In the mid-1930s, a swimming coach from Colgate University got bored and decided, why not take his team to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for early season training at a shiny new Olympic-sized pool? This brilliant idea soon caught on, and other colleges jumped on the bandwagon in the following years. It didn’t take long before the idea grew so big that they even started hosting a swimming forum event. By the 1960s, college students from all over the country were driving to Fort Lauderdale for a week-long break, chasing warm weather and escaping the stress of schoolwork. Seeing this rush of college students, local businesses got wise and began offering deals like all-you-can-drink beer for $1.50 (which would be 15$ in today’s currency). By December of 1960, Spring Break had hit the mainstream media, thanks to the movie “Where the Boys Are”, which depicted the time-honored tradition of college kids rebelling, partying, and of course finding love during their week-long drinking vacation. While the “finding love” part might have faded a bit over the years, the drinking and partying? Still going strong.
Fast forward to 2024, and Spring Break has become a billion-dollar industry. According to Globe Newswire, the average Spring Break trip in 2025 will set you back a calm $8,306. Yes, over eight grand. So, what makes Spring Break so ridiculously expensive for college students?
Well, let’s break it down. I’ve had my own Spring Break experiences, and while I didn’t hit that average $8,000 mark (thankfully), I definitely contributed my fair share about $2,000 a year. And let’s be honest, I’m sure I wasn’t alone. The bulk of those expenses? Credit cards. Because, let’s face it, how many college students can drop $2,000 on a vacation without a little help from their trusty plastic friend? That’s right your average college student isn’t exactly swimming in cash, unless their “swimming” involves debt. But seriously, it’s a pricey endeavor. Between flights, accommodations, drinks, food, and, of course, the highly essential souvenir hat (because nothing screams “Best time of my life” like a hat that says “Cancun”), Spring Break is a serious financial commitment. And let’s not forget the parties, clubs, and those late-night taco runs. All these costs add up, and before you know it, your bank account is screaming for help, while your Instagram is thriving with likes.
Spring Break may have started out as a fun, simple way to train for swim meets, but today it’s a massive commercial event that can leave college students either living their best life or drowning in debt. Either way, it’s still one of those rites of passage that’s just… too fun to skip.
Whether spring break for you means partying or not, playing a spring sport, or finishing a final project, it’s a pretty cool week that a college coach invented.
