Application and Payment Basics

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WHO CAN APPLY

COSMOS is open to California High School Students Only

Rising 9th graders (will be in 9th grade in Fall 2025) through rising 12th graders (will be in 12th grade in Fall 2025).  Please contact the Statewide COSMOS office with questions about student residency status for application purposes.

Dates and Deadlines: https://cosmos-ucop.ucdavis.edu/app/main/page/dates-deadlines 

Program Cost: https://cosmos-ucop.ucdavis.edu/app/main/page/fees-and-tuition 

REQUIRED MATERIALS 

  • Completed online application, including one personal statement;
  • One teacher recommendation is required, and two recommended
  • Unofficial transcripts should be uploaded directly to the application prior to submission and should be created after January 10th, 2025, at 8:00 AM when the application opens
  • 8th and 9th graders must also submit a copy of their 7th and 8th-grade report card, respectively
  • Parent/guardian's e-signature (s) in the parent portal
  • Application fee--payable online with a credit card or check; see below for details

PAYMENTS

  • Application fees and Program costs
  • For payments made by credit card, a 2.5% transaction fee applies. The Application Fee is exempt from this service fee. The transaction fee is charged by the third-party processor, not COSMOS, and is not refundable even if the payment to which it relates is canceled, refunded, credited, or charged back.
  • University banking policy dictates that we assess this transaction fee separately from the program cost. Thus, you will be asked to submit two payments: 1) program costs and 2) the service fee.
  • If you choose to pay by credit card, you must submit both the payment and the service fee before the stated deadlines for your admission to be complete.
  • Check or money orders must be postmarked by the deadline stated in the parent portal

***Make check or money order payable to "UC REGENTS" (not COSMOS)***


Please note on the check which campus you are applying to, i.e., COSMOS UCD, and include the applicant's name.

DISCLAIMER:   COSMOS does not accept any late submission of payments or application/admission material.  COSMOS is not responsible for lost, held, delayed, or damaged mail. COSMOS is not responsible for delivery errors via carriers or incorrect shipping information.  For time-sensitive materials sent by mail, payments, or required documents, COSMOS strongly recommends registered or certified mail with tracking for validation of timely submission.  Do Not request a signature upon delivery. This may delay or complicate the delivery.  Please refer to the program policies and procedures page for additional information. 

OPTIONAL MATERIALS
Financial aid application, including tax return cover sheet or TANF (no social security numbers), must be completed with the admission application.

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
Upon admission, each campus may require several different documents to attend COSMOS.  These include official transcripts, waivers, permission slips, medical information, etc.  Please be sure to follow the instructions in the admission notification, review these documents carefully, and submit them as instructed.