| Application deadline | February 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | February 12, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
|---|
| Cost | Free attendance; check separate expenses (2027 cycle) | Catalog terms: $420; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | $600 (2027 cycle) |
|---|
| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: Need-based scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Requires household income documentation and a strong recommendation from a teacher, administrator or guidance counselor; one scholarship per student.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Fee waiver for students eligible for free or reduced lunch: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Granted to the extent funds are available. (2027 cycle) |
|---|
| Expenses and aid conditions | On-campus boarding: $0. Covered by program funders.; Food: $0. Covered by program funders. (2027 cycle) | Catalog terms: Need-based scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Requires household income documentation and a strong recommendation from a teacher, administrator or guidance counselor; one scholarship per student.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Fee waiver for students eligible for free or reduced lunch: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Granted to the extent funds are available. (2027 cycle) |
|---|
| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Eligibility | Grades 10–11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher | Grades 6–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Grade 10 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher |
|---|
| Additional eligibility | Residency: Texas high school students; Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 10–11 when applying; Requirement: Students enrolled in summer school during the program dates cannot participate (full-time attendance required) | Residency: United States (no international On-Demand registrations); Requirement: Open to rising grades 6–12; Requirement: Fun with DNA: entering grade 6 or 7; Requirement: Forensic Detectives: entering grade 9 or 10; Requirement: DNA Barcoding: DNA Science alumni entering grades 10-12; Requirement: Genome Science: DNA Science alumni (or completed AP Biology) entering grades 11-12 | Residency: Missouri; Requirement: Open to students currently in grade 10 when applying; Requirement: Attend high school in Missouri or be homeschooled in Missouri |
|---|
| Session dates or duration | Starts June 20, 2027; Ends June 25, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts June 13, 2027; Ends July 3, 2027; 3 weeks (2027 cycle) |
|---|
| Format | In person | Online | In person |
|---|
| Housing and supervision | 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 |
|---|
| Location | Austin, TX | Available to U.S. registrants; kits may be shipped to a home or picked up at a DNALC location | Columbia, MO |
|---|
| Selection and application | Selection: McCombs describes desired qualities but publishes no current applicant count, cohort size, acceptance rate, fixed GPA cutoff, identity quota, geographic quota, scoring rubric, interview process, or waitlist policy. Historical cohort figures must not be treated as a future guarantee. Application materials: Essay(s); One letter of recommendation | Selection: Registration-based, subject to course prerequisites, kit availability, and U.S. shipping constraints; no competitive admission rate is published. | Selection: School nomination allotments limit the pool, a statewide committee evaluates academic and qualitative criteria, and about 330 scholars are expected in 2027. MSA does not publish a current nomination count or acceptance rate. Application materials: Two letters of recommendation, at least one from a teacher; Two essays of 300-350 words |
|---|
| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20 | 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 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-08-22 |
|---|