Using 529 College-Savings Plan Money for Part-Time Students
Even room and board counts as an eligible expense for half-time students. And the college doesn’t have to be a four-year institution.
I read your article about 529 withdrawals for a computer and had a question about eligible expenses. My daughter goes to a community college. Can I withdraw money from her 529 for her tuition and other expenses, or does she have to attend a four-year college to be eligible? Also, does she need to be a full-time student to qualify?
You can use your 529 savings to pay eligible expenses at a community college, even if your daughter attends part-time. Money from the account can be used at any college, university, vocational school or other postsecondary educational institution that’s eligible to participate in a student aid program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. That includes virtually all accredited postsecondary institutions in the U.S. and some colleges outside of the U.S., too, says Mary Morris, chairman of the College Savings Foundation and CEO of the Virginia 529 College Savings Plan. You can look up eligible schools using the Department of Education’s federal school code database, or ask the school if it is eligible.
A student doesn’t need to attend full-time to use 529 money for tuition, fees, and required books and supplies. And the new law lets you withdraw 529 money tax-free to purchase a computer, printer, scanner, related equipment and software, and Internet access. The computer-related items qualify as long as they are used primarily by the 529 beneficiary while enrolled at the eligible institution.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
To use 529 withdrawals for room and board, however, the student needs to be enrolled in at least half of the full-time academic workload for the course of study he or she is pursuing (as determined by the school). As long as your daughter is at least a half-time student, you can use 529 money to pay for her expenses, even if she lives off campus. Eligible expenses can’t exceed the college’s allowance for room and board included in the cost of attendance for federal financial aid purposes. You can usually find that figure on the college’s website, or you can get it from the financial aid office.
For more information about 529 plans, see The Best 529 College-Savings Plans. Also see IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education (the “Qualified Tuition Program” section covers the 529 rules).
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.
-
Kamala Harris Proposes Medicare Cover In-Home Healthcare
Vice President Kamala Harris proposed a plan for Medicare to cover in-home healthcare.
By Alexandra Svokos Published
-
Meta and Microsoft Highlight Big Questions for AR’s Future
The Letter As Meta shows off a flashy AR prototype, Microsoft quietly stops supporting its own AR headset. The two companies highlight the promise and peril of AR.
By John Miley Published
-
529 Plans: A Powerful Way to Tackle Rising Education Costs
Contributions to 529 plans grow tax-free and are not taxed when they are used to pay for qualified educational expenses for the beneficiary.
By Denise McClain, JD, CPA Published
-
Tax Tips for Transferring Excess 529 Plan Funds to Roth IRAs: The Tax Letter
The Tax Letter 529 plans can help blunt the cost of paying for college. But if you want to use leftover funds there are some tax tips to bear in mind.
By Joy Taylor Published
-
529s: No Longer the Ho-Hum Investing Device for College
Changes to the plans allow for the savings to be rolled into a Roth IRA, as long as certain rules are met, if a child decides not to pursue their education.
By Neale Godfrey, Financial Literacy Expert Published
-
529 Plans: Give the Gift of Education (and Compounding)
As the cost of college tuition skyrockets, parents and grandparents can take advantage of tax-efficient 529 plans and higher limits on gift and estate taxes.
By Mel Casey, CFA®, CAIA Published
-
Have Leftover 529 Funds? Expert Strategies for Unused Balances
Excess 529 funds represent both a challenge and an opportunity, and knowing your options is essential.
By Marguerita Cheng Published
-
Using a 529 Plan? Here’s What to Keep in Mind
As the school year progresses, ensure you’re using the money for qualified expenses and keeping track of documentation. Taxes and options for unused funds are also considerations.
By Julie Virta, CFP®, CFA, CTFA Published
-
Three Reasons You Need to Use a 529 Plan (and Two Reasons You Don't)
Tax benefits and a Roth IRA feature make 529 college savings plans attractive, but they're not a one-size-fits-all option.
By Shane W. Cummings, CFP®, AIF® Last updated
-
529 Plans Get a Boost With Tax-Free Rollovers to Roth IRAs
Thanks to the SECURE 2.0 Act, you're now able to roll over funds from your 529 into a Roth IRA, as long as certain conditions are met.
By Erin Bendig Last updated