| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | $5,793 (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): $1,700; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | $2,500–$9,500 (2027 cycle) |
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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): Financial assistance scholarships: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Based on demonstrated need, student motivation and creative and academic merit.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Need-based financial assistance (after acceptance): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site (2027 cycle) |
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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): Late registration fee (after April 10): $50; Registration deposit: $100. Non-refundable.; Financial assistance scholarships: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Based on demonstrated need, student motivation and creative and academic merit.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | High-school program deposit (non-refundable, credited toward tuition): $300. Due within two weeks of acceptance.; Need-based financial assistance (after acceptance): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site (2027 cycle) |
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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 (provider uses rising grades) | 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) | Requirement: Open to rising grades 11–12 | Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–12 when applying; Requirement: Completed at least one high-school science course and one high-school mathematics course; Requirement: Rising freshmen are considered for the virtual program only; Requirement: SEA Expedition is open to rising sophomores through recent graduates; the SEA Shore courses are designed for rising juniors, seniors and recent graduates; Requirement: Must meet SEA's Essential Eligibility Criteria and be cleared to participate by SEA's medical team |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts July 12, 2026; Ends July 18, 2026; 1 week; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: Up to 3 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person | Hybrid | In person / Online |
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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, NC | Woods Hole, MA |
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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: Online registration with a student statement of interest (approximately 300-500 words) | Selection: Programs have 20-25 places and use holistic review of academics, reference, motivation and goals. SEA Expedition and Pre-College applicants interview; admission and first-choice program are not guaranteed. Application materials: Short answer essay questions; Interview (not required for SeaQuest or SEAscape/Ocean Studies on Cape Cod applicants) |
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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 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-10-24Source 6 · checked 2026-10-24Source 7 · checked 2026-10-24Source 8 · checked 2026-08-22Source 9 · checked 2026-08-22Source 10 · checked 2026-08-22 |
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