| Prepaid Tuition Plan |
College Savings Plan |
| Locks in tuition prices at state's public colleges and universities. |
No lock on college costs. |
| All plans cover tuitions and mandatory fees only. Some states allow you to purchase a room & board option or use excess tuition credits for other qualified expenses. |
Covers all "qualified higher education expenses," including:
- Tuition
- Room & board
- Mandatory fees
- Books, computers (if required)
|
| Most plans set lump sum and installment payments prior to purchase based on age of beneficiary and number of years of college tuition purchased. |
Many plans have contribution limits in excess of $200,000. |
| Many plans guaranteed or backed by state. |
No state guarantee. Most investment options are subject to market risk. Your investment may make no profit or even decline in value. |
| Most plans have age/grade limit for beneficiary. |
No age limits. Open to adults and children. |
| Most plans require either owner or beneficiary of plan to be a state resident. |
No residency requirement. However, nonresidents may only be able to purchase some plans through financial advisers or brokers. |
| Most plans have limited enrollment period. |
Enrollment open all year. |