Is a gap year just for people whose parents can afford to pay for it? Good question.
It can look that way sometimes. If you’re working to pay for school, already have student loans or can’t picture a year without a paycheck, it’s easy to think that gap years aren’t for people like you.
Now flip that picture for a second. What if a year away from school came with a place to live, food on the table and a small stipend? What if it costs you less than a year of paying your own rent?
Some service programs work just like that. You’ll still need a plan, especially if you have loans. But a gap year may be more within reach than you think.
Below, you will find what a gap year really costs, how to afford a gap year, what to do about student loans and which questions to ask before you commit.
What does a gap year cost?
First, let’s talk about what a year costs. Just to live. When you’re living on your own, here are your basic costs*:
| Basic cost | Living on your own | MVS or Service Adventure |
|---|---|---|
| Rent for a one-bedroom apartment | $1,450 a month | Covered |
| Groceries | $335 to $400 a month | Covered |
| Transportation | About $965 a month for a new car | Covered |
| Health insurance | Varies (many people under 26 can stay on a parent’s plan) | Covered |
Add those up and the first three come to about $33,000 for one year. Skip the car, and rent plus groceries still top $21,000.
Now compare that to a year with Service Adventure or MVS. Your housing, food and transportation are covered, and you get a small monthly stipend for personal spending. MVS also covers health care. The program asks for a $4,000 contribution, and most participants raise it with help from their home congregation, family and friends.
That’s a year of housing, meals and getting around for less than three months of rent. And you don’t have to come up with it alone.
You’ll still want to plan for a few costs of your own:
- Travel to and from your program
- Phone and personal spending beyond your stipend
- Student loan payments, if you have them
- Income you won’t earn while you serve
*Sources: Rent is the national median for a one-bedroom apartment from ApartmentAdvisor (January 2026). Groceries use the USDA’s moderate-cost food plan for adults ages 19 to 50 (May 2026). Car costs come from AAA’s Your Driving Costs study (2025).
How a service year can make the numbers work
Rent, groceries and getting around are the biggest costs for most young adults. A structured service year often covers those, which changes the math quickly.
Service Adventure is Mennonite Mission Network’s 10-month gap year for young adults ages 17–20. Participants live with peers and unit leaders, serve with local organizations and connect with a Mennonite congregation. Food, housing, transportation and a modest stipend are provided.
If you are 20 or older, Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS) offers a one-year service experience in an intentional community. MVS provides food, housing, health care, transportation and a personal stipend.
Both programs ask a participant’s home community, such as a congregation, to contribute toward the year. The current requested amount is $4,000. Most participants raise it with help from family, friends and their church. If that still feels impossible, reach out. Our team will work with you to make it possible.
How to afford a gap year: 5 practical steps
- Start saving early. A few months of part-time work can cover travel and personal spending.
- Talk with your home congregation. Many churches want to support young people who choose service. Share what you will be doing and ask how they can help.
- Invite family and friends to help. A short letter or message about your plans gives people a way to be part of your year.
- Protect your college plans. If you have been accepted to college, ask about deferring admission and whether your scholarships will carry over. Get the answers in writing.
- Make a plan for your loans. If you already have student loans, learn your options before you go.
What about student loan deferment?
If you are in college or recently graduated, your loans are probably the biggest money question. Student loan deferment lets you temporarily pause payments on eligible loans. Here is how federal student loans usually work during a year away from school:
- Grace period: Most federal loans give you six months after you leave school or drop below half-time enrollment before payments begin. A gap year usually lasts longer than six months, so plan for payments to start partway through.
- In-school deferment: When you return to school at least half-time, eligible loans can go back into deferment.
- Economic hardship deferment: If your income is low, you may qualify to pause payments. That can include a year of service: a volunteer stipend is far below a regular paycheck, so many participants have low enough income to apply. Your servicer makes the final call. This option will not be available for federal loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2027, so check which loans you have.
- Forbearance: Forbearance can also pause payments, but interest keeps adding up.
- Income-driven repayment: These plans base your payment on your income, so a small stipend can mean a very small payment.
Interest matters too. Subsidized federal loans generally don’t build interest during deferment. Unsubsidized and private loans usually do. Private loans follow their lender’s rules, not federal ones.
Ask about a student loan scholarship
For MVS participants, Mission Network also offers student loan scholarships to eligible volunteers who complete their term, depending on available funding. Ask staff about current details.
Before you commit, call your loan servicer and ask which options you qualify for, whether interest will grow and what your balance could be at the end of the year. You can also review your federal loans at StudentAid.gov.
Is a gap year worth the cost?
Affordability is only part of the decision. And let’s be real: no one does a year of service to get rich. What matters most is what the year gives you.
A year of service can give you real work experience, people who know you and room to explore your faith and purpose. You live with others, serve alongside local partners and learn together.
That’s especially true with Mennonite Voluntary Service. MVS is about becoming part of a place. Volunteers live with housemates, worship with a local congregation and serve alongside neighbors who know their community best. Many build relationships that last well beyond their first year, and some choose to stay.
Want to see what that looks like? Read Finding community after college to learn how MVS volunteers build a home, a church family and meaningful work in a new city.
Ready for the next step? Learn more about Mennonite Voluntary Service, or tell us a little about yourself and we’ll help you explore what might fit. Not 20 yet? Explore Service Adventure and Mennonite Mission Network’s other service opportunities.
Frequently asked questions about affording a gap year
How much does a gap year cost?
The cost depends on the program. Some programs can cost thousands of dollars, while many service programs cover housing, food and transportation. Mennonite Mission Network’s Service Adventure and MVS programs request a $4,000 contribution from a participant’s home community. If that feels like a barrier, reach out. We’ll work with you to make it possible.
How can I afford a gap year?
Choose a program that covers basic living costs, then plan for the rest. Save early, ask your congregation and family for support and make a plan for any student loans before you go.
Can I take a gap year if I have student loans?
Yes, many students do. Talk with your loan servicer first to learn about your grace period, deferment, forbearance and income-driven repayment options.
Can I defer my student loans during a gap year?
Possibly. Student loan deferment depends on your loan type and situation. Low-income borrowers may qualify for economic hardship deferment on loans disbursed before July 1, 2027. Your servicer can tell you what applies to you.
Does interest grow while my loans are deferred?
It depends on the loan. Subsidized federal loans generally don’t build interest during deferment, but unsubsidized and private loans usually do.
Will a gap year affect my college scholarships?
Some colleges let admitted students defer enrollment and keep scholarships, but policies vary. Contact the admissions and financial aid offices and get answers in writing.
Do you get paid during a service year?
Service Adventure and MVS cover basic needs like food and housing and give participants a modest personal stipend.
