| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | 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 |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Unconfirmed — check official site | 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 |
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| Stipend or pay | Last year's cycle (2026): 2026 Summer I or Summer II fellowship: $4,000; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 10–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors | Grades 8–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors |
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| Additional eligibility | Residency: Must be able to participate at an available Project SEED site or eligible virtual project; in-person site selection considers a safe daily commute; Requirement: Document household annual income at or below 300% of applicable Federal Poverty Guidelines; Requirement: Provide an accepted tax, free/reduced-lunch, SNAP/WIC, TRIO, or SAT/ACT fee-waiver eligibility document; Requirement: Preferably be a current high-school sophomore, junior, or senior; the 2026 cycle also allowed graduating seniors; Requirement: Have completed at least one high-school chemistry course and demonstrate interest in science or chemistry; Requirement: Obtain parent/guardian permission if under 18; Requirement: Be available for the full project, normally at least eight weeks and about 40 hours weekly for in-person research; Requirement: Meet the local site's commute, safety, lab, onboarding, and schedule requirements; Exclusion: Applicants who cannot document the financial-eligibility requirement; Exclusion: Applicants without completed high-school chemistry; Exclusion: Applicants unable to commit to the selected site's full schedule or safely commute for an in-person placement; Exclusion: Assuming prior lab experience is required or guarantees selection; Exclusion: Assuming application guarantees a placement, preferred lab, virtual option, $4,000 next-cycle amount, conference trip, publication, college credit, recommendation, scholarship, admission advantage, or job | 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 |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 8–10 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts July 4, 2026; Ends August 1, 2026; 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | Hybrid | 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 |
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| Location | Participating university, government, and industry research sites; virtual projects may also be offered | Pomona, California, Historical 2026 residential host: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; future host and details must be confirmed |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Local coordinators select among financially and academically eligible applicants based on performance, science interest, full-summer availability, site capacity/budget, safe commute, and mentor/project fit. ACS publishes no single current acceptance rate. | 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 |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-20Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20 | 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 |
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