Section 529 College Savings Plans, Comparisons & Resources

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529 RESOURCES

Why Save for College?
What is a 529 Plan?
Common 529 Questions
529 Plan Advantages
College Cost Calculator

Compare 529s by Feature
Compare 529s by State

COLLEGE SAVING NEWS

Get a 529 Plan Boost From Your State
Those who contribute to 529 college savings plans can take advantage of matching grants.
Tax-Savvy Ways to Tap Your 529 Plan for College
Planning to use money in a 529 college savings plan, consider tax and financial aid issues before taking a 529 withdrawal.
4 Steps for Choosing Age-Based 529 Plans
Some college savings accounts adjust allocations based on the age of the child who will use the money.

529 MEDIA RESOURCES

2012 Mid-Year Report Release
Total investment by American families in 529 plans has reached a record level of $179.02 billion.
2012 Mid-Year 529 Report
2012 Mid-Year 529 Report Infographic

More 529 Media Resources

What’s a Prepaid Tuition Plan?

(Part 1 in a blog series focusing on prepaid tuition plans)

By Betty Lochner
Director, Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET)

October 5, 2012

As director of Washington’s Prepaid Tuition Plan, I often hear parents say, “We decided to put our money in a 529 College Savings Plan instead of GET.” To which I always reply, “GET is a 529 college savings plan.”

There is a lot of information out there that can lead people to think that a Prepaid Tuition plan (or Prepaid plan) is different from 529 College Savings Plans (or Savings Plan). Well, they are and they aren’t. This blog series should help shed some light on those differences.

First, of all, here are some Fun Prepaid Facts

· Prepaid Tuition Plans were the first state-administered college savings plans to be offered by several states in the late 1980’s. College Savings Plans became popular when Congress passed legislation in 1996 creating Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.

· There are currently more than 1.3 million prepaid accounts nationwide, valued at nearly $22 billion. Tuition plans have helped hundreds of thousands of students pay for college tuition.

· Currently, 12 states and a consortium of private colleges offer a Prepaid Tuition Plan option. See chart below for details.

You can participate in almost any 529 plan across the country. View All

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