15 Free Programs for High School Students in Georgia
As a high school student, structured programs can give you access to learning that goes beyond your regular classes. Through research projects, internships, leadership training, and academic courses, programs help you build practical skills and gain clearer insight into potential career paths. These experiences also connect you with professors, industry professionals, and motivated peers, helping you build networks early. By taking part, you can strengthen your college applications while developing your communication, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. Various programs offer free participation or full financial aid, allowing you to participate without the added pressure of tuition, housing, or program fees.
Why should you attend a program in Georgia?
Georgia is home to institutions such as the University of Georgia, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University, as well as organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Microsoft, all of which offer free programs for high school students in the state. Depending on the program, you may conduct laboratory research, complete college-level coursework for credit, join a civic leadership cohort, explore public health and STEM careers, or contribute to a team-based technology project. These programs are especially relevant if you live or study in Georgia and want access to local academic resources; additionally, some opportunities are open to out-of-state students looking to explore Georgia's academic culture.
To help you with your search, we have narrowed down 15 free programs for high school students in Georgia.
If you’re looking for free online programs, check out our blog here.
1. Georgia Governor's Honors Program (GHP)
Location: Various college or university campuses in GA, including sites in Atlanta (varies by year)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive application process
Dates: June 14 – July 11
Application deadline: November 11 (school nominations); January 9 (student applications)
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors (current 10th and 11th graders) in Georgia public, private, or home schools
The Georgia Governor’s Honors Program is a residential summer experience designed for skilled and motivated high school students seeking academic, cultural, and social enrichment beyond a typical classroom. You will attend morning and afternoon classes in a selected major area and take part in evening instructional and social activities that broaden your learning. The curriculum includes advanced coursework, seminars, collaborative projects, lab experiments, and creative performances across STEM, humanities, and fine arts, allowing you to deepen your knowledge in a potential major while also exploring minors. Through mentorship and discussion, you will get to strengthen research, critical thinking, and presentation skills, while daily peer interaction and extracurricular involvement will help you develop teamwork and leadership skills.
2. Veritas AI: AI Scholars & AI Fellowship
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 10 – 15-week cohorts run several times each year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students; AI Fellowship with Publication and Showcase accepts previous AI Scholar participants or those with some experience working with AI or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students looking to get started in AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and have the opportunity to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students have the opportunity to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
3. CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp
Location: CDC Headquarters, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 27 participants/session
Dates: June 23 – 27 | July 21 – 25
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors in high school, ages 16 and up
CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp is an academic day camp that immerses students in public health. During this interdisciplinary program, you will explore how public health professionals investigate and respond to real-world health challenges. Topics that you can explore vary by year but may include infectious and chronic diseases, outbreak response, epidemiology, disease surveillance, and data analysis. The program also offers exposure to laboratory technology, global health, injury and violence prevention, environmental health, emergency preparedness, public health law, surveys, school wellness programs, and scientific communication. The camp is fast-paced and academically demanding, requiring you to collaborate closely with peers as you analyze cases and think like a disease detective.
4. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation’s Breakthrough Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year; spring, summer, winter, and fall sessions available
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply here.
Eligibility: High school students who demonstrate high levels of academic achievement and financial hardship
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper.
5. Georgia Tech’s Project ENGAGES
Location: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: Free + stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-long program starting from June 1 and running till May next year
Application deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors, ages 16 and up, from partner Atlanta high schools
Project ENGAGES is a high school science education initiative developed at Georgia Tech in partnership with public schools in Atlanta. As a participant, you will engage in real-world, hands-on research projects led by Georgia Tech scientists, gaining direct exposure to engineering, science, and technology while exploring career pathways in these fields. You will receive science instruction through collaboration between your school and university research labs, with teachers offering exposure to ongoing Georgia Tech research that enhances what you learn in class. You may also visit industry partners such as Axion Biosystems, C R Bard, and Dendreon, tour their facilities, learn how biotechnology and medical technology companies operate, and explore employment opportunities in science and engineering.
6. Young Scholars Internship Program (UGA)
Location: UGA Athens, Griffin, or Tifton, GA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 – July 7 (Internship Program) + July 8 – 10 (Young Scholars Pre-Collegiate Research Conference)
Application deadline: January 23
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors who are at least 16 and have completed one high school science course with a laboratory component and a semester of algebra
The Young Scholars Program at the University of Georgia is a paid five-week summer internship for high school students interested in agricultural, food, and environmental sciences. During the program, you will work up to 30 hours per week under the supervision of a faculty mentor on the Athens, Griffin, or Tifton campus, conducting hands-on scientific research in laboratory or field settings. Alongside your research, you will attend workshops and visit agricultural operations to gain broader exposure to academic pathways and careers in agriculture and environmental science. At the end of the internship, you will present your findings in a poster session at the Young Scholars Pre-Collegiate Research Conference, gaining experience in academic presentation and scientific communication.
7. 21st Century Leaders Summer Leadership Institute
Location: Various Georgia universities
Cost: No application fee; programs are typically free or available at a low cost, with financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots
Dates: One week in June
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors in Georgia
21st Century Leaders Summer Leadership Institutes are weeklong residential programs that offer opportunities to build leadership skills through career-focused simulations and interactive experiences. Led by industry professionals and subject matter experts, the program allows you to spend the week exploring potential career paths while building practical leadership skills. Once the summer institute ends, you can stay involved throughout high school as a member, continuing to have access to career-readiness programming. The program also offers opportunities for networking with diverse professionals and alumni, as well as structured leadership development centered on core competencies, diversity and inclusion, and social-emotional intelligence. The program is supported through partnerships with leading companies and universities across the state.
8. Microsoft High School Discovery Program
Location: Microsoft Atlanta office, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 31
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment; applications typically open in early February.
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors from Atlanta Public Schools, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, or Gwinnett County districts who are at least 16 years old and have completed pre-calculus’
The Microsoft Discovery Program is a four-week internship that provides hands-on project experience while exploring careers in technology. You will join a small team within a product group and contribute to a project during the product development design phase, gaining exposure to software engineering, product management, and UX design. You and your team will identify customer pain points and define what should be built and why. Projects span multiple disciplines and emphasize practicing a growth mindset alongside Microsoft’s cultural values. Alongside team-specific work, you will attend sessions on Microsoft technologies, build technical and professional skills, receive mentorship from employees, and connect with other interns.
9. Emory University Winship Summer Scholars Research Program
Location: Emory Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: Free, $2,400 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohort of ~10 – 12 scholars
Dates: June 8 – July 17
Application deadline: Early February
Eligibility: Rising and graduating high school seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and are 16 or older when the program begins
Winship Summer Scholars Research Program immerses you in hands-on cancer research by pairing you one-on-one with a physician or laboratory investigator to contribute to an active research project. You will also attend faculty lectures on cancer biology and oncology careers and join roundtable discussions with cancer survivors. The schedule includes visits to the Michael C Carlos Museum and the Emory Proton Therapy Center to help you explore research and clinical applications. The program ends with a research symposium where you will present your work to physicians, researchers, graduate students, family members, and teachers, giving you experience in scientific communication and building connections with peers interested in healthcare and research.
10. Oxford College Summer Experience Program
Location: Emory Oxford College, Oxford, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 30 students from each school system.
Dates: June 1 – 5
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 10th and 11th-graders from specific county schools
Oxford College Summer Experience Program gives you a structured introduction to campus life and academic study at a liberal arts college while helping you prepare for the transition from high school to college. During the program, you will engage in college-level academic experiences and learn what professors expect in the classroom, while also participating in sessions that strengthen college readiness, personal development, and professional skills. You will receive guidance on the college admissions process, including financial aid, scholarships, and postsecondary opportunities, as well as different educational pathways and career options. The program also helps you understand how to align your academic achievements and extracurricular involvement with the qualities colleges look for in applicants, while offering time for recreation and community building on campus.
11. Grady Teen Experience and Leadership Program (TELP)
Location: Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 26 – July 14
Application deadline: February 20
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14 – 19, who have completed the 9th grade
The TELP gives you structured exposure to healthcare through clinical and non-clinical rotations, interactive labs, workshops, and mentorship with professionals across the field. You will gain real-world experience in healthcare settings while developing leadership skills that extend beyond the program, exploring potential paths such as physician, nurse, researcher, administrator, or public health advocate. As a TELP Leader, you will complete 20 hours of Virtual Learning Labs and 40 hours of community engagement each year, building practical healthcare experience and learning how to serve the community. You can also work on a health outcomes research project where you will identify health challenges in your community, design solutions, and present your findings at the Health Outcomes Research Showcase. The experience can help you strengthen your research, problem-solving, and public speaking skills while connecting you with mentors and peers who share your interests.
12. Student Success Programs at Georgia State: Upward Bound
Location: Georgia State University campuses, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Six weeks in summer + potential year-round activities
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: 9th and 10th graders from target schools who are first-generation or low-income
Upward Bound at Georgia State University supports high schoolers’ path to college by providing academic instruction in math, lab sciences, composition, literature, and foreign languages, along with tutoring, counseling, and mentoring. You will receive guidance designed to strengthen financial and economic literacy and improve your overall college readiness and pre-college performance. While support is available year-round, the program offers a six-week summer residential academic experience at a university. On campus, you can use facilities such as the computer center, sports facilities, and library, and take part in educational field trips that extend classroom learning. You will also engage in cultural enrichment activities, including visits to museums, plays, and art exhibits.
13. Gwinnett Youth Commission Program
Location: Sites in Gwinnett County
Cost: Free (meals provided)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited; 33 participants
Dates: June 3 – July 22 (Tuesdays and Wednesdays) + Graduation on July 23
Application deadline: April 13
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors residing and attending school in Gwinnett County
Gwinnett Youth Commission introduces youth to how local government works while offering opportunities to contribute to community change. Through behind-the-scenes tours, direct interaction with county leaders, and structured leadership training, you will learn about county government, infrastructure, STEM, public safety, and police, fire, and emergency services. The program also offers insights into real-world criminal justice, including exposure to the Gwinnett County Correctional Facility, the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit, health and human services, civic engagement, and volunteerism. After successful completion of the summer program, you will be invited to join special events, field trips, and help plan and participate in volunteer projects across Gwinnett County during the academic year.
14. Early College Program in Art History and Curatorial Studies
Location: Spelman College, Atlanta University Center, and High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 20 – July 17
Application deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Early College Program in Art History and Curatorial Studies offers you a four-week academic experience focused on art and culture. Here, you will earn three undergraduate credits by enrolling in the course Ways of Seeing Art History, Curating, and Museums, and receive a Spelman College transcript upon completion. Through lectures, workshops, discussions, and site visits at Spelman College, the Atlanta University Center, the High Museum of Art, and other regional institutions, you will study African American, Western, and global art traditions, examine the history and impact of museums, and analyze diversity within collections and the profession. You will also complete an exhibition project using works from the High Museum’s collection and engage with college-level readings and peer-reviewed resources. While working with museums, archives, libraries, and primary sources, you will refine critical thinking, writing, public speaking, and technology skills and learn how art historians and curators interpret and present art to the public.
15. Georgia Tech Summer Institute
Location: Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 93 students
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application deadline: March 27 (date varies by year)
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors from rural districts who are eligible for free/reduced lunch and have strong academic performances; district nominations are required to participate.
Georgia Tech Summer Institute is a statewide residential program designed to prepare 11th graders for the transition to college while increasing their exposure to STEM majors and careers. During the program, you will participate in hands-on STEM learning sessions, connect with Georgia Tech students, faculty, and staff, and take part in team and community-building activities that reflect college life. You also receive guidance on navigating the college environment and on accessing financial aid and scholarships, and on learning about the academic and financial aspects of pursuing a STEM degree. The program also offers lab tours and exposure to research innovation.
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