SEA is Committed to Access and Affordability
With over $1 million awarded annually, SEA works with students, their families, and their home institutions to make participation in our programs a reality. SEA’s admission process is need-blind and applying for financial aid does not affect your chances of being accepted.
SEA has funds available to assist students who demonstrate family financial need. We carefully assess each student’s financial situation based on submitted financial documents and aid information from your home institution. SEA offers a financial aid package that takes into account available federal and state aid, institutional support, and ability to pay.
2023 PROGRAM FEES
- $29,975 for semester programs (Shorter summer programs are priced individually)
- 17-18 semester hours of credit, all research fees and academic field trips, and science lab fees are included
- Student housing and prepaid grocery cards for the shore component are included, along with at meals at sea.
- 24-hour emergency assistance at sea. Ships carry a fully-stocked pharmacy and receive support from a physician’s network available via satellite 24 hrs.
- More detailed information available by visiting the Cost and Payment page
FINANCIAL AID
- SEA works closely with applicants during the admissions process to estimate costs and consider options for funding your SEA program.
- Please contact the SEA Financial Aid Office to discuss the transfer of institutional or federal aid, or to learn about scholarship opportunities.
AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
- SEA awards over $1 million per year in awards and scholarships.
- Over 50% of our students receive some financial assistance; out of those, 95% receive aid directly from SEA.
ADDITIONAL EXPENSES
- Students are responsible for all travel expenses to and from SEA campus (Woods Hole) or remote shore component (varies by program).
- Personal expenses (including local transportation): $250 estimate.
AFFORDABILITY
Sea Education Association remains committed to making SEA programs affordable for all qualified and motivated students. With current world-wide economic challenges, we promise to work with you to make the ultimate off-campus study experience an affordable one. We will help you transfer as much of your current financial aid as possible toward the cost of SEA. We also have a generous financial aid program that can cover most other unmet need. In fact, with this assistance SEA may not cost any more than what you pay at your own college or university.
Also, SEA programs operate in U.S. dollars, which means that you are not affected by high international exchange rates. While our ships do visit some exotic locales, the limited shore time ensures that you will not incur significant costs outside the program fees. Therefore, SEA can be less expensive overall than the cost of many other off-campus study programs.
Finally, as you are preparing for a career after college or applying to graduate school, the leadership and teamwork that are inherent benefits of participating in SEA will be invaluable to you. Just ask any of our alumni!
(If your parents are concerned about cost, please share this with them or have them contact our admission office at admission@sea.edu.)
Our undergraduate programs are fully accredited by Boston University.
