| Application deadline | March 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | April 19, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | $2,750 (2027 cycle) |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based fee and travel aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Covers 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students and can include round-trip airfare; requested after admission.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Application fee: $0. Free to apply.; Need-based fee and travel aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Covers 100% of demonstrated need for admitted students and can include round-trip airfare; requested after admission.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Application fee: $0; Deposit to reserve a spot: $100. Due once the application is approved; Suggested spending money: $100–$150 (2027 cycle) |
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| Stipend or pay | Weekly salary: $500 (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Lost-wages stipend (limited): $3,000; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grade 12 and first-year college; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grade 11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher | Grades 10–11; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Citizenship: US citizen; Residency: IL; Requirement: Open to grades 12–13; Requirement: High school senior in the 2027-2028 school year or a 2027 high school graduate; Requirement: Enrolled in an Illinois high school; Requirement: Proof of medical insurance | Minimum age 15; Requirement: Open to students currently in grade 11 when applying; Requirement: Be at least 15 and not yet 19 during all program dates; Requirement: Have completed, or be completing by June for credit and a grade, any level of high school physics and precalculus (calculus if the school offers no physics); self-study does not qualify | Requirement: Open to grades 10–11; Requirement: Open in the summer after sophomore or junior year (students finishing grade 10 or 11); Requirement: One year of chemistry or physics |
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| Session dates or duration | Starts July 12, 2027; Ends August 6, 2027; 4 weeks (2027 cycle) | Catalog terms: 5 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts June 7, 2027; Ends July 22, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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| Format | Hybrid | 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 | IL | Albion, Milledgeville, McMinnville, River Falls, Waterville, Bethlehem, Galesburg, MI, GA, OR, WI, ME, PA, IL | Terre Haute, IN |
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| Selection and application | Application materials: Letter of recommendation from a STEM teacher or STEM club advisor | Selection: Admission is limited and holistic. SSP reported about 700 participants admitted across every 2026 track, but did not publish Astrophysics application totals or a track-specific acceptance rate. Application materials: One recommendation from a math or science educator at your school (a second recommendation is preferred) | Selection: Earlier 2026 instructions described selective application followed by first-come session placement after approval. Confirm the current 2027 review and placement process; no acceptance rate is published. Application materials: Recommendation from a counselor or teacher |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-10-24Source 6 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24 |
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