10 Best Places for Lifelong Learning

Life Long Learning

At the Community College of Baltimore County in Maryland we have a tremendous senior program. Last year we ran 684 courses with 12,785 registrants. In addition, lifelong learning is not just for seniors, but for everyone beginning with toddlers. Our Life Enrichment/Community Education programs are exceptional offering everything from business and finance, art, personal development, languages to health and fitness and maritime studies. Last year we ran a total of 1,593 courses with 9,724 registrations. There are many other continuing education programs in lifelong learning that I have not mentioned but the numbers speak for themselves: 3,841 courses with 41,528 registrations for FY'09.

Ginny Carson of MD @ Aug 13, 2009 09:33:16 AM

Lifelong Learning Only in the NE?

Why is everything listed in the NE corner of the US. Hard to believe that is the only area of the US where good life long learning is found.

Bob Murphy of WA @ Aug 10, 2009 21:52:49 PM

Lifelong learning

In Burlington County NJ we are fortunate to have the first of an Elderhostel affiliated senior program sponsored by our community college.

It was founded in 1990 and still going strong, almost 20 years later.

It is a steal, 80 dollars a year entitled members to choose from more than 100 courses . The program runs year - round and all courses are designed for and led by fellow seniors. Classes are held on the college campuses which are located in various parts of the county.

The program is called LIFE (Learning is for Everyone). My husband and I have been members for 16 years. We are both "teachers" and students. Our classes are great for keeping the brain exercised.

Pat McIntyre of NJ @ Aug 10, 2009 12:17:36 PM

free tuition in Georgia for those over 62

http://www.usg.edu/student62.phtml

a of GA @ Aug 09, 2009 20:29:55 PM

Consider Naples, Florida

Good article. I believe Naples, Florida should be listed.

John Meade

http://thephilbehindcloseddoors.blogspot.com/

John S. Meade of FL @ Aug 06, 2009 16:46:15 PM

Lifelong Learning

Not only did you ignore the West, but also the Southeast where mild winters and outstanding universities combine to make educational opportunities easily available for older "scholars." As described above, the Encore program at North Carolina State University in Raleigh provides a wide selection of both classroom and field courses that provide educational and social opportunities to over 1000 "over-50" students. Please consider Encore when making next year's list.

Linda Dennison of NC @ Aug 05, 2009 16:17:42 PM

Merrifield, VA???

Did these researchers (and the writer for that matter) actually visit these places? Merrifield is stripmalls, industrial parks and congested traffic - there is no real source of education nearby.

I grew up not too far from Merrifield, it is nice enough when you need to go to the grocery store, but one of the "10 Best Places for Lifelong Learning" - hardly.

I have long questioned the accuracy of some of these "best" lists, they seem mostly based on questionable or ill-applied statistics - if making Merrifield, VA one of the "10 Best..." is not proof that these lists are quack, nothing is.

Don of MD @ Aug 05, 2009 12:45:15 PM

Best places for lifelong learning,

Apparently the author never ventured out west of the Mississippi. There are many wonderful places in the west and southwest that meet the criteria.

S Anderson of UT @ Aug 03, 2009 23:32:05 PM