| Application deadline | February 12, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Last year's cycle (2026): $1,299; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | $5,793 (2027 cycle) |
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| Financial aid | Last year's cycle (2026): Financial-need waiver of application fee and tuition: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. 100% waiver with free/reduced-price lunch or Pell Grant documentation; alternative documentation can be discussed.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | 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) |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Last year's cycle (2026): Nonrefundable application processing fee: $25. Waivable for financial need.; Financial-need waiver of application fee and tuition: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. 100% waiver with free/reduced-price lunch or Pell Grant documentation; alternative documentation can be discussed.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | 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) |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 and first-year college; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) |
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| Additional eligibility | Minimum age 15; Requirement: Open to grades 9–13; Requirement: Must be at least 16 by the first program day for wet-lab internships with biological or chemical hazards; Requirement: Must not have graduated from university before or during the internship; Requirement: Students may take part for a total of two summer sessions | Minimum age 16; Requirement: Daily Summer Operations volunteers must be 16-20 years old and commit to 50+ volunteer hours during summer break; Requirement: Counselor in Training volunteers must be at least 16 (at least 18 for teen camp weeks) and commit to at least 2 full weeks of summer camp; Requirement: Selected students attend a mandatory orientation | 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) |
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| Session dates or duration | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 18, 2026; Ends August 12, 2026; 8 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person / Online / Hybrid | In person | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Non-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 | Fairfax, Manassas, Woodbridge, VA | Boca Raton, FL | Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, San Diego, Santa Cruz, CA |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Competitive and mentor-matched. Review considers STEM coursework, GPA, experience, statements, mentor fit, and project needs; highly qualified applicants may be interviewed. No minimum GPA or overall acceptance rate is published. Application materials: Online application with personal statements; Interview for highly qualified candidates | Selection: Only 35 applicants were accepted across the two 2026 summer tracks; interviews, availability, and program fit determine selection. Application materials: Interview with the volunteer coordinator (CIT applicants also interview with the camp director) | 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) |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-08-21 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-08-22Source 3 · checked 2026-08-22 | 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 |
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