Funding at risk
RESTRUCTURED, and the independent operator appears to be gone. leapnow.org now issues a 301 permanent redirect to naropa.edu, indicating LEAPNOW: Transforming Education (formerly of Calistoga, California) no longer operates the program as a standalone entity and the program has been folded into Naropa University. Naropa itself is a small private university; families should note that small-college financial fragility is a real sector-wide risk and should ask about program continuity guarantees. The Naropa page reached during research did not itself surface LeapYear content, so the program's current status and cadence should be verified by phone before applying.
LeapYear (formerly LEAPNOW)
Naropa University (program absorbed from LEAPNOW: Transforming Education)
Costs you
Amount varies
PRICE NOT CONFIRMED. No current published LeapYear tuition figure could be verified: the former LEAPNOW pricing pages are gone and Naropa's own program page did not surface a LeapYear-specific number. For scale only, Naropa's general undergraduate tuition and fees are estimated at about $38,758 for 2026 at $1,175 per credit hour, and LeapYear carries 29 credits - but do NOT treat that as the LeapYear price, which has historically been bundled differently. Tuition has historically included all scheduled program activities, food and accommodation during the program, the 29 credits, post-program internship placements and alumni reunions. Airfare treatment is not confirmed. Contact Naropa admissions (admissions@naropa.edu, 303-546-3595) for a written quote and an explicit statement of what is excluded. Because the program is delivered through an accredited university, students reportedly have full access to federal and state financial aid via FAFSA plus private scholarships. This is a genuine structural advantage over non-accredited gap programs - but confirm current eligibility directly, since the delivery structure changed.
We take no commission if you enroll and have no relationship with the operator.
RESTRUCTURED. LeapYear is a full-academic-year gap program combining international travel in Latin America or India with inner-development work and rites of passage, carrying 29 accredited college credits. The independent operator LEAPNOW no longer runs it standalone - leapnow.org now redirects to Naropa University.
- Term
- 7 mo–9 mo
- Housing
- Provided
- Meals
- Provided
- Airfare
- Not covered
- Selectivity
- Moderately competitive
- Age
- 17–22
- Citizenship
- Any citizenship
Deadlines
- 2027rollingRolling / no fixed deadline
Historically a September start with rolling admissions. Verify current cycle directly with Naropa.
Verified 9/16/2026 · www.naropa.edu