College educations are not reserved for teens and twenty-somethings. Non-traditional students, such as senior citizens, are becoming a commonplace sight in many colleges and universities. The financial departments at schools recognize this fact, and you can find scholarships and grants available for elderly students as well as those for general non-traditional students.
Pell Grant
The Pell Grant is a federal grant program available to students of all ages, based on their financial need. The Pell Grant does not have to be paid back and can be applied for by using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. A student can receive up to $5,550; the exact amount is based on how much the student can contribute to his education expenses, the amount of credit hours he is going for and the cost of the school.
Auditing
Many schools offer senior citizens the chance to audit classes for a much lower cost than taking the courses for credit. Although a senior would not be able to apply these classes toward a degree, she does get the exact same experience as the rest of the students for a much lower cost. Course audits can be requested through a college's admission office.
Senior Adult Scholarship Program
Alabama offers a state scholarship program that completely waives the tuition costs for seniors 60 or above at two-year colleges. Several other states, such as Arkansas and Maryland, also offer tuition waivers that allow senior citizens to attend college for little or no cost. Unlike auditing, the courses taken under a tuition waiver do count toward a degree, if the senior is in a specific degree program.
AARP Scholarship
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) offers a senior scholarship program for women over the age of 40. This scholarship is need-based, focused on providing older women with job skills and educational opportunities. The scholarship funds can be used in two- and four-year schools, as well as any vocational or technical schools that an elderly woman may be interested in. The scholarship amounts range between $500 and $5,000, with the specific amount calculated based on the woman's financial need as well as the total cost of the school she is attending.
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