| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | January 31, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): $4,750; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: Free attendance; check separate expenses; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | 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 | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based partial scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Requested within the online application; does not affect the admission decision.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | 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 | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based partial scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Requested within the online application; does not affect the admission decision.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: Housing: $0; Meals: $0; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Last year's cycle (2026): Lost-wages stipend (limited): $3,000; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grade 11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher | Grades 11–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Grade 12 (provider uses rising grades) |
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| Additional eligibility | 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 | Citizenship: US citizen; Citizenship: US permanent resident; Requirement: Open to rising grades 11–12; Requirement: Strong understanding of English | Residency: PA; Requirement: Open to rising grade 12; Requirement: Must have completed junior year immediately before the program |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 5 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts July 19, 2026; Ends August 1, 2026; 2 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts June 27, 2027; Ends July 31, 2027; 5 weeks (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 | Albion, Milledgeville, McMinnville, River Falls, Waterville, Bethlehem, Galesburg, MI, GA, OR, WI, ME, PA, IL | Troy, NY | Pittsburgh, PA |
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| Selection and application | 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) | Application materials: Essay; Recommendations | Selection: PGSS describes a statewide application and admission process but the current official pages publish neither cohort size, applicant count nor acceptance rate. Application materials: Narrative essay introducing yourself and why you want to attend PGSS; Topical essay on a significant influence on your interest in science or an achievement; Two teacher recommendations from different PGSS core subjects; School counselor 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 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-10-24Source 6 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-09 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24 |
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