Scholarship and Payment Information
Please note that the application and program fee reflect SHINE 2024 rates.
The mission of the USC Viterbi's K-12 STEM Center is to help provide equitable, culturally responsive opportunities for youth, families, and schools in STEM.
The K-12 STEM Center develops strategies and builds initiatives to meet the needs of a diverse population, specifically in efforts to increase the representation of female students and African American/Black, Hispanic/LatinX/Latine, and Native/Indigenous students in its STEM programs, such as SHINE. Some of those efforts include outreach, mentorship, and scholarships. However, all STEM Center programs are open to all students in compliance with Federal and State law and, University policy.
Please note: Final acceptance of all students, regardless of scholarship status, depends upon the professor, as the professor is responsible for the safety and management of the research group under federal funding requirements.
Cost Information
Application Fees : $50
You can pay using the information below to mail in a check or wait until we send you an email that confirms receipt of your application and includes a secure payment link and mail instructions.
The $50 application fee is required before your application is considered complete and is non-refundable.
Attendance Fee: $6,330
This can be paid in one or two installments after the student is admitted. We also offer payment plans.
Please note: SHINE offers application fee waivers for students. SHINE can waive the application fee for students who apply on time, are income-eligible, and send us an email with proof by 2/16/2024.
Questions about application fee waivers can be sent to K12STEM1@usc.edu.
What does the SHINE Fee cover?
- Ph.D. student or postdoctoral scholar contracted to mentor each SHINE student for 15+ hours/week for seven weeks;
- An additional three to five hours/week for training, including Friday sessions with all students (all-cohort engagement is also an essential part of learning about research and building professional networks); presentations and activities presented by professors and/or Ph.D. students on research; MATLAB, Python and other training by professors or Ph.D. students/post-docs; science and engineering guest speakers, scholarly literature search sessions and annotated bibliography activities; college admission sessions and personal statement review, etc. There is also an optional additional 2 hours a week for training support/assistance, study sessions, teambuilding sessions, etc.
- All lab safety trainings, lab materials, USC ID cards, and Friday workshop materials plus Friday lunch;
- Regular check-ins for all with SHINE staff and "Center Mentors"; in addition, specialized mentorship opportunities are provided to first-generation students or others seeking guidance;
- Family days at Orientation and culminating Poster Session;
- All administration between SHINE families and professors/research teams, K-12 STEM Center staff, USC Youth Protection and Programming, USC COVID Protocols, USC Viterbi Admissions, USC Viterbi proportional overhead, etc.
SHINE Application Fee: $50
Application fee waivers are available for students who apply on time, are income-eligible and send us an email with proof by 2/16/2024. Please email k12stem1@usc.edu.
The application fee is required before your application is considered complete. We will email families once the application is complete and include a link to pay the fee on our secure portal; alternatively, see the button below to mail a check in to our office.
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
K-12 STEM Center
Attn: Lauren Guzman / SHINE
Kerckhoff Hall (KER/KCH)
734 W. Adams Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90089
Application Fee Due: February 16, 2024
SHINE Program Fee: $6,330
Once a non-scholarship student accepts the offer from a professor to join SHINE, the family will need to submit the non-refundable payments:
- By date specified in offer letter: $1,330 deposit
- By later date specified in offer letter: $5,000
Or
- Pay the full amount when you accept your offer letter: $6,330
Program Fee Details:
Your SHINE offer will provide details regarding the lab you are matched with, onboarding instructions, and important dates (deposit, remaining program fee or full program cost due date).
Please refer to your letter for important information and dates.
SHINE Scholarship Information:
SHINE has a limited number of scholarships for students who demonstrate both income eligibility and academic merit.
✓ There is a section on the application to request a scholarship and another to upload documentation demonstrating that the applicant meets income eligibility (e.g., evidence of federally funded meal assistance, students enrolled in the Medicaid program, SNAP benefits, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), and other relevant assistance programs.)
✓ If predetermined documents above are unavailable then income based eligibility will be considered on a case by case basis following the Pell Grant Eligibility Formula.
*SHINE will be using the Pell Grant Eligibility Formula (minimum Pell Grant at 275% of the poverty line, maximum Pell Grant at 175% of the poverty line).
Questions about scholarships can be sent to K12STEM1@usc.edu.
Published on March 20th, 2017
Last updated on February 15th, 2024