An amazing, awesome freebie for seniors

[The Blue Flower]

Do any of you know that you can audit any university class for free if you're over 60? I learned about it via an AARP bulletin a few years ago. I'm in my fourth semester of classes in the Music Department of Florida State University, and also took a great undergrad course in Southern Literature. It's been a ton of fun to participate without having to take exams or write papers, and I've met so many great people. Contact the registrar's office of any school you're interested in to find out details. At FSU you only need to get the instructor's okay on a form the first day or night of class. To me, free education is like free food.

[Stinky The Clown]

1. We can actually earn any degree tuition-free at any state school.

[Irish_Dem]

2. So you can either audit the class or take the exams etc and earn a degree? nt

[Stinky The Clown]

3. That's my understanding, the latter only on a space available basis.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Right, I understand tuition paying students get first consideration.

But that would be neat to earn some more degrees.

[zentrum]

32. Doesn't sound possible because

....if the exams are essays and/or the course work involves papers, the teacher has to spend hours reading and grading your work---without your tuition contributing to his/her salary. Can't imagine many colleges agreeing to that arrangement.

[Stinky The Clown]

38. S'true

http://registrar.umd.edu/current/registration/golden-id.html

[NJCher]

48. LOL

Do you think that the university gives a rat's a@#$ about the workload of professors?

I don't think it ever even occurs to them. It hasn't even breached their consciousness.

[zentrum]

52. No. I don't. In fact

...I know they don't. But the professors do and I think would have raised a flag.

[Honeycombe8]

21. It depends on the state and the institution. nt

[eppur_se_muova]

5. This appears to be true in CO, OH and WI -- any others ?

It would be nice to post a link to the AARP online article.

[The Blue Flower]

7. I don't know if I can find the article but...

It said that it's a policy at all American schools.

[eppur_se_muova]

8. OK, I found an article -- not AARP, but very informative.

https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/life/college/free-college-courses-for-senior-citizens/

[iluvtennis]

28. Thank you. In 3 years after I'm retired, I'm doing it

[Ms. Toad]

12. Ohio is audit only - I'm pretty sure you can't actually get a degree. n/t

[eppur_se_muova]

13. Apparently correct. nt

36. Ohio

Ohio residents at least 60 years old may attend class at any state college for free. Senior-citizen students do not receive credit and can only register on a space-available basis.

[central scrutinizer]

16. Also available at University of Oregon

[Shadowsmith]

25. Alaska

The University of Alaska offers free tuition to seniors. Classes can be either for credit or audit. But paying students have priority.

[calimary]

30. Welcome to DU, Shadowsmith!

This is great to know! You learn something new here every day.

[klook]

27. In Georgia you can get a degree for $0 tuition if youre over 62

at a state institution, subject to space availability and admission requirements. (But no medical, dental, veterinary, or law degrees this way!) A friend of a friend of mine is getting a Masters in music through this program. Pretty cool.

See http://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section4/C328/ — sec. 4.2.1.5 - Persons Aged 62 or Over.

[Amaryllis]

29. Oregon. At least at the community colleges.

[Hestia]

45. Arkansas also

https://admissions.uark.edu/apply/seniorcitizens.php

[marybourg]

6. I don't believe that's true of AZ,

but maybe someone can correct me.

It was true in NY, and my dad, who had to drop out of the tenth grade to support his younger siblings reveled in being able to"go to college" in his 60's (after getting a h.s. equivalency diploma).

[eppur_se_muova]

9. You seem to be mostly right.

3. Arizona

All 10 campuses of Maricopa Community College allow senior citizens to take classes for credit at 50% of the full tuition cost.

Students 65 and older must register between the first and second class sessions of the semester to ensure space is available.

https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/life/college/free-college-courses-for-senior-citizens/

[cwydro]

10. Wow, how cool! I have a BA, but Id love to keep on with learning!

Wonder if NC does this?

[eppur_se_muova]

11. Depends ...

34. North Carolina

Tuition is waived for senior citizens attending North Carolina community colleges. Audit options may be available at other schools.

At The University of North Carolina-Wilmington, for example, senior citizens may audit classes for free after paying a $75 application fee.

https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/life/college/free-college-courses-for-senior-citizens/

[cwydro]

24. Interesting.

Thanks!

[dixiegrrrrl]

36. Community colleges are usually very accessible for people

and many do have offers for Seniors.

Also....when I was working here, I was allowed to be a sub. teacher at the community college, for 1-2 nights, if the teachers were ill or whatever. $80.00 a night for a 2 hour total of my time, mostly in Sociology or Psych. classes. Anyone who had a Psych, or Soc. or even Soc. Work degree could ask to be on the sub. list, no matter how old the degree.

Something to check out if you qualify.

[The Genealogist]

14. How is FSU these days?

I went there for several years trying for a PhD.

[The Blue Flower]

18. I'm impressed with FSU

My experience has mostly been with the music school, though. I was an English major, but always wished I'd majored in music. So I'm loving this second chapter of my education.

[ecstatic]

15. I just told my parents about this. They both

pretty much said hell no. In GA, they have the option of taking the course for credit towards a degree as well. On my next call, I'll let them know they can just audit.

[Control-Z]

17. I'm bookmarking this for later.

I need to take a couple classes. You have to be over 60?

[The Blue Flower]

19. That's my understanding.

You can check for yourself, though.

[Honeycombe8]

22. It depends on the state you live in. The laws are different. nt

[Historic NY]

20. Look to international study classes....

some encourage adult participation, especially winter-sessions. I along with some colleagues did it for several years. We paid the costs to travel-etc and went along with the students. We were looked at as chaparones. Great Times. I'm now older but am looking forward to travel more.

[spooky3]

23. I dont think this applies to private schools, unless they individually

Make the policy.

[L. Coyote]

26. Varies by state. Check the details in your area.

[Sancho]

31. This is the policy at the University of South Florida in St. Pete

TUITION WAIVERS FOR FLORIDA SENIORS

Auditing courses at USFSP

USF St. Petersburg welcomes Florida residents who are 60 years or older to discover course enrollment opportunities and lifelong learning.

This program allows those residents to register tuition-free for up to three courses on a “space available” basis. Courses are available in the liberal arts (College of Arts and Sciences) disciplines.

[DoctorJoJo]

33. Absolutely True Here in Dayton, OH ...

... as you say, with the instructor's approval. I've several friends who have been doing this for years, and I don't remember anytime they have NOT secured permission.

[bagelsforbreakfast]

34. Good to know - thanks - info on CA? n/m

[renate]

35. that's super cool! thank you SO much!

I have a few years to go... I hope I don't forget about this by the time I get there.

[Kaleva]

37. A state by state guide

https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/life/college/free-college-courses-for-senior-citizens/

[Freddie]

39. Excellent! My local community college

Is free for credit classes (!) if there is space in the class after normal registration. But only 65+, I have a few years yet. But nice to know.

[True Blue American]

40. I knew about the auditing

But never knew you could get credit.

[CTyankee]

41. I took a community college course here in New Haven in Italian 101-102

so I could learn the language for use when I traveled to Italy. I took the quizzes (very helpful to test my retention of the material) but didn't take finals since I already had a Masters Degree and didn't need to put myself through them. I did have to buy the textbook which was $124 but it spanned both courses.
It's a nifty way to get a base in a foreign language.

[WinkyDink]

42. Kudos to youse guys, but at 68, after a career in education, I'm DONE! FINITO MUNDO! I'll just

pretend to read all the hundreds of non-fiction, many of modern politics, books I set aside for my "next life."

[treestar]

43. This you can do at the University of Delaware

and also go on the international programs, for which the University is renowned. My relatives went to several countries for 6 week periods with classes to take and the chance to see those countries and even live with people there.

[lark]

46. Seriously?

That is so freaking awesome! Can't wait to tell my husband. We've been wanting to travel overseas but not sure we should spend the money since we've just retired and only have a fixed amount of $$ that has to last for the rest of our lives. This would be the perfect answer if it's available here. Calling UNF and JU next week to see if they have something similar! Thank you so much for mentioning this.

[treestar]

47. Yes, and another good effect

Was taking the classes with regular age college kids.

It would be cool to have older people in your class with you. Never had that type of thing in college. They could have educationally valuable perspectives.

[lark]

44. Wow, thanks for the information.

I just retired a week ago and wanted to take some of the Senior Living classes at one of the colleges nearby and was willing to pay. Free is much better though! Can't wait for Jan. to start going to school again.

[gvstn]

49. Also you might want to check out Osher Lifelong learning institutes.

Same idea and they partner with some colleges in different states.

There is a small fee of about <$200 per semester in some states. But they have "scholarships" for those for whom this would be a burden. No one is turned away.

The benefit is that you are going to classes with people 50/55+ and may make friends as you have more in common with them then mixed age classmates.

https://www.osherfoundation.org/index.php?olli

https://www.osherfoundation.org/index.php?olli_list

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

50. It depends entirely on the state and on the specific public institution.

A decade ago I could take classes for free at Johnson County (Kansas) Community College for credit after age 55. The only catch was you had to wait until the very last day of registration to enroll so that you wouldn't be taking a space away from a paying student.

Now that I'm in a different state I might look at taking a class or two at my nearby community college. However, I do a fair amount of travelling these days, so I'd probably wind up missing too many classes to do it at this point in my life. Someday I might settle down.

[samnsara]

51. yep! I live in a University town and a lot of ppl i know audit the classes..

...especially the art classes...

[SunSeeker]

53. Wow. I did not know that. Good to know when I turn 60. Thanks!

[joanbarnes]

54. Thank you Blue Flower, I shall Feast! (I am presently enjoying the AARP hikes.)

[alfredo]

55. We have The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

http://www.uky.edu/publichealth/degree-programs/lifelong-learning