84-year-old woman gets college degree after nearly 7 decades: ‘Just pure joy’

You’re never too old to finish school.

An 84-year-old finally earned her bachelor’s degree after pursuing it for nearly seven decades.

After enrolling at the University of Minnesota in 1955 – and getting her nursing license after only one year – Betty Sandison quit going to school once she was married.

Yet, she was less than 30 credits away from her bachelor’s degree.

Now, 67 years, two children and a full nursing career later, she’s finally received her degree: a bachelor of arts in multidisciplinary studies.

“Just pure joy, pure joy, pure satisfaction that I had attained my goal of walking across Northrop [Mall],” she told local news station WCCO.

Sandison’s hustle paid off, finding the time to complete her degree only after retiring in 2013. While she always wanted to go back to school, it wasn’t possible due to raising her daughters and her job as a nurse.

“I was out to lunch with friends, and we were talking about bucket lists and things we wanted to do. I said I always wanted to graduate from the U,” she said.

Shortly after the lunch, she re-enrolled in 2018, but college had changed quite a bit since the last time she had sat in a classroom.

“That computer business almost did me in,” she said, even having to drop the classes she was taking when the classroom when virtual during the pandemic.

“I had to drop both classes that I tried to take online, I couldn’t do it,” Sandison continued. “But last fall, I started again.”

She stuck it out and on May 7, she walked across the stage and got her long-awaited diploma. Fortunately for Sandison, she won’t have to partake in the job search since she’s already retired.

“You need to do what you want to do or what your goals are. Don’t let anybody stop you,” said Sandison.