Membership and Fees

Your gateway to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville’s courses, programs and events is annual membership. Most member benefits are included with your annual membership.

M+ = OLLI membership required for participation
M = OLLI membership optional for participation
$ = Tuition or other fee required
ID = UNC Asheville RockyCard required

Membership Benefits

OLLI membership benefits include but are not limited to:

• The College for Seniors, a lifelong learning program offering courses during four terms: fall, winter, spring and summer. We offer courses in-person, online and in hybrid (simultaneous in-person/online) formats. M+ $
• Special events and socials where learning and community-building can happen as you share in a musical presentation, attend a lecture or participate in other activities. M+
• Additional workshops and programs focused on specific topics are offered throughout the year, and may be open to members and non-members. M+ M $
• Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) are member-led groups that gather to pursue shared interests such as aging, art, beer/wine, games, gardening, hiking, investment, meditation, music, reading and more. M+
• The OLLI Observer is our weekly electronic newsletter listing upcoming events, news and other items of interest. M
• OLLIChat, an optional email distribution list run by OLLI volunteers, allows members to exchange general information, or to ask for or to send recommendations or referrals. Once you are an OLLI member, email OLLI Chat to be added to the list to send and receive emails. M+
• Fab Friday lectures are a lunchtime speaker series featuring general interest and healthy aging topics, held during fall, winter and spring terms. M
• UNC Asheville RockyCard is a photo ID available to (but not required for) OLLI members. The RockyCard serves as a library card, and may be required for to access other campus services. Some businesses and organizations recognize the RockyCard as eligible for their student discounts. M+ 
• The use of Ramsey Library includes public computers, borrowing books and other resources, and obtaining research assistance. M+ ID
• The use of the Karl Strauss Track. M+ ID
• An OLLI-subsidized UNC Asheville annual parking permit helps OLLI members access not only the Reuter Center but also other facilities on campus. M+ $
• Discounted meal plans for use at campus dining facilities, including Brown Dining Hall. M+ $ ID
• Eligibility to purchase memberships for the UNC Asheville fitness center and other recreation facilities including cardio and weight fitness rooms, six-lane pool, indoor track, multipurpose and racquetball courts, locker rooms and access to group exercise classes. OLLI members can purchase spring, summer, fall or annual memberships. Fitness memberships are purchased directly from Campus Recreation, not through OLLI. M+ $ ID
• Osher Online, an offering of the Osher National Resource Center, presents world-class online courses that OLLI at UNC Asheville members can take wherever they are. Participants will learn from subject-matter experts alongside other curious OLLI members from across the country. M+ $

Membership and Parking Fees 2025-2026

OLLI membership and campus-parking fees follow UNC Asheville’s academic year from August 1 to July 31. As an OLLI member, you may purchase an OLLI-subsidized UNC Asheville annual parking permit whose fees are prorated throughout the year.

• OLLI annual membership: $75 (prorated to $50 before the spring term and $25 before the summer term)
• OLLI-subsidized UNC Asheville annual parking permit (first car in a household): $125 (prorated to $75 before the spring term and $30 before the summer term)
• OLLI-subsidized UNC Asheville annual additional parking permit (second car in a household): $60 (prorated to $40 before the spring term)

Visit the Getting Started at OLLI page for more information and instructions. Visit OLLI’s online registration site to purchase annual membership. For instructions on how to purchase an OLLI-subsidized UNC Asheville annual parking permit, visit the Campus Parking for OLLI Members page.

Financial Assistance

OLLI at UNC Asheville is committed to addressing financial barriers to participation. OLLI subsidizes UNC Asheville annual parking permits for all OLLI members, and offers partial tuition scholarships for College for Seniors and Leadership Asheville Seniors. To request need-based financial assistance for annual membership and/or other programs, email Catherine Frank, executive director.