Newborns—the joys are limitless. Tiny fingers. Toothless smiles. The intoxicating new baby smell. But first-time and veteran parents alike know that limitless anxieties come along with having a new baby, too. One particular worry that looms large for today’s parents is the cost of college.

Tuition, room, and board today can cost anywhere from $23,000 to upwards of $52,000 at a four-year institution.¹ Who knows what it will be
18 years from now? And with student debt in America totaling upwards of $1.75 trillion,² how could new parents not be nervous?

The best way to save for your child’s college education? Start early.

Invest Early, Invest Often

Parents of newborns and young children have one huge advantage when it comes to contributing to a 529 plan: time. This is the most valuable asset when it comes to long-term investments. By investing in your child’s education when they’re still young, you have a large window of opportunity to capitalize on potential compound interest. Even investing a modest sum may set your child up for success (after all, you have bibs and pacifiers and diapers—so many diapers!—to buy).

For example, if you invest $200 per month from the time your child is born until the day they turn 18, you will have accumulated nearly $78,000, assuming a 6% rate of return. Comparatively, if you begin investing $400 monthly beginning when your child is 10 years old, you will have amassed about $49,000 (also assuming a 6% rate of return). Investment returns are not guaranteed, and you could lose money by investing in a 529 Plan.

The earlier you start, the better off you’ll be. Although you may feel it’s difficult to contribute much right now, setting up a plan, putting in whatever you can, and doing so consistently is what matters. Consider setting up automatic recurring contributions online.³ It’s always possible to contribute more later, but in order to take advantage of compound interest, investing now is more important than investing big.

For every birthday from one to 18, family members will be texting you to ask what your child would like as a gift. Sure, you could tell your sister that your son loves Sesame Street. You could tell your mother-in-law that your daughter can’t get enough of Legos. Or, you could ask your family to make contributions to the 529 plan you’ve set up for your child.

If you have a particularly generous relative (or if you come into an unexpected windfall), there’s a tax provision for 529 plans that allows for five years of allowable contributions to be made simultaneously, exempt of gift tax.⁴

Make It a Family Affair

As a grandparent, perhaps you’re considering opening up a 529 to benefit your grandchild since more than one 529 plan may be opened for a student’s benefit. As of 2022, a 529 plan opened by a grandparent or relative is no longer counted as untaxed student income on the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).⁵ This means that grandparents and relatives are free to open a 529 account without worrying that it will negatively impact the student’s aid eligibility.

But, What If Baby Is a Genius? A Star Athlete? The Next Iron Chef?

If your child receives a healthy scholarship, don’t worry! According to the IRS, the beneficiary can still withdraw money equal to the amount of the scholarship from the account without penalty (though earnings will be subject to income tax). Or, the assets can be put toward graduate school and advanced degrees in the future.

Also, there’s no need to worry that you’re predestining your child to academia by setting up a 529 plan. Qualified education expenses⁶ include not only tuition, fees, and supplies at four-year colleges and universities, but also tuition and associated expenses of two-year colleges, vocational and technical schools, culinary school, and even some foreign universities. 529 plans have been expanded in recent years to include tuition fees for K-12 private schools,⁷ apprentice programs and fees,⁸ and student-loan repayment.⁹

Use It or Lose It?

There are other options for any money that may linger in a 529 after a child’s graduation.

Thanks to the SECURE Act, 529 earnings are now applicable for student loan repayments. Account holders have the option of using up to $10,000 to pay off qualified student loans. This $10,000 repayment option is a lifetime limit for the beneficiary and each of the beneficiary’s siblings to use toward qualifying student loans.

Funds also may be rolled over, without tax consequences, to relatives of the beneficiary that include but are not limited to: siblings, children, in-laws, spouses, and first cousins. The IRS says you can even make yourself the beneficiary.

529 plans never “expire” either. There’s no limit on the number of times the beneficiary can be changed over the lifetime of the account. If there’s no one in your family you would like to transfer the account to after your child’s graduation, you can transfer ownership of the account to your child so they can use it for their own children or grandchildren one day.

529 plans are advantageous to anyone seeking to pay for education, whether it be for yourself, child, or grandchild. However, their potential is greatest when they are established early in the beneficiary’s life so there’s ample time for the power of compounding to potentially grow the investment.