| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | February 15, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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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 | Last year's cycle (2026): Application fee: $25; On-campus room and board and meals: $0. Provided by the program.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: Internship stipend award ($700 a week): $5,600; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Stipend on completion of a successful research project report: $750; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Grades 9–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors | Grade 12 and first-year college (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) | Ages 15–18; Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–12 when applying; Requirement: Ages 15 to 18 at the start of the internship; Requirement: Write and converse fluently in English; Requirement: Live within commuting distance of the museum in the D.C., Maryland or Virginia area for the whole internship | Minimum age 17; Citizenship: US citizen; Citizenship: US permanent resident; Requirement: Open to rising grades 12–13; Requirement: Must be at least 17 years old by the program start date, with no exceptions; Requirement: Open to rising high school seniors and to students graduating from high school right before the program |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 23, 2026; Ends August 14, 2026; 8 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts June 20, 2027; Ends August 5, 2027; 7 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 | 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 | Washington, DC | Lubbock, TX |
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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: Selective; applicants rank projects, but a ranked department or project is not guaranteed. Application materials: Statement of interest (four questions, 250 words each); One letter of recommendation | Application materials: Short essays; Three recommendations via online questionnaire, at least two from teachers |
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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 2026-08-20Source 3 · 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 2026-08-21 |
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