PHILADELPHIA — Maggie McDermott, a foreign-service worker whose postings took her around the globe, always wanted a bachelor's degree.

So when the Doylestown woman retired, she enrolled in Pennsylvania State University's program for students age 60 and older in Abington.

"There was a little apprehension — just being older and suddenly being in a class with 18- and 19-year-olds," she said.

McDermott not only fit in, she excelled.

On Dec. 20, during ceremonies at the Abington campus, she graduated with distinction, earning a bachelor's degree in the social sciences. She'll use it to seek part-time work in her field.

"You must not let fear stop you," said McDermott, 68. "I didn't feel like the odd one out at all."

McDermott's decision to go back to school at a suburban campus relatively late in life isn't uncommon. Last year, 216 older Pennsylvanians signed up for Penn State's Go-60 program, and the university is going out of its way to recruit more.

"Having older learners on campus enhances the climate of learning for all our students," Jane A. Owens, senior director of continuing education at Penn State's Abington campus, said in an e-mail.

The Go-60 program, which began in the 1980s, is offered at 20 of the 26 campuses statewide, said Rebecca Beatty, interim director of continuing education at the University Park campus.

In the 2006-07 academic year, 25 seniors signed up for classes in Abington, and 10 enrolled at the Brandywine campus, said David Jwanier, Penn State's regional manager of public information.

The program opens lower-level courses to seniors tuition-free, on a space-available basis. The seniors pay only for books and use of the library.

When seniors take courses at the higher 400 level, however, they are expected to pay tuition, just as younger students do, school officials said.

Tuition for part-time students ranges from $423 to $485 per course credit, depending on the program and course level, Jwanier said. Full-timers pay between $5,227 and $6,033 per semester for 12 or more credits, depending on the program and course level, he said.

To qualify for the program, seniors must be Pennsylvania residents, at least 60 when they enroll, and retired or employed less than half-time, Owens said.

To an older person, the free tuition might be a godsend.

"Here someone's offering to pay for it," McDermott said. "I have my car and my free time. Why not go for it?"

Once in class, older learners found they thrived on discussion and the stimulation of learning.

Sheila Boyle, a mother and grandmother from Chadds Ford also wanted a degree. She signed up for classes in 2002 at the Brandywine campus in Delaware County.

Boyle kept studying until she earned her associate's degree in liberal arts. Graduation was Dec. 22. She plans to return for her bachelor's degree soon.

"There's so much to know. It just kind of compels you to another course that you didn't know you could take. I love it. I really do," she said.

Despite the appetite for learning, only a handful of adult learners graduate, Beatty said, because most seek personal enrichment rather than the means to a career.

The older learners tend to favor art, language arts and other humanities, school officials said.

One big hurdle for McDermott and Boyle was the required math course. McDermott got through statistics with "lots of prayer" and after-class coaching from teachers, she said.