How old is too old to start a PhD?

[MettaSutta]

I am a 2010 college grad; I turned 30 this past year.  I'll be entering grad school in fall 2019, and will get my M.A. in May 2021-when I'm 33.  My friend has been encouraging me to get a PhD and said that academia would fit well with my skill-set, but I am concerned about age-I'd be 37 or older when I finish.  

[historygeek]

FWIW, I had a family member end her PhD at the age of 40. I say go for it, if you want to be an academic!

Edited June 20, 2018 by historygeek

[XVIIA]

Someone in my family got a PhD in their mid-50s and is preparing to go up for tenure this year! My opinion is that it's never too late.

[Adelaide9216]

Go for it. I'm almost 26 and will be starting a PhD at 26. I don't think about my age at this point. I have the right circumstances, the potential to get funding, an exciting research project, a great advisor, the energy and the motivation and the desire to be an academic. So I go for it!