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
[email protected] • 508-444-1937
Dale Dean
Assistant, Student Services & Financial Aid
[email protected] • 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.
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