A lot of retirees head to Florida for the winter warmth, which has been proven to lengthen lives, not to mention making those additional years more enjoyable. But there are other incentives that are just as important to quality golden years, the time when many of us understand the value of learning — at any age.

With so many colleges in the Sarasota/Bradenton area, it’s important to know what Florida law says about free tuition for those over 60, so retirees can ask the right questions when then enroll.

According to FS 1009.26 (4), “A state university may waive any or all application, tuition, and related fees for persons 60 years of age or older who are residents of this state and who attend classes for credit. No academic credit shall be awarded for attendance in classes for which fees are waived under this subsection. This privilege may be granted only on a space-available basis, if such classes are not filled as of the close of registration. A university may limit or deny the privilege for courses which are in programs for which the Board of Governors has established selective admissions criteria. Persons paying full fees and state employees taking courses on a space-available basis shall have priority over those persons whose fees are waived in all cases where classroom spaces are limited.”

For more information about college courses for seniors in Florida, check out “A Senior Citizen Guide for College.”

And don’t forget that one of the most important resources for ongoing learning is right here is Sarasota at the SunCoast Alliance for Lifelong Learning.