Shelley EYou’re never too old to start or go back to college. If you’re a senior citizen, see how you can get money to finance that never-ending dream.
You may want to go all-in and graduate with your college degree. Or you may want to put some of your free time to use to expand your mind and knowledge by taking a few college classes. Either way, you may not have to cough up a lot of your own cash to achieve those goals. Here are some ways to make getting a college education as a senior citizen more affordable.
College Grants and Scholarships for Senior Citizens
You could get free money from the federal or state government to pay for your college classes. Such free money could come in the form of a grant that, unlike a student loan, you do not have to pay back.
An excellent place to start is to see if you qualify for federal college grants. You can do this by filling out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Completing the FAFSA will help determine whether you have sufficient financial need to qualify for federal grants. There is no age limit, making it a solid source of potential funding for senior citizens looking to go to college.
If you qualify for federal grants, such as the Pell Grant, it could open up the door for state-based college grants as well. Once your FAFSA is complete, you can also start browsing for state grants here.
Beyond federal and state governments, you could get college funding via grants and scholarships from private organizations, foundations, and institutions. Some of these grants and scholarships were explicitly created with seniors in mind.
For example, the Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society has a yearly scholarship for adult learners. You can find others by searching for senior citizen scholarships and grants online.
Reduced or Free Tuition
Depending on where you plan to study, you may not need any grants or scholarships at all. This is because some colleges and universities offer free or reduced tuition to senior citizens. If you can’t find this option at major colleges or universities in your area, try local community colleges.
Some states waive tuition costs for senior citizens at their public colleges or universities. Although this list can change, here are some of them:
- Alaska
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- Vermont
- Virginia
Class Auditing
If you already have your degree or don’t necessarily care about earning one, but you’d like to attend college classes for the experience, you may be able to audit courses. Some universities offer this option to let senior citizens sit in on classes for free or at a reduced cost to soak up the information without worrying about payment, grades, etc.
Other Ways Senior Citizens Can Make College More Affordable
Beyond those tips above, try these to keep more money in your pocket while advancing your education as a non-traditional student:
- Get reduced tuition by working at the college.
- Take classes online instead of in-person.
- See if textbooks are available at the local library for free. You can also find them cheaper online or buy them used at a discount.
- If you are still working, ask your employer if they have a tuition reimbursement program.
Mark Luigi
