2026-2027 Semester Tuition & Dates
Fall 2026 Semester Dates: August 19 – December 16, 2026
Spring 2027 Semester Dates: January 20 – May 23, 2027
HMI Semester 2026-27 Tuition: $40,550
Tuition and fees do not include flights to/from program start or school break
HMI Semester 2025-26 Tuition: $38,800 (we are still accepting applications for Spring 2026)
Student Account Deposit: $1,200 (Fall); $1,600 (Spring)
Student Account funds are returned if unused
2026 Summer Tuition & Dates
Summer 2026 Dates: June 28 – July 25, 2026
Summer 2026 Tuition: $9,900 ($353/day)
Tuition and fees do not include flights to/from the program
Student Account Deposit: $500
Student Account funds are returned if unused
2026 & 2027 Semesters
Fall 2026 Dates: September 19 – December 7, 2026
Spring 2027 Dates: February 7 – April 7, 2027
Dates subject to minor change
Fall 2026 Semester Tuition: $19,200 ($240/day)
Spring 2027 Semester Tuition: $15,400 ($256/day)
Tuition and fees do not include flights to/from the program
Student Account Deposit: $750
Student Account funds are returned if unused
Affording HMI
We believe all qualified students should have access to the unique educational opportunities at HMI. We seek to meet the full demonstrated need of every student we accept into an HMI Program. This is to say, if you are accepted and if you qualify for financial aid, we will strive to offer a financial aid package that makes HMI affordable for your family.
All of our financial aid awards are need-based. We do not offer merit-based scholarships or financial aid, except for students who attend Lake County High School in Leadville.
39%
of Students Receive Financial Aid
72%
of Tuition is the Average Award
All Awards Include Free or Reduced-Price Outdoor Gear Rental
Top Awards Include Free Flights
Will my family qualify for financial aid?
As a general rule, families with an annual income of less than $150,000 are likely to qualify for aid, while families with an annual income of over $500,000 are unlikely to qualify for aid. Families with an annual income of $150,000 to $500,000 may or may not qualify for aid, depending on their situation.
If you would like a more definitive answer as to whether or not you will qualify for financial aid at HMI, please reach out to Jill Gardiner, Director of Admissions & Financial Aid. We will invite you to submit a complete financial aid application for processing.
How to apply for financial aid
Our Financial Aid program is designed to make the HMI education possible for all families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. HMI is proud to use Clarity Financial Aid to determine a family’s level of financial need based on the information that families share in the application which includes assets, income, expenses, and debts. The application is mobile-friendly and fully translated into Spanish.
Apply in five steps!
- Go to https://app.clarityapp.com/sign-up
- Begin your application and add “High Mountain Institute” to your student applicant entry. You can save your application and log out at any time and return later to complete it.
- Enter your financial information*, review your application, and pay the $65 Clarity application fee.
This fee is automatically waived for families making below a certain income level. If the fee is not automatically waived, and you feel that you cannot afford this fee, please contact us for a fee waiver. - US taxpayers: Complete the Clarity Enhanced Tax Verification (ETV) process to release your W2 and personal tax return transcripts from the IRS. You’ll be asked to authorize the sharing of your tax transcripts and verify your identity. This is a one-time security measure required by the IRS to protect against identity theft and the compromise of personal information. Only those filing US taxes will be prompted to complete this step. Clarity offers two options for enhanced tax verification process: “Clarity” and “IRS”. Please reference the Tax Verification Guide to preview the steps of this process.
- Submit your Clarity application and follow the link to return to your dashboard. Here you will see any additional supporting documents requested by schools. Upload your supporting documents by (deadline). Non-U.S. tax filers may be prompted to upload income verification and other necessary documentation. Keep in mind that at a later date, you may be prompted by the school via Clarity to upload additional documentation as needed.
Financial aid applications are considered in two rounds:
- Applications submitted by February 15 will be reviewed for our March 15 decision timeline.
- Applications submitted by March 15 will be reviewed for our April 15 decision timeline.
- If you apply for aid after March 15, please also reach out to the admissions team directly: admissions@hminet.org
There is a $65 fee to submit your financial aid application through Clarity. This fee is automatically waived for families making below a certain income level. If the fee is not automatically waived, and you feel that you cannot afford this fee, please contact us for a fee waiver.
Affording HMI Gap
HMI is proud to offer need-based financial aid to help make HMI Gap more affordable to all families. Additionally, there are many other ways to fund your gap experience. We have listed some ideas and resources below.
HMI does accept 529 Education Savings Plans.
Get college credit for your gap semester
Additional HMI Gap Expenses to be aware of
- Upon acceptance to an HMI Gap semester, students are asked to pay a non-refundable deposit of tuition owed, unless otherwise noted in a financial aid award, and return a signed Enrollment Agreement. This deposit is applied to the cost of tuition.
- Each program has designated start and end locations. Students are responsible for all costs associated with arriving at this location at the beginning of the program and departing from this location at the end of the program, including all international flights.
- We ask students to set up a student account with us to cover any expenses that come up during the program, such as gear, incidentals, or travel. At the end of the program, an itemized bill and refund of any unused student account money will be sent home six weeks after the semester ends.
- Group camping equipment such as stoves and tents are provided by HMI. Upon enrollment, students will receive a list of required clothing and equipment. We also provide suggestions for affordable purchase of quality gear from retailers around the country. In addition, many items may be available for rent from HMI.
We are here to help
With questions about tuition, expenses, and financial aid, please contact the HMI Admissions Office at 719-486-8200 x1 or admissions@hminet.org.
Jill Gardiner
Jill returned to HMI in 2021 almost exactly ten years after her time as a Semester 26 student. While she’s bounced around from coast to coast (Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Oregon, California), she’s thrilled life brought her back to Colorado. After getting a degree in economics from Boston University, she worked at a tech nonprofit in the Bay Area before re-joining the HMI community. She firmly believes in greeting any body of water she meets (no matter how cold!), still hopes that her dog Arlo will become a trail-running buddy, and will happily talk to you about spreadsheets for hours.
Jill returned to HMI in 2021 almost exactly ten years...
Jill Gardiner
Director of Admissions & Financial Aid
Li Platz
Li grew up in Lander, Wyoming, before heading to Massachusetts, where she received a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Williams College and explored the Berkshires on foot and bike. After graduation, she taught at a women’s university in Bangladesh before returning to the Mountain West to join the HMI admissions team. When not on the road, she can be found trail running, Nordic skiing, painting, or hosting dinners with friends.
Li grew up in Lander, Wyoming, before heading to Massachusetts,...
Li Platz
Admissions Associate
Lindsey Geer
Lindsey grew up in Atlanta, Georgia before attending Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. At Dartmouth, Lindsey studied psychology and education, and was the Director of Dartmouth’s First-Year Trips outdoor orientation program, spending lots of time exploring the White Mountains with friends! In her free time, you’ll find her hiking, reading, baking, playing cards, or contemplating getting a dog.
Lindsey grew up in Atlanta, Georgia before attending Dartmouth College...