| Application deadline | March 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) | February 12, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): $1,299; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | $5,793 (2027 cycle) |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | 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 | 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 | Unconfirmed — check official site | 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 | 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 | Weekly salary: $500 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grade 12 and first-year college; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 9–12 and first-year college; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) |
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| Additional eligibility | 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 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 | 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 | Starts July 12, 2027; Ends August 6, 2027; 4 weeks (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 18, 2026; Ends August 12, 2026; 8 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | Hybrid | In person / Online / Hybrid | 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 | IL | Fairfax, Manassas, Woodbridge, VA | Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, San Diego, Santa Cruz, CA |
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| Selection and application | Application materials: Letter of recommendation from a STEM teacher or STEM club advisor | 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: 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 2026-10-24 | 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 2026-10-24Source 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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