Mission Trips for College Students

What should college students look for in a Christian mission trip?

A good Christian mission trip for college students pairs your time with an established local ministry, prepares you to arrive as a guest and a learner, and, of course, fits your schedule! Experience Mission (EM) offers 6-10 day group mission trips for college teams of six or more, plus individual IMMERSION and Gap Year programs lasting 1-9 months. Serve alongside local partners in communities across the United States and around the world.

As you compare options, look for these marks of healthy service:

• Established local partners - a host ministry that knows its community leads the work
• Preparation before travel - cross-cultural training helps your team arrive as guests and learners
• Realistic scope - projects fit what a community can host
• Time to reflect - worship and debrief help the experience shape life back on campus
• Clear costs and safety plans - you know what the price covers and how your team is supported

Each EM trip and program is built around these marks. The sections below explain how.

What mission trip options does EM offer for college students?

EM offers three paths to serve for college students, and the right one depends on whether you are going with a group or on your own and how long you can go:

• Group mission trips - U.S. and international mission trips for 6-10 days for campus ministries, clubs, and friend groups of 6 or more
• IMMERSION and Gap Year programs - Individual cross-cultural programs lasting 1-9 months, including 1-month and 3-month programs that fit a summer break
• Summer Missions Internship - Leadership positions for college students, leading short-term mission trips for 6-11 weeks in communities across the country

All three paths share EM's service-learning approach, with different lengths and responsibilities.

6-10 DAYS
Group Mission Trips
For college teams of 6 or more, U.S. and internationally

1-9 MONTHS
IMMERSION & Gap Year
For individual young adults, with ages varying by program

Can a campus ministry or student group go on a mission trip together?

Yes! Any campus ministry, club, residence hall, or group of friends can send a team of 6 or more on an EM group mission trip. Some communities require a larger team. Each mission trip community page lists the minimum needed.

Every team needs at least one leader age 21 or older, and every adult on the team completes a background check before travel under EM's background check policy. The leader chooses a community, reserves dates, and registers the team online. Adults of every age are welcome, so alumni, campus ministry leaders, and staff are welcome to serve alongside students.

Can a college student go on a mission trip alone?

Yes, through EM's IMMERSION or a Gap Year program. Students apply individually and join a team of other young adults for 1 month, 3 months, 6 months or 9 months. IMMERSION and Gap Year programs serve young adults generally ages 18-30, with some programs having a narrower age range.

EM group mission trips require a team of at least 6, and EM is unable to place an individual onto an existing team. A student who wants to serve for a week can gather friends from campus or church to form one, simply needing at least one team member age 21 or older to serve as the Team Leader.

What do college students do on a mission trip?

On EM's 6-10 day group trips, most days center on worksite projects and/or local ministry support shaped by the priorities of EM's local ministry partners. Each day ends with a time of worship, prayer, and reflection together. IMMERSION and Gap Year participants join the daily rhythm of local ministries and communities, building deeper relationships over time.

Depending on the community, students may serve in these areas:

• Manual labor and disaster recovery - Repair, construction, and rebuilding projects led by local partners
• Kids ministry, teaching, and sports programs - Kids Club, educational programs, and recreation alongside local leaders
• Care and support - Elderly care, disability support, refugee assistance, and food programs
• Skills-based service - Administration, agriculture, and arts and music

Each community page lists its focus areas, so your team can match its gifts to work already underway.

Where can college groups serve in the United States?

EM hosts college teams in communities across the United States, and week-long trip costs currently range from $495 to $599 per person. Domestic trips need no passport and mean shorter, less expensive travel for your team.

Teams serve alongside local partners such as Sunshine Gospel Ministries in Chicago, The Salvation Army in New York City, Old Savannah City Mission in Georgia, Pikeville Presbyterian Church in Kentucky, Ark of Highland Lakes in Central Texas, and Border Perspective in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas.

Compare every U.S. community on the United States mission trips page, or explore rural mission trips if your team wants to serve in smaller towns or rural communities.

Does EM offer college spring break mission trips?

Yes! Spring is one of the busiest seasons for week-long trips for college students, and the spring break mission trips page lists communities, open weeks, and costs for teams that want to serve over break.

When do college mission trips take place?

The bulk of week-long group trips run in spring and summer, and open weeks vary by community. Each trip page lists available dates for groups to serve. Summer trips from June through August include EM's Evening Gathering, a time of debriefing and devotions facilitated by EM field staff. IMMERSION and Gap Year programs begin on set dates listed on each program page, with launch dates in January, May, August, and September each year.

How much does a college mission trip cost?

Per-person costs for week-long group trips currently range from $475-$599 in the U.S., $795-$995 in Latin America and the Caribbean, $1,345 in Asia, and $1,395-$1,595 in Africa. The trip cost covers lodging, meals, all work project materials, and program support, plus in-country transportation on international trips.

Budget separately for travel to and from the trip, adult background checks, and international entry or exit fees, if needed. See EM's registration and payment policy for deposit and payment details.

IMMERSION and Gap Year costs vary by program and length, and each program page lists its price. Teams and participants can raise support for the cost: EM offers a Mission Trip Fundraising Guide for group trips and a separate IMMERSION fundraising guide, and IMMERSION participants work with a Fundraising Coach and a personal fundraising profile.

Is a mission trip safe for college students?

Every EM trip partners with a local church, ministry, or established organization that serves in that community year-round. Local partners and EM field staff understand the context, coordinate logistics, and give teams on-the-ground guidance on where and how to move.

To keep all group mission trips safe, EM employs a Health and Safety Plan outlining our policies for background checks, emergency response, and how EM and team leaders share responsibility for team safety.

What is EM's approach to a college mission trip?

EM's 7 Healthy Service Principles invite college students to approach their mission trip as guests and learners rather than tourists or heroes. Students practice listening before acting and noticing the strengths a community already has.

On an EM trip, students learn that people matter more than projects and that every person, wherever they are, bears the image of God and is worthy of love and dignity. They also join a community in motion, not start something new, supporting the work of local ministry partners serving communities year-round. EM offers all teams and programs cross-cultural service training before travel and strongly recommends it for every team.

What is a service-learning mission trip?

How does a college group get started?

Simple steps to get started with your college group mission trip:

1. Gather your team - 6 or more students, alumni, or staff, including a leader age 21 or older
2. Choose a community - Compare focus areas, dates, and per-person cost on the group mission trips page
3. Reserve dates - The group leader submits an interest form before registering the team online
4. Prepare together - Complete cross-cultural training, background checks, and fundraising
5. Serve and reflect - Join local partners for a week of service, learning, and more

Students who want to go on their own can skip the team steps and apply directly to join an IMMERSION or a Gap Year program.

What do past college group participants say about EM?

Check out the Experience Mission Reviews page to explore what past group mission trip and IMMERSION team members have to say about serving with Experience Mission.

College Mission Trip FAQs