Learning doesn’t have an expiration date. For many people, the years after 50 are a time to finish a degree, prepare for an encore career, or finally explore a subject for the sheer joy of it. Here’s a guide to the options.

Three reasons people keep learning

  • Purpose and work: preparing for an encore career, often in teaching, health, nonprofits or consulting, that puts decades of experience to new use.
  • Unfinished business: completing a degree started long ago, sometimes alongside children or grandchildren in school.
  • Curiosity and connection: learning about history, art, science or languages, often in a community of fellow learners.

Learning for joy: non-credit options

Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes

Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, often called OLLIs, operate at more than 120 colleges and universities across the United States. They offer non-credit courses designed for adults 50 and older, typically with no tests or grades, taught by faculty, retired professionals and fellow members. Membership fees vary by institution.

Auditing college classes

Many public colleges and universities allow older adults to audit classes, attending without earning credit, free or at a reduced cost, often on a space-available basis. Policies, age thresholds and fees vary by state and institution, so ask the registrar at your local college.

Community and online learning

  • Community colleges often run affordable community-education courses.
  • Public libraries offer classes, lectures and free access to online learning platforms.
  • Online courses from universities let you learn from home, often free to audit.

Finishing a degree

If you started a degree years ago, you may be closer to finishing than you think. Request transcripts from every institution you attended, ask about credit for prior learning, and look for programs designed for adult learners with flexible schedules. Federal student aid has no age limit, so file the FAFSA if you’re pursuing credit.

Preparing for an encore career

An encore career builds on what you already know. A practical approach:

  1. Map your experience. List the skills, knowledge and relationships you’ve built over your career.
  2. Explore fields with real demand. Talk with people doing the work you’re curious about, and volunteer to test your interest.
  3. Find the shortest credible path. Some roles need a license or degree; for others, a focused certificate or demonstrated experience is enough.
  4. Consider the practicalities. Time, cost, schedule and how the work fits the life you want.
The best encore careers combine what you’re good at, what you enjoy and what the world needs.

Questions to ask any program

  • Is this for credit, non-credit or audit, and does that matter for my goal?
  • What does it cost, and are there discounts for older adults?
  • When and where does it meet, and is there an online option?
  • Will I be learning alongside people at a similar stage of life?

Our free lifelong learning assessment helps you plan your next step, and our lifelong learning page explains how we can help.