There are years-long waiting lists to retire on college campuses. 6 steps to take before enrolling.

There are years-long waiting lists to retire on college campuses. 6 steps to take before enrolling.One of the thorniest retirement decisions is choosing where to live. But lately, growing numbers of preretirees and retirees are giving it the old college try. Literally.There are now more than 80 university retirement communities on, or near, campuses at schools ranging from mammoth Arizona State to small Goucher College in Baltimore — often with years-long waiting lists. Typically, they’re continuing-care retirement communities (CCRCs) or life-plan communities for people 62-plus and run by senior-housing developers.About the AuthorRichard Eisenberg is a freelance personal finance writer and editor and co-host of the “Friends Talk Money” podcast. Most recently, he was managing editor of the Next Avenue site and editor of its Money and Policy and Work and Purpose channels. He is author of “How to Avoid a Mid-Life Financial Crisis” and “The Money Book of Personal Finance” and lives in New Jersey.A Dow Jones CompanyCopyright © 2026 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved.