UCSF CURE Acceptance Rate 2026
Updated: 27th October, 2026
TL;DR
UCSF does not publish an acceptance rate for CURE, its paid eight-week summer research internship for high school juniors. It does say it gets hundreds of applications each cycle, and you have to meet every eligibility rule before anyone reads your file. The program is fully in person in San Francisco and Oakland. If you can't be there, look at the Lumiere Research Scholar Program. It pairs you 1:1 with a PhD mentor for an independent research project.
What is the UCSF CURE acceptance rate?
UCSF does not publish a CURE acceptance rate. The official CURE page lists the rules and the application steps, but it does not say how many students get in. Any exact percentage you see online is a guess. The table below shows what UCSF does and doesn't confirm.
Figure | Detail | Source |
Acceptance rate | Not officially published | UCSF CSEO |
Applications received | Hundreds each cycle, no exact count | CURE FAQ |
Cohort size | Not officially published. A Lumiere review estimates 10 to 11 interns | Lumiere deep dive |
Stipend | Paid, dollar amount not published | CURE FAQ |
Duration | 8 weeks, Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week | CURE FAQ |
Location | In person at UCSF sites in San Francisco and Oakland. No remote option | CURE FAQ |
Eligibility | Current 11th grader (or CCSF student), 16+ by start, 2.5 GPA, B or better in Biology or Chemistry | UCSF CSEO |
Application deadline | The application page still shows February 16, 2025. 2027 dates aren't posted yet | UCSF CSEO |
Program dates | The most recent dates posted were June 15 to August 7, 2026. 2027 dates aren't posted yet | CURE FAQ |
How selective is UCSF CURE?
CURE is very selective, even without a published rate. UCSF says it receives hundreds of applications each cycle, and a Lumiere review estimates each cohort at only 10 to 11 interns. That cohort size is a third-party estimate, not an official UCSF number. Still, a few spots against hundreds of applicants means the odds are low.
The process has two parts. First, UCSF gives priority to students who meet the eligibility rules. Second, a smaller group moves on to interviews, and only those students are contacted. UCSF says it sends those notices by mid to late February. If you don't hear anything by then, you should assume you weren't selected.
The program also focuses on underserved students interested in health careers, so your story and goals count alongside your grades. You can read UCSF's own answers in the CURE FAQ. For more on how the program works from the inside, see this deep dive on the CURE research internship.
What are the UCSF CURE eligibility requirements?
You must be a current 11th grader, at least 16 years old by the program start, with a 2.5 GPA or higher. Current City College of San Francisco students can also apply. Here is the full list from the UCSF CSEO page.
Grade level: Current 11th grader in high school, or a current CCSF student.
Age: At least 16 by the first day of the program.
GPA: A minimum of 2.5.
Coursework: A completed Biology or Chemistry class with a B or better.
Time: Full availability for eight weeks, 40 hours a week. UCSF says you can't take summer school or join another summer program at the same time.
Attendance: You must attend the Friday College Seminar. UCSF says absences are grounds for removal.
Meeting these rules gets you into the pool. It doesn't guarantee a spot.
How do you apply to UCSF CURE, and when is the deadline?
You apply online through the UCSF CSEO CURE page, and the most recent deadline posted there was February 16, 2025. The application takes two parts. You submit the student form with an unofficial transcript. Then one recommender submits the online recommendation form.
The FAQ adds the details. You need at least one recommendation form and can send up to two. One must come from a current or past science teacher. UCSF says recommendation letters won't be accepted, only the form.
As of October 2026, the application page hasn't posted 2027 dates. The most recent program dates in the CURE FAQ are June 15 to August 7, 2026, with mandatory in-person orientations for you and a parent or guardian before the start. Since the 2025 application opened in early December, check the page in late fall. To compare other options near you, see this list of summer programs for high school students in the Bay Area.
Does UCSF CURE pay a stipend?
Yes, CURE is a paid internship, but UCSF doesn't post the dollar amount. The CURE FAQ says students receive a stipend for successfully completing the program. Housing and transportation aren't provided, so plan for your commute costs.
For a rough comparison, UCSF's separate High School Intern Program pays $4,500 after you finish its full eight weeks at 35 hours a week, according to the official HIP page. That shows the scale of pay a UCSF summer research role can carry, but it isn't a CURE figure. Confirm the exact CURE amount with UCSF before you plan around it. You can also read our guide to the UCSF High School Intern Program.
How can you improve your chances of getting into UCSF CURE?
Start by meeting every rule, then make your application specific. The eligibility gate comes first, so check your GPA and your Biology or Chemistry grade early. A grade below a B in that class can end your application before it starts.
Next, ask a science teacher who knows your work to complete the recommendation form. Give them your résumé and a few weeks of notice. UCSF requires one form from a science teacher, so this person matters.
Then use your short answers to show why you want a health or science career. Tie it to your own school, family, or community. Since the program serves underserved students, a clear and honest story fits its mission better than a list of awards. Finally, clear your summer. You can't take summer school or another program during CURE, and UCSF says you must be there all eight weeks.
What are the pros and cons of UCSF CURE?
Pros -
It is paid, so you can do research without giving up summer income.
You work with UCSF faculty, postdocs, and graduate students and present your project at a research symposium.
It includes college and career advising and college application support.
It runs eight weeks at 40 hours a week, which is long enough to finish a real project.
Cons -
UCSF publishes no acceptance rate, and it receives hundreds of applications each cycle.
It is fully in person, and UCSF doesn't provide housing or transportation.
Only current 11th graders and CCSF students can apply, with a 2.5 GPA and a B in Biology or Chemistry.
You can't take summer school or another program during the eight weeks.
Frequently asked questions: UCSF CURE acceptance rate and application
Can you do UCSF CURE if you don't live in the Bay Area?
Probably not, unless you can get yourself to San Francisco or Oakland for eight weeks. The internship is fully in person and can't be done remotely. UCSF doesn't provide housing or transportation. Internship sites are spread across UCSF campuses in both cities.
Can sophomores or seniors apply to UCSF CURE?
No, the page asks for a current 11th grader. You need to be at least 16 by the program start. The only other group listed is current City College of San Francisco students. If you're a sophomore, plan to apply the year you become a junior.
When will you hear back from UCSF CURE?
UCSF says it notifies students who advance to the interview stage by mid to late February. Students who don't advance aren't contacted. In the most recent posted cycle, the application closed on February 16, 2025. Check the UCSF CSEO page for the next cycle's dates.
Can you do another summer program during UCSF CURE?
No. UCSF says you can't take summer school or join another summer program during CURE. The program runs Monday to Friday, 40 hours a week, for eight weeks. You also need to attend the Friday College Seminar. If you have a planned trip or class, check it against the program dates before you apply.
Does UCSF CURE accept recommendation letters?
No, UCSF accepts only its online recommendation form. You need at least one form and can submit up to two. One has to come from a current or past science teacher. The other can come from a counselor, mentor, or another teacher.
How is UCSF CURE different from the UCSF High School Intern Program?
Both are paid UCSF summer internships, but they have different rules. HIP is only for juniors at an SFUSD high school or a San Francisco public charter school. CURE is open to 11th graders who meet its science and GPA rules, plus CCSF students. HIP runs 35 hours a week, while CURE runs 40. Read our full guide to UCSF HIP to compare them.
Can't commit to eight in-person weeks in San Francisco, or want a research option that fits around your school year? Look at the Lumiere Research Scholar Program. It pairs you 1:1 with a PhD mentor for an independent research project, done entirely online, with no geographic or attendance restrictions. Apply here.
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.