Tuition and Aid

Through generous scholarships and innovative financing options, we are committed to ensuring finances are never a barrier to learning.

Tuition | Income Sharing | Scholarships | Fellowships | Work Study

Tuition Breakdown

The Watson education is an extremely personalized experience – from weekly mentor meetings to tailored workshops, out of state travel, and one-on-ones with renowned entrepreneurs. We offer generous scholarships, fellowships and financing options to make Watson accessible to students from all economic backgrounds.

Watson Semester Accelerator (In-Person) in Boulder, Colorado
Tuition: $15,000 (includes housing)

Watson Semester Accelerator (Virtual)
Tuition: $6,000

Watson Career Accelerator in Guatemala City, Guatemala
Tuition: $3,900
Total: $3,900

Bachelor of Science in Social Entrepreneurship from Lynn University

See Lynn University Tuition
Health Insurance: All in-person students are required to have health insurance, which is offered at cost if the student does not already have insurance.
Other Expenses: Students should also budget for travel to and from Boca Raton or Boulder, transportation while enrolled, as well as entertainment costs.
Housing: Students attending Watson Institute at Lynn University are required to live on campus, cohort-style in a designated dorm on campus. Housing is guaranteed by Lynn University for the first two years or until the student surpasses 60 college credits.
Required Technology: Wireless internet is included in the residential fees, however, having a laptop is essential to your learning at Watson.

Scholarships

Watson Institute offers a wide range of partial scholarships for both merit and financial need. We also offer scholarships from generous partners such as:

  • The Wolfson Foundation Scholarship Fund: A scholarship fund for students and alumni of Miami Dade College to attend Watson Institute.
  • Whitaker Family Manufacturing Scholarship: A scholarship for a young entrepreneur developing a manufacturing-based venture.
  • Kirchner Capital Allocator Fellowship: A scholarship for students with experience and interest in the field of impact investing from Guatemala, Costa Rica, and the Americas.
  • Elizabeth ‘Libby’ Brody Seligson Scholarship Fund: This scholarship fund is awarded to selected students from underprivileged backgrounds.

Work Study

Watson Institute selectively offers a work study program for exceptional students with financial need. Work Study Scholars work 10 hours per week with the Watson team while enrolled and are awarded a scholarship per semester to go towards their tuition.

Fellowships

Watson Institute offers several full-ride fellowships each semester that cover the full cost of tuition. All finalists will be invited to apply for these fellowships:

  • MEOT Fellowship: The Martini Education and Opportunity Trust (MEOT) Fellowship is designed for changemakers, innovators, and leaders primarily from the US, or doing work in the US, to drive forward impactful innovations and solutions to significant social, economic, environmental, and corporate governance challenges.  Candidates can be working to drive forward innovative solutions by joining existing organizations and/or by starting new ventures. The MEOT Fellows are specifically chosen for their potential to create outcomes of value and importance to society, perhaps something innovative that would not exist or achieve scale if it were not for their efforts. Approximately 5 MEOT Fellows will be selected to join Watson Institute’s Semester Accelerator in Fall 2021 and will form a tight-knit pod that includes supplemental programming and engagement with the Martini Education and Opportunity Trust team.
  • Enlight China Fellowship: This Fellowship is for applicants from the Greater China Area that are committed to lead lives of impact.
  • Enlight Women’s Fellowship: This Fellowship is for applicants working to increase access and quality of education for women and girls. Applicants for this Fellowship must be from greater China, including Taiwan and Hong Kong.
  • Golden Bridge Fellowship: The Golden Bridge Fellowship provides scholarships to attend Watson Institute for embodied emerging leaders who are engaged in the work of Golden Bridge around the world. Their initiatives are dedicated to cultivating peace, inner and outer, through creative and culturally responsive leadership.
  • Heyman/McConnell Family Education Fellowship: This Fellowship is for applicants working to transform the educational experience of children and youth.
  • Jane Strode Miller Fellowship: This Fellowship is for next-generation entrepreneurs creating solutions within the food or beverage space.
  • Luff Peace Fellowship: This Fellowship is for applicants working to increase access and quality of education and promoting peace globally.
  • Sistla Tech Fellowship: This Fellowship is for applicants creating tech solutions to solve the greatest social and environmental challenges.
  • Sustainability Fellowship: This Fellowship is for applicants developing solutions focused on environmental sustainability and climate change.
  • Tech Fellowship: This Fellowship is for applicants creating tech solutions to solve the greatest social, economic and environmental challenges.

Pave the Way Fund

Watson’s Pave the Way Fund pays for students’ tuition and housing in Boulder. Once students graduate and begin earning a living wage, alumni share an affordable percentage of future earnings for a set number of months through what’s commonly known as an Income Share Agreement. Alumni contributions refuel the Pave the Way Fund which in turn provides the same opportunity to future scholars to attend Watson.

Watson believes entrepreneurial talent is universal, while opportunity is not. Therefore, The Pave the Way Fund is a new way of financing higher education which ensures Watson is radically accessible and alumni graduate without debt.

Here is how it works >

Scholars also have the option to pay tuition upfront instead of joining the Pave the Way Program.

Below is a table which demonstrates the percentage of future earnings shared and number of months of repayment for each program. Note: the tuition and income share amounts below are before merit and need based scholarships and work study are awarded. Scholarships and work study reduce the percentage of future earnings shared or tuition paid.

Currently, the Pave the Way Fund is only open to students from USA.

Semester Accelerator:

Item Amount Future Earnings Shared Term
Tuition $12,000 8% 42 months
Housing $3,000 2% 42 months

 

Virtual Semester Accelerator:

Item Amount Future Earnings Shared Term
Tuition $6,000 4% 42 months

Specific income sharing percentages may change slightly from semester to semester.

Minimum Salary: Income Share Agreements only start once alumni achieve a minimum salary of $20,000/year

Payment Cap: There is an upper cap of 2-2.5x on the amount alumni would pay back. If the cap is reached the agreement is over.

Extension: Agreements can be extended for up to 5 years whereby payments are not required if the minimum salary has not been reached or alumni are continuing their education. Once the number of months above plus the extension period have been reached, the agreement is over regardless of the amount paid back.

All scholars accepted to Watson Institute from the USA are automatically eligible for the Pave the Way Fund. Students also have the option to pay tuition upfront or take out private loans instead of the Pave the Way Program.

For students from all other countries:

Tuition is paid for each program at the rates indicated above. Merit and need-based scholarships and full ride fellowships are available for select candidates.

Note: We are working with philanthropic foundations and individuals to expand the Pave the Way program to additional countries in the future.

Here's what our alumni have to say about the Pave the Way Fund:

Tuition. Income Sharing. Scholarships. Fellowships. Work Study. Crowdfunding.

“I never would have attended Watson without the income sharing model because my family could not afford the upfront tuition. The most comforting part of the program was re-payment was tied to my income; I didn’t have to choose between education and healthy eating or owning a safe vehicle. The best part is: I felt Watson believed in me from the get-go. They trusted I would have the ability to repay the income sharing agreement, completely tying their financial success to my business success.”

-Patrick Mateer, Fall 2014 Watson Scholar and Founder of Seal the Seasons

“Watson’s income sharing model provided me the flexibility to optimize my early career decisions for impact, and not compensation. It allowed me to focus less on making loan payments, and more on deciding what path out of Watson is most aligned to my passions and desired impact. Baked into this model is accountability: if alumni aren’t successful, then neither is Watson.”

-Ryan Singh, Fall 2013 Watson Scholar and Associate Director of the Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign