Financial Aid

Webinar: Low-CosT Gap YEar Options

On October 30, 2023, GYA hosted a panel discussion on LOW-COST/AFFORDABLE GAP YEAR OPTIONS to conclude Gap Year Exploration Month (GYEM). The conversation featured Elisabet Raquel García of Access Equitable Education, Heather Dirck of AmeriCorps NCCC, and Katherine Stievater of Gap Year Solutions, and covered topics including financial aid resources, fully-funded national service opportunities, and ideas for reducing costs around independent gap year experiences. 

GAP YEAR SCHOLARSHIP!

Thank you to all those who applied for our 2024 GAP YEAR SCHOLARSHIP, offered in partnership with Tortuga Backpacks

We are currently reviewing applications, and will announce the recipient of the gap year scholarship award—$2,500 plus a Tortuga travel backpack—on November 15, 2023.

Fund Your Gap Year

Do you have a scholarship opportunity to share with prospective gappers? SUBMIT SCHOLARSHIP INFO HERE to get the opportunity posted on this page!

Scholarships from Gap Year Counselors/Consultants

The list below reflects scholarships offered by GYA Gap Year Counselor/Consultant Members. Pay close attention to eligibility, specific requirements, and deadlines.

EnRoute Consulting: Julia Rogers of EnRoute Consulting is a GYA-Accredited Consultant. In recognition of the underrepresentation of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) in the gap year space, EnRoute Consulting is committed to providing up to three merit-based scholarships to BIPOC students each calendar year.

Eligibility requirements include:

  • Must be a graduating high school senior from a school in the United States as of June 2024.
  • Must plan to take a full academic year of gap time between Summer 2024 – Summer 2025.
  • Identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color).
  • Must have been accepted to a university/college, have continuing education plans upon return from gap year with a plan to defer enrollment and/or scholarships.
  • Must be open to traveling to other cities or states (or even outside the US!).
  • Must be willing and able to spend an extended amount of time away from home.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply HERE.

Free To Roam Adventures Gap Year Consulting is offering a full scholarship for consulting work valued at $1,475. Scholarship recipients should possess strong communication skills and be willing to share their experience via occasional blog posts and photos. The counseling scholarship includes all services associated with the Standard Gap Year Consultation Package ($1,475 value). Any graduating high school senior with demonstrated financial need who is planning to take a gap year is eligible to apply.

This scholarship is offered annually, and applications must be submitted by April 30 for a gap experience starting the following summer or fall.  Learn more and apply HERE.

GlobalLife Education Consulting offers the following scholarship opportunities for gap year students:

  • The Marion Taylor Scholarship was established in honor of Marion Taylor, founder of Taylor the Gap, based in Boulder, CO. This scholarship is open to Colorado residents.
  • The Inland Northwest Scholarship is intended to help advance the gap year movement in the Inland Northwest region. This scholarship is open to residents of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.
  • The Western States Scholarship is intended to help expand the gap year movement across the Western U.S. This scholarship is open to residents of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
  • The GlobalRepresent Scholarship is intended to increase access to gap year opportunities for underrepresented students. Students from underrepresented populations are eligible to apply.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for each of the opportunities listed above. Full and partial scholarships available. For more information, contact Stashia Kaiel at stashia@globallifeconsulting.com

J2Guides: Jane and Jason Sarouhan of J2Guides, GYA Accredited Consultants, are deeply committed to providing empowering and effective information to any student who wants to plan an intentional gap year. To that end, they offer full scholarships for their gap year planning master class, Explore the Gap. This signature training covers the foundational elements of planning a gap year: goal setting, budgeting, health & safety, and research. Applicants should be high school seniors or college students who intend to take gap time in between academic years, with demonstrated financial need and articulated gap year goals.

Scholarships & Financial Aid from GYA Member Programs

The list below reflects scholarships offered by individual GYA Program Members. Pay close attention to eligibility, specific requirements, and deadlines. 

Amigos de las Americas offers both need-based financial aid and fundraising support. Awards are available to students that indicate on their application that they would like to apply. Additional fundraising support is given to all students who wish to reduce their out-of-pocket expenses.

ARCC offers the following financial aid opportunities:

  • ARCC Voyagers Scholarship for students between the ages of 17 and 20 who identify as members of the BIPOC community. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
  • Need-based financial assistance and fundraising support. To be considered for financial aid, all application materials (including the financial aid application, detailed application, references, and interview) must be completed by May 1 for Fall applicants and October 1 for Spring applicants. ARCC sends out Financial Aid Awards by May 15 to Fall applicants and November 15 for Spring applicants. ARCC will consider financial aid applications submitted after these deadlines but aid will be more limited. Eligibility for need-based financial aid requires:
    • A copy of your parents’ most recent tax returns OR a copy of your FAFSA.
    • A cover letter including: 1) Your reasons for why you’d like to participate in an ARCC Gap Semester and why we should consider you as a financial aid recipient. 2) How you think ARCC would benefit from your participation. 3) How much tuition you and your family can contribute toward an ARCC program. 4) A parent statement explaining why you are requesting aid. 5) Anything else we should know about your family’s financial situation.

Visit ARCC’s Financial Assistance page for more details.

  • **NEW THIS YEAR** The Binkley Foundation Grants & Scholarships – The Foundation wishes to assist individuals if there is financial need in order to create, attend, or participate in programs designed for personal or community growth in terms of academic or work-related advancement or cultural awareness. Grants and scholarships are available for individuals from historically marginalized communities. This includes, but is not limited to: people of color, those from under-resourced municipalities, women and girls, LGTBQ+ persons, and individuals covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (application guidelines). Application must be received at least 3 months before the start of your ARCC Program. APPLY HERE.

Art History Abroad offers the Trenchard Cox Scholarship, which awards the recipient with one 2-week Summer Course (£4,780 in 2024) in Italy. Applicants must be aged 16-18 at the time of the scholarship deadline (next deadline is 17.00 GMT on March 1, 2024).

Learn more and apply HERE.

BroadFutures provides a range of scholarships for their Gap Year Participants, based on demonstrated financial need. BroadFutures encourages applications from students of all economic backgrounds.

In order to apply for financial assistance, participants must submit a parental tax return with demonstrated financial need within two weeks of acceptance to the program. Learn more HERE.

Baret Scholars offers need- and merit-based scholarships up to $105,000. Need-based awards require families to provide financial documents.

Baret Scholars awards scholarships on a rolling basis. Learn more HERE.

Carpe Diem Education has designed a scholarship program to support socioeconomic diversity within our student groups. We offer the following scholarship opportunities for gap year students:

Access Scholarship: With the Access Scholarship, you could be eligible for a $2,500 or $5,000 scholarship for your Carpe Diem gap semester. The annual application deadline is May 1, and priority consideration will be given to applicants from the BIPOC community and first-generation college students. To apply for the Access Scholarship, students must:

  • be eligible to receive Federal Pell Grant through a FAFSA submission
  • be a participant in a Fall group semester or the Latitudes Year program
  • have submitted a program application or have already been accepted into a Carpe Diem program

Inclusion Scholarship: With the Inclusion Scholarship, you could be eligible for a $1,000 or $2,000 scholarship for your Carpe Diem gap semester. Applications for the Inclusion Scholarship are accepted on a rolling basis, and are open to students on all Carpe Diem programs. Recipients could include students without familial financial support, students whose families are experiencing financial hardship, low-income international students, etc. Eligible students must:

  • demonstrate need for assistance in funding a Carpe Diem experience
  • have submitted a program application or have already been accepted into a Carpe Diem program

Visit Carpe Diem’s Scholarships page to learn more and apply.

CET Academic Programs (Gap at CET) is committed to increasing access to study abroad for gap students. CET has a financial assistance pool for students who demonstrate family financial need. Award amounts usually range from $250 to $2,000. Applying is easy within your CET application and we’ll notify you about financial assistance shortly after your program application has been reviewed.

EF Gap Year runs several different scholarships and fellowships. Each year, EF Gap Year awards up to $50,000 in merit-based scholarships and fellowships to qualified students enrolled on a Gap Year or Gap Semester to help them offset the cost of their program. Deadlines are at the end of June for fall departures.

Global Citizen Year offers both merit scholarships and need-based financial aid. To date, 80% of their Fellows have received a partial scholarship, and 30% have received a full ride. In addition to needs-based financial aid, Global Citizen Year offers the following merit scholarships: Global Changemakers Scholarship (up to $5,000), Jewish Faith and Community Scholarship ($5,000), College Track Scholarship (full scholarship), United World College Scholarships (amount based on need), and the Torch and Laurel Scholarship ($5,000).

GVI offers a 20% discount on bookings for those in the GYA network. They simply need to provide the code GVIEVENT to the enrollment manager when confirming their booking. The following terms and conditions apply: 

  • Scholarship may not be applied to existing bookings.
  • Scholarship code must be provided at point of booking. 
  • Scholarship code entitles the holder to 20% off a program, capped at a $500 discount.

HMI strives to make our programs affordable to families of all income levels by offering generous need-based financial aid packages. Financial Aid is awarded on a rolling basis. Awards have historically covered up to 100% of the cost of tuition, travel, and gear for some of our highest qualifying students. 25% of HMI Gap students receive partial or full financial aid awards.

Financial aid applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more HERE.

Irish Gap Year offers the following scholarship opportunities for students:

Merit-based scholarship for students who are an excellent match for their programs. Scholarships are awarded to students whose values and goals align with Irish Gap Year’s vision and who display strong personal leadership qualities.

Climate Action Scholarship for students who have shown exceptional leadership in the area of climate action.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. For more information, contact info@irishgapyear.com or log into your Irish Gap Year account HERE

InterExchange Christianson Grant awards are up to $10,000 and are for U.S. citizens (18-28 y.o.) carrying out independently arranged service abroad for 6+ months. There are three grant cycles per year with deadlines in October for the fall.

International Field Studies Inc. offers a Forfar Marine Science Gap Year Program Scholarship for students whose annual household incomes do not exceed $100,000.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply HERE

Kroka Expeditions uses a donor-supported tuition model, allowing an income-based sliding scale for student tuition. Kroka is a financial needs-blind institution, with financial aid decisions made after admissions decisions.

Learn more and apply for financial aid HERE.

Every year, NOLS awards generous need-based scholarships. Our scholarships take into account unusual expenses, and special or changing circumstances. Scholarships can range from a small portion to larger amounts of the course cost. It is very rare for a scholarship to exceed 50% of the listed tuition price.

NOLS accepts and reviews scholarship applications on a rolling basis. We recommend applying for financial aid early, as our scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more and apply HERE.

Omprakash‘s Ethical Global Engagement Grant Program offers a Gap Year Grant which includes free EdGE tuition and up to $2500 to cover international travel and living expenses for individuals who can commit to volunteering or interning with an international Omprakash Partner for 6+ months and who are 22 years of age or younger at the time of their application. Omprakash does not charge a fee to volunteer, but recognizes that the costs of traveling and living abroad present barriers for many individuals, and that the cost of joining the EdGE learning community leads many to go without the valuable training and mentorship that EdGE offers. In addition to the Gap Year Grant, Omprakash also offers EdGE Travel Grants, EdGE Scholarships, and Crowdfund Matching Grants – all of which help to defray travel and tuition expenses for applicants seeking to volunteer or intern abroad with Omprakash Partners. Anyone is eligible to apply for an Omprakash Ethical Global Engagement Grant, regardless of nationality, age, gender identity or expression, religion, or any other background characteristics. Applications are always open and grants are awarded on a rolling basis.

Pacific Discovery offers the following financial aid opportunities for gap year students:

Diverse Voices Scholarship: We value diversity, and we want international education to reflect that. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences, and we are committed to keeping it that way. This scholarship aims to encourage students from under-represented backgrounds (taking into account ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, physical disabilities, etc.) to pursue experiential education programs abroad.

Financial Need Scholarship: We believe that taking a gap year shouldn’t be restricted to only those with the economic means. This scholarship aims to make this opportunity more accessible for students that demonstrate financial need.

Gap Year Ambassador Fellowship: Our Gap Year Ambassador Fellows are natural storytellers that love recounting their experiences and sharing their favorite stories. This can be in a number of ways. Maybe you are an aspiring photographer or videographer, have the gift of the pen, love speaking in front of a crowd, or have a knack for engaging with people on social media platforms. Let us know what you can bring to the table to spread the word about our gap year programs to be in the running for the Ambassador Fellowship. The Fellowship includes mentorship from the marketing professionals at Pacific Discovery, and will be a great asset to your resume.

Visit Pacific Discovery’s Scholarships & Financial Aid page for more information, paying particular attention to deadlines and eligibility requirements. 

Pure Exploration NZ offers scholarship opportunities to 17-30 year-old applicants interested in Adventure Tourism and Travel, Aspiring Adventure Professional, and as an Inspirational Student. The successful candidates will be required to show an interest and previous experience in social media, video content and blogging. The purpose of the scholarship is to offer the opportunity for candidates to take part on any of the Pure Exploration Programs (Explorer or Adventure Guide Leadership Program) and to share their experience across our social media and website platforms. Requirements: 17-30 years old, ability to gain a tourist or working holiday visa for NZ. An interest in adventure tourism and marketing.

SEA has limited funds available to assist students who demonstrate family financial need. SEA works closely with applicants during the admissions process to estimate costs, discuss available aid, and consider options, including payment plans. We carefully assess each student’s financial situation based on submitted materials. Applicants are encouraged to submit financial aid materials by their designated term financial aid priority deadline. Notification of financial aid awards are provided after admissions decisions are made.
 
Priority deadlines are April 15 for fall programs and October 15 for spring programs. Learn more HERE.

Seguinland Institute has full and partial scholarships (up to $12,900) available for BIPOC students for The Good Life Gap Semester.  Who should apply: Members of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.  The scholarship thus covers the entirety of student tuition, all fees, room and board.  It does not cover travel expenses to/from Maine.  How to apply: Applicants complete the regular application form and within this application indicate where prompted that you would like to be considered for the Good Life Scholarship for BIPOC students.

The Food Gap offers three scholarship opportunities every season:

Cookbook Scholarship: We encourage creative, unique, and food-obsessed students to apply. You don’t need a background in food or a technical mastery of cooking, plating, or food photography. Submit a short recipe (doesn’t need to be professional) and a photo of your dish (doesn’t need to be gallery-worthy). The winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship and copies of all of our previous group cookbooks for inspiration.

Diversity Scholarship: We highly value diversity and inclusivity. Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences, and we are committed to creating a safe space where everyone feels that they belong and are respected. This scholarship aims to encourage students from under-represented backgrounds (ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, physical disabilities, etc.) to pursue experiential education programs abroad.  Award amount: $2,500 / program

Financial Need Scholarship: We believe that taking a gap year shouldn’t be restricted to only those with the economic means. This scholarship aims to make this opportunity more accessible for students that demonstrate financial need. Your household must make less that $80,000 / year in order to qualify.  Award amount: $2,500 / program

The deadline for scholarship applications for Fall 2024 is August 15. Learn more and apply HERE

Up with People offers several scholarships and grants. Please visit their website for opportunities.

Verto Education offers the Verto Scholars Award, available to students with a minimum 2.7 high school GPA. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply HERE

Where There Be Dragons offers need-based financial aid for gap year students. Any student who demonstrates reasonable financial need is eligible to apply. Like all Dragons students, we are looking for applicants who are curious and excited to engage with communities around the world. Applying for financial aid does not guarantee a space on a Dragons program.

Learn more and apply HERE.

Each year, Wilderness Adventures offers need-based financial aid opportunities that allow students passionate about joining a WA program to do so without financial barriers. Anyone in need of financial assistance is encouraged to apply.

Financial aid applications for Summer Gap programs must be submitted by March 15; financial aid applications for Fall Gap programs are accepted on a rolling basis.

Learn more and apply HERE. Review documents required for financial aid applications HERE

GYA Members Offering National Service or Work Exchange

The following GYA member programs offer paid opportunities for service- or work-oriented gap year experiences.

AdventureEXP hosts destination work programs for young American job seekers to travel to desirable locations around the US for paid jobs and internships. Their structured and guided programs range from 2-12 months as a gap year or seasonal placement. Students gain interpersonal skills, professional competency and learn to travel with purpose throughout their country. Open to ages 18-25.

InterExchange facilitates meaningful and affordable intercultural experiences. Students can embark on Au Pair and Language Homestay programs in Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Spain where they live with a host family as a childcare provider or tutor. Students can otherwise join a Work & Travel program with more self-structured opportunities to explore the host country while earning income through seasonal jobs in Australia, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. The American Summer Exchange program helps students explore and work in a new part of the USA alongside participants from diverse countries. Sustainable Action Costa Rica is a chance to learn about the country’s renowned commitment to conservation through site visits and fun outdoor activities. InterExchange is largely focused on helping students and recent graduates develop the skills employers demand in the 21st century through transformative work, volunteer, and experiential education.

Northwest Youth Corps’ Young Adult Program provides members with hands-on training and experience needed to work on physically challenging conservation projects. Typical projects include tree planting, fuels reduction, invasive plant removal, trail construction, and fencing. Evenings are spent on related educational and recreational activities. Volunteers gain sore muscles, awesome technical skills, solid job references, and an AmeriCorps living allowance and education award.

Many members use this opportunity as a steppingstone towards starting a career in natural resource management, outdoor recreation, forestry, or working for other environmental nonprofits. Others, who may not be interested in working in the green jobs sector, use this work experience as a chance to gain easily transferable job skills, travel to new places, meet new people, and spend weeks immersed in the beautiful nature of the Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. 

Reading Partners is a national nonprofit that mobilizes communities to provide students with the proven, individualized reading support they need to read at grade level by fourth grade. Reading Partners builds partnerships with teachers, parents, and community volunteers to provide students with the support they need to succeed. By providing volunteer tutors with research-based, structured lesson plans designed to focus on the individual needs of our students, Reading Partners is helping students become strong, confident readers with a passion for learning.

YMCA of the Rockies offers two Gap Programs that focus around outdoor adventure, employment in the hospitality industry, and community building. The Elevate Gap Program is offered at Estes Park Center located in Estes Park, Colorado and the Discover Gap Program is offered at Snow Mountain Ranch in Winter Park, Colorado. Participants who successfully complete the program will be eligible to stay on as YMCA employees for up to 2 to 4 additional months, or to apply for available full-time positions.

GYA Members with Program Fees Under $1,000

The following GYA member programs offer gap year experiences for under $1,000 – a screaming deal for some amazing international opportunities!

Bilingual Education for Central America (BECA) supports two bilingual schools outside of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, where Honduran and foreign teachers come together to provide a high-quality, bilingual education to youth from a variety of backgrounds. Whether you’re interested in the year-long or summer program, gap year participants live together, work together, and create community together. Through both program models, gappers work with students, immerse themselves in the Spanish language, and engage in Honduran culture.

BECA asks volunteer summer camp counselors to contribute or fundraise $1,000 for the program to help defray costs. A reduced contribution may be available for college students with demonstrated need. Fees include counselor/teacher training; food, accommodations, and other materials; constant team support; high-speed internet; and Honduran travel opportunities.

Iracambi is a Research Center located in the heart of one of the last remaining rain forest fragments in Brazil. Focused on the conservation and reforestation of the native forest, Iracambi excels at ecological and biological studies.

Volunteering with Iracambi offers an opportunity to participate in a broad variety of conservation programs, events, and activities in the local community. We’ll match your skills and experience to the right Iracambi program, you’ll meet like-minded people from around the world, and you’ll experience everything the rainforest has to offer while making a lasting impact. Volunteer prices are as follows:

  • If you are staying one month or longer: $200 per week
  • If you are staying less than one month: $210 per week

This fee covers your accommodation, three meals a day, 24-hour internet access, and all the projects and activities you will be supporting.

Omprakash is an organization dedicated to building mutually beneficial and educational relationships between partners (grassroots social impact organizations) and volunteers, donors, and classrooms around the world. 

Omprakash’s Widening Circles Program offers social impact internships with grassroots organizations around the world and an online learning community focused on critical reflection to advance ethical global engagement and social change. In addition to scholarships that can cover up to the full cost of a program, Omprakash also offers sliding scale tuition options of $450 or $750.

General Scholarships & Grants

All scholarships have different eligibility requirements. Be sure to read the requirements carefully and be aware that application deadlines will often be far in advance of your travel time. 

The Davidson Fellows Scholarship awards $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 scholarships to extraordinary young people, 18 and under, who have completed a significant piece of work. Application categories are Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Literature, Music, Philosophy and Outside the Box.

The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) provides scholarships and ongoing support to students with financial need who are underrepresented among the U.S. study-abroad population. FEA makes life-changing, international experiences accessible to all by supporting students of color, community college, and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programs.

Apply for Scholarships & Deals on GoAbroad.com to get exclusive discounts on meaningful travel programs. 

Go Overseas offers a scholarship resource to help students apply to scholarships, read guides on studying in specific countries, and sign up to be the first to know when a new opportunity arises.

Hostelling International (HI) USA offers annual Explore the World Travel Scholarships: Recipients receive $2,000 to help finance their international trip that includes an educational or service component.

Mountain America Credit Union offers the annual Elevate Scholarship for students within Mountain America’s footprint in Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Arizona or New Mexico. While scholarships granted within this program are only applicable to higher education institutions with a Federal School Code, applications are encouraged from recent high school graduates who have delayed higher education to take a gap year.

The 2024 Elevate Scholarship application deadline is February 11, 2024.

The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students to learn less commonly taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs. Previous language study is not required, and language learners of all levels are encouraged to apply.

The Pollination Project seeks to unleash goodness and expand compassion all over the world. To that end, through their pioneering Daily Grant program, they make $1000 micro grants 365 days a year. These grants are designed to kick start an organization or individual’s work and give them the lift they need to thrive and grow. All qualified applicants in any funding area are considered within the guidelines of this program.

Scholarship Search Engines

Fastweb is a free scholarship search platform that connects students to college scholarships, trade school scholarships, and financial aid tools. Their goal is to help students find scholarships to make college or vocational school more affordable.

The International Scholarship Search is here to make it easier to find a scholarship for students wishing to study abroad. At this site, you will find the most comprehensive listing of grants, scholarships, loan programs, and other information to assist college and university students from around the world in their pursuit to study abroad.

A study abroad scholarship is a monetary award for students to use toward the expenses of their program such as travel, course, credits, books and lodging. Search Study Abroad Scholarships at studyabroad.com.

College Credit & Financial Aid for Your Gap Year

Some scholarships and grants require that you earn college credit in order to be eligible. Many gap year programs offer college credit, so this could be an option for you. Examples include use of an AmeriCorps Education Award and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) funds like Pell grants and federally subsidized college loans.

Students have also found that they are able to use funds from a 529 tax savings account if they participate in a gap year program that allows them to earn college credit. While earning college credit shouldn’t be the primary purpose of your gap year, adding it to the equation can save money by releasing funds to help with direct gap year expenses, and by reducing the time spent earning a college degree on campus.

Here is a helpful resource for understanding the tax implications around college.

Support the GYA and Donate Here