City of Hope Summer Academy Acceptance Rate 2026
Updated: 27th October, 2026
TL;DR
City of Hope doesn't publish an acceptance rate for the Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy, a paid 10-week biomedical research program for advanced high school and undergraduate students. Past reports point to about 82 admits from roughly 2,100 applicants, an estimate near 4 percent. The official page lists a $4,000 stipend but no 2027 dates. If you want a research project that fits your school year, look at the Lumiere Research Scholar Program. It pairs you 1:1 with a PhD mentor for an online project.
What are the key facts about the Roberts Summer Student Academy?
Application deadline: 2027 dates aren't posted yet. The latest deadline we could find online was March 13, 2024, so check the official page in January.
Duration: 10 weeks, full-time, on a biomedical research team.
Location: Past reports place the work in Duarte, California. City of Hope's page doesn't say, so confirm it before you plan.
Eligibility: Advanced high school and undergraduate students. The official page lists no age, grade, or GPA rules.
Cost: You receive a $4,000 stipend. Past reports say there is no fee to apply or attend.
Selectivity: City of Hope doesn't publish it. Past reports suggest about 4 percent, or roughly 82 of 2,100 applicants.
Does City of Hope publish an acceptance rate?
No. City of Hope does not publish an acceptance rate for the academy. As of October 2026, the official academy page lists the $4,000 stipend and the 10-week format, but it gives no admit numbers. Any exact percentage you see online is an estimate, not an official figure. Treat round numbers with care. A rate from one past cycle won't predict your odds in the next one.
How selective is the Roberts Summer Student Academy?
It's very competitive. Past coverage reports roughly 82 students accepted from about 2,100 applicants, which works out to an estimated 4 percent. Lumiere's deep dive on the academy cites these numbers. They come from an older cycle, so the real figure moves from year to year. About 45 of those 82 spots went to high school students. The rest went to undergraduates. The limit is simple: each student needs a research mentor and a funded place in a lab.
Who is eligible to apply?
The academy is open to advanced high school students and undergraduates. As of October 2026, City of Hope's academy page does not list age, grade, residency, or GPA rules. Past reports describe a few requirements:
Age: at least 16 by the start date.
Residency: U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Coursework: finished high school biology and chemistry.
Availability: free for the full 10 weeks.
Lumiere's guide to the City of Hope internship lays out these past requirements. We could find them online, but it's always good to check the official website first, because the rules can change.
How do you apply, and when is the deadline?
The official page doesn't list application dates or say how to apply. As of October 2026, 2027 dates aren't posted yet. In past cycles, applications opened in January and closed in mid-March. The 2024 cycle closed on March 13, 2024, per Lumiere's academy deep dive. Don't treat that date as live. Check City of Hope's official page from early January for the new window.
How much does the program pay?
The academy pays a $4,000 stipend. City of Hope's academy page says participants receive $4,000 for their work. The page doesn't mention tuition, and past reports say there's no fee. Past reports place the program in Duarte, California, so think about how you'd get there each day. Lumiere's roundup of cancer research opportunities lists the academy among its paid options.
How can you improve your odds?
Start with a strong match to the science. The academy wants students who can handle 10 weeks of full-time lab work. Use this plan:
Finish biology and chemistry first. Past reports list both as requirements.
Name a research area. Be ready to explain why it interests you.
Apply early in the window. Watch the official page from early January.
Write a specific essay. Name real questions you want to study.
Plan for a no. If you can't be in Southern California this summer, line up a backup.
What are the pros and cons of the academy?
Pros -
You earn a $4,000 stipend, so the summer pays instead of costing you.
You work full-time for 10 weeks on a biomedical research team, which is a deep stretch of lab experience.
The program has run since 1960, per City of Hope's page, so it has a long track record.
It's open to advanced high school students, not only undergraduates.
Cons -
City of Hope doesn't publish an acceptance rate, so you can't judge your odds.
Past reports put selectivity near 4 percent, so most applicants don't get in.
The 10-week, full-time schedule leaves little room for other summer plans.
No 2027 dates are posted yet, so you can't plan around a deadline.
Frequently asked questions: City of Hope Summer Student Academy acceptance rate for high school students
Does the academy accept high school students?
Yes. The official page describes the program as open to undergraduate and advanced high school students. In the past cycle reported, about 45 of 82 spots went to high schoolers. Past reports say you generally need to be at least 16 and to have finished biology and chemistry. Check the official page for the current rules.
Do you have to live in California?
Past reports describe on-site work at City of Hope in Duarte, California, for the full 10 weeks. City of Hope's page doesn't state a location or residency rule. Past cycles also asked for U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Confirm the current rules on the official page before you apply.
How much research experience do you need before applying?
You don't need published work. The academy is built for students who are ready to commit to lab research, and past reports ask for finished biology and chemistry courses. A school science project or a lab class can show your interest. Be ready to explain what you want to study and why.
Is the Summer Student Academy the same as the Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy?
Yes. City of Hope's official page uses the full name, the Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy. Many websites shorten it to the Summer Student Academy or call it a City of Hope internship. They all describe the same 10-week program. Eugene Roberts, a City of Hope scientist, started it in 1960.
What if you can't be in California this summer?
Past reports describe the work as full-time and on-site, so you'd need to be in the area for all 10 weeks. If that doesn't fit, ask City of Hope whether any remote option exists. You can also look for a lab or research mentor closer to home. Starting early gives you time to build a project before the next application season.
Can't commit to 10 weeks on site in Southern California, or want a research option that fits your school year? Look at the Lumiere Research Scholar Program. It pairs you 1-on-1 with a PhD mentor from a top university for an independent research project, done entirely online. Apply here. If cost is the main barrier, also look at the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.
Stephen Turban is the co-founder of Lumiere Education and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics before beginning a PhD at Harvard Business School. A former McKinsey & Company consultant and former researcher, his research has been covered by the Harvard Business Review, The Economist, BBC News, Freakonomics Radio, and the Washington Post. In his articles for Forbes, he writes on what students and professionals can learn from high school research, high school passion projects, critical thinking, and mentorship. At Lumiere, he leads a selective research program where students work one-on-one with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper. Connect with him on LinkedIn.