Older students may return to college after a layoff or a long period of unemployment. Others may consider college as the path to a new career after decades in a dissatisfying job. Older students are more likely to have a greater savings than younger people, making college a possibility for adults who face early retirements or job loss. College education can also give older students relevant skills in the job market, making them a more valuable alternative to younger students graduating from college.
When stepping through the doors of college for a first or second time around, older students can still earn scholarships or financial aid to pay for classes. Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Students with a low household income can earn greater financial aid. Some organizations, such as the Jeanette Rankin Foundation, award grants to women older than age 35. Some states, such as Kentucky, also award additional aid to students older than 25 who return to school. Check with the offerings of your state government or your chosen school to find out about scholarship opportunities for adults older than 50.
Older students may be out of debt with grown children and an abundant savings, but with little else to occupy time. College can become a way for an older student to spend his time, achieving personal growth while building skills for a potential future career. Attending and completing college coursework can lead to a feeling of accomplishment and usefulness. An older student may also find that his skills in the job market are outdated. Returning to school can help a student learn new skills that are more viable in the job market. These skills can make advancement in the workplace less trying for older students.
Students who start attending college in the teenage years or twenties may find themselves mired in family pressures, stress with bills and little money, getting married or starting a family. Students older than 50 typically do not have the same concerns as younger students. Less pressure at home, in the workplace or on money can lead people older than 50 to consider attending college. Women may choose to wait until their children are grown, or men may wait until they have saved up enough money to return to college. Returning to college later in life offers fewer distractions and concerns than attending college earlier in life.