Education has no age limit and seniors seem to understand this more than young individuals. Thanks to online education, more seniors can now pursue their dream courses.
There’s never been a better time than now to go back to school. And with the help of online education, you can earn a degree in the comfort of your house.
What’s even better, online programs are affordable and flexible, thus ideal for seniors. All they require is a laptop, a strong internet connection, and the right professors.
In this short guide, we’ve highlighted the various reasons why more and more seniors are enrolling for online degrees.
Learn from Anywhere
The truth is that many seniors never got the chance to attend college. Many factors prevented them from advancing in their education, such as lack of funds, marriage, jobs, and family.
But that doesn’t mean it’s too late for them. On the contrary, seniors now have the opportunity to follow their interests and fulfill their lifelong objectives through online education.
And since some of them might have mobility issues, commitment at home, or are non-drivers, distance learning is their best bet.
By taking online classes, seniors won’t have to worry about commuting or parking spaces. Online programs are flexible, and most courses allow you to access class material anytime, anywhere.
You can work at your own pace at the comfort of your home. And as long as you have a computer or a laptop and a strong internet connection. You’re good to go.
Prestigious Educational Institutions
An online degree doesn’t limit you to any geographical point. As a result, you can take classes at any school, including top-ranked schools like the University of Michigan, University of Texas, Penn State, Yale University and more.
Over 1,000 prestigious schools offer online degrees in hundreds if not thousands of programs, including accounting, computer science, business management, nurinsg, and others.
Furthermore, there are hundreds of online-only schools granting online degrees at all levels, from certificate to doctoral programs.
Since the advent of online learning and distance education, more seniors have joined schools to pursue their dream courses.
Special Services for Seniors
Most schools, especially community colleges, have special seniors’ services. Some senior citizens get paired with younger students who teach them how online courses work and how they can proceed with their online education.
Just like in traditional classes, your real-world experience in online classes will provide you with depth and perspective. And if you’re shy to go back to a physical school, online courses make you anonymous.
Seniors who go back to school inspire the younger generation to work hard to attain their life goals.
Help with Tuition
Most seniors have a hard time making ends meet after retirement. However, going back to school and investing in a degree always pays off.
Online degrees are affordable, and online learning materials cost less. The best part is that nearly every state has some financial aid for seniors who wish to return to college.
Some colleges offer seniors reduced tuition or free courses. Also, most states require public schools to provide resident seniors discounted or free tuition. But depending on your state, qualifications, such as minimum age and income level, may differ.
If you have some leftover funds in education saving accounts, which you set up for your children, you can use them to finance your education. Apart from that, you can visit the financial-assistance office to apply for government grants, scholarships, and loans meant for seniors.
And that’s not all. The American opportunity tax credit offers seniors about $2,500 a year, plus a lifetime learning credit totaling up to $2,000 per year.
Benefits to Your Health
Pursuing a degree online is an excellent way for seniors to keep their minds sharp. By keeping mentally active, seniors can maintain cognitive skills, including reasoning, problem-solving, and thinking.
Continued learning can help to slow down brain conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Also, continued studying helps to keep the brain agile and engaged.
Besides mental health benefits, you gain psychological benefits. Pursuing your interest helps to keep you happy, build your self-confidence and meet your intellectual curiosity needs.
Conclusion
Your age should not prevent you from learning new things. Take an online course as a way of having fun, and you will improve your life significantly. You can study a healthcare and nutrition course to improve your health, or even take financial classes to learn how to manage your funds better.
Although old age comes with lots of challenges, getting an online degree is the best decision you can ever make. It’s your best chance to change your life for the better and grow as a person and intellectually.
