Key Takeaways
- With the cost of higher education rising dramatically each year, should you forgo college* and instead use that money to travel the world? It’s one of
- I have trouble answering this question. For starters, it’s a very personal decision, based on one’s individual goals and desires. I can’t know what is
- But while everyone’s situation is different, these emails bring up a topic to think about: when you’re young and unsure of yourself, is school worth i
Originally Posted: 7/7/14 | July 7th, 2014
With the cost of higher education rising dramatically each year, should you forgo college* and instead use that money to travel the world? It’s one of the questions we frequently receive at Route for Less from graduating high school students and disenchanted college freshmen and sophomores. In their messages, they express a desire to pursue higher education—but at the moment, they aren’t sure what they want to do and would rather travel and “figure life out.” School doesn’t seem like the right fit for them right now.
We have trouble answering this question definitively. For starters, it’s deeply personal—rooted in individual goals, values, and circumstances. No single answer fits everyone. Only you can determine what aligns with your aspirations (and we certainly don’t want concerned parents reaching out!). Moreover, offering life-altering advice to strangers without knowing their full context feels unwise and potentially misleading.
Yet these inquiries raise an important consideration: when you’re young and uncertain about your direction, is enrolling in college immediately the best choice—or might it be more valuable to explore your interests, gain real-world experience, and clarify your purpose before committing to a degree path?
We believe many young people benefit from pausing formal education—whether to travel, work, volunteer, or pursue other meaningful experiences—if they lack clarity about why they’re attending school in the first place.
That said, education itself remains vital. Lifelong learning shouldn’t be confined to classrooms. At Route for Less, we regularly attend industry conferences, read widely, listen to expert interviews, and engage with mentors—all to deepen our knowledge and sharpen our skills. Growth happens continuously, inside and outside academic institutions.
Drive and curiosity—not just diplomas—often predict long-term success. Consider figures like Steve Jobs, Marie Curie, Leonardo da Vinci, Mary Kay Ash, or Mark Zuckerberg: none completed traditional degree programs, yet each demonstrated extraordinary initiative, intellectual rigor, and commitment to self-education. Their achievements reflect not the absence of learning—but its redefinition beyond formal settings.
So when we suggest “consider delaying college,” we’re not advocating against education—we’re urging intentionality. Enroll when you know *why* you’re there, not because it’s the expected next step.
One thing consistently inspiring about many Western nations is the cultural normalization of the “gap year.” In countries like Australia, New Zealand, and much of Europe, turning 18 often means embarking on extended travel, internships, or service projects before university. It’s seen as a rite of passage—an investment in maturity, perspective, and self-awareness.
The underlying philosophy is simple: “Why begin a costly, multi-year commitment without knowing what you hope to study—or why?”
In contrast, the U.S. educational pipeline often moves students seamlessly from high school to campus—part of a broader societal script: school → job → marriage → home → retirement. There’s even a persistent myth that skipping college enrollment right after graduation signals failure or lack of ambition.
Let’s examine the financial reality:
As shown, tuition costs have surged far beyond inflation—and far faster than wage growth or other consumer expenses.
We’ve heard from readers across the UK, Canada, and Australia who report steep tuition hikes—even in systems designed to subsidize education. In the UK, for example, annual undergraduate fees rose to £9,000—a threefold increase since 2006 and ninefold since 1998—despite high taxation intended to offset such costs.
And those figures exclude housing, textbooks, transportation, and other essential student expenses.
Given this reality, is it wise for an 18-year-old to enter college without a clear sense of purpose—especially when alternatives exist?
Many European peers begin university in their mid- to late-twenties, after gaining work experience, traveling, or volunteering. Some enroll part-time while employed; others return later with sharper focus and stronger motivation. They avoid the pressure to commit to four years of study the moment they turn 18.
This approach may challenge U.S. norms—but it reflects thoughtful prioritization. Formal education delivers tremendous value *when aligned with intention*. Yet it risks becoming inefficient—or even counterproductive—if entered passively: switching majors repeatedly, disengaging academically, or earning credentials with no clear application.
We affirm that college is powerful *if you know what you seek from it*. If you don’t—consider alternatives. Work. Volunteer. Launch a project. Or travel the world.
Travel is education in motion. It cultivates adaptability, cross-cultural communication, problem-solving under uncertainty, and emotional resilience. At Route for Less, we’ve seen how immersive travel helps people discover strengths they didn’t know they had—and sometimes, clarifies life direction entirely.
Yes, havi
