| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | February 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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| Cost | Last year's cycle (2026): $2,600; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): $5,075; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Free attendance; check separate expenses (2027 cycle) |
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| Financial aid | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based tuition scholarship for admitted students: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited and competitive; requires a separate application with essays.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Last year's cycle (2026): Deposit to hold a spot (part of tuition): $500. Fully refundable until one month before camp begins.; Need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; GSP airport shuttle, each way: $35; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Non-refundable application fee: $50. Waived for applications received by the Early Bird deadline.; Health insurance fee (international students only): $90; Need-based tuition scholarship for admitted students: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited and competitive; requires a separate application with essays.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | On-campus boarding: $0. Covered by program funders.; Food: $0. Covered by program funders. (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 8–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Grades 8–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors | Grades 10–11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher |
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| Additional eligibility | Requirement: Open to rising grades 8–12 | Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 8–12 when applying; Requirement: Good academic standing with at least a 2.0 GPA; Requirement: International students need no visa or TOEFL score for the Academies | 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) |
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| Session dates or duration | Starts July 11, 2027; Ends July 24, 2027; 2 weeks (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 7, 2026; Ends June 19, 2026; 2 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts June 20, 2027; Ends June 25, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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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 | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Spartanburg, SC | Washington, DC | Austin, TX |
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| Selection and application | Unconfirmed — check official site | Selection: Earlier Academy admissions described rolling review and first-come seat registration; next-cycle availability is not established. Application materials: 300- to 500-word personal statement | 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 |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-08-22Source 5 · checked 2026-08-22 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20 |
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