Penn State students may think State College is the ideal college town, but a new study shows that retirees can benefit just as much as students.

Editors for the U.S. News and World Report have selected Happy Valley as a top place to retire among 20 other retirement spots around the country profiled in a report dated Sept. 20.

The study began with U.S. News examining 2,000 American towns with a population above 15,000. Weighing cost of living, climate, crime rate, access to health care, educational opportunities, and cultural and recreational amenities, researchers cut the number of towns in half.

From there, the study featured 10 editors' picks and short profiles of 10 additional places, including State College, which are considered to offer "a great array of fine choices."

The study's findings highlighted the fact that retirees can enroll in Penn State classes free of charge without having to worry about exams or grades as a benefit of retiring in State College.

The program known as Go-60, founded by Penn State Outreach, currently enrolls 50 to 100 people, said Rebecca Beatty, associate director for continuing education.

Classes that are not filled to capacity by students are then available to retirees who are working less than part time, are residents of Pennsylvania and are over the age of 60. The classes are offered at night and on weekends.

"This program is reason enough to retire here in State College," Maegan Barbee (sophomore-economics) said.

Degrees are available through the Go-60 program, but most participants choose to audit the courses, only taking them to keep their minds active, Beatty said.

"The more active older adults are and the more they use their mind, the healthier they will be through their later years," she said.

Candace Kent, 62, is a student enrolled in the Go-60 program. Kent has been taking classes since 2005, and this semester, she is taking Psychology 100 (Introduction to Psychology) as her ninth class.

"The students have all been quite remarkable," she said. "I feel integrated in the class and am happy the students don't look at us as old geezers."

Kent noted that not many colleges offer this program.

She said she has spoken with retired friends in other college towns in Florida in Georgia, and neither friend said they are allotted opportunities to take classes free of charge at their local colleges.

Another aspect that makes State College an appealing place retire is the low crime rate, State College Police Chief Tom King said.

"Usually, when studies look at the best places to retire, they look at murder, rape and robbery," King said. "Compared to other communities our size, we have a low crime rate."

People want a safe community where they can enjoy themselves and not be intimidated, he said.

Mayor Bill Welch cited nostalgia as a reason to retire here.

"Many retire here because they went to college here and have happy memories of their undergraduate days because the things and places they enjoy are still around," Welch said.

Emily Sher (junior-journalism) said retirees could enjoy downtown just as much as the students.
"State College has a really good atmosphere, restaurants and entertainment," she said.

Penn State Outreach has another program starting relatively soon for those over 60, Beatty said.
This non-credit program, known as the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Penn State, will offer personal development classes about topics like traveling and touring Italy.

The new program will add to the advantages of retiring in State College, Beatty said.

Welch said it could be the sports, entertainment or cultural events.

"There's so many things to do," the mayor said. "Who wouldn't want to retire in a place called Happy Valley?"