Given College Costs, Can You Afford Not To Take a Gap Year? NYT Slide Show on Paying College Tuition

This recent NYT Opinion piece, filled with comments of College Graduates and Parents, highlights the potentially debilitating costs of college and college loans. The fact that students often take more than four years to finish college adds to the debt issue. According to the U.S. Department of Education, students take 5.7 to 6.4 years on average to complete degrees.

In comparison, Gap Year student research reveals that gap year students typically finish their degrees in four, or fewer, years. And their interests are more focused when they land on campus and they are more prepared to step into the work world post college after experiencing a half step into the world during a gap year.

Note the following potential savings when comparing 4 years of college costs to the 6 year average.

q

Public College Out of State:  

4 years = $149,720 versus 6 years = $224,580  

$74,860 extra cost 

§Private College:

4 years = $194,040 versus 6 years = $291,060

o$97,020 extra cost

It is also important to note that the cost of a typical gap year rarely comes close to a year of college tuition.

Feel free to contact us to learn how gap year options can save you time and money.