SAN ANTONIO — Lori Branson’s quest for her college degree started nearly 40 years ago at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Decades later, she returned to accomplish her goal. 

What You Need To Know

  • Branson first enrolled at UTSA in 1985 after serving in the Army

  • In 2022, Branson called up the university to see what it would take to finish her degree, and she only needed 50 hours to graduate

  • Branson graduated with the class of 2024 and coined the phrase, "Never too old to be bold"

  • About 40 million U.S. adults have gone to college but left without their degree

“I worked full time, and I went to school full time,” Branson said. “So, if I wasn’t working or sleeping, I was studying.”

For the last two years, Branson has been working on her degree at UTSA.

“At first, they thought I was the professor,” Branson said. “I said no, I’m the student.”

After serving in the Army, in 1985, she enrolled at UTSA. But two knee replacements made a physical education degree impossible.

“Back then, there was no one to counsel me on like ‘hey, yeah, we know the disappointment, but we can maybe go this route,’” Branson said. “I just dropped out. I was so devastated.”

Branson isn’t alone. According to the Education Data Initiative, 40 million adults in the U.S. have gone to college but left without a degree.

“I’ve always regretted not finishing my degree,” Branson said.  

So, in 2022, at 69 years old, Branson called UTSA and spoke of her desire to finish what she started so long ago.

“Well, you only need 50 hours to graduate. I said, ‘Really? Are you sure?’” Branson said. “'Oh yeah.' I said I’ll see you tomorrow, and I came the very next day and enrolled.”

Less than 6,000 Texans over the age of 45 go back to college after dropping out. But Branson did just that, and she celebrated her decades-long journey during the Roadrunner Walk this month.

“It was lined with people cheering for us,” Branson said. “It was really emotional. The whole walk with the mariachi. I was tearing up.”

With her degree, Branson became a first-generation college graduate, an accomplishment her children and grandchildren can be proud of.

“Made the dean’s list a couple of times, honor roll, so I earned this degree,” she said.

While earning her bachelor's, Branson coined the phrase, “Never too old to be bold.”

“Do not let your age be a factor. I’ve been asked if I’d go for my masters. I’m like, I’m 71 years old. All I want to do is retire,” Branson said.