SENIOR STUDENTS: HIGHER EDUCATION AFTER AGE 62

This paper reports on a survey of 424 persons aged 62 and over, who were interviewed in an area probability sample of Wichita, Kansas. Research on educational needs and interests was part of a multi‐disciplinary study of health care, transportation, nutrition, household help, and life satisfaction of aged people in a midwestern city. Findings about general interest in higher education, interest in specific courses, and stated reasons for present or anticipated nonparticipation are reviewed. A minority of interviewees expressed interest in pursuing higher education, particularly in a broad range of liberal arts courses. Those interested in higher education are contrasted with those who were not with respect to perceptions of (1) dollar costs, (2) availability of information, (3) feeling out of place in the classroom, and (4) time costs.