| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | February 14, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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| Cost | $5,793 (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): $1,420–$1,791; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Need-based financial assistance for application and program costs: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Based on family income, family size and available COSMOS resources. (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Limited partial scholarships (no award exceeds 30% of the package fee): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Competitive and contingent on available funding.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: Full scholarship for every accepted student: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Worth over $4,200 per student; Need-based assistance (audition fees and OAI Angel Fund): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Application fee: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Non-refundable; fee waivers can be requested.; Need-based financial assistance for application and program costs: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Based on family income, family size and available COSMOS resources. (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Limited partial scholarships (no award exceeds 30% of the package fee): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Competitive and contingent on available funding.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: Full scholarship for every accepted student: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Worth over $4,200 per student; Commitment fee for attending students: $375; Non-refundable audition fee per discipline: $15–$35. $15 for early completed applications, $35 for January and February submissions; Need-based assistance (audition fees and OAI Angel Fund): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Grades 10–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Grades 9–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors |
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| Additional eligibility | Residency: California high school students only; Requirement: Open to rising grades 9–12; Requirement: Demonstrated academic excellence (a typical COSMOS student has a GPA of 3.5 or above) | Minimum age 13; Requirement: Open to rising grades 10–12; Requirement: Unweighted academic average of 3.0 or better (a GPA Exception Appeal is possible); Requirement: Graduating seniors are also eligible | Maximum age 19; Residency: OK; Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–12 when applying |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts July 13, 2026; Ends July 31, 2026; 3 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts June 12, 2027; Ends June 27, 2027; 2 weeks (2027 cycle) |
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| Format | In person | In person / Online | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, San Diego, Santa Cruz, CA | College Park, MD | OK |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Each of six campuses accommodates roughly 160-200 students, and clusters typically enroll 20-25 with a commonly reported 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Admissions are competitive and based on academic merit relative to the selected topic, but applicant count and statewide acceptance rate were not published. Application materials: Online application with one personal statement; One teacher recommendation (two recommended) | Selection: Competitive and space-limited, with applications reviewed first-come, first-served after requirements are met. Early applicants are more likely to receive their first course choice; no overall acceptance rate is published. | Application materials: Audition material uploaded online for each discipline (up to three disciplines); Non-refundable audition fee per discipline |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-08-22Source 5 · checked 2026-08-22Source 6 · checked 2026-08-22Source 7 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-08-22Source 6 · checked 2026-08-22 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24 |
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