| 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): $790–$1,320; 2027: 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): Need-based financial aid (up to 100% of base tuition): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Open to Bay Area students completing grades K-10 and returning 11th graders; does not cover transportation, textbooks, supplies or program fees; not available to extended-deadline applicants.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Need-based aid covering 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Can include round-trip airfare or other travel support; requested after admission. (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): 2026 nonrefundable application fee: $60–$90. $60 for domestic students; $90 for students attending school outside the US.; Need-based financial aid (up to 100% of base tuition): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Open to Bay Area students completing grades K-10 and returning 11th graders; does not cover transportation, textbooks, supplies or program fees; not available to extended-deadline applicants.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Application fee: $0; Need-based aid covering 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Can include round-trip airfare or other travel support; requested after admission. (2027 cycle) |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Lost-wages stipend for students who typically need to work in summer: $3,000 (2027 cycle) |
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| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Grades 7–11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher | Grade 11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher |
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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 students currently in grades 7–11 when applying; Requirement: Some courses have academic prerequisites; Requirement: Current 6th graders who attended ATDP before may apply for a small selection of courses with a very strong application | Minimum age 15; Requirement: Open to students currently in grade 11 when applying; Requirement: At least 15 years old but not yet 19 while the program runs; Requirement: Astrophysics: physics plus precalculus (or calculus without physics); Bacterial Genomics and Cell Biology: biology plus algebra II; Biochemistry: biology plus chemistry plus strong algebra skills |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 22, 2026; Ends July 31, 2026; 4–6 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 5 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person | In person / Online | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Non-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 | Berkeley, CA | Assigned university campus; 2027 sites not announced |
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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: Applications are reviewed on academic preparation, materials and course fit as they become complete. Classes generally cap at 20-24 students; returning students receive early priority but are not guaranteed admission or first-choice placement. Application materials: Academic product or essay (at least 500 words) | Selection: SSP describes a holistic, contextual and need-blind admission process with limited capacity. It does not promise admission based on grades, prestige, test scores or ability to pay. Application materials: One recommendation from a math or science educator at your school (a second recommendation is highly preferred) |
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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 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-08-20 | 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 2026-08-22Source 7 · checked 2026-08-20 |
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