| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | January 25, 2027 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Last year's cycle (2026): $1,005–$6,105; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Free attendance; check separate expenses (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based CTD financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited funds, awarded as requests are received.; Sandra Dennhardt Technology Scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. For students with financial need applying to technology courses.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Last year's cycle (2026): Need-based CTD financial aid: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Limited funds, awarded as requests are received.; Sandra Dennhardt Technology Scholarship: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. For students with financial need applying to technology courses.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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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 (provider uses rising grades) | Grades 9–12 when applying; check the provider's rules for graduating seniors | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Requirement: Open to rising grades 9–12; Requirement: Meet the selected course's CTD eligibility tier (accelerated, credit-bearing three-week courses are at the Indigo tier) | Requirement: Open to students currently in grades 9–12 when applying; Requirement: Has not attended MFAA in the past | Ages 13–17 |
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| Session dates or duration | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 28, 2026; Ends August 7, 2026; 1–3 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts May 30, 2027; Ends June 12, 2027; 2 weeks (2027 cycle) | 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 | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Evanston, IL | Springfield, MO | Apple Valley, MN |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Course-dependent academic admission using CTD eligibility tiers; applicants qualify through test scores, prior CTD coursework, or portfolio review, and courses may fill. Application materials: Qualifying above-grade-level test scores, or a grade report/unofficial transcript with CTD's online teacher recommendation form | Selection: A panel of artists and arts educators adjudicates the complete application, essay, school evaluation, and discipline portfolio or audition. MFAA publishes no applicant count, cohort size, acceptance rate, or scoring weights on the official pages. Application materials: Essay of about 500 words; Portfolio (visual arts, creative writing), performance video (theatre, dance, vocal, instrumental) or audio files/scores (electronic music, composition) | Selection: The zoo closes applications when the summer cohort is filled, but it does not publish applicant counts, cohort size, interview process or selection rate. |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-08-21Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24 |
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