| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | March 1, 2027 (2027 cycle) |
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| Cost | $5,793 (2027 cycle) | Unconfirmed — check official site | $3,600–$7,200 (2027 cycle) |
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| Financial aid | 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) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Need-based scholarships: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Apply in the financial aid section of the application with your most recent tax form. (2027 cycle) |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | 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) | Unconfirmed — check official site | Application fee (non-refundable): $55–$85. $55 before January 1, $85 after January 1.; Need-based scholarships: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Apply in the financial aid section of the application with your most recent tax form. (2027 cycle) |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Catalog terms: Completion stipend (up to $2,000): $2,000; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Grade 11 when applying; summer rising grade is one higher | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | 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) | Residency: Enrolled in a Massachusetts high school and living within 30 miles of Boston; Requirement: Open to students currently in grade 11 when applying; Requirement: In 2026, applicants had to be at least 16 years old by July 1, 2026; Requirement: Priority goes to students in the immediate Boston metropolitan area; Requirement: Demonstrated record of achievement in science; Requirement: Able to attend the orientation and all six weeks, Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM | Ages 9–18 |
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| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts July 6, 2026; Ends August 14, 2026; 6 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts June 20, 2027; Ends August 15, 2027; 2–4 weeks (2027 cycle) |
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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 | Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, San Diego, Santa Cruz, CA | Boston, MA | Lake Luzerne, NY |
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| Selection and application | 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) | Application materials: Two teacher recommendations (at least one from a science or math teacher; none from family or friends) | Application materials: Audition video of 8-10 minutes |
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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 2026-08-22Source 6 · checked 2026-08-22Source 7 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · 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 2026-10-11Source 6 · checked 2026-08-21Source 7 · checked 2026-08-21Source 8 · checked 2026-08-21 |
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