15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Knoxville, Tennessee
- Lydia Park
- 2 hours ago
- 9 min read
If you are in high school, summer programs are one of the most practical ways to explore subjects outside the classroom. They give you time to focus on an area you care about without balancing multiple classes, tests, or grades. Most summer programs include a mix of academic learning, projects, and guided activities. You might work on experiments, writing assignments, group discussions, or design tasks, depending on the program.
What summer programs are available for high school students in Knoxville?
Knoxville offers many summer programs for high schoolers through universities, research centers, science organizations, and community groups. You can explore areas like STEM, healthcare, writing, leadership, or community work. These experiences give you clear examples of your interest in a subject to talk about in college applications and interviews. Choosing a local program also keeps things affordable since you do not have to worry about travel or housing.
With that in mind, here are 15 summer programs for high school students in Knoxville, Tennessee!
Location: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
Cost: None. $500 weekly stipend provided
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: June 8–July 24
Application Deadline: February 26
Eligibility: Rising juniors, seniors, or recent high school graduates (not yet enrolled in college); must be from Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, or Sevier counties; minimum 3.0 GPA; age 16+
Next Generation STEM Internship Program (NGSI) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a paid, full-time summer internship for high school students who want real research exposure. Over seven weeks, you will work with scientists and engineers to contribute to ongoing projects. You will be matched with mentors based on interest and background, and the program includes lab tours, seminars, and poster sessions. The weekly stipend and long duration set NGSI apart from typical camps, and the ORNL setting gives the experience real weight.
Location: Virtual, hosted by Lumiere Education
Cost: Varies; Need-based financial aid offered
Acceptance Rate: Highly selective
Dates: 12-week program; Multiple cohorts in a year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.3+
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research-focused opportunity designed for high school students who want to explore academic topics in depth. You work 1-on-1 with a Ph.D. mentor on an independent project in a subject area you choose. Over the course of twelve weeks, you learn how to form a research question, gather information, and develop your ideas into a full research paper. You can select from fields such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and several others. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Free; students provide their own daily transportation
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 29–July 3
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: High school students
Materials Camp at the University of Tennessee is a free, week-long day program focused on materials science and engineering. You will spend your time in labs and demonstrations exploring how materials affect technology, medicine, construction, and manufacturing. The program includes tours of advanced facilities like the Institute for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing, which most high school students never get to see. Sessions connect chemistry, physics, and math concepts to real materials used in industry.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate or Cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November); You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, you get a chance 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.
Location: American Museum of Science & Energy and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN (approx. 30 minutes from Knoxville)
Cost: Free to attend; transportation to and from camp is not provided
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6–16 (weekdays only)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 10th–12th graders in East Tennessee; must be under 18 by July 16
Science Accelerating Growth and Engagement (SAGE) is a free STEM day camp based in Oak Ridge, connecting you directly to one of the most important science hubs in the country. The first part of the program takes place at the American Museum of Science & Energy, followed by time at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where you shadow scientists and engineers. You rotate through projects, career talks, and facility tours that show how science functions outside a classroom.
Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 12–17
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors who identify as female
Women Empowered Through Business (WEB) Institute at the University of Tennessee is a free, residential program for rising junior girls interested in business, technology, and leadership. You will live on campus and attend workshops on coding, analytics, entrepreneurship, and supply chain concepts, alongside ACT prep and sessions on personal branding. Faculty, staff, and undergraduate mentors lead the program, giving you a clear view of both academics and campus life.
Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 3–12
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
Business Education for Talented Students (BETS) is a free, ten-day summer program hosted by UT Knoxville’s Haslam College of Business for rising seniors. You will take part in workshops covering accounting, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, and supply chain management taught by business faculty. Much of the learning happens through a multi-day marketplace simulation where you apply concepts as a team. The program also includes ACT prep and direct exposure to how business is studied at a top public university. Housing, meals, and materials are provided, which makes it one of the strongest no-cost business programs in the region.
Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13–17
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors
Accounting and Information Management (AIM) Academy at the University of Tennessee is a fully funded residential program for rising juniors who want an early, serious look at accounting, finance, and business. You will live on campus and take workshops on accounting basics, entrepreneurship, and financial decision-making, alongside ACT prep and sessions on how college works. Faculty from UT’s Haslam College of Business lead the academic side, while professionals connected through Crowe LLP give you a clear picture of how these fields operate beyond textbooks. Being free, residential, and hosted by one of the country’s strongest public business schools makes AIM one of the best early business programs in Tennessee.
Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 12–17
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
Supply Chain Management (SCM) Program at the University of Tennessee is a free, six-day residential experience built around one of UT’s national strengths. You will spend the week learning how goods move, from sourcing and logistics to planning and sustainability, using simulations and case-based activities. The program stands out because it includes visits to real companies like Tractor Supply and Ryder, where you see supply chain systems working at scale. Led by Haslam College of Business faculty, the program connects classroom ideas to real operations and gives you a strong sense of how supply chain careers function in practice.
Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Cost: $100 processing fee; all other program costs covered
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not publicly specified
Dates: July 12–17
Application Deadline: March 16
Eligibility: Rising 12th graders; must have completed or be enrolled in Algebra II and Geometry, with a minimum ACT math score of 25 or SAT math score of 590
HITES12 (High School Introduction to Engineering Systems for Twelfth Graders) is a selective one-week residential program run by the University of Tennessee’s Tickle College of Engineering. You will spend the week rotating through engineering labs, design challenges, and team competitions led by faculty and graduate students. The academic level is serious and fast-paced, but the structure keeps you engaged through hands-on work rather than lectures alone. You also get a close look at engineering majors offered at UT Knoxville and what first-year engineering coursework actually feels like. Aside from a small processing fee, everything else is covered.
Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Full and partial scholarships available; full scholarships cover tuition, housing, meals, and materials
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Approximately 180 students statewide
Dates: May 31–June 27
Application Deadline: December 5
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors attending high school in Tennessee; must have completed one year of lab science and Algebra, with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Tennessee Governor’s School for the Sciences & Engineering is one of the most competitive academic summer programs in the state, selecting about 180 students from across Tennessee. You will live on the University of Tennessee campus, with core STEM classes in the morning and electives in areas like artificial intelligence, nuclear engineering, and food science in the afternoon. You work in university labs, interact closely with faculty, and earn five college credit hours by the end. The program is fully funded for many students, including housing and meals, which makes it one of the strongest high-level STEM options available without a financial barrier.
Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Cost: $100 processing fee; all other program costs covered
Acceptance rate or cohort size: 32 students selected
Dates: July 19–24
Application Deadline: March 16
Eligibility: Rising 10th graders with at least a “B” average in math and science
eVOL¹⁰ (Engineering for Volunteers in Learning – 10th Grade) is a small, residential engineering program at the University of Tennessee that admits just 32 rising sophomores. You will live on campus for a week and spend your days in labs, engineering demonstrations, and design challenges led by UT faculty. The schedule also includes SAT and ACT math prep sessions and workshops that introduce you to college-level expectations early. Because the group is small, you get consistent interaction with instructors and mentors throughout the week.
Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Residential: includes housing, meals, and supplies; scholarships available
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 12–18
Application Deadline: May 1 (scholarship deadline; registration deadline not specified)
Eligibility: High school students; no prior design experience required
Summer Design Camp at the University of Tennessee’s College of Architecture + Design gives you a full week inside a college design studio environment. You can explore architecture, graphic design, and interior design through guided projects that use both digital tools and physical materials. Studio sessions focus on how designers think about space, form, and visual communication rather than just drawing or software. Faculty and advanced students mentor you throughout the week, and the residential option lets you experience campus life alongside the academic work.
Location: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, near Townsend, TN (approx. 45 minutes from Knoxville)
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available; some programs fully funded based on need
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified; spots may fill quickly
Dates: Varies by program (e.g., Girls in Science: June 8–13, Teen High Adventure: July 13–23, Great Smokies Experience: July 9–20)
Application Deadline: March 31 (financial aid deadline)
Eligibility: Teens ages 13–17 (specific programs may have additional criteria)
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont runs some of the most respected outdoor science programs in the Southeast, based inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Depending on the program you choose, you might study biodiversity with scientists, backpack through the backcountry, or take part in focused tracks like Girls in Science. Days are structured around field research, data collection, and guided exploration rather than classroom instruction. You live on-site in dorms or tents and work closely with naturalists who know the park deeply.
Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Cost: Varies by camp; scholarships not publicly listed
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Open enrollment; availability limited by session
Dates: June–July (specific camp dates to be announced in February)
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Rising 3rd–12th graders
UT Kids U Summer Camps offer a wide range of structured, campus-based summer options for students from elementary through high school. Each weeklong camp focuses on a specific subject, such as chemistry, coding, veterinary science, photography, or culinary arts, and is led by instructors with ties to UT departments. You work in small groups on age-appropriate projects and activities, all while spending time on a major university campus. While Kids U is not selective, the variety and consistency make it a solid option if you want focused exploration in a real academic setting.
Lydia is an alumna of Harvard University and studied Molecular and Cellular Biology & Economics. In high school, she was the captain of her high school’s Academic Decathlon team and attended the Governor's School of Engineering and Technology. She is working as a life sciences consultant after graduation.
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