529 Myths Prevent Understanding of This College Savings Tool

By Joe Messinger, CFP®

May 3, 2024

4 min READ

In America today, only 78% of families with children are saving for college, and only 48% of those surveyed are saving and using a 529 plan to do it! The truth is that 529 plans can be an excellent tool to save for college, and they can help parents not only start saving but accumulate enough funds to truly assist in covering their child’s college tuition and expenses. Unfortunately, certain 529 myths still exist which prevent families from understanding the value of this important college savings tool.

The number of families taking advantage of 529 plans is rising, but many people still don’t quite understand how these plans work (or even what a 529 plan is).

What myths are we talking about?

Myth 1: I can only open the 529 savings plan offered by my state.

You are not limited to the 529 plan offered in your state. You can use any plan in any state. If you plan on taking advantage of any state tax credit for 529 contributions, you may have to use a plan in your state to qualify. However, you aren’t limited to only one plan. You can open one plan in your state and fund it up to the maximum amount for the tax credit ($4,000 in Ohio per year per beneficiary). In addition, you can open a separate account in another state which might offer more desirable investment choices or lower fees.

Myth 2: I can only use 529 savings in colleges within my state.

529 savings plans can be used at any post-secondary educational institution eligible to participate in a student aid program run by the U.S. Department of Education. The list of eligible institutions, even some international institutions, can be found here.

Myth 3: Only parents can open 529 plans for their children.

The truth is anyone can open a 529 plan for any beneficiary, including a family member, a friend, or even yourself. Historically, 529 plans opened by grandparents of a student could potentially negatively impact student aid eligibility. However, due to the simplified FAFSA, grandparent-owned 529 Plans no longer have to be reported, and won’t impact need-based financial aid.

Myth 4: I can only contribute up to the “state’s limit” into the 529.

As we mentioned above, many states offer a tax credit for 529 contributions. In Ohio, the maximum tax credit per year per beneficiary is $4,000. But don’t confuse that limit with the amount you can invest in the plan. The IRS does not specifically limit the amount of money you can invest in a 529 plan. However, there are some limitations. 

Pay attention to gift tax limitations though. In 2024, the gift-tax exclusion kicks in at $18,000 for each individual. Have multiple children or grandchildren? This gift tax limit applies separately to each child. Something to keep in mind for grandparents looking to lower estate taxes. (Read more about things grandparents should keep in mind, including how to front-load this funding.)

Myth 5: I will lose my money if my child doesn’t go to college or get a scholarship.

First, if your student, the beneficiary on the 529 plan, decides not to go to college or gets a great scholarship that will pay for much of it, you can change the beneficiary to another family member like another child, niece, or nephew, or even yourself or your spouse. Some families are also now thinking of leftover 529 funds as a legacy plan for their unborn grandchildren. Imagine 20 to 30 years of tax-deferred growth in the market and using the funds for your grandchild’s education.

Second, 529 funds can also be used for other post-secondary educational plans like trade schools or even cooking schools. They can also be used for private K-12 education. If your child received a scholarship for their undergraduate education, the 529 can be used for graduate school as well.

As a last resort, you can withdraw money from the account as a non-qualified distribution. You will pay taxes on the earnings made in the account, not on the amount of money you invested. You will also pay a 10% penalty on those earnings.

Myth 6: Financial aid awards will be impacted by money saved in a 529.

When completing the FAFSA in order to determine need-based aid, they will ask about the total money parents have saved in 529 plans (for all children, not just the one they are applying for). If the parent is the account owner of your 529 Plan, this will need to be listed as an asset, as well. However, according to the FAFSA Simplification Act, parent or dependent-student-owned 529 Plans minimally impact financial aid eligibility, and withdrawals aren’t counted as student income.

Myth 7: 529 savings can only be used for tuition.

Actually, 529 funds can be used to pay for any “qualified educational expenses” including tuition, room and board, necessary fees, textbooks, and even computer equipment or internet expenses or graduate school. Additionally, new rules put in place through the SECURE Act allow 529 Plan beneficiaries to pay off a lifetime limit of $10,000 in student loans. You can also use an additional $10,000 to pay off the student loans of the beneficiary’s siblings.

Why are 529 plans such a valuable savings tool?

529 plans have important tax benefits. Contributions grow tax-free and withdrawals for qualified higher education expenses are tax-free. How often does that happen? Tax-free earnings! Plus, you may receive a credit on your state tax filing.

The plans are very flexible and give investors choices for their investments including age-based plans that are professionally managed for the appropriate risk level. Shop around and find the one (or more) plan(s) that are just right for you. Don’t let the 529 myths stand in your way.

Know How Much You Need to Save

Knowing which vehicles to use for savings, like a 529 Plan, is only half the battle when it comes to saving for college. It’s also critical to understand how much you’ll be expected to pay out of pocket so that you can set accurate savings goals. Your custom College Money Report™ can help. This report covers:

1. How much colleges think you can afford.
2. If you will qualify for grants and/or scholarships.
3. How much you will be expected to pay out of pocket.

Click here to get your free copy today!

Originally Posted: April 2019

Revised: May 2024