Financial Aid & Scholarships

Environmental Studies in Woods Hole & at Sea

You Can Afford SEA Semester!When packaging aid, we take each unique financial

situation into account. Thanks to generous donors who

recognize the importance of our programs, we have

resources that allow us to provide students with both

need- and merit-based aid that can cover unmet need.

More than half of our students receive some form of finan-

cial assistance; out of those, 95% receive aid from SEA.

With this assistance SEA

Semester may not cost any

more than what you pay at

your own college or university.

We promise to work with you

to make the ultimate study

abroad experience an affordable one. We will help you

transfer as much of your current financial aid as possible

toward the cost of SEA Semester.

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 Semester can

be less expensive overall than the cost of many other

off-campus study programs.

Our admission process is need-blind, so applying for

financial aid will not affect your chances for acceptance.

Transferring Federal Financial AidPlease work with your Financial Aid Office to determine

what federal aid is transferable to SEA. Most often, Staf-

ford or Direct Student Loans, Pell Grants and PLUS Loans

will transfer to SEA. Some schools allow the transfer of

other federal aid. Federal work-study funds do not transfer.

Be sure that you have filed the Free Application for Feder-

al Student Assistance (FAFSA) with your college in order

for federal aid to be processed. A couple of good websites

are: www.fafsa.ed.gov and www.finaid.org.

SEA AWARDS OVER

$1 MILLION PER YEAR

IN NEED-BASED AID

AND SCHOLARSHIPS.

AWARDS RANGE

FROM $1,000 TO

$27,000.

LAST YEAR THE

AVERAGE AWARD

WAS $10,300.

sea.edu/financialaid

The idea of getting to sail the ocean while still receiving credit was too much to pass up. Turns out I was right, SEA Semester was one of the greatest experiences of my life!- Luke Gervase, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Aquatic and Fisheries Science major

Need-Based Financial Aid Facts• SEA Semester, utilizing a variety of financial aid

resources, is currently meeting 100% of students’

demonstrated need.

• There is no deadline for need-based aid, however

students are encouraged to complete their aid

application as soon as possible.

• SEA Semester practices need-blind admissions;

financial aid is awarded post-acceptance.

• Students who don’t receive aid from their home

institution are still eligible to apply for SEA aid.

• Federal and state aid is almost always transferable.

• Institutional aid may transfer from a students’ home

school.

Need-Based Financial Aid DetailsWhile there are no deadlines associated with need-based

aid, we encourage you to submit financial aid materials as

soon as possible. Formal financial aid packages are award-

ed after you have been accepted to the program, but we

can work with you during the admissions process to esti-

mate program costs and to discuss available aid.

We can help you determine what outside assistance

will transfer to SEA and which sources of SEA-based aid

may be available to you. Federal aid (Stafford Loans,

Pell Grants, PLUS Loans) is usually transferable. State

scholarships and outside aid (community or employer

scholarships) can often be transferred. SEA has agree-

ments in place with many schools that allow students

to transfer institutional aid to SEA. Please meet with

someone in your Financial Aid Office as well as your Study

Abroad Office to discuss your own situation.

Once we have all of your documentation, and you have

been accepted to the program, your financial aid appli-

cation will be evaluated and you will be notified of your

award by email.

Merit & Special ScholarshipsPresidential Scholars

One Presidential Scholarship of $7,500 is awarded for

every Fall and Spring SEA Semester class. This award is

reserved for applicants with a history of academic excel-

lence, community service and leadership experience. No

separate application is required.

Dean’s Award

One Dean’s Award of up to $5,000 is awarded for every

Fall and Spring SEA Semester class. This award is based on

academic achievement, educational experiences and intel-

lectual curiosity. Apply for this scholarship by submitting a

one-page essay describing your background and elaborat-

ing on your educational experiences.

Additional Merit Awards

Awards ranging from $500 to $5,000 are awarded

throughout the year based on a student’s experience or

excellence in one of several areas including individual

academic disciplines, research, community service, and

leadership. See our website for details.

Special Scholarships

The following awards amounts are specific to full-length

semester programs; please visit our website for details on

scholarship availability for SEA Summer Sessions.

Trimester/Quarter Awards

Automatic $2,500 scholarships are available to students

enrolling in SEA Semester from colleges operating on a

trimester or quarter calendar.

SEA Alumni Referral Awards

If you learned about SEA Semester from an alumnus or

alumna, you are eligible for an award of up to $2,500.

Additional special scholarships may be available; please

visit our website for details regarding additional special

scholarships including:

• SEA Legacy Award

• SEA High School Alumni Awards

• Five College Scholarship Award

• Killam Canadian National Scholarship

• Henry L. and Grace Doherty Endowed Journalism

Scholarship

• Charlie McClennen Fellowship for Colgate University

Students

• Bermudian National Scholarship

Institutional Awards

Students enrolled at Boston University, Purdue University,

Ripon College, Stonehill College, Sweet Briar College,

SUNY-ESF, the University of New Hampshire, and the

University of Rhode Island should contact the SEA

Financial Aid Office to learn more about special

scholarship opportunities available to them.

About SEA Semester® Creating Ocean Scholars, Stewards & Leaders Since 1971

Sea Education Association (SEA) is an internationally

recognized leader in undergraduate ocean education.

Since 1971, we have equipped students with the tools to

become environmentally literate

leaders prepared to address the

defining issue of the 21st century:

the human impact on the environ-

ment.

Our fully accredited study abroad

program, SEA Semester®, is

the leading off-campus Environmental Studies program

focused on the ocean. Each program offers an intercon-

nected suite of courses designed to explore a specific

ocean-related theme using a cross-disciplinary approach.

We look for motivated undergraduates of all majors who

are passionate about learning, inspired to tackle and

address real-world problems, and eager to become part

of an unparalleled living and learning community.

SEA is based on Cape Cod in the oceanographic research

community of Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

Commitment to AffordabilitySea Education Association remains committed to making

SEA Semester programs affordable for all qualified and

motivated students.

Contact UsVirginia Land McGuire

Associate Dean, Student Services & Financial Aid

SEA Semester Alumna

vland@sea.edu • 508-444-1937

Dale Dean

Assistant, Student Services & Financial Aid

ddean@sea.edu • 508-444-1923

Sea Education Association

P.O. Box 6

Woods Hole, MA 02543

800-552-3633 x770

800-977-8516 fax

www.sea.edu

OUR GOAL: FOR SEA

SEMESTER TO COST

NO MORE THAN A

SEMESTER ON YOUR

HOME CAMPUS.