What is a 529 Plan?
A 529 plan is a savings plan that helps students and parents save for educational expenses. The big benefit of the 529 plan is that there are tax benefits for contributions, and withdrawals are not subject to federal income tax or (usually) state income taxes. This means that your 529 plan can grow with these benefits and the interest earned will be tax-free! The longer that your money is in a 529 plan, the more opportunity it has to grow (which means you will have more money to pay for education). 529 Plans are sponsored by individual states, state agencies, and educational institutions.
What can a 529 Plan be used for?
529 plan can be used for a “qualified education expense” which includes tuition, room, board, mandatory fees, and even computers or software (if they are required). These qualified education expenses can occur in the context of a college, elementary school or secondary school, vocational schools, trade schools or even for costs related to homeschooling. Additionally, 529 plans can be used to pay for student loans thanks to the SECURE Act.
Are there different types of 529 plans?
There are two types of 529 plans:
- Prepaid Tuition Plans
- Educational Savings Plans
What is the difference between Prepaid Tuition Plans and Educational Savings Plans?
The first type of 529 plan, the Prepaid Tuition Plan, allows students and families to purchase “units or credits” at specific colleges. This means that you are locking in tuition and other fees at their current rate. This matters because even if tuition climbs up (which it generally does), you will only pay the current price. Most of the time, this Prepaid Tuition Plan is for public, in-state colleges and universities so it is only available to residents of a particular state. Note that this options does not allow you to pay for room and board or pay for elementary or secondary school tuition. The biggest risk of this option is if you don’t wind up attending one of the participating institutions. This can result in a situation where your Prepaid Tuition Plan does not cover the cost of attendance.
An Educational Savings Plan is a more traditional investment account that can be used for tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board. To save with the Educational Savings Plan, an individual can choose from a number of investment options from banks and other investment companies. The risk/reward of the Educational Savings Plan is that you are investing in assets like mutual funds or exchange-traded funds that can go up or down.
Do all states offer a 529 plan option?
According to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: “all fifty states and the District of Columbia sponsor at least one type of 529 plan. In addition, a group of private colleges and universities sponsor a prepaid tuition plan.” This means that regardless of where you live, you will be able to take advantage of this savings option!
Can a 529 Plan impact need-based financial aid?
Yes, a 529 Plan can impact need-based financial aid for students. However, this will vary from college to college.
