10 Things Every Pennsylvania Family Should Know About College Savings

There are 10 things about college and saving for college that every Pennsylvania family needs to know. This infographic design is a great visual explainer of how college savings works (it’s easier than you think), and what the state of Pennsylvania is doing to help families.

You can click or tap on the visual below to enlarge it, and keep reading below this infographic design too where you’ll fund a written overview of how saving for college works in Pennsylvania.

10 Things for Pennsylvania Families to Know About Saving for College

1. By the end of the decade, 70% of jobs will require college degrees or some form of post-secondary education.

2. $33,000 is the average student debt per borrower for the graduating college class of 2020.

3. $358K is the projected cost of a 4-year college degree at an in-state school in 2035.

4. A 529 plan offers your family a tax-advantaged way to save for college and other higher education expenses. Funds in a 529 plan can go to technical college or vocational school, college or university, trade school, study abroad programs, K-12 private school tuition, books, computers, school supplies, room and board, and even student loan debt.

5. The Pennsylvania 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan) is a prepaid tuition plan open only to residents of Pennsylvania.

6. The Pennsylvania 529 Investment Plan is a direct-sold consumer plan with no residency requirements.

7. $10 is the minimum contribution requirement per transaction for any Pennsylvania 529 plan.

8. The Pennsylvania Treasury Department is the stage agency overseeing both PA 529 plans.

8. $511,758 is the plan’s maximum contribution limit. Contributions may be made until the balance of all Pennsylvania 529 plan(s) for the same one individual reaches $511,758. Funds already invested can remain in the plan(s) and continue to gain interest, but no additional funds may be contributed.

9. Pennsylvania offers tax filers generous state tax benefits. Up to $30,000/yr per beneficiary for joint filers, or up to $15,000/yr per beneficiary for single filers.

10. $18,648 is how much more you’ll save (or earn) for college by putting your savings for college in a 529 plan instead of a regular savings account at the bank.

You can also find more information in this article on Pennsylvania 529 plan basics, or checking out the plan’s official website at www.PA529.com.

Pennsylvania 529 plan accounts are eligible to be linked to the free Upromise Rewards program. Across the country, Upromise has helped families save over $1 Billion for college and higher education. Join Upromise free and earn cash rebates and other free cash rewards to save for college and your child’s 529 plan. Additionally, every month 5 Upromise members win a $529 scholarship for the family member they’re saving for.

*This assumes a 6% hypothetical rate of return for 529 plans compounded annually and assumes a 0.05% APY or annual interest rate for a savings account. The information in the infographic chart is for illustrative purposes. Funds invested in a 529 plan may see higher or lower rates of return than illustrated in this example.

Check out these College Savings: 529 Plan Basics by State