September may be back to school for many families, but did you know it’s also College Savings Month? If you haven’t started saving for college yet, this is a great time to start and make a game plan. If you’re already a college saver, now is a perfect time to analyze where you are on your college savings journey and what you can do to maximize your efforts and grow your savings even more.
For College Savings Month in September, there are many promotions and events to inspire you to start saving for college or save more. Check out our list below to enjoy these College Saving Month promotions.
National – College Savings Plan Network
In celebration of College Savings Month, September, College Savings Plans Network (CSPN) is hosting a “What Can A 529 Do For You?” sweepstakes that will take place September 1st to October 1st. Visit the website here: http://www.collegesavings.org/sweepstakes. Full contest rules can be read here.
To be considered for one of the nine $529 awards, a person needs to complete the form and state what a 529 can do for their family or what a 529 is already doing for their family. Awards will be directly deposited into either new or existing 529 accounts at the completion of the sweepstakes. After the sweepstakes, contestants might see their testimonials showcased in future marketing materials for 529 accounts and CSPN. By completing the form, contestants are allowing the future use of the testimony. Here is a link to the landing page with the rules and form: http://www.collegesavings.org/sweepstakes
While you can see the website now, the sweepstakes does not open until September 1st.
Florida – Florida 529 Savings Plan
Your child’s dreams are worth investing in! Open a new Florida 529 Savings Plan between September 5 and October 29, 2023, and get a free $50 contribution to kick-start your savings journey.
Visit myfloridaprepaid.com to learn more today!
Hawaii – HI529
Open an account between 9/01/2023 – 09/30/2023
From the accounts opened, 1 account will receive a $529 contribution into their HI529 account.
From the accounts opened, 5 accounts will receive a $100 contribution into their HI529 account.
Iowa – College Savings Iowa
Iowa State Treasurer Roby Smith is celebrating College Savings Month with a $5,290 College Savings Iowa contribution to an Iowa family. Visit Iowa529Contest.com to register for the giveaway during the month of September and to read the Official Rules. All residents of Iowa with a child or grandchild under 18 years old are eligible. Ownership of a College Savings Iowa account is not required to register for the giveaway.
Additionally, College Savings Iowa and Treasurer Smith will be partnering with Iowa Children’s Museum in Coralville, Putnam Museum & Science Center in Davenport and Bluedorn Science Imaginarium in Waterloo on select Saturdays in September to share information about Iowa’s direct-sold 529 plan. Promotional items and a chance to register for the $5,290 contribution will be available for attendees. For more information about museum sponsorship dates, follow @IowaTreasurer on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Indiana – CollegeChoice 529 Savings Plans
Enter for your chance to Enter for your chance to win $10,000 in the CollegeChoice 529 Education Sweepstakes! Individuals 18 years of age or older must complete the entry form available at www.collegechoicedirect.com/september by 11:59 p.m. on September 30. The winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries to receive a $10,000 CollegeChoice 529 account deposit.
Maine – 529 College Savings
This year during college savings month we have a number of initiatives designed to reach families and get them thinking about the future, financial education and higher education:
- Invest in ME Reads—FAME distributes books and materials to Maine elementary students Grades 2-5. This program was created by FAME in partnership with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Invest in ME Reads is a family financial education program that offers free books and resources to elementary students and their families, along with an educational website, InvestinMeReads, designed to engage families and teach kids about money and making choices that boost financial skills early in life.
- We are in the middle of a Back-to-School campaign that includes messaging about back-to-school being a good time to think about higher education. We encourage Maine families to open or contribute to a NextGen 529 account with a multi-faceted campaign that includes environmental signage, broadcast and streaming radio, digital marketing, social media, and direct mail.
Massachusetts – MEFA
MEFA will be celebrating College Savings Month throughout September by spreading awareness of the importance of preparing for the future, and encouraging families to save for future education costs in Massachusetts’ two college savings plan options, the U.Fund 529 College Investing Plan and the U.Plan Prepaid Tuition Program.
MEFA will offer two Saving for College Webinars in September designed to help parents with children of all ages learn how to best prepare for college costs. We will share information and resources that families can use to put a college savings plan in place and answer our most commonly asked questions.
- September 14th @ 6:30pm
- September 26th @ 12pm
MEFA’s digital content will center around sharing key information about saving for college across all our communications channels, including MEFA’s email curriculum, social media, blog posts, and other digital assets.
MEFA will also partner with the Massachusetts State Treasurer’s Office of Economic Empowerment (OEE) to promote the importance of saving early with the BabySteps Savings Plan. Through the BabySteps Savings Plan, every child who is a Massachusetts resident is eligible to receive a $50 deposit into a U.Fund 529 College Investing Plan account within one year of birth or adoption. Working with OEE, MEFA will embark on a month-long social media campaign that will share the basics of saving for college, break down common college savings questions, and answer follower questions on social media.
Nevada – USAA® 529 Education Savings Plan
The USAA® 529 Education Savings Plan, brought to you by Victory Capital and administered by the State of Nevada, is celebrating College Savings Month with three Bonus Programs. Take advantage of one, two or all three bonuses.
- Open a new 529 Plan account in the month of September with a $250 initial deposit and a $50 monthly Automatic Investment Plan (AIP) and you could earn a $100 Investment Bonus.
- Transfer eligible assets to a 529 Plan account and you could earn up to $1,000 through an Asset Transfer Bonus.
- Start or increase an Automatic Investment Plan (AIP) by contributing $200 per month to your 529 Plan account and you could earn a Disciplined Investor Bonus of $50.
Learn more about how to get rewarded at www.vcm.com/bonus.
The USAA 529 Education Savings Plan (Plan) is distributed by Victory Capital Services, Inc. (VCS). VCS is not affiliated with United Services Automobile Association or its affiliates (USAA). USAA and the Plan logos are trademarks of USAA and are being used under license.
Tennessee – TNStars College Savings 529 Program
Tennesseans can automate their college savings and get $25 from TNStars! Tennessee residents who set up a recurring contribution for their TNStars account of at least $25 per month or add an additional $25 to an existing monthly recurring contribution, will receive an extra $25 toward their college savings. The incentive is available to all Tennesseans September 1, 2023, through October 31, 2023. Visit TNStars.com to learn more.
Utah – my529 and the Utah System of Higher Education
During September’s National College Savings Month, my529 and the Utah System of Higher Education sponsor the Make Your Mark bookmark contest. The contest lets Utah students exhibit their talents by creating an original bookmark design for a chance to win a college savings scholarship. Eight Utah students in kindergarten through 12th grade will each receive a $1,000 college savings scholarship for their winning bookmark designs. Entrants must live in Utah. Ownership of a my529 account is not required. Submit an original bookmark design on the official entry form found here. Program open September 1 through October 2, 2023.
Looking for more ways to grow your college savings? Check out Upromise and CollegeBacker, both which can provide ways to increase your savings. With Upromise, earn cash for college by shopping at 1000 stores through their online links, dining out, and signing up for their credit card. CollegeBacker allows you to open or link some 529 plans, shop through their online portal, and create a gifting page that lets family and friends give college savings gifts for holidays and birthdays.
Plus, take a look at some of our most popular College Savings articles below.
- How Much to Save For College
- What is a 529 Plan?
- How to Open a 529 Plan
- What You Can Pay For with a 529 Plan
- 7 Myths and Realities of 529 Plans
- What is the Penalty on an Unused 529 Plan?
- Does a 529 Plan Affect Financial Aid?
- How Do I Select the Right Investments for My 529 Plan?
- How to Transfer 529 Plan Funds to a Sibling?
- 10 Easy Ways Grandparents Can Help Pay For College
- How to Help Pay for College Without Impacting Financial Aid
At Savingforcollege.com, our goal is to help you make smart decisions about saving and paying for education. Some of the products featured in this article are from our partners, but this doesn’t influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own.