| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: $2,990; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | $5,793 (2027 cycle) |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | 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) |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Unconfirmed — check official site | 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) |
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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; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 9–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) |
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| Additional eligibility | Minimum age 16; Residency: San Diego County resident attending a REACH partner school; Requirement: Open to grades 9–12; Requirement: Completed the most recent semester of high school at a REACH partner school (Barrio Logan College Institute, Crawford, Del Lago Academy, Escondido, Hoover, Lincoln, Madison, Morse or Orange Glen); Requirement: At least 16 by the start of the pre-program boot camp; Requirement: At least one year each of high school chemistry and biology; Requirement: Minimum GPA of 3.0; Requirement: Commit to 40 hours per week, missing no more than 3 days; Requirement: Legally eligible to work in the United States, with a work permit if under 18; Requirement: Have not done the REACH summer internship before | 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) |
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| Session dates or duration | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 22, 2026; Ends August 7, 2026; 7 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | 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 |
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| Format | In person | In person | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Non-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 | La Jolla, CA | West Lafayette, IN | Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, San Diego, Santa Cruz, CA |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Only students at nine partner schools/programs were eligible in 2026. Finalists were interviewed and placements depended on laboratory/mentor capacity; no applicant total, cohort size or acceptance rate is published. Application materials: Virtual interview for finalists | 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) |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-08-21Source 3 · checked 2026-08-21 | 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 |
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