Independent 529 Plan

With Independent 529 Plan, you buy tuition now to avoid years of likely tuition inflation - helping families give their children the college education they deserve... more affordably.

Future tuition at less than today’s price*
Over 270† participating private colleges and universities, including 25 Lutheran colleges.
Options if your child doesn’t go to a member college**
No start-up or maintenance fees, so 100% of your contributions go toward tuition.

It's Simple

You could save money by prepaying your child’s future tuition at today’s lower prices. In this example, instead of paying $44,770 for tuition in 10 years, you could pay just $22,610 by prepaying today! Of course, you don’t have to buy a whole year. You can buy a fraction of a year, and gain proportional benefits.

This hypothetical illustration is based on an assumed annual 6% tuition inflation rate which may be more or less than actual tuition inflation. Minimum tuition discount rate is 0.5% less than current tuition. Tuition inflation rates based on published studies by The College Board.

A college education doesn’t have to be so expensive. In fact, Independent 529 Plan gives you an easy way to save money on future tuition. And it’s a great opportunity to give your child the gift of a Lutheran education.

Enjoy a simple way to guarantee tuition.

The idea is simple: You buy tuition now to avoid years of likely tuition inflation. As the price of tuition rises, you don’t have to worry because you prepaid for tuition. And since each member college offers an extra “tuition discount,” you’re guaranteed to pay less than today’s price.*

Get the options for both you and your child.

With Independent 529 Plan, your child can redeem tuition at over 270 † private colleges and universities nationwide, including 25 Lutheran colleges. Many of the nation’s top schools already participate, and more are joining all the time. And if your child doesn’t go to a participating college, you have options, including transfer and refund provisions.**

Enroll today and start preparing for college.

Once you open an account, you can contribute as much as you like, as often as you like — from automatic monthly deposits to Christmas, First Communion, birthday gifts and more. There are no start-up or maintenance fees, so 100% of your contributions go toward tuition.

Independent 529 Resources (including congregation resources) »

25 Lutheran Colleges have joined the Independent 529 Plan to provide opportunities for families to put faith in their children’s future:

Augsburg College
Minneapolis, MN

Augustana College
Rock Island, IL

Augustana College
Sioux Falls, SD

California Lutheran University
Thousand Oaks, CA

Capital University
Columbus, OH

Concordia College
Moorhead, MN

Concordia University
Austin, TX

Concordia University
Mequon, WI

Concordia University
Portland, OR

Concordia University
Seward, NE

Dana College
Blair, NE

Gettysburg College
Gettysburg, PA

Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, MN

Lenoir-Rhyne University
Hickory, NC

Luther College
Decorah, IA

Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA

Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA

St. Olaf College
Northfield, MN

Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA

Thiel College
Greenville, PA

Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN

Wagner College
Staten Island, NY

Waldorf College
Forest City, IA

Wartburg College
Waverly, IA

Wittenberg University
Springfield, OH

ENROLL TODAY TO GET THE MOST OUT OF INDEPENDENT 529 PLAN.

Lutheran Educational Conference of North America (LECNA) invites you to request more information:
call 1 (888) 718-7878.

The tax information herein is not intended to be used and cannot be used by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties.

It was written to support the promotion of Independent 529 Plan. Taxpayers should seek advice based on their own particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

*Participation in Independent 529 Plan does not guarantee admission to any college or university, nor does it affect the admissions process. Each year, each member college offers a discounted rate of at least 0.5% less than its current tuition rates. Discount rate can vary from year to year.

**There may be tax consequences associated with these options. Purchasers should read the Disclosure Booklet, including the Enrollment Agreement, carefully before making purchase decisions. Tuition Plan Consortium, LLC is the program sponsor and TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. is the program manager.

†As of October 2007.