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EXPLO tuition–what's included

EXPLO is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization. All tuition and fees are invested into running and improving our programs each summer. Tuition at EXPLO includes: all programming costs, course supplies, room and board, on-campus activities and events, and tuition insurance throughout a student’s stay on campus. Any additional fees that are based on individual student circumstances and student choice while at the program are outlined below.

Please contact our Admission Office with any tuition, financial aid, or payment-related questions. We are here to help!

 

2025 summer program tuition

 


Overnight


Day

2 weeks

$5,995

$3,695

4 weeks

$11,270

$6,950

Additional fees per session:

Damage Deposit: $150

Trips & Sundries $350

Damage Deposit: $150

Sundries $150

 

+$325 Medical Rotations supplement 
+$275 Veterinary Science supplement 

Additional fees are based on individual student circumstances and student choice while at the program.

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Paying for EXPLO


The EXPLO Effect

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“I wanted to let you know how incredibly impactful EXPLO was during my formative teenage years. I met so many amazing mentors and fellow students I’m still close with to this day, and being able to then work there and pass on my love of the program to the new groups of kids was so special for me. I will always cherish those memories. Thank you so much for all the work you do making the EXPLO programs so incredible, inclusive, and special!”

Chiara Mancinelli
EXPLO alum, former staff member, and PhD candidate at Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences

Payment Plans

EXPLO offers the following payment options:

  • Payment of full tuition amount upon enrollment in the program
  • Payment in three scheduled installments (final due by April 22, 2025)
  • Payment in monthly installments (final due by April 22, 2025)

Payments can be made via check, wire, or debit/credit card. In all cases, the total tuition amount must be paid no later than April 22, 2025. See Tuition Details below for more detail on how to pay.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

EXPLO accepts payment via Flexible Spending Account (FSA) programs for dependent care, provided your student remains under the age of 13 for the duration of the program, and is enrolling in a day program only.

See how we can help

We are ready to do everything we can to help you give your teen the EXPLO experience. EXPLO is committed to providing grants and scholarships to as many qualified students as possible. 

Joy Z.

Every year, when EXPLO returns to me a full, vibrant, transformed daughter, I tell myself I’m going to write a thank-you note for spurring such growth. I can’t wait to see who you send back to me this year! Thank you for all you do. EXPLO is life-changing.

Joy Z.
EXPLO parent
Coretta O.

I just wanted to say a million thanks for the opportunity granted to my two boys. Zachary came back a different person, trying to speak Portuguese and Spanish. He's even more enthusiastic about science. Connor is now interested in the piano and engineering. My boys would not have had this opportunity to explore had it not been for you—thank you.

Coretta O.
EXPLO parent
TFA Sofia Z

You have an awesome program. At first, I was a little leery due to the cost. After [my daughter] attended, I knew it was the best investment I have ever made.

Norman R.
EXPLO parent
Lily B.

First, let me express our gratitude for this life changing experience for Violet. We sent off a little girl who was unsure of herself and she returned a total pre-teen gleaming with a higher self-esteem. Thank you to all who helped Violet grow, discover new interests and just have fun, too.

Lily B.
EXPLO parent
I will never forget the phone call I received from you informing me that both my daughters would be able to attend EXPLO because of a generous financial aid scholarship. Without the scholarship, this life changing experience could not have been possible for them.
Daisy C.
EXPLO parent

Scholarships + Grants: How to apply

EXPLO offers two different types of need-based financial aid: scholarships and grants. Grants subsidize a small portion of the tuition for families that make a deposit to reserve a space at EXPLO and also demonstrate financial need. Scholarships are for students who require a significant financial award to attend EXPLO.

Grants are available up to $1500.
Scholarships cover up to 90% of tuition.

Families with an adjusted gross income of up to $375,000 (depending on cost of living in your area), could be eligible for grant funding. Please contact us at awards@explo.org.

Step One: Apply to EXPLO
Complete the EXPLO Application and submit your deposit to reserve your spot in the program.

Step Two: Complete the Financial Aid Application
Complete the Financial Aid Form and submit financial materials through the application portal. This will be reviewed by our Financial Aid Team within two weeks of submission. 

Step Three: Final Payment
Once a decision has been made, you will be contacted by the Financial Aid team. If you have qualified for a grant, you will be billed for your tuition minus the amount of your grant award. If you are not awarded a grant, you are required to pay the full tuition amount.

Deadline: Grant applications are considered on a rolling basis until funding is no longer available.

 

Step One: Apply to EXPLO
Complete the EXPLO Application and indicate that you intend to apply for a scholarship. You will not be required to submit a deposit. A space at the program is not guaranteed and enrollment is contingent upon being selected to receive a scholarship. 

Step Two: Complete the Financial Aid Application
Complete the Financial Aid form and submit financial and merit materials through the application portal. Completed applications are due February 20, 2025.

Step Three: Final Payment
Once a decision has been made in mid- April, you will be contacted by the Financial Aid team. If you have been selected to receive a scholarship and accept, you will be billed for your tuition, minus the amount of your scholarship award. If you are not awarded a scholarship, you will not be enrolled in the program. (If space is available, you may still enroll in the program and at the full tuition amount.)

Deadline: Scholarship application and materials are due February 20, 2025.

We encourage you to contact financialaid@explo.org for more information or request a copy of the Financial Aid Guide by filling out the form below.

Financial aid guide request

Please provide your information below to receive the EXPLO financial aid guide.

Make an Impact Through EXPLO

EXPLO’s financial aid program is made possible in part by supportive partner programs and generous donations to the EXPLO Scholarship Fund. See how you can help. 

Tuition details

In addition to the base tuition to attend our summer programs, the following charges apply:

Course Fees: The Medical Rotations and Veterinary Science Focus Programs entail course fees of $325 and $275, respectively. These fees cover the costs of special class materials, off-campus trips and activities, and guest speakers specific to those programs.

Damage Deposit: Upon enrollment, EXPLO collects a standard damage deposit of $150 per student. The deposit is used to offset any charges incurred for damage to a student’s room, furnishings, or pro-rated shares of extraordinary damage to common facilities in the dormitories or classrooms. Families may be charged if a student’s room is left in a state of disarray. Parents/guardians are responsible for any damage beyond the deposit. If there is no damage or balance due, the Damage Deposit will be refunded after the summer. Note for day students: any sundry charges that may occur while your child is in attendance will be deducted from the Damage Deposit.

Trips + Sundries: Upon enrollment, EXPLO collects a standard Trips + Sundries per session from all students. Trips + Sundries funds are used to cover any trips chosen by the student, sundries, lost keys or ID cards, and COVID testing as needed. Day students that stay late at the program will have the $30 dinner + evening event fee charged from their sundries account.

This account can be supplemented by parents/guardians at any time. If a student has a low balance or overdraws this account, our Main Office will contact the parent/guardian listed on the account to arrange payment. All unused amounts, except those covered by a scholarship, will be returned after the summer.

International Student Fee: Applications from students attending from outside of the United States will be charged a one-time $100 fee to cover the additional processing as part of their English-language proficiency assessment and visa needs.

 

EXPLO Academic Enrichment Programs require a deposit of $800 per session. Deposits, less an application processing fee of $100, are refundable until March 1, 2025. After March 1, 2025, deposits become non-refundable.

If you proceed with enrollment, the full deposit amount, including the application processing fee, will be applied to your tuition balance.

Credit cards are our preferred payment type for online deposits. A credit card deposit will expedite our ability to process your application. If you pay your deposit via check or bank wire, we will not be able to process your application until we have received payment

Early Bird Discount:
Deadline: December 31, 2024

  • $200 per overnight session
  • $100 per day session

Alumni Discount:
EXPLO offers a rolling returning discount for students who have previously attended an EXPLO campus-based summer program. 

  • $200 per overnight session
  • $100 per day session
Sibling Discount:
If a family is sending multiple students to EXPLO, they will receive a discount on their final tuition balance for each student. $300 for students attending overnight, and $150 for students attending day programs.

Double Session Discount:
We offer a discount for students attending both Session 1 and 2 during the same summer: $720 for overnight students; $440 for day students; and $580 for a combination of day and overnight sessions.

 

While many of our families arrange for private transportation, we’re happy to meet any student upon arrival to ensure safe transportation to campus. The airport pick-up/drop-off charge is $100 one way, or $200 round trip. We provide this service for students arriving at Boston Logan airport (BOS).

PLEASE NOTE - To facilitate a smooth arrival experience, we strongly recommend that students do not fly as unaccompanied minors (UM) unless your airline requires it based on your child’s age. If that is the case with your child, please make sure that all flight arrangements, both for arrival and departure, including the payment of the airline fees for UM service, are completed prior to the submission of the Arrival and Departure Forms. There is an extra $150 fee each way for unaccompanied minors using EXPLO's transportation to or from the airport.

 

Final payments must be received in full by April 22, 2025 for all students, regardless of their program session. Students applying after the final balance due date of April 22, 2025 must pay the entire bill immediately after acceptance. Students enrolling after June 1, 2025 must pay by certified check, wire, or credit card.

In the event that space is not available at a program, families will be notified in writing that the student has been placed on a waitlist and EXPLO will hold the deposit. If space does not become available for the student or if the family wishes to be removed from the waitlist, EXPLO will return the deposit in full.

  • Final payments can be made via check, wire, or debit/credit card.
  • Checks must be drawn on U.S. Banks in U.S. funds. We will not accept checks drawn on a foreign bank.
  • Make checks payable to Exploration School. Include the name of the student and program they are attending on the check (e.g. Jane Smith, EXPLO 360°).
  • Any returned checks or ACH payments will result in a charge of $35.
  • Please note: Payments made via wire or debit/credit card may incur a small processing fee from the third party administrator used to process these forms of payment. These fees are non negotiable and non-refundable.

Deposit
Deposits, less an application processing fee of $100 are refundable until March 1, 2025. After March 1, 2025, deposits become non-refundable. If you proceed with enrollment, the full deposit amount, including the application processing fee, will be applied to your tuition balance. Refund requests should be submitted in writing to your Admission Counselor.

 

Tuition
Final payment is due on April 22, 2025. After that date, tuition is non-refundable.

While no one expects their child to depart early from a program session, unexpected things may happen. Each year, students leave programs for a variety of unforeseen reasons including illness, homesickness, family emergencies, etc. Your financial obligation to EXPLO is for the full tuition as stated in the program registration material. The program has fixed expenses whether a student completes the program or not and, therefore, EXPLO will not refund the tuition or fees if your child departs early.

Every student enrolled in an EXPLO program is automatically covered by tuition refund insurance administered by A.W.G. Dewar, Inc. This plan does not provide coverage for any event or circumstances prior to the first day of the student’s session. Through the EXPLO Tuition Refund Plan, partial financial relief may be available if your child withdraws early from the program session. Timely claim applications must be completed and submitted. Should A.W.G. Dewar make a claim payment, it will be paid to EXPLO for credit to your account. Terms and conditions apply.


All students are expected to obtain U.S.- based health insurance coverage meeting EXPLO coverage requirements, and to provide health insurance documentation prior to departure for the United States. For individuals who need to purchase health insurance that provides coverage while in the U.S., EXPLO has identified affordable $0 deductible plans to make it easy on families should medical services need to be used. International student health insurance will be available for purchase starting March 1, 2025.

If you are a U.S. resident and need assistance obtaining health insurance to attend EXPLO, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.