Financial Assistance

ABOUT
Applying for financial assistance is optional, and availability depends on the success of our annual fundraising and on the sustainability of financial aid for students in need. All decisions and distributions of any financial assistance are handled centrally as a single process for all applicants, regardless of which campus they apply to. Financial aid funds are the result of generous foundations, corporations, and individual donors who care about the success of COSMOS students. For more information about donating or learning about our donors, visit our giving site. 

HOW MUCH OF THE PROGRAM COST DOES FINANCIAL AID COVER?

Providing access to admitted students is fundamental to the COSMOS mission of serving students throughout the State of California.

Financial assistance may be available to support application fees and/or program tuition for students with demonstrated financial need. Award amounts, if any, vary annually based on available funding and verified household financial circumstances. COSMOS does not guarantee a specific amount or percentage of assistance.

Because COSMOS participants are minors, all financial assistance review is conducted through the Parent/Guardian Portal. Financial information and supporting documentation must be provided by the applicant’s legal guardian or by the adult who is legally and financially responsible for the applicant.

Required documentation typically includes, but is not limited to, a complete and signed federal income tax return (IRS Form 1040) for the most recent tax year, including all pages, schedules, and attachments, or equivalent official documentation as specified in the application portal. Additional records may be requested to verify household income, family size, and financial responsibility.

Only complete applications that include all required documentation and are submitted by the stated deadline will be reviewed. COSMOS reserves the right to request clarification or additional documentation and to deny or adjust assistance if documentation is incomplete, inconsistent, or unverifiable.

Each financial assistance application is evaluated individually based solely on verified financial information provided through the portal.

WILL A FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION AFFECT ADMISSION?
No. The admission review of applications is entirely detached from the review of applications for financial assistance.

Please refer to the application portal for details on how to apply for financial assistance.