# California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA)

California's state-funded four-week summer arts school: ~500 students in grades 8-12 train in theater, dance, film, animation, music, writing, and visual arts. 2026 session at Cal Poly Pomona; $5,174 for CA residents.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | California State Summer School for the Arts |
| Category | arts |
| Cost | $5,174 |
| Deadline | Rolling / check official site |
| Eligibility | Grades 8–12 |
| Format | In person |
| Location | Pomona, CA |
| Apply | https://www.csssa.ca.gov/admissions/ |

## About this program

# California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA)

CSSSA is a state-funded summer training program that offers pre-professional instruction to approximately 500 talented high school students each summer, with a 3:1 student-to-instructor ratio. Students choose one of eight disciplines - Animation, Architecture & Environmental Design, Dance, Film, Music, Theater, Visual Arts, or Writing - and spend four weeks immersed in it; the 2026 session ran July 4 to August 1, hosted at Cal Poly Pomona.

## What You'll Do

- Train daily in your chosen discipline with professional artist-teachers
- Build a body of work - performances, films, portfolios, or manuscripts - over four residential weeks
- Collaborate with hundreds of serious young artists from across California
- Earn the California Arts Scholar designation awarded to CSSSA alumni

## Who Should Apply

California residents enrolled in grades 8 through 12 are eligible to apply; a limited number of out-of-state students are also admitted each year. Participants are selected in the spring based on talent and creativity demonstrated through discipline-specific assignments submitted with the online application ($20 fee). The 2026 application closed February 28, 2026; the 2027 application typically opens in winter.

## Outcomes

CSSSA is one of the strongest arts credentials available to California students: admission is selective, training is conservatory-style, and many alumni continue to top arts programs. Tuition for the 2026 session was $5,174 for California residents ($10,475 out-of-state), and financial aid is available for California residents - in 2024, nearly 60% of students received full or partial scholarships.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) cost?

California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) costs $5,174. Many paid programs offer need-based financial aid or fee waivers — check the official site before ruling it out.

### Who is eligible for California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA)?

California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) is open to students in grades 8–12 (middle and high school). Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) online or in person?

California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA) is an in-person program based in Pomona, CA.

### How do I apply to California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA)?

Apply directly through California State Summer School for the Arts's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-28.
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