Studies show that students who know they have the college savings available to them are nearly seven times more likely to attend higher education than those who don’t. Starting a WA529 GET or DreamAhead account can put students on the path to a bright future through higher education.
What are WA529 plans? In the shortest description, the Washington College Savings Plans, or WA529, are a collection of 529 college savings plans offered by the State of Washington.
The first one, created in 1998, is the Guaranteed Education Tuition, or GET Program, which entails paying tuition in advance at a set price. The value of GET units is guaranteed to keep pace with in-state college tuition and fees at the state’s highest-priced university (currently UW Tacoma).
The enrollment period for the GET program ends on May 31st and will re-open November 1st with a new, possibly higher unit rate. Those enrolled in GET already can take advantage of the low 2020-21 rate by adding units until June 25th.
A bill currently progressing through the Washington State legislative process may result in those who purchased GET units during the 2020-21 enrollment period receiving extra units in their account, and a cap being placed on the price of GET units in the future – making the program even more affordable for Washington families.
The second WA529 plan is DreamAhead College Investment plan, which was recently named a Bronze Award winner by MorningStar. A major accomplishment for a program in just its third year. In this college investment plan, which has open enrollment all year long, returns are tied to the performance of the financial market. Account owners select one of two saving options, automatic or static portfolios, that always let the account owner set the strategy.
DreamAhead savings and GET units can be used nearly everywhere—including out-of-state institutions, private schools, community colleges, trade and technical schools, and even to cover the cost of an apprenticeship. Since 1998, more than 55,000 students have used GET in all 50 states and 15 countries worldwide. The benefits of the two WA529 Plans are vast.
For more detailed information on these programs or to get started visit Wastate529.wa.gov.
Compare Washington 529 Plans | wastate529.wa.gov