Gap Year Programs

The year that changes everything

Spend a semester or a full year in the world's wildest classrooms. Lead expeditions. Earn college credit. Come home transformed.

0+
Years of expeditions
0
College credits
$0M
Scholarships yearly
1bF52_Skq0hQrBO4LKLGDsbTMiWKax_GG
Patagonia, Chile
Mexico
Baja, Mexico
Wind River Range, WY
Wind River Range, WY
1A-RCwtc4CRlhgoGUJtUTYyr6HQ0ZEP_G
Himalayas, India

GO FURTHER

How it works

Three steps to your gap year

Whether you want a focused semester or a full year of exploration, every path starts the same way.

Step 01

Choose your expedition

Choose a semester or year-long program across six continents. From the peaks of Patagonia to East African savannas, every course is built around learning in the field.

Step 02

Learn by doing

Travel in small groups with expert instructors. Develop wilderness skills, leadership ability, and self-reliance through real challenges.

Step 03

Return home changed

Return with transferable college credits, professional certifications, a global network, and the kind of confidence that only comes from doing hard things.

Featured programs

Find your expedition

View all 20+ programs

Why NOLS

Not just a trip. A transformation.

For 65 years, NOLS has been the gold standard in wilderness education. Our graduates lead with confidence in every environment they enter.

What sets NOLS apart

Built for the real world

Every NOLS expedition is designed to develop leaders who thrive in uncertainty.

Leadership in the field

Lead real expeditions. Make real decisions. Build the kind of leadership that employers and admissions offices notice.

Global perspective

Cultural immersion, homestays, and multi-continent travel that expands how you see the world and your place in it.

Real credentials

Up to 27 transferable college credits plus professional certifications like Wilderness First Responder.

Expert instructors

Learn from instructors with decades of field experience, mentors who've dedicated their lives to outdoor education.

1CUduGzUl83S4fs6YVt0yulbygNNZhyG2

Student story

"My NOLS semester didn't just change what I wanted to study, it changed who I am. I learned more about leadership in three months in the backcountry than in four years of high school."

Sarah M.

Fall Semester in Patagonia, 2024

Make it possible

Funding your gap year

Nearly $1.9 million in scholarship funds available each year, plus multiple financial aid pathways.

Scholarships

Need-based and merit scholarships available to those who qualify.

529 Plans

Use your college savings plan, NOLS qualifies as higher education.

Federal Aid

Access federal financial aid through one of the three universities we partner with or through your university.

Veteran Benefits

GI Bill and AmeriCorps education awards accepted.

What you earn

Credentials that matter

Leave with more than memories. Every gap year builds a portfolio of credit, certifications, and real-world skills.

College credit

Earn up to 27 transferable credits in Leadership, Environmental Studies, Cultural Studies, and Risk Management.

Wilderness medicine

Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, and Wilderness EMT certifications on select programs.

NOLS Diploma

The cumulative NOLS credential, a recognized mark of outdoor leadership excellence employers respect.

gallry-img
NOLS Wind River Range lake
gallery-img2
gallery-img3

Ready?

Your gap year starts here

Talk to an admissions advisor, request a catalog, or explore upcoming programs.