12 Summer Programs for High School Students in Nashville, TN
- Stephen Turban
- 5 hours ago
- 8 min read
As a high school student, participating in a summer program can be a great way to make your break both fun and productive. These programs often combine exposure to college-level academics with opportunities to experience campus life, connect with peers who share similar goals, and explore potential career pathways. Whether it’s working in a research lab, building engineering projects, or taking part in arts and humanities workshops, you can expect to sharpen practical skills and develop a clearer sense of direction for your future.
Why should you attend a program in Nashville?
Nashville offers a mix of academic, artistic, and professional opportunities that make it an engaging place for students to learn and grow. You can take part in research projects, create design-based work, explore emerging technologies, or develop creative portfolios guided by mentors and professionals in your field. Whether you’re from Nashville or visiting from another city, these programs allow you to experience a supportive academic community while discovering new interests and building your confidence for college.
To help you navigate, we’ve narrowed down a list of 12 summer programs for high school students in Nashville, TN.
If you are looking for online STEM summer programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
Cost: No cost; $2000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15 to 20 students
Dates: May 31 - July 11
Application deadline: January 14
Eligibility: Open to high school students ages 15 and above
The Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship places you in a biomedical laboratory at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for six weeks, where you live on campus and take part in active research. You work alongside scientists and medical professionals on projects that may address topics like kidney disease, cancer, or tissue regeneration. As part of the lab team, you conduct experiments, collect data, and share your findings through presentations at the end of the program. In addition to the research itself, the internship includes professional development sessions, test prep support, and college planning guidance.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies according to program type; full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: Multiple cohorts during the year
Application deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply here
Eligibility: Current high school students who demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more.
Location: Various legal offices across Metro Nashville
Cost: No cost; stipend $10-$15 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 2-July 18
Application deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Open to diverse students who will graduate this year and rising seniors graduating next year; Must demonstrate a strong interest in the legal field
The Nashville Bar Association’s High School Intern Summer Program introduces you to the legal field through a seven-week internship with law firms, corporate offices, or government agencies in Metro Nashville. During the program, you may assist with legal research, attend hearings, or observe how attorneys manage daily responsibilities. The internship provides both paid and unpaid opportunities, depending on placement, and includes mentorship from practicing lawyers. Alongside your work, you also participate in workshops and networking sessions that emphasize communication and critical thinking skills.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: Multiple 10- to 15-week cohorts in a year, including winter, fall, spring, and summer.
Application deadline: Rolling basis | Spring sessions have a January deadline, Summer programs have a May deadline, Fall programs have a September deadline, and Winter cohort has a November deadline
Eligibility: High school students | AI Fellowship applicants should either have been AI Scholars participants or have some familiarity 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, students are 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, students 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: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Cost: Varies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Two weeks in June/July
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Rising 7th-12th graders (sessions vary by age)
At Vanderbilt Summer Academy, you can enroll in accelerated academic courses designed for high-ability high school students while also living in a residential college setting. The program combines rigorous daily classes, often led by Vanderbilt faculty and graduate students, with evening and weekend activities that bring together a diverse group of peers. Course topics vary each year and may include subjects like nanotechnology, ethics in medicine, or interdisciplinary approaches to history and philosophy. With about six hours a day devoted to academic study, you will experience a level of intensity similar to college coursework.
Location: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: May 27-July 3
Application deadline: Interested students should consult their ISR scientist for application details
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors attending Stratford STEM, John Overton, or Hillsboro High School, participating in the Interdisciplinary Science and Research Program, and at least 16 years old at the program start
REHSS places you directly into a Vanderbilt University or Vanderbilt Medical Center laboratory for six weeks of full-time research. As a rising senior in the Interdisciplinary Science and Research program, you’ll spend about 40 hours per week in the lab, guided by a faculty mentor and their team, working on an independent project within STEM. Weekly workshops supplement your research experience, covering professional skills and scientific practices. By the end of the summer program, you’ll share your findings at a research symposium open to the Vanderbilt community. Past participants have gone on to present their work at national conferences or publish in journals, reflecting the academic rigor of this experience.
Location: TSU, Nashville, TN
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate; preference given to students who haven't attended previously
Dates: June 9-July 4
Application deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th-grade high school students
Funded by the Federal Highway Administration and administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation, this four-week program includes three weeks on TSU’s campus followed by a final week of virtual learning. You’ll explore transportation-related topics through classes, field trips, and hands-on activities designed to show how science and engineering apply to real infrastructure challenges. The program is designed to highlight future college majors and career pathways in transportation, ideal for those considering STEM fields with real-world impact.
Location: Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN
Cost: $1,300
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 10-17
Application deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
Lipscomb University’s Summer Scholars program gives you the chance to earn three hours of college credit in just eight days while experiencing campus life in Nashville. You’ll take actual university classes in areas such as psychology, law, business, engineering, or health sciences, with credits transferable to many other institutions. Alongside coursework, you’ll engage in activities around the city, from visiting Nashville’s major attractions to exploring its professional opportunities. Evenings include campus events and group activities, allowing you to connect with peers from across the country.
Location: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
Cost: $2,450 (full scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information is available
Dates: July 6 - July 12
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Rising 9th and 10th grade students
Through the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE), you can spend a week exploring the field of nanoengineering in a residential program for rising 9th and 10th-graders. The program introduces you to nanoparticles and their properties through advanced lectures, laboratory activities, and guided projects with faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. You’ll also spend time in a state-of-the-art cleanroom, wearing protective gear and gaining exposure to the tools scientists use to manipulate matter at the nanoscale. By examining how the smallest particles can be engineered to solve large-scale global problems, you gain an early understanding of how nanoscience applies across disciplines like medicine, energy, and technology.
Location: Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN
Cost: $100 per participant
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate
Dates: June 9-20
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th-grade high school students
At Tennessee State University, the Energy Exploration Camps introduce you to different fields of engineering through a week of interactive, non-residential activities. Supported by ExxonMobil and the Tapia Center for Excellence and Equity in Education, the program gives you the chance to explore areas like mechanical engineering, computer science, civil and environmental engineering, and industrial technology. You will take part in small-scale projects and hands-on applications that help you understand how energy and engineering intersect in real-world contexts. By working directly with TSU faculty and exploring multiple disciplines, you gain exposure to the wide range of opportunities available in engineering.
Location: Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN
Cost: $150
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 14-19 | July 21-26
Application deadline: Rolling; early submission is encouraged due to limited spots
Eligibility: High school seniors entering an engineering or computing 4-year degree program
The Nissan AERO Summer Program at Lipscomb University is a one-week intensive designed to prepare you for the transition into engineering studies. As a participant, you’ll strengthen your math readiness for Calculus I through personalized tutoring and take part in workshops that link mathematical concepts directly to engineering applications. Faculty from Lipscomb’s College of Engineering and Math, along with Nissan engineers, guide you through lectures, problem-solving sessions, and hands-on projects. A highlight of the week includes touring Nissan’s manufacturing facility, where you can see how large-scale engineering solutions are put into practice. The program also offers career development lunches with industry professionals, giving you the chance to connect classroom knowledge with real-world careers.
Location: Belmont University, Nashville, TN
Cost: $425/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, about 24 students per camp
Dates: Various sessions available between June and July
Application deadline: May
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 and above with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
At Belmont University, summer camps in science and mathematics allow you to dive into focused areas of study. Camps are offered for both middle and high school students, with topics ranging from data science and neuroscience to forensic chemistry, sports analytics, microbiology, and even game design. Many programs include research-intensive experiences where you work in university labs, analyze data, and apply critical thinking to solve problems. Faculty-led instruction gives you direct access to the same facilities and teaching style that Belmont students experience during the academic year.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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