Gap Year After High School: Pros, Cons, Costs & How to Plan It (2025 Guide)

Trying to decide whether to take a gap year after high school?

A structured, purpose-driven gap year can improve college readiness, boost maturity, and strengthen long-term academic and career outcomes. This guide breaks down the pros, cons, costs, and planning steps so you can confidently decide whether a gap year is the right next step.

Searches for “gap year” have risen over 50% in the U.S. between February and April 2025 (Google Keyword Planner), showing more students are exploring alternatives before starting college. Some call it a transition year or a pre-college sabbatical, but the goal is the same: take intentional time to grow.

At Rustic Pathways, we believe a well-planned gap year can be one of the most meaningful, and transformative, years of your life.

→ What Is a Gap Year? How It Works and Why It Matters

Taking a gap year after high school helps shape your academic journey, personal development, and future career goals.

Download The Gap Year Planning Kit

Gap Year Programs can last a few months or an entire year, this break allows high school graduates to gain life experience, develop leadership skills, and engage in continuous learning before beginning college life. But is it the right path for you?

“I think in the high pressured world of kids worrying about college, from middle school on, to take a gap semester is truly the way to go! I am now a firm believer that every young person should do this before college! I know it’s a trip they’ll remember for the rest of their lives! “ – Tom and Cathy Kane, Rustic Pathways Gap Year Parents

Below, we’ll walk through the benefits, common concerns, and planning steps to help you decide.

Why a Gap Year Improves College Outcomes

Before diving into the benefits: are you already leaning toward taking a gap year? We’ve created a free quiz and planning guide to help you get started:

Take the Gap Year Readiness Quiz

Let’s explore how a gap year can help you grow personally, academically, and professionally.

Academic and Career Alignment

Gap years give students time to reflect on what they want before starting their next chapter in life.

There are admitted students who defer their start date and return to college more focused, with improved academic performance.

Improved Readiness: Students report entering college with more maturity and clear career goals.
Stronger Professional Skills: Internships, service work, and independent learning builds initiative, critical thinking, and self-awareness.

One of my closest friends knew from the moment I met him in 10th grade that he wanted to study medicine in university. His biggest concern: stay and study in Guatemala or study in the United States.

He had been accepted to his top choices for both countries but couldn’t decide. He took a gap semester to think about what he wanted and what would be best for his future. In the end, he chose Guatemala.

I met up with him 2 years ago when I visited Guatemala and asked him if he was happy with the choice he made: “I love it here,” he told me.

Life Skills & Self-Discovery Benefits of Gap Year

A gap year can be an important stage for self-discovery; if you’re taking a gap year to gain life skills or simply to expand your view of the world, you’ll experience meaningful self-growth by the end.

Life Skills: Living independently teaches budgeting, time management, and resilience.
Expanded Perspectives: Exposure to new cultures, languages, and experiences leads to deeper self-awareness and confidence.
Mental Health: A gap year for mental health gives students space to reflect and manage academic pressure.

Students report higher satisfaction in their first year of college and are more likely to stick with their major. Only 2% of gap year alumni said their experience did not help them develop as a person (Hoe). Gap year alumni reported positive outcomes, including:

How a Gap Year Helps Personal Development

Allowed me time for personal reflection: 98%
Helped me develop as a person: 98%
Increased my maturity: 97%
Increased my self-confidence: 96%
Helped me learn to interact with people from different backgrounds: 94%
Helped me develop communication skills: 93%
Increased my interest in people and places around the world: 93%
Developed understanding/respect for cultures: 90%

Source: Gap Year Association 2015 NAS Survey

Do Gap Years Hurt Your Chances? What to Know

“Will I Fall Behind Academically?”

Most colleges in the U.S. allow students to defer enrollment for a structured gap year. Don’t worry, gap years do not affect college admissions. In fact, schools like Harvard and Princeton encourage it.

“Can I Afford It?”

Cost is a major consideration. However, there are multiple strategies to learn how to budget effectively or afford taking a gap year! Structured programs can be expensive, but options exist:

Work-study or paid internships
AmeriCorps and service programs offering education awards
Budget travel or volunteer abroad gap year programs that provide housing and meals

“Will I Lose Focus?”

Structured gap years that include mentorship and clear goals have been shown to increase engagement and preparation levels.

Something to keep in mind: 87% of gap year alumni said they faced significant obstacles in taking their gap year (Gap Year Association 10).

Step-by-Step: How to Plan a Gap Year After High School That Works

A large study of over 442,000 U.S. college students found that unplanned or poorly managed breaks in college can have serious drawbacks. Fewer than 12 percent of students who took an unplanned gap during college returned to finish their degree, and these students often reported lower satisfaction and lower grades (Routon and Walker 383-385).

However, these outcomes are linked to breaks that lack purpose or planning. Successful student gap year planning starts with setting clear goals. By carefully preparing for a gap year with clear goals and structure, you can avoid these risks, optimize your experience, and reduce common planning challenges. This experiential learning break will add value to your college experience (by doing an internship, for example).

Here’s how to plan your gap year properly:

1. Define Your Purpose

Are you seeking personal growth? Real-world experience? Clarity about your major? Identify your goal first.

2. Choose the Right Format

Familiarize yourself. There are different types of gap year programs you could go on. Common gap year experiences include:

Volunteer Abroad (e.g., South Africa, San Francisco)
Internships or Apprenticeships
Language Courses or Creative Workshops
Mentor-Guided Travel Programs

Program Type	Cost to Participate	Structure	Key Benefits
AmeriCorps	Free, with stipend + education award	Highly structured	Earn up to $6,000 in education awards; national service experience
WWOOF	Usually free (you work in exchange)	Semi-structured (farm-specific)	Budget-friendly travel; cultural immersion and life skills
Paid Internships	May pay stipends or wages	Structured (company-led)	Career experience; builds resume and professional network

3. Involve Supporters

Discuss your plans with parents, teachers, or a counselor. Share how this time off will support your future goals.

4. Plan Logistics Early

Use a gap year planning checklist to:

Apply for programs, visas, or submit your college deferral letter
Budget for living expenses and travel
Secure insurance and safety plans

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to review your college’s deferral policy and deadlines.

Ready to Explore Programs?

You’ve made up your mind. You’ve decided a gap year before college is right for you. Now, you can check out our curated comparison of vetted programs by focus, budget, and location:

How to Fund Your Gap Year Stress-Free

Family financial situations and educational background can play a role in determining if a student takes a gap year or not. A participant of a study discussed how, while some of their friends chose to take a gap year between their undergraduate degrees and graduate school, they felt they could not do the same because of the pandemic and their mentality as first-generation college students. They shared that they felt they had to follow a rigid path forward that was different from their friends because they did not have the same resources that would allow them to take a break (Vaughn et al. 72).

However, gap years don’t have to be expensive. Consider:

Scholarships for high school students
AmeriCorps Education Award (up to $6,000)
Work-trade exchanges (like WWOOF)
Free housing through volunteer-hosting programs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of a gap year after high school?

Gap years help students develop maturity, leadership skills, and a clearer academic path which will lead to improved college outcomes.

Students who take a gap year also consistently outperform academic expectations in college; this positive effect endures four years (Clagett).

Should I take a gap year before college?

When you feel uncertain, unmotivated, or burned out, a structured gap year can give you time to reset and return with purpose.

Download Your Free Gap Year Planning Kit

Gap Year Citations & Research Sources

Clagett, Craig. The Gap Year Advantage: A Survey of Evidence. American Gap Association, 2013.

Gap Year Association. Gap Year Alumni 2020 National Survey Report. Gap Year Association, 2021, p. 10.

Google Keyword Planner. “gap year.” Accessed 21 May 2025.

Hoe, Nina, et al. 2015 National Alumni Survey. Gap Year Association and Temple University, 2015.

@novels.novel. “Love a gap year over here ⚖️♥️.” TikTok, 29 Oct. 2024.
View Video

Routon, P. Wesley, and Jay K. Walker. “College Internships, Tenure Gaps, and Student Outcomes: A Multiple-Treatment Matching Approach.”
Education Economics, vol. 27, no. 4, 2019, pp. 383–400.
View DOI

Vaughn, Laura, Cameron C. Beatty, and Emily Ostermeyer. “Leadership Learning During a Pandemic: Reflections in a Time of Crisis.”
Journal of Leadership Education, vol. 23, no. 1, 2024, pp. 66–77.
View DOI