| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | May 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
|---|
| Cost | Catalog terms: $2,990; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | $5,793 (2027 cycle) | $3,975 (2027 cycle) |
|---|
| Financial aid | Catalog terms: Partial need-based scholarships (limited): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | 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) | ASC financial aid funds (general fund, Sydney Stark Jr. Memorial fund, Military Family fund): Up to $3,975. General fund up to half of tuition; Stark fund up to full tuition; Military Family fund at least half. (2027 cycle) |
|---|
| Expenses and aid conditions | Catalog terms: Application fee: $100. Refunded only if the student is not accepted; Optional Saturday field trip: $100; Partial need-based scholarships (limited): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | 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) | Nonrefundable tuition deposit at registration: $150. Part of tuition; secures an accepted camper's spot.; ASC financial aid funds (general fund, Sydney Stark Jr. Memorial fund, Military Family fund): Up to $3,975. General fund up to half of tuition; Stark fund up to full tuition; Military Family fund at least half. (2027 cycle) |
|---|
| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Grades 8–12 and first-year college (provider uses rising grades) |
|---|
| Additional eligibility | Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–12 when applying | 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) | Ages 13–19; Requirement: Open to rising grades 8–13; Requirement: Must be 13 to 19 at the start of camp (homeschool grade equivalents accepted) |
|---|
| Session dates or duration | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 28, 2026; Ends July 25, 2026; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts June 23, 2027; Ends July 15, 2027; 3 weeks (2027 cycle) |
|---|
| Format | In person | In person | In person |
|---|
| Housing and supervision | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Location | West Lafayette, IN | Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, San Diego, Santa Cruz, CA | Staunton, VA |
|---|
| Selection and application | Selection: The 2026 application documented gifted/talent indicators and course placement depended on eligibility and availability. Confirm the next-cycle process; no acceptance rate is published. Application materials: Historical 2026 instructions: One-to-two-page motivation essay or alternative media statement for new students; Historical 2026 instructions: Exactly two qualifying documents from transcript, IQ testing, achievement testing, teacher/mentor recommendation or talent-involvement documentation | 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: Attendance was by acceptance, applications were reviewed monthly, and accepted-student registration was first-come, first-served. ASC did not publish applicant count, acceptance rate, or detailed judging rubric. |
|---|
| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24 | 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 2026-08-20Source 4 · checked 2026-08-20 |
|---|