Tuition

Our comprehensive fee (inclusive of tuition, room, board, and books/academic materials) for the 2025-2026 academic year is $37,800 per semester. Generally, the cost of attending Maine Coast Semester is roughly one-half of a full-year boarding school tuition.

We encourage every interested student to apply. Our admissions process is need-blind, which means our decision to admit (or deny) a student is separate from and unrelated to their financial information or ability to pay.

Financial Aid

Maine Coast Semester is dedicated to enrolling a diverse and talented student body. We carefully review all financial aid requests, giving priority to those who apply by the February 15th deadline.

We ask that all families contribute towards their student’s tuition, as we believe shared investment enhances the experience. Financial aid awards range from $500 to $30,000, with over 60% of our students receiving some form of aid. We work with families to find the best possible solution to meet their needs.

All students can apply for financial aid, and while we strive to support each student, not everyone will receive assistance. Financial aid does not need to be repaid and is used to cover tuition, room, and board. We expect families to meet their financial obligations by the start of the student’s semester.

Depending on the assessed need, Maine Coast Semester is able to provide assistance and guidance to cover travel and required clothing costs. Maine Coast Semester provides outdoor skills gear – as distinct from required clothing – for all students. 

Financial Aid Forms

PFS

A family applying for financial aid from Chewonki should fill out a Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) online at the School and Student Services site of the National Association of Independent Schools, https://sssandtadsfa.force.com/familyportal. 

Select “Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki” to proceed. Our School and Student Services (SSS) code is 4788. A $60 application fee is charged by School and Student Services once the PFS is submitted. This fee is automatically waived for some families based on their annual family income. If the $60 fee to apply for financial aid poses a financial hardship, please reach out to admissions@chewonki.org to request a waiver.

For students wishing to be considered for financial aid, February 15 is the priority deadline for completing the PFS and submitting it to School and Student Services. Chewonki requires your most recent year W-2 or 1099 and the most recent federal tax return (see note about Tax Documents below). We prefer that you upload these documents on the PFS online form. If the student is currently receiving financial aid at their sending school, please submit a copy of the most recent award letter directly to Chewonki.

Tax Documents

We require the parent or guardian’s 2024 federal tax returns including all schedules, and 2025 W-2 and 1099. We may also request the 2025 federal tax return, including all schedules.

Financial Aid Info Sheet

Additional Expenses

In addition to tuition, students have a $500 student account to cover the cost of miscellaneous expenses. 

Travel to and from campus at the beginning and end of the semester, as well as during breaks, is the responsibility of the family and is not included in the cost of tuition.

Payment Plan

We have partnered with FACTS Tuition Management Company to offer a payment plan. Families may choose to pay the tuition over several months, selecting the number of monthly installments. All installments must be made by the end of the student’s semester.

• The tuition amount financed will be equal to the full tuition less the enrollment deposit and financial aid (if applicable) plus the $500 student account fee.
• This interest-free plan involves monthly automatic withdrawals from a checking or savings account.
• FACTS will charge a non-refundable enrollment fee of $45 per student and a returned payment fee of $30 as specified on their Automatic Tuition Payment Agreement.

Set up your FACTS account online.

If you would like more information about the company, feel free to visit their website at www.factsmgt.com or call 1-800-624-7092.

529 Education Savings Plans

While not tax-deductible, investment earnings in a 529 Education Savings Plan grow federal tax-free and will not be taxed when the money is taken out when used to pay for school. Federal tax law allows parents who have 529 plans to use their accounts to pay private school K-12 tuition up to $10,000 per child, per year.

Because there are a number of federal and state tax issues that may need to be worked out, you should contact your financial adviser or tax planner if you are interested in this option to pay tuition. Click here to read the details about the 529 tax plan requirements