| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | March 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | $5,793 (2027 cycle) | 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) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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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) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Weekly salary: $500 (2027 cycle) | Catalog terms: Completion stipend: $2,400; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Grade 12 and first-year college; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grade 12 (provider uses rising grades) |
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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) | 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 16; Citizenship: US citizen or US permanent resident (in-person program only); Requirement: Open to rising grade 12; Requirement: Graduating high school seniors are also eligible; Requirement: Be 16 years old by the program start date; Requirement: In-person students must be on site full time, Monday to Friday, for the whole program |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts July 12, 2027; Ends August 6, 2027; 4 weeks (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 8, 2026; Ends July 17, 2026; 6 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person | Hybrid | 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 | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, San Diego, Santa Cruz, CA | IL | Atlanta, GA |
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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) | Application materials: Letter of recommendation from a STEM teacher or STEM club advisor | Selection: The in-person cohort normally contains 10-12 scholars and had 12 in 2026. Winship reported record application volume in 2026 but publishes no count or acceptance rate. The related virtual lecture series served about 160 students in 2026. Application materials: Two teacher recommendation letters, one from a STEM teacher (up to three accepted); Five short essay questions |
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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 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-08-22Source 4 · checked 2026-08-22 |
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