News Release

Grove City, PA - Treasurer Stacy Garrity today toured the campus of Grove City College to promote the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program. The tour of the 180-acre campus was led by College President Paul J. McNulty and included the Hopeman School of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics. Treasurer Garrity and President McNulty were joined on the tour by a representative from the office of Senator Michele Brooks.

“Grove City College is consistently ranked as one of the best value colleges in the country, and it’s easy to see its appeal. People everywhere are concerned about the cost of higher education, and today more families than ever before are saving with PA 529 accounts. I’m excited to share how useful they can be for every Pennsylvanian who wants to further their education. Opening a PA 529 account is the perfect way to save for a four-year degree, a community college, a technical school or an apprenticeship program.”

Pennsylvania State Treasurer, Stacy Garrity

“Grove City College appreciates Treasurer Garrity’s leadership in promoting PA 529 accounts. Affordability is one of the College’s three key pillars. Our reasonable cost and extensive financial aid combined with careful financial planning by families make GCC’s excellent education truly achievable.”

Grove City College President, Paul J. McNulty

“I recently had the opportunity to talk to one of the classes at Grove City College and thoroughly enjoyed visiting with the students. Grove City has such a beautiful campus and is a first-rate community resource. On the journey to become part of a vibrant college or university such as Grove City, the PA 529 plan is a great, tax-friendly way to help parents save for their children’s higher education, and I thank Treasurer Garrity for coming to Grove City to help us spread the word about this forward-thinking saving program.”

Senator Michele Brooks

In fiscal year 2020-21, more families than ever before opened PA 529 accounts and saved the most money ever in a single year. Last month, the program reached a new milestone with more than $7 billion in assets. And in September, Treasurer Garrity eliminated the minimum deposit to open a PA 529 account, making it possible for anyone to start saving with as little as one dollar.

There are two PA 529 plans, the PA 529 Investment Plan (IP) and the PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP). PA 529 IP account earnings are based on financial market performance. PA 529 IP account owners can choose from various investment options including target enrollment date portfolios. These options automatically rebalance asset allocation as a child reaches their anticipated enrollment date. The PA 529 IP was recently named a ‘best-in-class’ plan by Morningstar, earning a Silver Rating for the second consecutive year. The PA 529 GSP is a lower-risk option, and earnings are determined by tuition inflation. With PA 529 GSP accounts families pay future tuition at today’s prices.

PA 529 IP and GSP accounts offer great tax benefits including:

• State income tax deductions on contributions (up to $15,000 per beneficiary per year; $30,000 for married couples);
• Contributions grow free of federal and Pennsylvania income taxes;
• No income tax is paid on account withdrawals when used for qualified expenses; and
• Gift and inheritance tax benefits

An added program benefit is that PA 529 account assets do not affect Pennsylvania state financial aid eligibility.

PA 529 accounts can be used to pay for qualified higher education expenses, including tuition, fees, equipment, books, room and board, and other qualified expenses. Accounts can be used at most schools nationwide including community colleges, technical schools, apprenticeship programs and four-year colleges and universities.

To learn more or to start saving visit pa529.com, email pa529@patreasury.gov, or call 800-440-4000.

Media contact:
Samantha Galvez, Press Secretary, 717-418-0206 or sgalvez@patreasury.gov
Jacki P. Muller, Senior Director of Marketing Communications, 724-831-9335 or 724-458-3302