A Golden Opportunity: Discounted College Tuition for Seniors
If you’ve ever considered earning an advanced degree—a bachelor’s, master’s, or even doctorate—your retirement years could be a prime opportunity. And you may even be able to earn the degree for only the cost of your books!
The reality is that colleges and universities across the country offer free or discounted tuition to folks 55 years old and older.
There are several full-time and part-time opportunities for retirees and seniors with time on their hands and a desire to learn. Maybe you want to earn an advanced degree for the achievement, take your career in a new direction, finish a degree you started when you were younger, or you’re simply a lifelong learner.
Tuition Waivers
Many prominent U.S. colleges and universities provide older residents with the opportunity to gain a tuition-free education.
Here in Minnesota, for example, the University of Minnesota offers tuition-free courses to residents who are 62 or older. There is a $10 per credit charge if you’re taking the course for college credit, but that’s a steep discount to the more than $500 per credit price tag for traditional college students. There may also be lab fees or material costs associated with the course, which are still the student's responsibility.[1]
The University of Illinois provides a Senior Citizen Courses Act Tuition Waiver, which can be utilized by undergraduate and graduate students who are at least 65 years old, that reside in Illinois and meet the household income threshold. As with the University of Minnesota, some fees may be associated with credits that aren’t included in the waiver.[2]
In Wisconsin, Marquette University offers a 50% senior citizen discount for Wisconsin residents who are 62 years or older. If you have the necessary prerequisites, you can utilize the discount on graduate courses and earn credit for them.[3]
That’s only a sampling of the opportunities colleges and universities provide to folks in their golden years. Still, according to a recent Kiplinger article, all 50 states have discounted and free college education opportunities for seniors. Many local community colleges also have programs. So, if you’re interested in furthering your education, be sure to check out what the colleges in your area offer.
It’s important to note that many of these opportunities are on a “first-come, first-serve” basis as class sizes are often limited, and tuition-paying students have the first crack at the class selection. And, in most cases, you’ll also need to apply and be accepted at your university of choice.
Aside from any fees associated with for-credit courses, there may also be lab fees, textbook and material costs, and potentially other course fees that vary by class. Still, these fees are likely to pale in comparison to the typical cost of a college education.
Course Auditing
If you’re merely looking to learn a new skill or gain new knowledge, and don’t need to credit for a degree, then you may want to consider auditing a class.
Simply put, when you audit a class, you don’t earn any credit. You attend the course, lectures, and even labs, but you don’t have to turn in any assignments or take any exams. You can learn and study all the same coursework as the traditional students, without the cost.
The fact is that most colleges and universities don’t have fees associated with course auditing. At the University of Minnesota, the $10 per credit charge is waived if you’re a senior auditing the course. Still, if there are any additional course fees, book costs, or lab fees, you’d be responsible for these costs.
Like the for-credit opportunities, the course auditing options are based on availability and acceptance into the college or program. Again, students who pay tuition are given priority to class selection.
Are You Ready to Go Back to School?
There’s been a surge in older Americans heading back to school in recent years. Kiplinger even reported that enrollment for degree-seeking individuals 35 or older rose 23% between 2000 and 2014. This number is expected to climb 20% between 2014 and 2025.[4]
Aside from the unique opportunities that many colleges and universities provide for retirement-aged individuals, there’s also a slew of “lifelong learner” programs across the country. One popular option is Osher Lifelong Learning Institution, geared for individuals 50 years old and older.
Osher Lifelong Learning Institution is part of a network of more than 120 colleges and university programs that provide non-credit and non-graded courses. A yearly membership costs $60, and classes run $50 each. There are even scholarships available to cancel out these fees.
So, if you’re interested in earning a degree or simply taking courses that interest you, check out all the opportunities available at your local colleges and universities, or see if there’s a lifelong learner program near you.
Reference Articles
https://www.moneytalksnews.com/slideshows/colleges-with-senior-discounts/
[1] https://onestop.umn.edu/academics/senior-citizen-education-program
[2] https://osfa.illinois.edu/types-of-aid/waivers/senior-citizen-courses-act-tuition-waiver/
[3] https://bulletin.marquette.edu/grad/tuitionfeesandhousing/
[4] https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/601337/back-in-school-decades-later