School rules...

     Emily Brandon, in her article, Forget Tuition: How Retirees Can Attend College for Free, written for U.S. News and World Report Money, covers well the retirement retooling trend of beginning or returning to the college campus after “retirement.” Some seniors report that they are now at school preparing for the work they will do next during their “retirement” careers. Others are re-visiting degrees and coursework they left behind years before as life moved in other directions. Still others are checking out topics and ideas that they have long wanted to explore but just never had an opportunity to do.

     These returning students are, in many cases, taking advantage of NO TUITION programs for citizens over 60 or 62 years of age at both private and public institutions, under graduate and graduate, across the country. Some of these plans are state initiatives while others are offered by the institutions themselves. Classes are offered usually on a space available basis and can be available as an “audit” which means access to classes, no obligation to test or write papers and no credit granted upon completion. Exciting for those who are just shy a few credits for that long ago degree, many institutions also offer the senior program on “for credit” classes.

     Be advised that “no tuition” does not mean no cost. Most schools do require the payment of other fees like parking and lab access and the purchase of books and other materials. Textbook access has changed over time too; so for some, books can be rented not purchased or viewed on-line, all at a cheaper cost than ownership.

     Seniors report that the related costs are often far outweighed by the benefits. Of course, the first benefit is intellectual enrichment...no matter what age, education can really never be taken away from a scholar. New faces and places, access to libraries, fitness centers and interesting programming are also cited as benefits of a return to campus. At some campuses, seniors can actually live on campus at extended care facilities where services for seniors change as their needs change over time. These facilities are often operated in conjunction with the institution's gerontology degree programs.

     Does this idea appeals to you? If so, read the article at: http://money.usnews.com/money/articles/2009/04/20/forget-tuition-how-retirees-can-attend-college-for-free . Also do a Google search for “senior citizen college programs” and you'll discover just how many schools are fueling this trend and just how close you may be to joining in!