| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Last year's cycle (2026): $5,075; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | $500–$8,795 (2027 cycle) | $5,793 (2027 cycle) |
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| Financial aid | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based tuition scholarship for admitted students: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited and competitive; requires a separate application with essays.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Need-based scholarships up to fully funded tuition: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Awarded first-come, first-served by the scholarship committee. (2027 cycle) | 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): Non-refundable application fee: $50. Waived for applications received by the Early Bird deadline.; Health insurance fee (international students only): $90; Need-based tuition scholarship for admitted students: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited and competitive; requires a separate application with essays.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Nonrefundable deposit of 20% of full tuition, due with the application: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Balance due 30 days before the trek starts.; Need-based scholarships up to fully funded tuition: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Awarded first-come, first-served by the scholarship committee. (2027 cycle) | 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 8–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors | Unconfirmed — check official site | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) |
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| Additional eligibility | Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 8–12 when applying; Requirement: Good academic standing with at least a 2.0 GPA; Requirement: International students need no visa or TOEFL score for the Academies | Ages 13–18; Requirement: Each trek has its own age band, e.g. Wild Country 13-15 and Mountain Desert 16-18; Requirement: Prairie Trek is for male-identifying trekkers and Turquoise Trail for female trekkers | 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 7, 2026; Ends June 19, 2026; 2 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts June 20, 2027; Ends August 1, 2027; 2–6 weeks (2027 cycle) | Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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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 | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Washington, DC | Thoreau, NM, AZ, UT, CO | Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, San Diego, Santa Cruz, CA |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Earlier Academy admissions described rolling review and first-come seat registration; next-cycle availability is not established. Application materials: 300- to 500-word personal statement | Selection: Trek acceptance is based on the application and ability to participate fully; Pick Your Price selection does not affect admission. Capacity, fit, health and safety, and financial-aid availability can still limit placement. Application materials: For need-based aid: separate scholarship form, amount requested, household financial information, parent statement, and applicant written statement or video | 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 2026-08-22Source 5 · checked 2026-08-22 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-10-24Source 6 · checked 2026-10-24Source 7 · checked 2026-10-24Source 8 · checked 2026-10-24Source 9 · checked 2026-08-20Source 10 · checked 2026-08-20Source 11 · checked 2026-08-20 | 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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