FREE COLLEGE TUITION FOR THOSE OVER 60
Clemson University, Furman University, Tri-County Tech, and USC Upstate are welcoming seniors and are providing a unique opportunity for baby boomers in South Carolina who want to return to the classroom.
According to the South Carolina Code o Laws, people age 60 and older can enroll or audit classes at state-supported institutions without paying tuition. In order to qualify, the applicant must be a resident of the state, be at least 60 years old and meet the admissions criteria of the college or university. While the law states that these individuals can receive free tuition, they may be required to pay for other fees, such as textbooks and lab costs.
Many retirees are returning to the classroom to study areas outside of their career paths. Others are enjoying the membership perks of free access to a variety of services and speaker series offered to enrolled students. A number of colleges and universities nationwide are recognizing the value of offering programs tailored to retirees. Many have begun to develop specialized programs, and some have built housing facilities, specifically the senior students.
Local Colleges, such as USC Upstate, Clemson University, and Tri-County Technical College are welcoming more and more of those non-traditional students each semester. Furman University has taken a step further by providing land for The Woodlands at Furman, the state’s first retirement community that is directly tied to a university. Through the Furman University Learning in Retirement program, which began in 1993 with 62 students, over 630 students were enrolled this year.