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Alumni at Nearly 300 Private Colleges Will Receive Matching Dollars for Starting 529 Plan

via Business Wire

The national Private College 529 Plan will match up to $500 for the first 500 member-institution alumni who initiate college savings this summer

CollegeWell, a comprehensive college savings and financing advisory organization and sponsor of the Private College 529 Plan (PC529), announced it will match up to $500 for the first 500 alumni from the nearly 300 private colleges and universities participating in the prepaid plan who enroll and make their first savings deposit. The alumni match incentive program will be offered through September 30, 2025, and families who enroll before July 1st, 2025, will lock in current 2024-2025 tuition rates.

With the cost of tuition constantly rising by an average of 6 percent each year and many families facing financial strain due to economic conditions, college savings may seem impossible. Data shows that while nearly 16 million Americans use 529 plans for college savings, more than half (54 percent) of parents do not know about 529 plans as easy, flexible options to pay for college.

The incentive program was established to raise awareness about the stability of prepaid 529 plans, like PC529, where families prepay and secure current tuition rates before their children even consider college. PC529 member colleges- nearly 300 nationwide- guarantee prepaid tuition no matter how much costs increase for up to 30 years. Prepaid plans are not subject to market volatility the way growth-based 529s are, so funds invested can never be lost.

“Families often think they need thousands of dollars to start a college savings account, but any amount can jumpstart the college savings journey,” said Bob Cole, President and CEO of CollegeWell. “We hope this incentive program will inspire parents and families to start healthy savings habits now and invest in their children’s future education. Saving early and often–even if it is only a little–is the key to ensuring college affordability later.”

PC529 funds are also eligible for rollover into Roth IRAs, providing retirement savings benefits for individuals who may not use their full funds. Additional information about how to leverage prepaid 529s for retirement savings can be found here.

Eligible participants for PC529’s incentive program are those who 1) are an alum of a member institution, 2) the account owner and beneficiary are new to the plan, and 3) the beneficiary is 15 years old or younger.

To learn more about the alumni match incentive, visit: https://www.collegewell.com/private-college-529-plan/alumni-match/

For the full list of PC529 institutions, visit: https://www.collegewell.com/member-colleges.

Contact education@collegewell.com for questions or to start a Private College 529 plan.

About CollegeWell and Private College 529 Plan

CollegeWell is a pioneering organization committed to transforming the landscape of college savings. Through education and financial tools, CollegeWell provides families with guidance and support to pursue the best higher education opportunities for their children. CollegeWell is the sponsor of Private College 529 Plan, a nationwide, prepaid tuition plan that allows families to lock in tuition rates at nearly 300 private colleges, giving families flexibility and choice while making private college more accessible. For more information, visit collegewell.com.

Purchasers should carefully consider the risks associated with purchases and refunds of Tuition Certificates. The Disclosure Statement contains this and other information about the Plan, and may be obtained by visiting privatecollege529.com or calling 1.888.718.7878. Purchasers should read these documents carefully before purchasing a Tuition Certificate.

CollegeWell and Private College 529 Plan (the Plan) are established and maintained by Tuition Plan Consortium, LLC (TPC), on behalf of the Plan’s member colleges. This material is provided for general and educational purposes only, and is not intended to provide legal, tax, or investment advice, or for use to avoid penalties that may be imposed under U.S federal tax laws. Catalis Regulatory & Compliance, LLC f/k/a Intuition College Savings Solutions, LLC (Catalis) is the Plan Administrator. Participation in the Plan does not guarantee admission to any college or university. Tuition Certificates are neither insured nor guaranteed by the FDIC, TPC, any government agency, Catalis or their respective subcontractors and affiliates. However, Tuition Certificates are guaranteed by member colleges solely for tuition and mandatory fee credits. Tuition Certificates must be held for at least 36 months from the issue date before they can be redeemed to pay for tuition at a participating school. The issue date of a Tuition Certificate is the first date during a plan year (July 1-June 30) that a purchase of a Tuition Certificate is made. Please read the Disclosure Statement and Enrollment Agreement carefully, and please consider your financial objectives and risks before purchasing a Tuition Certificate. TPC, Catalis and their respective subcontractors and affiliates do not provide financial, legal or tax advice. Please contact your attorney or other advisor regarding your specific legal, investment or tax situation.

The refund value of a Tuition Certificate is calculated as your total contributions adjusted for net investment returns up to a maximum increase of 2 percent per year compounded annually. If the refunded amount is not used to pay qualified higher education expenses, the earnings portion will be subject to federal income tax and an additional 10 percent tax penalty. See Disclosure Statement for details.

© 2025 Tuition Plan Consortium, LLC. All rights reserved. 20250210-4231351.

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