Affordability
One tuition. The whole day, all year.
SEEC is an independent 501(c)(3) early childhood school, and we work to keep this education within reach. Our 2026–27 rates are published below, alongside financial aid for qualifying families, a sliding-scale application fee, and military fee assistance through MCCYN.
2026–27 Tuition
The full picture, up front.
These Full-Time School rates were approved by our Board for the 2026–27 school year. The first two rate columns apply to SI families, those with a parent or caregiver employed by the Smithsonian. Rates for all other families include a 9% fee.
| Age Group | Annual tuition | Biweekly payment | Annual (non-SI) | Biweekly (non-SI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infants | $31,880 | $1,275 | $34,749 | $1,390 |
| Toddlers | $30,394 | $1,216 | $33,130 | $1,325 |
| Twos | $27,507 | $1,100 | $29,983 | $1,199 |
| Threes | $27,273 | $1,091 | $29,728 | $1,189 |
| Fours | $26,827 | $1,073 | $29,242 | $1,170 |
Tuition is prorated into 25 biweekly payments and debited automatically. One rate covers everything: full days from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, hot catered lunch and snacks, and daily museum access.
The part-time Smithsonian Early Explorers toddler program has its own tuition, listed on the Smithsonian Early Explorers page.
How Tuition Works
What tuition covers.
The rates above cover a genuinely full day, every working day of the year. There are no add-on fees for extended hours, meals, or museum programming. One rate covers the whole experience.
On a tour we will walk you through exactly what is included and answer the questions specific to your family.
Included in Tuition
- Full-day program, 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, year-round
- Hot catered lunch and snacks every day
- Daily museum access, with the Smithsonian as an everyday classroom
Access
Built to lower the barriers.
A sliding-scale application fee
Applying to SEEC should not be a financial hurdle. Every application includes a sliding-scale application fee based on family income, so the cost of applying reflects your circumstances. The fee is nonrefundable and is explained when you apply.
Financial aid
Financial aid is available for qualifying families. To learn about eligibility and the application process, email our enrollment team at seecinfo@si.edu. We treat every conversation about aid with discretion and care.
Military Families
MCCYN, accepted here.
SEEC accepts Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN), a military fee assistance program that helps eligible families offset the cost of licensed community child care when on-installation care is not available.
That makes SEEC an approved option for eligible military families in the Washington DC area. If you are considering SEEC through MCCYN, email seecinfo@si.edu and we will help you understand how the process works with our program.
Federal Families
Built around federal work life.
SEEC has served Smithsonian and federal families since 1988, and that history shapes who we serve first.
Admissions Priority
Under our bylaws, children of Smithsonian employees, tenants, and other related entities come first, and, as space allows, children of other governmental entities and the general public. Learn how priority and the annual lottery work on our Admissions page.
Talk With Us
Now you know the numbers. Come see the school.
Bring your questions to a tour, or email our enrollment team and we will follow up.