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ThinkstockHow To Plan For A Second Career

With picturesque campuses, plentiful entertainment options and well-educated residents, college towns are an attractive place for people over 50. Another plus: If you're looking for a full-time job or just a way to supplement your retirement income through part-time work, college towns offer all kinds of possibilities.

And it's not just the educational institutions that are doing the hiring in these communities.

Many large universities and colleges are connected to top-notch medical centers, research facilities, arts organizations and charming downtowns that provide a variety of employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, too.

( MORE: How to Create a Profitable Second-Act Career)

College towns tend to have relatively low unemployment rates. They're often immune to recessions due to a steady influx of new students.

Of course, finding work in a college town means you'll be competing against a large pool of younger, cheaper and tech-savvy talent: undergrads looking for part-time jobs and newly minted grads hoping to snag their first "real" job. That's why it's important to target positions where your experience, maturity and flexibility will be seen as an asset.

Here are five age-friendly options to consider for launching a second-act career in a college town:

1. Adjunct professor If you've spent your working years more or less in one industry and enjoy sharing your expertise, consider a job as an adjunct professor. Adjuncts contract to teach on an "as needed" basis - meaning this type of job is best for people who prefer part-time schedules. Some adjuncts teach just one course a semester; others teach several.

As colleges struggle to contain costs (much to the chagrin of full-time professors), they've become increasingly dependent upon adjuncts to supplement their full-time tenured faculty.

( MORE: A Manual for Encore Careers)

At community colleges and trade schools, a bachelor's or master's degree is usually sufficient to get hired. But most universities require adjuncts to satisfy the same degree requirements as their full-time faculty (meaning you will likely need a Ph.D.).

Pay for adjunct professors varies quite a bit. At community colleges, it's typically around $1,500 per course. Private universities generally offer more - often roughly $4,000 per course.

To learn more about a school's specific hiring requirements and needs, go to the employment page of its website or search for jobs on the Chronicle of Higher Education site.

2. Alumni programs coordinator or administrator Colleges have a vested interest in keeping alumni engaged with their alma mater - involved alums are far more likely to make donations. As a result, most schools now offer a robust menu of alumni programs that include career services, social events and group travel programs. Since most grads taking advantage of them tend to be older, alumni relations is an area where your age and experience can play in your favor.