California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)
Catalog organization: University of California
Compiled by: ExtracurricularHub Editorial Team — editorial policy
Last updated
What Is California State Summer School?
COSMOS is an intensive four-week residential STEM program for California high-school students rising into grades 9-12. Students apply to one of six University of California hosts—UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC San Diego or UC Santa Cruz—and study within a faculty-led cluster. UC Berkeley is not a current COSMOS host. Each cluster combines two science or mathematics courses, science communication, hands-on labs or field activities, lectures and a related research project.
The 2026 program ran July 5-July 31 at Irvine and San Diego and through August 1 at the other four campuses. Students had to live on campus throughout the program to complete it and obtain alumni status. Campuses enroll roughly 160-200 students, clusters typically hold 20-25, and the common student-to-faculty ratio is about 5:1. A 3.5 or higher GPA is described as typical, not a universal published cutoff. Prior COSMOS participants may not apply again.
California State Summer School Key Facts: Cost, Deadline, and Eligibility
| Cost | $5,793 |
|---|---|
| Format | In person |
| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 |
| Listing last updated | October 24, 2026 |
Program details shown here reflect the current catalog record.
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How to Apply to California State Summer School
Open the application for California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS)