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Verto Education Review: Gap Year Program
Verto Education allows you to have a gap year experience and still graduate college in four years.
Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Kat Tretina is a freelance personal finance writer and certified student loan counselor based in Orlando, Florida. Kat has written about debt repayment, investing and insurance for outlets including Student Loan Hero, The Huffington Post and Business Insider.
Cecilia Clark Assistant Assigning Editor | Education financing products, Veteran's benefits, Student and graduate finances
Cecilia Clark is an editor on the loans team. She specializes in student loans and manages product reviews and roundups. Previously, she worked as a freelance writer and developed communications strategies for cybersecurity firms. Cecilia has also worked in post-secondary education, elevator operations management and sales and military nuclear command control, maintenance management and public affairs.
The bottom line: Verto Education is a gap year program provider that partners with colleges to enable students to take a gap year and still graduate on their original four-year timeline. It is best for students who want to attend either the University of New Haven or one of Verto's partner colleges and earn college credit.
Pros & Cons
PROS
Ability to graduate within original four-year timeline.
Grant and scholarship opportunities available.
Payment plans available.
CONS
Not eligible for federal aid.
Partner schools are not in every state.
Program cost doesn’t include plane tickets, books and other expenditures.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula for student loan products takes into account more than 50 data points across multiple categories, including repayment options, customer service, lender transparency, loan eligibility and underwriting criteria.
Fixed APR
3.47-17.99%
College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply. (1)All rates include the auto-pay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation. (2)As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000. (3)This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. Information advertised valid as of 12/2/2024. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of the Flat Repayment Option with the shortest available loan term.
Variable APR
4.99-17.99%
College Ave Student Loans products are made available through Firstrust Bank, member FDIC, First Citizens Community Bank, member FDIC, or M.Y. Safra Bank, FSB, member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply. (1)All rates include the auto-pay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. If a payment is returned, you will lose this benefit. Variable rates may increase after consummation. (2)As certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000. (3)This informational repayment example uses typical loan terms for a freshman borrower who selects the Flat Repayment Option with an 8-year repayment term, has a $10,000 loan that is disbursed in one disbursement and a 7.78% fixed Annual Percentage Rate (“APR”): 54 monthly payments of $25 while in school, followed by 96 monthly payments of $176.21 while in the repayment period, for a total amount of payments of $18,266.38. Loans will never have a full principal and interest monthly payment of less than $50. Your actual rates and repayment terms may vary. Information advertised valid as of 12/2/2024. Variable interest rates may increase after consummation. Approved interest rate will depend on creditworthiness of the applicant(s), lowest advertised rates only available to the most creditworthy applicants and require selection of the Flat Repayment Option with the shortest available loan term.
NerdWallet ratingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula for student loan products takes into account more than 50 data points across multiple categories, including repayment options, customer service, lender transparency, loan eligibility and underwriting criteria.
Fixed APR
3.49-15.49%
Lowest rates shown include the auto debit. Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment. Advertised APRs are valid as of 11/25/2024. Loan amounts: For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website will be subject to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time. Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Student Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44. For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment amount may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years. A variable APR may increase over the life of the loan. A fixed APR will not.
Variable APR
4.92-15.08%
Lowest rates shown include the auto debit. Advertised APRs for undergraduate students assume a $10,000 loan to a student who attends school for 4 years and has no prior Sallie Mae-serviced loans. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when funds are sent to the school. With the Fixed and Deferred Repayment Options, the interest rate is higher than with the Interest Repayment Option and Unpaid Interest is added to the loan’s Current Principal at the end of the grace/separation period. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment. Advertised APRs are valid as of 11/25/2024. Loan amounts: For applications submitted directly to Sallie Mae, loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid received, as certified by the school. Applications submitted to Sallie Mae through a partner website will be subject to a lower maximum loan request amount. Miscellaneous personal expenses (such as a laptop) may be included in the cost of attendance for students enrolled at least half-time. Examples of typical costs for a $10,000 Smart Option Student Loan with the most common fixed rate, fixed repayment option, 6-month separation period, and two disbursements: For a borrower with no prior loans and a 4-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.28% fixed APR, 51 payments of $25.00, 119 payments of $182.67 and one payment of $121.71, for a Total Loan Cost of $23,134.44. For a borrower with $20,000 in prior loans and a 2-year in-school period, it works out to a 10.78% fixed APR, 27 payments of $25.00, 179 payments of $132.53 and one payment of $40.35 for a total loan cost of $24,438.22. Loans that are subject to a $50 minimum principal and interest payment amount may receive a loan term that is less than 10 years. A variable APR may increase over the life of the loan. A fixed APR will not.
Credible lets you check with multiple student loan lenders to get rates with no impact to your credit score. Visit their website to take the next steps.
Full Review
Verto Education was created in 2018 and blends the education aspects of study abroad with the self-discovery aspects of a gap year. It bills itself as a “gap year without the gap” and allows students to travel for a semester or two without losing time toward college graduation.
After being accepted into Verto's program, you have to fill out a separate application for its partner schools.
You select up to five colleges you’re interested in and submit your high school GPA and transcripts as part of the process. Some partner colleges might have additional requirements, like essays or letters of recommendation. Verto and many of its partner schools don’t require standardized tests, but some colleges require them.
Verto Education provides college credits through the University of New Haven. All Verto participants are enrolled in the University of New Haven's associate of arts degree general studies program. You can take 12 to 17 college credit hours per semester for up to two semesters, for a total of 34 credit hours.
When you finish the Verto Education program, you have three options:
Complete your degree with the University of New Haven: You can enroll at University of New Haven's main campus to earn an associate degree or pursue a bachelor's degree.
Transfer to a partner college: Transfer your credits that you earned abroad to one of Verto's partner schools. Verto Education partners with over 70 four-year schools across 20 states, Washington, D.C., and four countries. Students can also continue their education through alternative pathways, such as coding bootcamps or apprenticeship programs.
Transfer to a non-partner college: If you want to transfer to a non-partner college, Verto Education may work with that college to determine which credits will transfer and how those credits will apply.
Where you study within your selected country varies by program; the host institution can be a local university or a third-party study center. The classes feature small classes sizes and are taught by New Haven faculty members that live and work in the host country.
Classes cover the fundamentals in a variety of subjects, including foreign languages, art history, psychology and chemistry.
You might experience a mix of destination excursions, cultural fieldwork, classroom education and local language training while living in hotels, guesthouses and family homestays during your gap year. You will travel via local transit, van, bus and airplane depending on the program you pick.
AD
Get Pre-Qualified for Trade Schools & Bootcamps
Your career goals are unique. Your funding should be too. We'll match you with lenders and trade schools that fit your specific needs.
Argentina (Buenos Aires): Starting at $19,500 per semester.
Czech Republic (Prague): Starting at $19,500 per semester.
England (London): Starting at $29,000 per semester.
Italy (Florence): Starting at $23,000 per semester.
Spain: (Seville) Starting at $19,500 per semester.
*Some expenses are not included, such as for travel, snacks, souvenirs, medical insurance and treatment, laundry, visa fees, books and course material.
Financial aid
Verto Education is not eligible for federal aid, so you cannot use federal grants or student loans to pay for the program.
However, Verto recommends that students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) because other financial aid programs, including Verto's Opportunity Grant, require it. When you submit the FAFSA, you must list Verto's academic provider, the University of New Haven, as a selected college.
Verto Opportunity Grant: Up to $14,000.
Verto Scholars Award: Up to $10,000.
Verto offers two discount programs:
Accelerated application discount: Finish the entire Verto application process — meaning you submit your transcripts, essay and complete the family admission call within three weeks — and you'll qualify for a $500 tuition discount.
Early enrollment discount: Secure your spot for the fall semester with a completed application and deposit by January 16, 2024, and Verto will reduce your tuition by $1,000.
Verto operates a payment plan that allows you to break your payments into five monthly installments.
You must be 17 - 22 years old to apply to Verto Education. You must also qualify to take classes through the University of New Haven.
To qualify, you need a GPA of 2.5 or better, but those with GPAs of 2.0 or higher are encouraged to apply. Applicants will also have to submit transcripts, a 500-word writing sample, and undergo a phone interview and virtual meeting.
Although Verto Education doesn't require standardized test scores, some of its partner colleges do, so you should have the scores available.
According to Verto, the entire process takes one to two weeks to complete. Once you're accepted, you must submit a $500 deposit to hold your spot.
Partner schools
Verto Education partners with 70 colleges and universities, including schools in other countries.
Check out the full list on Verto's website.
