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Home : Save for College : U.Plan Prepaid Tuition Program

Lock in tomorrow's tuition at today's rates with the U.Plan

U.Plan

MEFA's U.Plan Prepaid Tuition Program is an easy and affordable way to save for an undergraduate education at  80 participating Massachusetts colleges and universities. The U.Plan is a safe investment. You'll have peace of mind knowing that despite fluctuations in the market, your savings are safe and your tuition percentages are guaranteed.
U.Plan benefits

  • You can prepay up to 100% of a child's future college tuition at today's rates, even though that child may not attend college for another 18 years.
  • There are no application or enrollment fees.
  • You don't have to choose a college until the student enrolls.
  • Your investment is guaranteed to cover the same percentage of tuition and mandatory fees as you pay at the time of purchase.
  • If not used at a participating Massachusetts college or university, the U.Plan investment is returned at maturity, with interest accrued, to be used at any college in the country.
  • Interest you earn on your U.Plan investment as well as all the benefits received from these certificates is exempt from Massachusetts state income tax.
  • All U.S. residents are eligible.
  • Payments on the Tuition Certificates are backed by bonds secured by the full faith and credit of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
How the U.Plan works

By purchasing "Tuition Certificates" backed by Massachusetts general obligation bonds, U.Plan participants are guaranteed that the portion of tuition they buy will keep pace with college inflation. U.Plan bonds are not subject to Massachusetts state income tax and are believed to be free of federal income tax as well. If U.Plan bonds are not used for tuition at a U.Plan college, the investment return will accrue interest at the rate of the Consumer Price Index(CPI) each year.
The U.Plan tuition percentage

You can determine the percentage of tuition "locked in" by a family by dividing the amount of money invested by the actual tuition and mandatory fees charged by any participating college or university. U.Plan colleges guarantee that the percentage of tuition and fees purchased by participants can be redeemed for the same percentage of tuition locked in at the time of purchase, regardless of the actual tuition cost. Families do not select a specific college at the time of U.Plan enrollment. Their investment represents a percentage of tuition at every participating college and university.

Sample Tuition Percentage Scenarios
InstitutionCurrent Tuition and FeesTuition Certificate Purchase AmountPercentage of Tuition and Fees Purchased
College A$5,000$1,00020%
College B$10,000$1,00010%
College C$15,000$1,0006.67%


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