| Application deadline | February 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Free attendance; check separate expenses (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): $1,005–$6,105; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: Need-based scholarships: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based CTD financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited funds, awarded as requests are received.; Sandra Dennhardt Technology Scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. For students with financial need applying to technology courses.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | On-campus boarding: $0. Covered by program funders.; Food: $0. Covered by program funders. (2027 cycle) | Catalog terms: Course registration and materials fee (if accepted): $40; Need-based scholarships: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based CTD financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited funds, awarded as requests are received.; Sandra Dennhardt Technology Scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. For students with financial need applying to technology courses.; 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 10–11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher | Grades 10–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) |
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| Additional eligibility | Residency: Texas high school students; Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 10–11 when applying; Requirement: Students enrolled in summer school during the program dates cannot participate (full-time attendance required) | Requirement: Open to grades 10–12; Requirement: Completed ninth grade before the summer program; Requirement: Strong interest in marine biology, environmental science and related fields; Requirement: Able to attend all orientation and training sessions and complete 12 shifts over six weeks | Requirement: Open to rising grades 9–12; Requirement: Meet the selected course's CTD eligibility tier (accelerated, credit-bearing three-week courses are at the Indigo tier) |
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| Session dates or duration | Starts June 20, 2027; Ends June 25, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 22, 2026; Ends August 9, 2026; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 28, 2026; Ends August 7, 2026; 1–3 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person | In person | 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 | Austin, TX | Baltimore, MD | Evanston, IL |
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| Selection and application | Selection: McCombs describes desired qualities but publishes no current applicant count, cohort size, acceptance rate, fixed GPA cutoff, identity quota, geographic quota, scoring rubric, interview process, or waitlist policy. Historical cohort figures must not be treated as a future guarantee. Application materials: Essay(s); One letter of recommendation | Selection: Qualified applicants receive required peer-and-staff interviews, with some placed on a waitlist. The Aquarium does not publish application totals, cohort size or acceptance rate. Application materials: In-person interview | Selection: Course-dependent academic admission using CTD eligibility tiers; applicants qualify through test scores, prior CTD coursework, or portfolio review, and courses may fill. Application materials: Qualifying above-grade-level test scores, or a grade report/unofficial transcript with CTD's online teacher recommendation form |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-08-21Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20 |
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