| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Cost | $5,793 (2027 cycle) | Last year's cycle (2026): $4,000; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| 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 | ASP mission trip scholarship (last-dollar support): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Applied for by the trip coordinator; reviewed on a rolling basis until all funds are awarded. (2027 cycle) |
|---|
| 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) | Last year's cycle (2026): Non-refundable registration fee: $50. Payable by check or wire transfer with the application.; Student Health Services fee (flat), listed with the room package: $66; Optional prepaid meal plan: $600. Refill-as-you-go is also possible.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Nonrefundable group registration fee (per group): $95; ASP mission trip scholarship (last-dollar support): Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Applied for by the trip coordinator; reviewed on a rolling basis until all funds are awarded. (2027 cycle) |
|---|
| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 (provider uses rising grades) | Grades 9–12; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site | Grade 7 and above; Grade timing: Unconfirmed — check official site |
|---|
| 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) | Minimum age 16; Requirement: Open to grades 9–12; Requirement: At least 16 years old on or before July 4 of the program year, with no exceptions; Requirement: Unweighted GPA of 95/100 (3.8/4.0); Requirement: Standardized test scores (PSAT/SAT/ACT/AP/IB/Regents) at or above the 60th percentile; Requirement: At least three of English, Chemistry, Mathematics/Calculus, Physics and Biology; Requirement: International students must already hold documents to be legally present in the US for the program; no visa support | Minimum age 11; Requirement: Open to grades 7 and up; Requirement: Must have completed 6th grade; Requirement: Volunteers serve as part of a group of at least 5 people (one work crew) that includes at least 2 adults age 19 or older; individuals join an existing group |
|---|
| Session dates or duration | Catalog terms: 4 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 24, 2026; Ends August 7, 2026; 7 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Starts June 13, 2027; Ends August 7, 2027; 1 week (2027 cycle) |
|---|
| Format | In person | In person | In person |
|---|
| 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 |
|---|
| Location | Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, San Diego, Santa Cruz, CA | Stony Brook, NY | KY, NC, TN, VA, WV |
|---|
| 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) | Selection: Non-rolling review after the deadline using demanding age, GPA, test, coursework, transcript, recommendation, leadership, and application criteria. Application materials: Three letters of recommendation, one from a science teacher, submitted by the writers | Selection: This is capacity- and group-based registration rather than a competitive individual admission. ASP matches registered crews to weeks, centers, and projects based on preferences, skill, need, supervision, and available space. |
|---|
| 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 2026-10-24Source 5 · checked 2026-10-09Source 6 · checked 2026-08-22Source 7 · checked 2026-08-22Source 8 · checked 2026-08-22 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-10-24Source 3 · checked 2026-10-24Source 4 · checked 2026-08-20 |
|---|
