529 Day (College Savings Day!) Is on 5/29 — What to Know and Best 529 Offers

The cost of college is bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S! And it’s only projected to get higher with each passing year. That’s why it’s so important to start saving for your child’s college education today. In the U.S., there’s a type of account called a 529 account that can help you save and invest for your child’s future in a tax-advantaged way. There are 50 different programs across the country — including one in D.C. and the notable absence of one in Wyoming. For the most part, you can open a 529 account in any state regardless of where you live, but most people look at their own state’s plan first to ensure they can take advantage of any available state tax deductions. With College Savings Day being on 5/29, also known as 529 Day, it’s a good time to look at all the 529 account offerings and what may be best for your family.

One cool thing about 529 accounts is that state programs across the country regularly offer grants, promotions, and giveaways that can help you secure extra funding for your child’s educational expenses. Today, we’re going to go through all 50 states and the district fighting for its own statehood to see which ones could put some cash in your metaphorical pocket.

But first, let’s review some 529 basics.

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What is a 529 account?

A 529 account is a savings and investment account built specifically for the purposes of saving for higher education. In recent years, allowable expenses have been expanded to K-12 students, too.

529 accounts come with a lot of tax advantages so your smart savings doesn’t hurt your long-term bottom line.

 

What can I use my 529 account for?

The following expenses count as qualified (non-taxable) distributions from a traditional 529 account:

• College tuition and fees.
• Trade and vocational school tuition and fees.
• Tuition at private, public, or religious K-12 schools.
• Apprenticeships.
• Payoff of student loan debt.
• Housing — can be off-campus housing but only up to the amount charged for on-campus housing.
• Meal plans. You can also use them for off-campus food expenses, but only up to the amount you’d be charged if you were dining on-campus.
• Books and supplies — including technology like a laptop if it’s required by your school.
• Internet service to access school materials.

Related: 40 Companies That Pay for College

 

What are the tax advantages of a 529 account?

Paul Curley, CFA, owner of the 529 Conference and data analyst at ISS Marketing, keys us into three areas where 529 accounts can help you save on taxes:

• Growth is not taxable. As your investments in your child’s future grow, the interest they earn will not be taxed.
• Withdrawals are not taxable when used for qualified expenses. When you take the money out of the account to pay for qualified educational expenses, that money will again not be taxed.
• State tax deductions. There are at least 34 states where 529 contributions are tax-deductible on your state tax return. That means the money you contribute to the 529 account will reduce your taxable income. Each state has different caps on their tax deductions — you can check out the specifics here.

 

What are the two different types of 529 accounts?

There are two different types of 529 accounts: Prepaid tuition plans and college savings plans.

Prepaid tuition plans essentially mean you’re purchasing tomorrow’s college credits at today’s prices. The idea is that college will be more expensive in the future, so by purchasing the credits today, you’ll be saving money. These programs are usually only applicable to state schools, and you could run into some speed bumps if your child chooses to go to school anywhere else.

College savings plans are more flexible. You invest money, that money grows, and then you can use the funds to attend college, university, or vocational training anywhere. You can also use this money for K-12 expenses.

“Each type of plan offers pros and cons,” says Curley. “The selection really depends on the preference of the investor seeking a more set type of return [prepaid plans] versus one that may fluctuate greatly based on the market [college savings plans].”

RELATED: College Scholarships Nobody Applies For – And How to Get Them

 

What if my child doesn’t go to college?

This used to be a HUGE concern with 529 accounts. If you didn’t use the money for your child’s education, you’d either have to pay taxes on withdrawals or transfer the account to another beneficiary that hopefully WOULD pursue higher education.

But there have been two significant changes over the past decade that have eliminated this problem.

First, if your child is disabled, you may be particularly concerned that they may not pursue higher education. But now there’s a product called ABLE Accounts or 529A accounts that let you save money for your disabled child’s higher education — or almost literally any other life expense. You can use the money for things like rent, food, or disability-specific expenses and still have the withdrawals qualified and not taxed.

Then, this past December, Congress passed SECURE 2.0, which allows anyone to roll 529 savings into a Roth IRA. This means the money no longer has to be used for college expenses if your child decides to take another path.

RELATED: Free Stuff for College Students

 

Do I have to open a 529 account in my home state?

Nope! Tons of 529 programs accept college savers from across state lines. So you’re not restricted to your state’s program.

That said, there are some positives to opening a 529 account in your own state. First, a lot of the promotions we’ll talk about today are only available to in-state residents. But more important over the long-term, while 34+ states do offer state tax deductions for 529 contributions, there are only a handful that give you a state tax deduction if you contribute to a 529 account in another state. They are:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Maine
• Kansas
• Pennsylvania
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Montana
• Ohio

 

What if I’m not rich? Can I still save for my child’s college education?

Oh, absolutely! Studies show that if a child knows there is savings for their college education — even as little as $100 — they’re drastically more likely to actually attend.

Plus, states often have grants or matching programs for middle- or lower-income families, so there’s lots of free 529 money out there for you depending on where you live.

Even little bits of savings can add up big over time.

“Six dollars a day is the average 529 automatic contribution amount, which shows the long-term impact of saving even small amounts over a long period of time,” says Curley. “Families across all asset and income levels use a 529 plan. Based on our proprietary market data and research, the more someone believes that small changes compounded over a long period of time add up to a material impact, the more likely they are to use a 529.”

So believe, my friends! Believe!

RELATED: College Scholarships for Middle Schoolers

 

How will a 529 account affect the FAFSA?

There are two people listed on a 529 account: The account owner and the account beneficiary.

You never want to make your child the account owner. If they’re the owner, the savings will count against them on the FAFSA in a hugely detrimental way. Instead, make them the account beneficiary.

You as the parent should be the account owner. That way, assets over $10,000 will only be counted at the 5.64% rate for FAFSA purposes.

Right now, it’s not a great idea to open a 529 with the grandparent as the owner as it will count much more negatively on the child’s FAFSA application. Curley points out that this negative impact will be far less damaging effective for the 2024-2025 school year thanks to the FAFSA Simplification Act, but it’s still a good idea to check with the child’s parents before doing anything that could potentially impact their kid’s future access to federal financial aid.

TIP: Have a disabled child? A 529A or ABLE account counts against your child 0% on the FAFSA, making it a potentially better option than a traditional 529.

 

May 29 is 529 day!

May 29 is 529 Day. (Get it?? 5/29??)

To celebrate, a ton of states are offering matches, promotional bonuses, and other incentives to encourage you to open a 529 account stat. So it’s a great time to get started with college savings!

 

Get paid to open a 529 account: State-by-State

You might be surprised that you can get paid to open a 529 account! A lot of states will provide matches, grants, or sweepstake giveaways to reward your for saving for your child’s future. Some of them are linked to 529 Day on May 29, but if you miss that window, don’t fret! Plenty of states offer promotions either consistently or intermittently throughout the year, so we will be covering other opportunities, too.

The promotions vary throughout the year and depending on the state program. Residents of Maine are particularly lucky with consistent funding opportunities that can add up to thousands of dollars, but depending on the time of year there are opportunities almost everywhere.

Find your state on the list below, and start saving today!

 

You could win $100 for your first grader with Alabama’s 529 account.

Currently, Alabama is giving away $100 to select, lucky first graders with a CollegeCounts account. Drawings for the award are happening every month. (CollegeCounts is Alabama’s 529 account.)

You can enter the giveaway here. It’s only running through June 2023, so hurry yourself up! Hopefully they’ll run a similar program next year. If they do, keep an eye out for it in September.

 

Alaska’s running a sweepstakes for a $25,000 scholarship.

This year, if you open a brand new Alaska 529 account and deposit at least $25, the state will give you another $250 contribution out of their pocket — not yours. You don’t necessarily have to be an Alaska resident in order to qualify.

If you’re from Alaska, you’re lucky enough to receive a PFD every year, or a dividend for the mining of natural resources in your state. If you choose to invest your PFD in your child’s 529 account, you can be entered into an annual sweepstakes for a $25,000 scholarship for your child. It’s not guaranteed money like the $250 bonus, but it’s a large enough sum that it’s worth entering to win!

 

This creative Arizona photo contest could get you $529 for your 529.

Now through July 9, 2023, your K-12 child can enter a fun photo contest to win $529 deposited into their AZ529 account. All they have to do is pose for a photo dressed up as if they were in their dream job. Photos will be judged on their creativity, originality, and technique.

 

Get a state tax deduction with Arkansas’ 529 account.

Arkansas’ Brighter Future 529 account isn’t currently offering any contests or contribution matches. But that doesn’t mean contributing to your 529 in this state has zero benefits.

Arkansas is one of 34 states (and also Washington, D.C.) that gives you state tax deduction for your contributions to your 529 account. If you’re a single parent, the deduction is $5,000 per year, so you’ll be taxed on up to $5,000 less income. If you’re married, the deduction maxes out at $10,000.

 

Get $50 – $100 when you open a 529 plan in California this week.

California’s 529 account goes by the name ScholarShare 529. This week only, from May 22 – May 31, 2023, you can get a $50 or $100 bonus. There’s some serious fine print, though!

You’ll only get a $50 bonus if you set up a minimum initial deposit of at least $50 — and contribute $50/month for six consecutive months. If you want the $100 bonus, your initial deposit has to be at least $100, with an additional $100/month contributed for at least six months after that. They’re gonna make you work for it. But free money is free money.

California also offers dedicated College Savings Accounts (CSAs.) Your child will automatically receive this account if your family meets income eligibility guidelines.

Newborns get $25 in seed money automatically, and another $25 when the parent registers their online profile. If you link a new or existing ScholarShare 529 account, they’ll get yet ANOTHER $50, for a grand total of $100.

This is a new program that just started in 2022, but if your child is a little older don’t sweat it. Low-income students in 1st through 12th grade get $500 deposited into their CSA, which you can then link to your ScholarShare 529 account. They get another $500 if they’re foster youth, and yet another $500 if they’re homeless, for a potential total of $1,500.

 

Colorado will match your 529 contributions dollar for dollar.

First off, all newborns and newly-adopted children who were born or adopted in Colorado after January 1, 2020 get $100 deposited into their CollegeInvest 529 account. The only barrier to entry is that you have to apply for the First Step Program prior to your child’s fifth birthday.

On October 3, 2023, you can also apply for the Matching Grant Program. For every dollar you deposit into your child’s CollegeInvest 529 account, the state will match you with a dollar of their own.

There are income limits to qualify for the program, but they’re super high. For example, if it’s just you and your kid in the household, the max income to qualify is $109,860. The limits only go up with your household size.

 

Connecticut babies get $100 for their 529 account.

The Connecticut Higher Education Trust 529 program (CHET) gives you two ways to get free money for college. First, if your child is under one year old or was adopted less than a year ago, you can claim a free $100 through the Baby Scholars program. Remember that the $100 can grow with interest if you invest the 529 funds!

Last year, CHET also ran a Dream Big! competition, which may or may not make a reappearance this year. To enter the competition, K-12 students were asked to answer an essay prompt or drawing contest to win one of the following prizes:

• One of three $25,000 awards into their CHET account.
• One of fifteen $7,500 awards into their CHET account.
• A chance to win one of 240 $500 awards into their CHET account.

 

Get $100 – $529 for your Delaware 529 account.

DE529 comes with the First State, First Steps program. This program is only running through June 30, 2023, so hop on it!

First State, First Steps gives $100 to children age 5 or younger when their parents open a 529 account on their behalf. You have to deposit at least $100 on your own, but then you’ll get the extra $100 from the state. You’ve gotta be a Delaware resident at the time of application to qualify.

If you’re a foster parent to a child aging out of the system, be sure to connect them with the A$PIRE529 program to enter them for a $529 grant. This grant is only available to the first 20 people that apply, and applications open on June 1, 2023. So you might wanna stay up late the night of May 31 to ensure you’re one of the first to apply!

 

Florida’s giving new 529 accounts a free $50.

Florida has two different types of 529 accounts: A prepaid 529 account and a 529 savings account. When you open a Florida 529 account prior to June 30, 2023, the state program will deposit a free $50 into the account. There don’t appear to be any minimum deposit requirements from the parent, but if there are you’d find out about them in the application process.

 

Georgia is giving one lucky baby $5,529 for college.

Georgia’s 529 account is Path2College 529. Parents and grandparents can enter babies into the Newborn Sweepstakes. There will be one drawing for a $5,529 prize awarded to any baby born between January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. You can enter through April 15, 2024.

 

Hawaii isn’t giving away money right now.

Hawaii does have a 529 program, but they’re not giving away cash right now.

 

Idaho is matching up to $25 when you open a new 529 account.

If your child is five or under, you can currently get a $25 match when you open up a new IDeal account — which is Idaho’s take on a 529. You have to deposit at least $25 to get the full match. You can deposit more than $25, but you’ll only get a match on the first twenty-five.

 

Illinois is giving $50 to each of the littlest college savers.

If your baby is born or adopted in 2023, they’re eligible for a free $50 deposit in their Bright Steps 529 account. It doesn’t matter if the account is new or you opened the account without enrolling in the First Steps $50 program. You can submit a claim when you open the account, or at a later date — as long as you apply before your child’s 10th birthday.

 

Take advantage of 529 sweepstakes & refer-a-friend programs in Indiana.

Indiana’s 529 program is CollegeChoice 529. And lemme tell you, there are plenty of ways this program can get you free college money.

First, you can enter your child into quarterly drawings for a giveaway of $529 into their CollegeChoice529 account.

Second, you can enter into a photo contest called 529 Day. All you have to do is upload a picture of your child with a caption, and they’ll be entered to win a $529 prize.

Finally, Indiana actually offers a refer-a-friend program. When you send your friend an invite to open an account via your CollegeChoice 529 platform, you could both earn $20 in free money if you meet program requirements.

 

Iowa isn’t giving away free cash right now.

Iowa does have a 529 plan, but it’s not currently offering any cash incentives.

 

Kansas matches up to $600 for select households.

If you make less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), you can get matching funds in your Learning Quest 529 account — which is Kansas’ 529. The state will match up to $600 per year, so try to save at least that, whether you’re contributing all of the money yourself or crowdsourcing contributions from family and friends.

 

Get $529 for college by participating in summer reading in Kentucky.

Got a bookworm? Their summer reading efforts could get them a $529 contribution to their KY Saves 529 account. All you have to do is participate in your local library’s summer reading program and fill out a short application.

If your child wins one of the four $529 prizes, your library could also be awarded $500! Wins all around.

 

Louisiana isn’t giving away college money just now.

Louisiana isn’t giving away cash right now, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad time to start saving for college.

 

Get up to $6,100 in free money from Maine’s NextGen 529.

Maine’s account is NextGen 529, and it provides SO many opportunities for free funding!

First, if your baby is born a Maine resident, they can get an Alfond Grant. This grant gives your child $500 in their NextGen 529 account, with no minimum contribution requirement from you as the parent.

When you do start saving for your child with your own funds, you can qualify for a $100 Initial Matching Grant. Just deposit $25 or more, and that extra hunny will be deposited into your account by the state of Maine.

Another smart way to get free money for your child’s college education in Maine is setting up automatic contributions to your child’s 529 account. The contributions have to happen at least once per quarter, and once you’ve wracked up at least six consecutive automatic contributions, you’ll get an additional $100 grant. This one is a one-time thing.

Want to keep winning again and again? Take advantage of Maine’s NextStep Matching Grant. This grant matches 30% of your contributions to your child’s 529 account — every year. The max award is $300 per year, so try to contribute at least $1,000 per year to take full advantage.

When you add it all up, your child can potentially get $500 from the Alfond grant, $100 from the Initial Matching Grant, $100 from the Automated Funding Grant, and up to $5,400 for the NextStep Matching Grant ($300/year for 18 years.)

That’s a grand total of $6,100 in free moolah! And that’s before any tax-free interest the investments earn in your 529 account.

 

Maryland is giving away $250 or $500 to six-figure households.

Attention all middle-class and lower-income Maryland families! Maryland will give you $250 or $500 for your child’s Maryland 529 account every year. Income limits are $112,500 for single account owners and $175,000 for married account owners. That means you can make over six figures and still qualify for this program.

Here are the income limits and contribution requirements for the different free money amounts:

• $500 free contribution: Less than $50,000 if you’re single, less than $75,000 if you’re married. You must contribute at least $25 yourself.
• $500 free contribution: $50,000 – $87,499 if you’re single, $75,000 – $124,999 if you’re married. You must contribute at least $100 yourself.
• $250 free contribution: $87,500 – $112,500 if you’re single, $125,000 – $175,000 if you’re married. You must contribute at least $250 yourself.

This program is called Save4College, and you will need to apply for it.

 

Apply within one year of birth or adoption for $50 in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts’ 529 plan is called U.Fund. If your child is born or adopted in Massachusetts, you have one year to open your U.Fund account. If you meet the deadline, the Baby Steps program will give you a free $50 deposit.

 

No bonuses for 529s in Michigan at the moment.

Michigan’s 529 program is not giving away incentive bonuses or running any contests at this time.

 

Minnesota’s 529 promotions are easy to find when they’re live.

Sometimes MN Saves offers giveaways and promotions. There aren’t any right now, but when there are, you’ll be able to find them here.

 

Mississippi’s two 529 accounts don’t have a bonus right now.

College Savings Mississippi offers two different 529 accounts. The MACS is the 529 savings account, and the MPACT is the prepaid tuition plan.

There are currently no promotions at this time.

 

Missouri is giving away $50 — but just this month!

Open a new MOST 529 account in the month of May 2023, and Missouri will give you a free $50! You have to make an initial deposit of at least $25 to qualify.

 

Achieve Montana doesn’t have any live promotions.

Montana’s 529 plan is Achieve Montana. There aren’t currently any promotions.

 

Nebraska’s bird-themed 529 programs can get you free college money.

Nebraska is all cutesy with its program names. The Nebraska 529 program is known as NEST, and it has a promotional incentive program called Meadowlark. Meadowlark gives babies born in 2020, 2021, or 2022 a free $50 for their future educational expenses.

You don’t even have to enroll in this program! If your baby was born in a qualifying year in the state of Nebraska, they should already have an account with this money in it. You can view your baby’s Meadowlark account by opening a NEST 529 account.

If the NEST account beneficiary is under age 30 and in a household with an income that’s 250% of the FPL or less, they can get matching contributions to their 529 account from the state.

In Nebraska, your employer may make contributions to your child’s 529 account as an employee benefit, too. Be sure to ask HR if they participate!

 

Nevada offers two 529 grants worth $1,500 each.

Nevada has two different grant opportunities for its 529 plan.

First, if you make less than $75,000 per year, you qualify for the Silver State Matching Grant. This grant matches the first $300 you contribute to your child’s 529 account per year. You can claim it for five years, for a max award of $1,500. The first year you apply for the grant, your child must be age 13 or younger by December 31.

Nevada also works with USAA to provide the Distinguished Valor Matching Grant. To qualify, the beneficiary’s parent must meet one of the following qualifications:

• Current active duty military.
• KIA.
• Injured in action.

If you contribute at least $100, you’ll get a $100 grant. If you contribute at least $300, you’ll get a $300 grant. You can claim this grant for five years, for a grand total of $1,500.

RELATED: Best Military Discounts

 

Get 2% cash back for your UNIQUE 529 in New Hampshire.

New Hampshire’s 529 program is UNIQUE 529. It’s administered by Fidelity. While there’s no promotional contributions, you can get 2% cash back into your UNIQUE 529 account when you use the Fidelity Investments 529 College Rewards VISA.

RELATED: Best Credit Cards for College Students

 

New Jersey will match up to $750 in 529 contributions.

NJBEST is New Jersey’s 529 plan. If your household income is less than $75,000, you can get a free dollar-for-dollar match for up to $750 in contributions.

BIG thing to note: Only your initial deposit will be matched. So if your first deposit is only $25, you’ll only get a $25 match. If you can swing the $750 all at once, it’s worth doing it as it doubles the amount of money for your child’s education in a big way.

 

New Mexico may start a new round of $1,000 529 grants soon.

New Mexico’s 529 program simply goes by the name The Education Plan. In 2022, it ran a program called the Saving for Success Award, and it looks like it may make a comeback in 2023. It gave 50 different K-12 students grants of up to $1,000 for their 529 accounts.

 

New York doesn’t currently have any 529 promotions.

NY’s 529 isn’t currently running any promotions, but it’s still a great time to start saving for college today.

 

Enter for a $1,529 prize for your North Carolina 529 in May.

North Carolina is celebrating 529 day this year by giving away a $1,529 grant contribution to one lucky NC student. You have to enter by May 31, 2023 to be eligible for the drawing.

 

North Dakota has 529 matching programs worth up to $600.

North Dakota’s 529 plan goes by the name of College SAVE, and there are three different opportunities to get contribution matches.

The New Baby Match program is open to any infants in North Dakota who are 12 months or younger. Once you enroll in the program, you have 12 more months to make contributions. The first $200 will be matched dollar-for-dollar, but of course it’s always great if you can save even more!

There’s also a $100 match for kindergartners in North Dakota. Simply enroll your kindergarten student, then contribute at least $100 over the next 12 months to get the full match. All contributions must be made prior to your child’s seventh birthday.

Finally, there is an income-based matching program for all North Dakota students who are 15 years old or younger. The Bank of North Dakota will match up to $300 in contributions dollar-for-dollar, and you have 12 months after enrollment to make qualifying contributions. To qualify, your income must be $100,000 or less if you’re in a single-parent household. Households with married parents have income limits of $150,000 to qualify.

 

Ohio’s CollegeAdvantage 529 doesn’t have any matching right now.

CollegeAdvantage — Ohio’s 529 — is not current offering any matching programs at this time.

 

Neither does Oklahoma’s 529.

Oklahoma 529 similarly does not have any matching promotions right now.

 

Oregon’s 529 plans go green with their rewards.

OF COURSE Oregon has a recycling program linked to its 529 program — and we’re here for it! When you link your 529 account with your BottleDrop account, you’ll be able to earn money for every can and bottle you and your child recycle. That money can automatically be transferred into your child’s 529 account.

You can also get a free $25 contribution from the state when you open a 529 account prior to your child’s first birthday through the Baby Grad program. If you missed the boat on that one, don’t stress. You’ll have another chance to earn a free $25 contribution from the state when you open a 529 account for your kindergartner.

 

Win up to $5,290 for college in Pennsylvania this May.

Pennsylvania runs a program similar to Nebraska’s Meadowlark program. It’s called Keystone Scholars, and it gives all babies born in Pennsylvania on or after January 1, 2019 a $100 grant for their college education. You can claim your account here.

Pennsylvania is also running a giveaway to celebrate 529 Day on May 29. If you contribute at least $10 to your child’s 529 during the month of May 2023, your child will be entered to win a $5,290 grand prize. There are also ten $2,529 regional prize awards.

 

Rhode Island gives away $100 for baby’s 529 accounts.

If your child was born or adopted in Rhode Island prior to July 1, 2021, they should have a $100 grant that was automatically set up for them. You can claim it here.

If they were born or adopted after that, they’re eligible for a $100 bonus contribution when you open an account for them prior to their first birthday.

 

Expecting in South Carolina? Try to give birth on May 29.

South Carolina’s 529 plan goes by the name of Future Scholar. It’s offering a very fun but very restrictive grant program this year. All babies born on 529 Day 2023 (or May 29, 2023) will qualify for a $529 grant for their Future Scholar Account. You have to open the 529 account by August 31, 2023 in order to claim the free college money.

South Carolina frequently runs fun contests for 529 grants, usually for a grant of $529. One recent example is the Making Bank challenge, where K-2 students got to design a piggy bank that reflected their hopes and dreams for their future. The contest is closed now, but keep an eye out for similar promotions in the future.

 

South Dakota has no free 529 college money right now.

South Dakota’s CollegeAccess 529 does not appear to be offering any grants or promotional opportunities at this time.

 

Check back for Tennessee’s 529 grants during the holidays.

TNStars — which is Tennessee’s 529 plan — often has fun giveaways that provide thousands of dollars for children’s 529 accounts. For example, last Fall they gave away $1,000 to 10 different Tennessee students to celebrate 10 years of TNStars.

There aren’t any giveaways right now, but be sure to keep an eye out around the holiday season. There’s traditionally a holiday contest near the end of the year that awards grants of $5,000 – $6,000 for future college expenses into your TNStars account.

 

Texas unsurprisingly isn’t offering free money for their 529s.

Not gonna lie — I’m not super surprised that Texas isn’t giving away any free money in this moment. The state’s not really known for expanding resources to its residents.

But the LoneStar 529 plan is still worth checking out. Even without promotions or giveaways, staring to save for your child’s future today can make a huge difference when they’re ready to attend college.

 

Utah’s popular 529 plan isn’t giving away free cash right now.

Utah’s 529 program goes by simply my529. While there don’t appear to be any opportunities for extra promotional funding right now, this has been a long-standing favorite 529 account option for both in-state and out-of-state residents for a long time.

 

Vermont is giving away college money for 529 Day.

Just like South Carolina, Vermont is rewarding you for giving birth on May 29, 2023 with a $100 deposit into your child’s VT529!

In celebration of 529 Day on May 29, they’re also running a contest for residents of any age. Enter through June 16, 2023 for your chance to win a $529 prize for your child’s VT529 account.

 

Get a $50 match in Virginia in celebration of 529 Day.

Now through May 31, 2023, you can get a $50 match when you contribute $50 to your child’s Virginia 529 account in celebration of 529 Day.

 

There are no current 529 promotions in Washington state.

Currently, there don’t appear to be any 529 promotions or matches for WA529.

 

Washington, D.C. is 529 promotion free but information rich.

The DC College Savings Plan doesn’t appear to be offering any promotions or matches at this time, but they do provide you with a lot of information about different grants, scholarships, and other college funding opportunities that address the unique challenges graduates of DC public schools face. (In-state tuition for what?)

 

West Virginia’s SMART529 has grants and contests.

West Virginia’s 529 plan goes by the name of SMART529. They have a grant program where if you open an account before the one-year mark after birth or adoption, they’ll give you $100 for your account.

They do also run an annual contest called ‘When I Grow Up.’ Submissions are currently closed, but keep an eye out for when they reopen later in the year.

 

Wisconsin’s Edvest 529 isn’t giving away extra college cash.

Wisconsin’s 529 plan is Edvest 529. There are currently no opportunities for extra college cash, but it’s still never a bad idea to start saving for your child’s future today.

 

Wyoming gets in on ABLE accounts but not traditional 529s.

Wyoming is the only state that doesn’t have traditional 529 accounts! Remember that if you’re a Wyoming resident you can still open a 529 college savings account in other states.

However, if you’re in Wyoming and have a disabled child, the state does provide a 529A or ABLE account option called WYABLE.