| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | $5,793 (2027 cycle) | 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): Partial financial-assistance fee waiver: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited partial aid based on financial need and motivation; does not cover travel and is not guaranteed.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Financial assistance: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Available in 2026; 2027 form, criteria and amounts are not yet posted.; 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): Historical late-registration fee: $50. Applied after April 10, making the published later total $1,650.; Historical registration deposit: $100. Nonrefundable, applied to fees and required even from aid applicants.; Partial financial-assistance fee waiver: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited partial aid based on financial need and motivation; does not cover travel and is not guaranteed.; Lost dorm key charge: $150. Charged only if a residential key is lost.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Financial assistance: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Available in 2026; 2027 form, criteria and amounts are not yet posted.; 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 11–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 9–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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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) | Residency: No geographic restriction stated; residential attendance is at NC State; Requirement: Be entering grade 11 or 12; Requirement: Complete online orientation and design-fundamentals preparation; Requirement: Submit two approximately 250-word statements on design interest and motivation; Requirement: Complete medical and program forms; Requirement: Attend the full residential studio week; Exclusion: Other NC State Design Camp tracks have different grades, formats, costs and activities; Exclusion: Space is limited to 110 and may move to a waitlist; Exclusion: Financial assistance is partial and does not cover travel | Residency: 2027 rule not announced: current main page suggests U.S.-wide eligibility, while the 2026 FAQ specified Minnesota high-school students; Requirement: Be in or completing one of grades 9-12 under the applicable cycle's wording; Requirement: Complete application and accepted-student forms; Requirement: Agree with a parent or guardian to the code of conduct and closed-campus rules; Exclusion: Students unable to remain on campus for the full session or comply with the code of conduct; late materials were not guaranteed consideration in 2026 |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 1 week; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 1 week; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person | Online / In person | In person |
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| 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 |
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| Location | Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, San Diego, Santa Cruz, CA | Raleigh, North Carolina | St. Paul, Minnesota |
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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: The 110-seat program uses registration, statements and a waitlist. The organizer does not publish an academic acceptance rate or describe competitive portfolio-based admission. Application materials: Approximately 250-word design-interest statement; Approximately 250-word motivation and goals statement; Optional financial-assistance form and parent/guardian statement of need | Selection: 2026 applications were first-come, first-served for 150-200 places per session; the 2027 capacity and selection method are not announced. |
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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 2026-08-21Source 2 · checked 2026-08-21Source 3 · checked 2026-08-21 | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-21Source 2 · checked 2026-08-21Source 3 · checked 2026-08-21 |
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