States That Offer Free Tuition for Senior Citizens

Alabama’s Senior Adult Scholarship Program applies to public two-year colleges across the state, including Coastal Alabama Community College, Lawson State Community College, and Calhoun Community College, among others.

The scholarship waives tuition but not other institutional fees or expenses.

The University of Alaska system waives tuition for eligible seniors when space is available, meaning you can enroll after tuition-paying students have registered. While the program covers tuition, you may still need to pay campus and course fees.

The benefit is available at campuses such as the University of Alaska Anchorage, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the University of Alaska Southeast.

Eligible students can use this tuition waiver at colleges and universities across the state, including campuses in the University of Arkansas system, Arkansas State University, and public community colleges. However, the waiver doesn’t apply to eVersity, the University of Arkansas’s fully online institution.

Through this program, seniors can attend any California State University (CSU) campus — including CSU San Bernardino, CSU Channel Islands, and CSU San Marcos — without paying tuition. Additionally, you don’t have to pay the school’s application, health services, and instructionally related activities fees — and other fees may be reduced to just $1.

However, according to CSU policy, the program excludes extended education courses.

Seniors can use the free tuition benefit at the University of Connecticut (UConn), Connecticut State University (CSU), and regional community-technical colleges.

Eligible seniors can attend Delaware’s public colleges and universities, including the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and Delaware Technical and Community College for free. However, they are required to pay for books and supplies, as well as other fees.

Under the University System of Georgia (USG), seniors can enroll without paying most fees as long as you meet the admission requirements. However, you still need to cover certain costs, including supplies, lab, and shop fees.

Participating institutions include the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Georgia State University, though programs in dental, medical, veterinary, and law schools are excluded.

Free senior tuition is available at Illinois public colleges and universities, such as the University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University, Chicago State University, Illinois State University, and community colleges across the state.

However, in addition to age and residency requirements, you must have an annual household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines to qualify for the program.

While Indiana doesn’t have a statewide tuition waiver program for seniors, some public institutions offer free classes, usually on an auditing basis.

One exception is Ivy Tech Community College’s Senior Scholars program, which offers classes that count toward a degree or certificate at no cost. In addition to the age and residency requirements, students must be retired, not employed full time, and have a high school diploma or GED.

Iowa doesn’t have a statewide law that offers free college tuition for senior citizens. However, at least one community college provides the benefit: Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC).

Courses taken at DMACC count toward a degree, but you can only take one class per semester. Other institutions across the state might offer audit-only classes.

In Kentucky, seniors can attend state-supported institutions without paying tuition.The benefit applies to schools such as the University of Kentucky and campuses within the Kentucky Community & Technical College System.

Louisiana law allows seniors to attend public colleges and universities, including Louisiana State University and campuses in the University of Louisiana system, without paying tuition or registration fees. Seniors also receive a 50% discount on required textbooks and other course materials purchased from campus bookstores.

The law doesn’t specify whether courses are audit-only or for credit, so participating institutions set their own policies.

Seniors can attend University of Maine System campuses, including the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) and the University of Southern Maine without paying tuition — and the waiver also applies to online courses.

However, UMA’s tuition waiver application form notes that the waiver only applies to undergraduate courses if space is available.

In Maryland, residents ages 60 and older can attend colleges within the University System of Maryland (USM) — such the University of Maryland, College Park; Towson University; and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County — without paying tuition. However, some institutions might still charge application, registration, or other mandatory fees.

In addition to meeting the age and residency requirements, USM policy states that applicants must be retired and not employed full time to qualify for free tuition. Also, enrollment is limited to no more than three courses per academic semester or term.

The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education establishes that eligible seniors can enroll in the University of Massachusetts system, state universities and community colleges without paying tuition. Some schools across the state may also waive certain campus fees, so students should check each institution’s policy.

Michigan doesn’t have a statewide tuition benefit for seniors, but several public colleges and universities offer their own programs. Northern Michigan University, Western Michigan University, and Glen Oaks Community College are a few examples, each with its own specific requirements.

In Minnesota, eligible seniors can take college courses without paying tuition, except for an administration fee. This benefit is available through the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.

Mississippi doesn’t have a statewide tuition waiver program for seniors, but there are several institutions across the state that do.

For instance, Mississippi State University lets you take up to six credit hours per semester (or 18 credit hours per calendar year) at its Starkville and Meridian campuses. You can also sign up for online classes, though additional fees apply.

The University of Mississippi and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College also offer tuition-free programs, each with its own requirements and limitations.

If you meet the age and residency requirements, you can study at Montana University System campuses, including the University of Montana (UM), Montana State University (MSU), and Great Falls College MSU.

At some schools, such as UM, the tuition waiver applies only to undergraduate classes, so be sure to check with each institution.

Seniors can attend public colleges such as New Jersey City University (NJCU), Ramapo College, and The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) and earn credits without paying tuition.

However, Rutgers, the state’s largest public institution, offers free tuition but only for auditing classes.

The only institution we found that provides a tuition waiver for credit-earning classes is Bucks County Community College. Other institutions such as Penn State and West Chester University offer free tuition only for auditing classes.

The program is available at public institutions, such as the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and Community College of Rhode Island. To qualify, you must meet the age and residency requirements, have a household income below three times the federal poverty level, apply for financial aid, and complete a means test.

Eligible adults can attend state-supported colleges and universities, which include the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, and South Carolina technical colleges.

In Tennessee, residents 60 and older can audit classes, but only those who are 65 and up can take classes that count toward a degree. Schools that offer this benefit include Middle Tennessee State University and University of Tennessee system campuses — though medical, dental, and pharmacy programs are excluded.

In Texas, seniors can enroll for up to six credit hours per semester or summer term. The benefit is offered at University of Texas campuses and state community colleges, but program details vary by institution.

In Virginia, seniors qualify for a tuition waiver if their taxable, individual income was $23,850 or less in the previous year. However, if you’re only looking to audit classes, there’s no income requirement — though enrollment is capped at three courses per semester.

Participating institutions include all public institutions, such as the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University, and Virginia Commonwealth University, to name a few.

Eligible seniors can attend Washington’s state and regional universities as well as community and technical colleges, including the University of Washington, The Evergreen State College, and Washington State University.

Wyoming doesn’t have a statewide tuition waiver program, but the University of Wyoming allows seniors to enroll in up to six credit hours per semester for free — though other fees may apply.

Other community colleges across the state, such as Western Wyoming Community College, may offer tuition waivers, but requirements will vary by institution.