California's Seniors Are Going Back to College for a Second Start

More than 134,000 Californians 50 and older are now enrolled in public colleges and universities to switch careers, pursue unexplored interests, and obtain degrees they never finished or had the opportunity to start, reports the Santa Cruz Sentinel . Some seniors are leveraging a little-known California State University (CSU) initiative, the "Over 60 Program," which waives tuition and most student fees for citizens 60 and older no matter their income level. Although most CSU campuses offered the program at one time, today only about 33 percent offer it. A CSU spokesperson said seniors will continue to be welcome on CSU campuses, provided openings are available. About 200 people are presently enrolled in the Over 60 Program systemwide, and about 800 students older than 59 are enrolled at CSU campuses outside the Over 60 Program. A larger number of seniors are enrolled at California's state's community colleges. Kathleen Molina, who heads the Over 60 Program at Fresno State, says the program is not a drain on CSU's limited resources, noting program participants cannot enroll in classes until after regular students have signed up. She says over 50 percent of participants are on fixed incomes and could not afford a CSU education otherwise.