Ultra-expensive gap year programs that cost as much as a year of college tuition are gaining popularity among wealthy American families, as parents seek to give their children experiences and credentials that set them apart. Growing doubts that a college degree alone secures an edge in the job market are opening their wallets.
Demand for premium gap year programs charging anywhere from tens of thousands to more than $90,000 is rising quickly in the United States, Bloomberg reported on the 2nd.
A gap year refers to a period when students step away from school, either before entering college or during their studies, to travel, take internships or volunteer while exploring career paths and interests.
$90,000 for Eight Months: Parents Sending Children Around the World Instead of to Class
Natalia Beltran, a parent, had planned to spend up to $90,000 on her son's first year of college tuition but put most of that money toward a gap year instead.
Rather than moving into a dormitory, her son headed to the airport to join an eight-month round-the-world program run by Baret Scholars.
He bungee jumped near Victoria Falls in southern Africa and coded an application at a Brazilian bank, among other experiences, before enrolling at Bocconi University in Italy.
The program's list price is $94,500 (about 129.03 million won). Beltran received a discount but spent roughly $80,000 in total, including travel and living expenses.
Even so, Beltran said she used most of the money she had set aside for her son's first year of college tuition on the gap year. She called it more valuable than what he would have learned in a classroom, and she plans to send her second son on a similar program.
Applicants Flock to Costly Gap Years Despite the Price
Interest in high-priced programs is growing rapidly.
The Gap Year Association, a nonprofit that sets industry standards, has seen its member programs double over the past six years to about 90. The emergence of expensive premium offerings was a major factor.
Some providers are drawing more applicants than they can accommodate. Baret Scholars received about 750 applications for its next program, nearly double the previous figure, while a $21,000 semester course run by Tilting Futures drew more than 18,000 applicants.
Prices are steep. One program bundling internships, counseling and housing charges $38,650 a year, and another combining overseas travel, work experience and skills training plans to set its fee at about $82,000.
Still, some question whether costly gap years translate directly into long-term outcomes such as college grades or employment.
A 2020 analysis by researchers at Colorado College and the University of North Carolina found that students who took gap years posted relatively higher college grades. But many of those students came from financially comfortable families or attended academically strong high schools, making it difficult to attribute the results to the gap year itself.
A Degree Is Not Enough: The Affluent Pay for Experiences That Stand Out
Analysts say the willingness to spend such sums reflects anxiety that a college education alone can no longer guarantee a child's future.
The share of Americans expressing a great deal of confidence in higher education has fallen to 38% recently from about 60% in 2015, according to Gallup.
Doubts about the value of a four-year degree are also mounting. In a 2024 Pew Research Center survey, only 22% of Americans said a four-year degree is worth the cost even if it requires taking out loans. Nearly half of respondents said a four-year degree matters less than it once did for landing a high-paying job.
As trust in college education wavers and job competition intensifies, some affluent parents are willing to spend as much as a year's tuition to give their children distinctive experiences, expanding the premium gap year market.
