gaining hands-on experience in its operations and learning about social, civic, and business leadership. You’ll also participate in community service projects and explore the challenges and opportunities involved in addressing social issues.
The program includes an eight-week internship and a week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., where travel, food, and accommodations are provided. Through this experience, you can develop practical skills and gain insight into ways to support your community effectively.
Subject areas: Public service, civics, and business
Location: Multiple locations in the country, including many cities and counties in Georgia
Cost/Stipend: No cost. It is a paid internship, but no information is available on the exact amount.
Application deadline: Applications for the 2025 program are now closed. TBA for 2026.
Program dates: This is an eight-week summer internship, including an all-expenses-covered week-long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. Dates vary by location, but the internship usually begins shortly after the school year ends.
Eligibility: All high school juniors and seniors can apply. Check the detailed eligibility criteria here.
6. Georgia Tech’s Science, Technology, and Engineering Pipeline (STEP) Program
The STEP program, organized by Georgia Tech’s Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, is a hands-on experience for high school students interested in engineering. Participants are presented with an open-ended engineering challenge and work in teams to design, prototype, and test a solution.
Throughout the program, you’ll engage in problem-solving, teamwork, and analytical tasks as you address real research questions. Past projects have included designing autonomous rovers, modifying rover models for potential Mars missions, and creating lightweight rovers optimized for speed. The program concludes with a poster session where teams present their solutions to an audience of parents, faculty, and industry professionals.
Subject areas: Engineering, robotics
Location: 4C Academy for the Albany program and Georgia Tech main campus for the Atlanta program.
Cost: Fully funded
Application deadline: March 31 for the Albany program and March 22 for the Atlanta program. (tentative, based on 2024 dates)
Program dates: June 3 – June 14 for the Albany program and July 8 – July 19 for the Atlanta program. (tentative, based on 2024 dates)
Eligibility: Georgia high school students who are at least 16 years old
7. Georgia Governor’s Honors Program
The Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) is a four-week residential summer program for high school students nominated by their schools in areas such as engineering, math, music, science, and visual arts. If accepted after a competitive two-round selection process, you’ll attend classes in your chosen area of study during the mornings and afternoons and select additional electives to explore. The program takes place on a college or university campus, where you’ll also participate in seminars on various topics outside the main curriculum.
Evening activities include concerts and performances by fellow participants, providing insight into the work of students in other disciplines. GHP offers an opportunity to engage deeply in academic, co-curricular, or extracurricular subjects while connecting with peers who share similar interests. With around 4,000 students nominated annually and an acceptance rate of roughly 20%, admission is highly competitive.
Subject areas: Engineering, Math, Music, Science, Visual Arts
Location: This is a residential program which takes place on a college or university campus in Georgia
Cost: Free. However, students need to cover the costs of travel and basic supplies.
Application deadline: January 10
Program dates: June 15 – July 12
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors in Georgia can apply. You can check the detailed eligibility criteria here before applying.
8. Oxford College Summer Experience Program
Emory University’s Oxford College Summer Experience Program is free for accepted students and covers key aspects of the college application process, including admissions, financial aid, scholarships, and available opportunities.
Throughout the program, you’ll attend lectures from Oxford College’s faculty in political science, chemistry, and English. You will also participate in field trips, competitions, and workshops that focus on college preparation, including study strategies, teamwork, and essay writing. By the end of the program, you’ll have a clearer understanding of potential career paths and the college application process.
Subject areas: Political Science, Chemistry, English, and other liberal arts fields
Location: Emory University’s Oxford College campus, Oxford, GA
Application deadline: TBA for 2025.
Program dates: June 3 – 7 (tentative, based on 2024 dates)Eligibility: Rising Newton County School System and Putnam County Charter School System sophomores and juniors can apply.
9. Augusta University Summer Research Experiences with Georgia’s Cancer Center
The Georgia Cancer Center (GCC) at Augusta University offers high school students the opportunity to engage in cancer research and career exploration within the biomedical sciences field. During the six-week program, You will work alongside experienced cancer researchers on a variety of research projects that could include areas like cell and molecular biology, cancer immunology, metabolism, genomics, and health disparities, among others.
You’ll gain hands-on experience in the laboratory, where you’ll apply cancer biology and investigative techniques. The program also includes exposure to different career paths in the field, and you’ll receive one-on-one mentoring and opportunities for interaction with a diverse group of researchers and students in the GCC community. This experience is designed to give you both practical research skills and a better understanding of potential career options in biomedical sciences.
Subject areas: Biomedical sciences
Location: Augusta University, Augusta, GA
Cost: Fully funded
Application deadline: January 15
Program dates: 6 weeks from June — July
Eligibility: Must be at least 16 years old by the program’s start date to participate in bench research projects, while those under 16 can apply for bioinformatics or community-based research. Priority will be given to student applications from Richmond, Columbia, and Aiken Counties.
10. University of Georgia’s B.L.A.C.K. (Building Leaders through Analysis, Conceptualization, and Knowledge) Engineering Camp
The University of Georgia’s B.L.A.C.K. Engineering Camp is a week-long, residential program designed for high school students interested in exploring engineering. During this immersive experience, you will work on a hands-on project that takes you through the engineering design process and challenges you to come up with a creative and ethical solution to an engineering problem.
The camp emphasizes the development of your analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills, both written and oral. It also provides an opportunity to apply and expand your knowledge in math, physics, and science while connecting them to real-world engineering concepts. This program offers a solid foundation for those interested in pursuing engineering in the future.
Subject areas: Engineering Design, Data Analysis, Critical Thinking, Communication, Math, Physics, Science
Location: UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, Athens, GA
Cost: Fully funded
Application deadline: March 31
Program dates: June 9 – 13
Eligibility: Students aged 15–17 years who belong to underrepresented and underserved backgrounds
Bonus programs below! While these programs aren’t hosted in Georgia, they are virtual programs that allow students from Georgia to apply.
11. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Horizon provides trimester-long research programs for high school students in fields such as data science, machine learning, psychology, and political theory. You can choose to focus on either quantitative or qualitative research and will be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar for guidance throughout the program.
The main goal of the program is to produce a 20-page research paper, which you can submit for potential publication in academic journals. You will also receive a letter of recommendation and feedback to help support your academic growth and future research endeavors.
Subject areas: STEM, Social sciences, humanities
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year. The Spring Cohort deadline is February 16
Program dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
12. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program provides high school students with a 12-week opportunity to engage in independent research with guidance from Ph.D. mentors. You can select a subject from areas such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, or international relations.
During the program, you will work on a research project, gaining hands-on experience in your chosen field while developing your research skills. By the end of the program, you will have completed a research paper that demonstrates your ability to conduct academic research and deepen your knowledge in your area of interest.
Subject areas: STEM, Social sciences, humanities
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Individual Research Program ($2,990), Premium Research & Publication Program ($5,900), the Research Fellowship ($8,900), Professor Premium Publication Program ($8,900)
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer (June — August), Fall (September — December), Winter (December — February), and Spring (March — June).
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school, demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4), and no previous knowledge of your field of interest is required!
Image source – Emory University logo
