College towns increasing efforts to attract active retirees

It's not unusual for college towns to court prospective students by making themselves more appealing, but such areas are now setting their sights toward another group as well - retirees. A growing number of colleges and universities are making their campuses and the surrounding towns more attractive to older adults and baby boomers, USA Today reports.

Though it might seem like an unusual priority, since many adults are looking for a retirement that offers them opportunities to stay active and indulge their intellectual curiosity, it makes sense for college towns to put an emphasis on it. As a result, many schools provide access to classes, performances and lectures.

Such an attitude is good news for baby boomers as they enter retirement age, says Scott Perry, the president of Bankers Life and Casualty Company. His organization recently released a list of the best U.S. cities for older adults and among the most important criteria were educational opportunities.

"We can't underestimate the importance of keeping our minds active as we age," he told the publication. He also mentioned that offering such classes makes it easier for adults to decide what they want to focus on career-wise throughout their second act.

The University of North Carolina at Asheville is one school t hat is catering to older students. It established a program designed specifically for retirees, dubbed The North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement. The center offers about 280 classes and is often a deciding factor for people who decide to move to the area, the newspaper reports.

Homeowners at Del Webb Woodbridge in Manteca, California, have easy access to lifelong leraning opportunities. Specifically, The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of the Pacific provides tailored classes to people ages 50 and above.