Tuition

Our comprehensive fee (inclusive of tuition, room, board, and books/academic materials) for the 2025-2026 academic year is $37,800 per semester. 

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 40% 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.

Financial Aid Forms

A family applying for financial aid from Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki should fill out a Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) online at the School and Student Services (SSS) site of the National Association of Independent Schools. 

To Proceed with the SSS Application:

• Select “Maine Coast Semester at Chewonki”
  • Our SSS code is 4788
• Once the PFS is officially submitted, a $60 application fee is charged by SSS.
  • This fee is automatically waived for some families based on their annual family income. However, if the $60 fee poses a financial hardship, please reach out to admissions@chewonki.org to request a waiver.
• Tax Documents
  • For students applying for the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters, we require the parent or guardian submit the following via the SSS site.
    • 2023 federal tax returns, including all schedules
    • 2024 W-2 and 1099
• Marital Status
  • We look to a student’s biological or adoptive parent(s)/guardian(s) and partners to play a role in financing a student’s experience at Maine Coast Semester. Therefore, we require submission of the PFS from all households – regardless of their marital status.

For students wishing to be considered for financial aid, February 15 is the priority deadline for completing the PFS and submitting it to SSS.

Note: Any student receiving financial aid at their current high school is asked to send a copy of their award letter to admissions@chewonki.org. 

 

Financial Aid Info Sheet

Additional Expenses

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

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. Please see our FAQs for more details on clothing and gear. 

Payment Plan

We have partnered with FACTS Tuition Management Company to offer a payment plan that begins the month before the student arrives on campus and ends the month before the student leaves campus.

• The tuition amount financed will be equal to the full tuition minus 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 $50 per student and a returned payment fee of $30 – as specified on their Automatic Tuition Payment Agreement.

If you would like more information about the company, feel free to visit their website at www.factsmgt.com or call 866-441-4637. 

529 Education Savings Plans

Federal tax law allows parents who have 529 plans to use their accounts to pay private school K-12 tuition – like Maine Coast Semester – 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 advisor or tax planner if you are interested in this option to pay tuition.