| Application deadline | March 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): $3,000–$4,000; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): $3,900; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Sliding-scale tuition by household income: $200–$3,000. Estimated family tuition and fees by income; families can request additional aid on the enrollment form after acceptance.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based scholarships for online and commuter students: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Sliding-scale tuition by household income: $200–$3,000. Estimated family tuition and fees by income; families can request additional aid on the enrollment form after acceptance.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Non-refundable application fee: $60. A fee waiver can be requested.; Lab kit fee (estimated, plus taxes and shipping): $265. International students may incur customs fees.; Need-based scholarships for online and commuter students: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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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 6–10 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher | Grades 9–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors |
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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 | Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 6–10 when applying; Requirement: Junior Division: in grade 6, 7 or 8 during the school year of application; Requirement: Senior Division: in grade 9 or 10, with at least a B average for the last full school term and the current year; Requirement: Classified as gifted by a Louisiana public school system, or scores on an acceptable aptitude test | Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–12 when applying; Requirement: As and Bs in high school math and science classes; Requirement: Completed Algebra II; Requirement: Completed a course covering trigonometric functions; Requirement: Completed a full year of high school chemistry and/or physics with a lab (or a 4 or 5 on AP Chemistry or AP Physics 1); Requirement: Recent high school graduates may attend the summer before college |
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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 7, 2026; 7 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: 5–6 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | Hybrid | In person | Online |
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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 | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | IL | Lake Charles, LA | Worldwide synchronous participation, subject to Eastern Time attendance and lab-kit shipping/customs feasibility |
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| Selection and application | Application materials: Letter of recommendation from a STEM teacher or STEM club advisor | Selection: Applicants must meet gifted-identification or aptitude criteria and grade-specific requirements. Applications were reviewed until spaces filled; the program does not publish applicant counts, capacity, or an acceptance rate. | Selection: Completed applications are academically reviewed. Rising juniors and seniors are typical, talented rising sophomores may be considered, and older students receive priority when space is limited. Programs can fill before final deadlines; no acceptance rate is published. Application materials: One brief required essay and one brief optional essay; Teacher recommendation |
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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 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-08-21 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-08-21Source 6 · checked 2026-08-21Source 7 · checked 2026-08-21Source 8 · checked 2026-08-21 |
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