Purposeful Parents Choose College Illinois! 529 Prepaid Tuition Program

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The College Illinois!® 529 Prepaid Tuition Program celebrates National Purposeful Parenting Month in July, recognizing the importance of meaningful relationships between parents and children. Purposeful parenting requires parents to become more deeply involved in their children's lives, giving them  strong roots and wings to fly. July offers parents the opportunity to set their children up for success when the time comes for them to go to college using College Illinois! benefits.

"Purposeful parenting is more than just talking the talk," said ISAC Executive Director Andrew Davis, a parent and College Illinois! contract holder himself.  "Much like preparing for and paying for college, it takes commitment and a lot of hard work, and the College Illinois! Prepaid Tuition Program is a safe, secure way for parents to provide for their child's college education." 

With over $1 billion in assets, the College Illinois! 529 Prepaid Tuition Program is solid.  Since the program's inception in 1998, families have trusted the program to provide tuition benefits for more than 66,000 future college students.  In fact, nearly 14,000 students have already utilized College Illinois! benefits to pay for college at 768 campuses across the country.

The College Illinois! 529 Prepaid Tuition Program is a state-sponsored plan that allows purchasers to lock in tomorrow's tuition prices today. When a beneficiary is ready to go to college, he or she can choose to attend almost anywhere because benefits can be used at all Illinois public universities and community colleges or applied at most public and private institutions nationwide.

Unlike other college savings plans, a College Illinois! 529 Prepaid Tuition Program contract between the purchaser and the state of Illinois ensures tuition and fee benefits for college, regardless of fluctuations in the stock market. Prepaid tuition benefits keep pace with the increases in tuition and fees equal to those found at in-state, public institutions. Parents and grandparents can purchase as few as one semester at a community college or as many as nine semesters at a public university. Various payment options are available, including monthly and annual installments.

Although enrollment is open year-round, prices adjust on the first day of each new month, every month, so it pays to purchase sooner rather than later.  Parents and grandparents can purchase this secure option for their child's educational future at the lowest prices today by visiting www.529prepaidtuition.org, or call toll-free at (877) 877-3724 for program information, materials and enrollment guidelines. 

Administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the College Illinois! 529 Prepaid Tuition Program is a secure college funding option.  Since the program's inception in 1998, more than 66,000 prepaid tuition contracts with a value of more than $1.6 billion have been purchased. ISAC's commissioners are responsible for the overall management of the program and its investments, including hiring a qualified slate of investment managers and other professionals.