| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): $2,400–$5,200; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Last year's cycle (2026): California-resident full or 50% tuition scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Need-based scholarship, not a loan; did not affect admission and covered tuition including housing and meals, not optional or administrative costs.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: Need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Available through the application for accepted, qualified students; award and amount are not guaranteed.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 CSSSA application fee: $20. Historical nonrefundable fee per department application; California residents with economic need could request a waiver.; 2026 payment-processor fee: $155–$313. 2.99% fee: $155 on California tuition and $313 on out-of-state/international tuition; nonrefundable.; California-resident full or 50% tuition scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Need-based scholarship, not a loan; did not affect admission and covered tuition including housing and meals, not optional or administrative costs.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: Enrollment deposit after acceptance: $1,000. Ordinarily secures the seat after acceptance unless BlueStamp approves alternate payment or financial-aid arrangements; confirm refund and balance terms for the new cycle.; Need-based financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Available through the application for accepted, qualified students; award and amount are not guaranteed.; Meals during the in-person program: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Lunch is generally not provided except a published Friday pizza lunch.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 8–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors | Grades 9–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Residency: California residents are the primary state-supported population; limited out-of-state and international admission is available; Requirement: Be currently enrolled in grade 8-12 in the application year; graduating seniors were eligible for summer 2026; Requirement: Submit a complete department-specific application demonstrating talent and creativity; Requirement: Provide one eligible adult reference rather than a peer reference; Requirement: Complete all discipline assignments and supplemental questions; Requirement: Pay the application fee or receive a California economic-need waiver; Requirement: If admitted, choose one department, submit intent and pre-registration materials, pay tuition or secure aid, and meet residential-program requirements; Exclusion: Assuming out-of-state or international students receive California taxpayer-funded CSSSA financial aid; Exclusion: Using one application to apply to multiple departments; Exclusion: Enrolling in more than one department during a single session; Exclusion: Using stale 2026 late-application copy after the 2026 session ended; Exclusion: Assuming attendance alone guarantees California Arts Scholar status, three credits, credit transfer, a portfolio outcome, or college admission | Requirement: Be entering grade 9, 10, 11, or 12 in the applicable summer; Requirement: Choose a published in-person, remote, or approved custom schedule and be available for its required live blocks; Requirement: Show motivation, self-direction, and willingness to solve open-ended engineering problems independently; Requirement: Submit an accurate application with requested short responses and references; Requirement: Attend the admissions interview; a parent or guardian participates in part of it; Requirement: Select an approved project with BlueStamp before the program and follow its budget, parts, tool, safety, and documentation rules; Requirement: For remote participation, have a feasible delivery address, workspace, internet connection, live-session availability, adult support where required, and lawful/safe tool access; Requirement: For in-person participation, arrange daily transportation and meals and comply with site pickup, conduct, safety, and minor-protection rules; Exclusion: Using the middle-school tuition, dates, priority rules, or hours for a high-school application; Exclusion: Assuming a live application form means 2027 dates, tuition, seats, or aid are announced; Exclusion: Expecting BlueStamp-provided in-person housing or daily lunch; Exclusion: Treating the project as a guaranteed invention, patent, publication, recommendation, internship, academic credit, award, or admission advantage; Exclusion: Missing required live time or attempting unsafe, unapproved, unlawful, or infeasible projects; Exclusion: Assuming a custom schedule, financial-aid award, fee reduction, project choice, replacement parts, international shipping, or refund is automatic |
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| Session dates or duration | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts July 4, 2026; Ends August 1, 2026; 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person | In person / Online |
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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 |
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| Location | Pomona, California, Historical 2026 residential host: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; future host and details must be confirmed | San Jose, California, In-person at 3800 Blackford Avenue in San Jose; live remote option may accept students elsewhere subject to time-zone and parts-shipping feasibility |
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| Selection and application | Selection: CSSSA selects on talent and creativity through discipline assignments and adult references and can welcome up to about 500 students. Admission rates vary by department and year; the current site does not provide an authoritative 2027 acceptance rate or department capacity. Application materials: Department-specific assignments, portfolio, audition, writing, film, performance, design, or other work as required | Selection: Application and interview review occur in receipt order while seats remain. BlueStamp does not publish applicant counts, acceptance rates, aid rates, cohort size for the next cycle, or a guaranteed decision. Application materials: Admissions interview, including parent or guardian participation for the designated portion |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-20Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20Source 4 · checked 2026-08-20Source 5 · checked 2026-08-20Source 6 · checked 2026-08-20Source 7 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-20Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20Source 4 · checked 2026-08-20 |
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