{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/23.1-640.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/23.1-640.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/23.1-640.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/23.1-640.html"}],"law_id":355559,"edition_id":2,"section_id":355559,"structure_id":50866,"section_number":"23.1-640","catch_line":"Senior citizens; registration and enrollment in courses","history":"1974, c. 463, \u00a7\u00a7 23-38.56, 23-38.58; 1977, c. 281; 1982, c. 677; 1984, c. 371; 1988, c. 90; 1989, c. 101; 1999, c. 381; 2002, c. 521; 2015, c. 146; 2016, c. 588.","full_text":"A\n\nAny senior citizen may, subject to any regulations prescribed by the Council:\n\n1\n\nRegister for and enroll in courses for academic credit as a full-time or part-time student if he had a taxable individual income not exceeding $23,850 for Virginia income tax purposes for the year preceding the award year;\n\n2\n\nRegister for and audit up to three courses offered for academic credit in any one academic term, quarter, or semester for an unlimited number of academic terms, quarters, or semesters; and\n\n3\n\nRegister for and enroll in up to three courses not offered for academic credit in any one academic term, quarter, or semester for an unlimited number of academic terms, quarters, or semesters.\n\nB\n\nNo senior citizen who enrolls in or audits courses pursuant to subsection A shall pay tuition or fees except fees established for the purpose of paying for course materials such as laboratory fees.\n\nC\n\nSenior citizens are subject to the admission requirements of the institution and a determination by the institution of its ability to offer the course for which the senior citizen registers.\n\nD\n\nThe Council shall establish procedures to ensure that tuition-paying students are accommodated in courses before senior citizens enroll in or audit courses pursuant to subsection A. However, public institutions of higher education may make individual exceptions to these procedures for any senior citizen who has completed 75 percent of the requirements for a degree.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1324184,"text":"Any senior citizen may, subject to any regulations prescribed by the Council:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":1324185,"text":"Register for and enroll in courses for academic credit as a full-time or part-time student if he had a taxable individual income not exceeding $23,850 for Virginia income tax purposes for the year preceding the award year;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":1324186,"text":"Register for and audit up to three courses offered for academic credit in any one academic term, quarter, or semester for an unlimited number of academic terms, quarters, or semesters; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":1324187,"text":"Register for and enroll in up to three courses not offered for academic credit in any one academic term, quarter, or semester for an unlimited number of academic terms, quarters, or semesters.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"B"},"4":{"id":1324188,"text":"No senior citizen who enrolls in or audits courses pursuant to subsection A shall pay tuition or fees except fees established for the purpose of paying for course materials such as laboratory fees.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"C"},"5":{"id":1324189,"text":"Senior citizens are subject to the admission requirements of the institution and a determination by the institution of its ability to offer the course for which the senior citizen registers.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"6":{"id":1324190,"text":"The Council shall establish procedures to ensure that tuition-paying students are accommodated in courses before senior citizens enroll in or audit courses pursuant to subsection A. However, public institutions of higher education may make individual exceptions to these procedures for any senior citizen who has completed 75 percent of the requirements for a degree.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50866,"edition_id":2,"name":"Senior Citizens Higher Education Act of 1974","identifier":"7","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":8,"parent_id":50858,"metadata":{"child_laws":4,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:34:17","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:16","permalink":{"id":1412219,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50866,"identifier":"7","token":"23.1\/II\/6\/7","url":"\/23.1\/II\/6\/7\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50858,"edition_id":2,"name":"Financial Assistance","identifier":"6","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":3,"parent_id":50855,"metadata":{"child_laws":55,"child_structures":8},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:34:12","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:15","permalink":{"id":1411999,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50858,"identifier":"6","token":"23.1\/II\/6","url":"\/23.1\/II\/6\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50855,"edition_id":2,"name":"Students and Campus","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":50782,"metadata":{"child_laws":155,"child_structures":22},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:34:08","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:14","permalink":{"id":1411849,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50855,"identifier":"II","token":"23.1\/II","url":"\/23.1\/II\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50782,"edition_id":2,"name":"Institutions of Higher Education; Other Educational and Cultural Institutions","identifier":"23.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":62,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":594,"child_structures":95},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:33:18","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:13","permalink":{"id":1411583,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50782,"identifier":"23.1","token":"23.1","url":"\/23.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":355558,"structure_id":50866,"section_number":"23.1-639","catch_line":"Definition; construction of section","url":"\/23.1-639\/","token":"23.1\/II\/6\/7\/23.1-639","metadata":false},{"id":355559,"structure_id":50866,"section_number":"23.1-640","catch_line":"Senior citizens; registration and enrollment in courses","url":"\/23.1-640\/","token":"23.1\/II\/6\/7\/23.1-640","metadata":false},{"id":355560,"structure_id":50866,"section_number":"23.1-641","catch_line":"Catalog to include statement of benefits","url":"\/23.1-641\/","token":"23.1\/II\/6\/7\/23.1-641","metadata":false},{"id":355561,"structure_id":50866,"section_number":"23.1-642","catch_line":"Determination of senior citizen status; forms","url":"\/23.1-642\/","token":"23.1\/II\/6\/7\/23.1-642","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":355558,"structure_id":50866,"section_number":"23.1-639","catch_line":"Definition; construction of section","url":"\/23.1-639\/","token":"23.1\/II\/6\/7\/23.1-639","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":355560,"structure_id":50866,"section_number":"23.1-641","catch_line":"Catalog to include statement of benefits","url":"\/23.1-641\/","token":"23.1\/II\/6\/7\/23.1-641","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/23.1-640\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1974. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 463 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1974 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 9 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1977, chapter 281; in 1982, chapter 677; in 1984, chapter 371; in 1988, chapter 90; in 1989, chapter 101; in 1999, chapter 381<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 521<\/a>; in 2015, chapter 146<\/a>; in 2016, chapter 588<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1412225,"object_type":"law","relational_id":355559,"identifier":"23.1-640","token":"23.1\/II\/6\/7\/23.1-640","url":"\/23.1-640\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/23.1-640\/","token":"23.1\/II\/6\/7\/23.1-640","dublin_core":{"Title":"Senior citizens; registration and enrollment in courses","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 23.1-640","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any senior citizen may, subject to any regulations prescribed by the Council<\/span>: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Register for and enroll in courses for academic credit as a full-time or part-time student if he had a taxable individual income not exceeding $23,850 for Virginia income tax purposes for the year preceding the award year; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Register for and audit up to three courses offered for academic credit in any one academic term, quarter, or semester for an unlimited number of academic terms, quarters, or semesters; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Register for and enroll in up to three courses not offered for academic credit in any one academic term, quarter, or semester for an unlimited number of academic terms, quarters, or semesters. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> No senior citizen who enrolls in or audits courses pursuant to subsection A shall pay tuition or fees except fees established for the purpose of paying for course materials<\/span> such as laboratory fees. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Senior citizens are subject to the admission requirements of the institution and a determination by the institution of its ability to offer the course for which the senior citizen registers. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The Council<\/span> shall establish procedures to ensure that tuition-paying students are accommodated in courses before senior citizens enroll in or audit courses pursuant to subsection A. However, public institutions of higher education may make individual exceptions to these procedures for any senior citizen who has completed 75 percent of the requirements for a degree. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSENIOR CITIZENS; REGISTRATION AND ENROLLMENT IN COURSES (\u00a7 23.1-640)\n\nA. Any senior citizen may, subject to any regulations prescribed by the Council:\n\n 1. Register for and enroll in courses for academic credit as a full-time or\n part-time student if he had a taxable individual income not exceeding $23,850\n for Virginia income tax purposes for the year preceding the award year;\n\n 2. Register for and audit up to three courses offered for academic credit in\n any one academic term, quarter, or semester for an unlimited number of\n academic terms, quarters, or semesters; and\n\n 3. Register for and enroll in up to three courses not offered for academic\n credit in any one academic term, quarter, or semester for an unlimited number\n of academic terms, quarters, or semesters.\n\nB. No senior citizen who enrolls in or audits courses pursuant to subsection A\nshall pay tuition or fees except fees established for the purpose of paying for\ncourse materials such as laboratory fees.\n\nC. Senior citizens are subject to the admission requirements of the institution\nand a determination by the institution of its ability to offer the course for\nwhich the senior citizen registers.\n\nD. The Council shall establish procedures to ensure that tuition-paying students\nare accommodated in courses before senior citizens enroll in or audit courses\npursuant to subsection A. However, public institutions of higher education may\nmake individual exceptions to these procedures for any senior citizen who has\ncompleted 75 percent of the requirements for a degree.\n\nHISTORY: 1974, c. 463, \u00a7\u00a7 23-38.56, 23-38.58; 1977, c. 281; 1982, c. 677;\n1984, c. 371; 1988, c. 90; 1989, c. 101; 1999, c. 381; 2002, c. 521; 2015, c.\n146; 2016, c. 588.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}