Do you think older people should be allowed to get grants for college?

As someone who is over 50 and planning to return to college this winter using my husband's VA benefits, which I'm also entitled to, I don't agree that there should be a cutoff based on age. I have never heard of anyone being denied a government grant due to a lack of funds. If that were the case then I would deny funding to students who weren't in degree programs before I would deny anyone an education based on age.

I think that everyone should have the opportunity to go to college. Some of these older folks probably didn't have the opportunity when they were young, so they're taking the opportunity now. I have feelings both ways, though. On one hand, I don't think it would be entirely fair to tell older people that they can't get college grants just because of their age. But on the other hand, a lot of the people at my college are old enough that they're retired and receiving social security benefits, and then getting college grants on top of that. They've already worked their entire lives, they're obviously not going to college to prepare for a career, and I do think that they might be taking up space and resources that should be allocated to younger people. On the other other hand, one of my role models in archaeology is Jeanine Davis-Kimball, who got her degrees in archaeology when she was past the age of 50 and then proceeded to do some really awesome work in the Mediterranean on female warrior burials. If we excluded older people from getting college degrees, how much of that kind of work might we miss?

I think you have to look at it from the times we live in... right now in the US there are more new senior citizens every year than births. We are in a period that the population is getting older and there are not enough young people to fill the jobs that should pay those seniors' retirement that they worked for their entire lives. If they are going back to school because they want to start a new business or work in a field that they couldn't have done before, they are not only stimulating the economy, but they will contribute to the work force in order to take care of themselves and other senior citizens. This is a positive thing. If they are getting grants for life long learning and they don't plan on doing anything with their education... I still have a hard time saying that they shouldn't get them because I strongly believe that a good, well rounded education can dramatically change biases and prejudices and that our country would be a lot better if college was made easier for all people. But, I can see where someone might complain about a case like that taking away from young people.

The way that I understand it is that grants are based upon financial need to return back to college. If they are 18 all the way up to 80 and they feel they want to get a degree in something then more power to them. When receiving an grant they are not taking away from you at all. The government pays their tutuion based upon their financial need.I think I would greet them and congrate them on their strengh for wanting to return to school..Eduacation is for anyone at any age...Never too old to learn..Have a great day...

...Hi BStuff, I am hoping that there are enough grants to go around. Older people have a lot to contribute if you think about it, they have lived a long time so we hope they have learned a lot of wise things which can be imparted to others. They can be mentors, and they can certainly help to guide younger people, so that they don't make mistakes that maybe they themselves made when they were younger. They have paid taxes of all sorts, so therefore have contributed to the pot that they are taking from in some way. On the other hand, if these are Federal grants, then younger people are benefiting from monies paid into the government by older people, so who is taking from whom? Why not be happy that there are grants to be had and not begrudge anyone anything that would help them to survive and be productive at whatever age. In addition, if we live long enough we all are going to be older and your perspective will probably change when the shoe is on the other foot.

I think everyone is entitled to further their education, no matter what age they are. No one is to old to learn something new, and some older people may have to go back to school to learn a new skills because some jobs require them too. I do not think they are taking away from the younger generation because their our some many opportunities in the world today, and some older just want a diploma just to make them feel better about themselves. I also think everyone should have the right to go to college without someone saying they are to old and can't make it. Anyone can make it as long as they have the right mind-frame, stay focus, and never get up.

Here's a question you can ask those girls or any one else thinking that us senior citizens shouldn't get grants to go to college. Who was paying the property taxes for them to get their free 12 years of public education? A lot of the time it wasn't their parents until they could afford to buy a home. Now that they have put those girls through public school don't they deserve a chance to get some education too?

There are several retired american soldiers here in my country who are studying under a grant given by the US government... and i don't see anything wrong with that... since this would surely make retired people a lot more productive... and will lessen cases of alzheimer or other ailments related to old age... an active mind will surely make retire people more fit and active... I know one who was a member of the debate team... and we really had lots of fun brainstorming ideas or just talking about his experiences when he was young...

In my opinion, setting the limit of age is just to push people finish their studies within expected time and can 'be useful' either for him/herself or government. I know some countries giving grant/loan to those who want to study (especially at university or college), but there's age limitation (I think it's commonly 26). But, yes. The older the people, the working ability should be also higher so they don't need any grant to further the study. What do you think ?

Yes, I think older people should be allowed to get grants for college. They are allow to go to college no matter how old they are so they should be able to get government grants. They have to meet certain requirements to get the grant it is not just give to them. They are not taking anything away from the younger students.

I'm with the majority of these responses WITH NO DOUBT that no matter what age you are, educational opportunities should be an option to that person. We are all looking to better ourselves and age shouldn't be a factor. What is the age range of older college students you see at your school and do you feel uncomfortable attending school with an older crowd?

Yea, I think they still deserve to be in college. Being old is not a hindrance in education. Maybe, when they were young, they missed the opportunity of going to college. Now that they the chance, why not give them a chance.

I'm an older woman considering going back to school. It's important to realize only a small percentage of older people have money. VERY small. And the majority of them are white. I've been raising my kid and supporting her while she finished school. I have no savings because I was a single parent. The stocks dropped out twice in my career period, so forget about retirement. I'll be working until I'm 70. This is the story of a great majority of older ones now.

I think older people deserve to have grants. Remeber, everything is constantly improving and never dismiss what the older generations have done for futre generations. What the older generations missed out on, and what they didn't have, they have fought and worked hard to achieve and improve the current system so that the future youngster can get what they didn't have before. A lot of systems make a provision for youngsters and this is right and how it should be. Opportunities for youngsters are and should be plentiful. But we mustn't forget the older population, because there were many of those who didn't have these provisions when they were younger, none of the plentiful opportunities that today's youngsters have. There are were also many who could not access or had the chance to be exposed to the opportunities that were available due to their under priviledged background. The fact that older people are still willing to make the effort to improve themselves and to be able also use both the new training and their previous experiences to contribute more to society, this in effect would benefit the younger generations again, and the link between previous experience, knowledge and the future - it would be unreasonable to disregard this.

I think that everyone should be treated and thought of the same way, not everyone gets or takes the opportunity to get higher education when they are younger, but all that should matter is that eventually they do, because they want to better themselves and be more beneficial to the world, so how could it ever be right to hinder that kind of noble motivation? Time and age shouldn't matter, its the motivation to better ourselves that is the root and common cause.

Older or younger, if someone is willing to learn, give them an education. After a certain age, hmmmm....the government grants came from those same people from paying taxes. I would say that if they couldn't use the grants after a certain age, maybe they should get a giant refund for everything that they helped put into it for all those years!

I love to learn myself and I think that life long learning is an important goal. I don't think that grants should be taken away from the older generation that want to learn and apply themselves, this is totally wrong! I think that learning and going to college should be for everyone. I'm sure that if this is allowed then it wouldn't be taking anything away from the younger generation. I'm only 34 years of age but I intend studying for the rest of my days if I can help it. Andrew

Yes, I strongly believe that older people should be allowed to get grants for college, in that people are never too old to learn. College is for everyone who wants to better himself or herself. I thinks it's wonderful that more and more older people are going back to school. In today's hard economic times, older people have no choice but to go back to school, because they have to learn new skills in order to keep up with technology, in addition to have a greater and better job prospects so they will be enabled to make a better future for themselves and provide for their families.

Everyone no matter what their age should have the same resources and grants available to go to school. Some people are not able to go to school at a younger age and they have just as much right to further their education as anyone else. Age should never come in to play in a situation like that and I hope that it never does. People don't know other peoples circumstances and what their life has been like. If they qualify than by all means they deserve to get the grant and get their education and feel proud of themselves to have done so. The way the economy is today many older people are having to go back to school just so they can get a job. It is harder than ever these days and without an education many people are finding that they can't get a job. I support every person that is trying to farther their education and wish them all the best and hope that their dreams will become a reality.

For me, I think that anyone that is younger than the age of receiving social security income should be allowed to get grants to go back to school. Now, I'm not nearly that old and I am considering going back to school if I can qualify for some grants. I'm not going to go the student loan route again. The reason that I feel this way is because back 20-30 years ago it wasn't nearly as expected for a person to go to college after they had graduated from high school. My mother is a prime example of this. She went to a vocational school during high school and went straight to work after graduating. Then she got married young and had children while she was young. Now that all of her kids are grown, she is considering going back to school. She would really like to be in the medical field and has considered either SRNA or LPN. I think she would be great at either despite the fact that she'd be 55 by the time she finished an LPN program.