Prepaid College Tuition -- The "'It"' Gift This Holiday Season


(NewsUSA) - This holiday season, contributing to a child's college education can be the gift that lasts a lifetime. Parents and grandparents alike want to give their children and grandchildren the tools to succeed in life, and a college education can do just that.

However, post-secondary education is becoming increasingly less affordable.

According to the College Board, today's newborn is expected to pay $180,000 to attend a four-year, public university. Coupled with the difficult economy, college is slipping beyond reach of many families. However, by giving a College Illinois! Prepaid Tuition Program contract to a child or grandchild, you lock in a price for their future education today, staying a step ahead of tuition inflation.

"The price of college for one child is steep, and we have five to worry about," said Cindy Wisniewski of Naperville, Ill., a College Illinois! Prepaid Tuition Program contract holder.

"College Illinois! lets us save for college for our kids over time in a way that makes sense financially for us."

Wisniewski said the flexible benefits and array of payment options attracted her to the program.

"Each of our children can choose to attend just about any school they want," she said. "We love being able to give them this unique opportunity to build their future."

A college education is a gift that will never go out of style, and the holiday season lets purchasers take advantage of tax benefits before year-end.

To give a prepaid tuition contract to a child, Andrew Davis, executive director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the agency that administers the College Illinois! Prepaid Tuition Program, suggests combining it with another gift such as a piggy bank to help a child gain a better understanding of money.

"A children's book such as 'The Penny Pot' would be an appropriate gift for young readers," said Davis, a contract holder himself. "For older children, 'Money Sense for Kids' might be a good choice."

For more information, visit www.529prepaidtuition.org/gift or call 877-877-3724 for program information, materials and enrollment guidelines.

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More College/
University Information:

Related Articles

College Tuition Costs are Spiralling
So, our children want to fly away from the nest and further their academic life in college. But with escalating costs, can we afford it? Will they have to take part time jobs to stay afloat or can we supplement their financial needs with college loans?These are just some of the questions that concerned parents and aspiring students are asking themselves nowadays.
The Key to Online College Classes - Have It Your Way
Never before has online education been more esteemed than today. In most circles online learning is haled as a viable alternative to traditional classroom settings.
Self Marketing 101 - Why Students Should Tell Lies
Everybody lies, and storytellers are some of the best liars around. But here is the problem: People like storytellers.
Get Your College Degree Online
Have you long wanted or needed to increase your level of education with a college degree? Perhaps, you have desired a degree for your own personal satisfaction or because you have found it difficult to advance in your work field without one.One of the best blessings to come from the Internet is the ability to now obtain a college education online.
Mind-Body Secrets for College Success - Six Key Secrets
Embrace the secrets of the body-mind connection and tap into an inexhaustible supply of power and energy leading to your college success. College is a demanding challenge.
The Family University Network: Unplugging Institutional Higher Education
Why not build a Christian family enterprise with the energy, funding, and infrastructure that would otherwise build the state or private educational institutions?It is common knowledge today that serious moral problems exist in families, churches, schools, colleges, corporations, and political arena. These problems have academic, moral, and philosophical roots reaching back centuries, and have been promoted by the systematic separation of knowledge from faith in God.
Accredited Life Experience Degrees - Accelerate Your Progress Online
Chances are you are pursuing an online degree to reap benefits in the workplace. For this reason, you may be interested in accelerating your progress to get your degree faster.
How to Choose the Right School For You
Now that the admission committees have handed you their decisions, it is time for you to choose which college to attend. For some, this choice is easy.
Reducing the Administrative Burden for Further Education Colleges
The introduction of the Government's Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in September 2004 meant that more young people from poorer backgrounds could afford to stay on in further education instead of being forced to find work.But the scheme brought with it an extra administrative burden for further education (FE) colleges.
Education - Let The Learning Begin!
You've probably heard it since you were little, 'get a good education and you'll go far in life.' Maybe you used to wonder how truthful your relatives were when they said those words to you.
All About Grants for College Students
Grants are a type of student aid that is awarded by the government. Grants for college students do not have to be repaid.
Getting Into College No Longer A Numbers Game!
Sending your kids to college has never been more difficult or more expensive, and outstanding grades no longer guarantee admission! Student competition is at an all-time high and families now face the toughest admissions committees in history, soaring tuition costs, and a financial aid system designed to eliminate all but the most knowledgeable and persistent applicants.America is knee deep in an unsung higher education crisis that is affecting families from all walks of life.
Need Help Paying Back Student Loans?
Many college students and graduates are looking for a solution for their student loan debt. While borrowers may be having difficulty paying back student loans, there is help.
Online Education
I always dreamed of going to school and getting a degree in something I'd love to do. I had plenty of dreams, and I wanted to pursue them.
Submitting The College Application
At this point, except for the waiting, the worst is basically over! However, the way you submit the student's stuff is just about as important as the stuff that's being submitted!The correct order is: (1) The application is first (2) followed by the essays, which should be attached to the application unless there are specific instructions to the contrary; (3) Next is the resume, which should be stapled together, but not to the application or the essays; (4) The special essay(s) follow and should be paper clipped to the resume as opposed to being stapled to it. Attach a large paper clip to all of the above to ensure everything stays in the proper order, and then send the entire package overnight or 2nd day with a signature guarantee.
College Is Way More Than Higher Education
The first day of college begins with hopes and dreams of a new future. You walk around the college, drinking in the newness of a world unknown, where the buildings will become a second home to you as you release yourself into a variety of lectures.
Thinking of Dropping Out of College?
If rising tuition costs or personal concerns have made you consider dropping out of college or "taking a break" I'd like to encourage you to reconsider.Don't Let Cost Stand in Your WayIf cost is your primary reason for reducing your college hours or dropping out completely first pay a visit to your school's financial aid office.
Marketing Students: 5 Guidelines For Your Final Paper
Get motivated! ('Why do I write this paper?")This is a basic question with a not-so-basic answer. In order for a job to be done well - and your dissertation paper is, in fact, a job to be performed - you should give yourself time to figure out why you will do it and get yourself motivated.
7 Tips To Avoid the College Low Expectations Game
Many public universities play the "Low Expectation Game" (see article "College 'Low Expectations Game' Cost Students, Parents & Taxpayers Thousands of Dollars"). As a student or a parent, you can avoid this game using the following tips:Tip #1 - Register for 15 hours.
The Challenges College Students Face on Secular Campuses
What is happening on the campuses of secular universities across America? Thousands of Christian students are losing their faith and non-Christian students are becoming entrenched in their unbelief. Why is this happening? Have they discovered that God, in fact, does not really exist, that we live in a careening universe with no divine Pilot at the wheel? Or does something else explain this trend?The Intellectual Challenge Christian students on a secular campus face a great intellectual challenge.