A little planning The U.Plan is simple, MEFA is here effective and one of the safest goes a long way. ways to save for college. to help.

is a not-for-profit state authority that works to make Tips for successful saving Today more than ever, a college higher education more accessible and affordable for with the U.Plan education is a critical part of preparing for a students and families in . MEFA offers community education successful career. That’s why more and more programs, college savings plans and low-cost financing options. In our over Put money into a savings account earmarked for U.Plan 30-year history, we have issued approximately $4.4 billion in bonds and have families are striving to make it possible for their savings, a money market account or even a piggy assisted hundreds of thousands of families in financing a college education. bank, then transfer it to the U.Plan during the annual children. But the prospect of paying for higher enrollment period. Here are some tips to get you started: education can be intimidating, especially • Beat temptation. Arrange to have money as costs continue to rise. Scholarships and automatically deposited from your paycheck into loans may help, but the most important an account, or create a budget that includes regular Our College Investing Plan lets families save for qualified higher way to prepare for the cost of college is by contributions to savings. education expenses through professionally managed mutual funds offered by saving. The more money you save and the Fidelity Investments. • Ask relatives to contribute money to your child’s college savings at holidays and birthdays. earlier you start, the better. • Match what you spend on a small pleasure The U.Plan Prepaid Tuition Program, offered in a savings account. Small contributions add up: a Our low-cost loans assist families of undergraduate and graduate students by MEFA on behalf of the Commonwealth from all states attending college in Massachusetts, as well as Massachusetts $3 a day coffee habit will cost you more than $1,000 a of Massachusetts, can be an effective part residents attending college outside of Massachusetts. year. of your savings strategy. • Bring your lunch to work. It can save you up to $3,000 a year.

• The next time you get your tax returns, automatically A Massachusetts free college and career planning website for students, put half of it in savings. If you’re not used to the parents, school counselors and more, offered by MEFA in partnership with The smart way money, you won’t miss it. the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and Elementary & Secondary Education. • After you finish paying off a car or other loan, to save for college continue making payments in the same amount Lock in tomorrow’s tuition at today’s rates at 80 public For more information or to request an enrollment kit, to your savings. and private Massachusetts colleges and universities. visit www.mefa.org/uplan or call 800.449.MEFA (6332). • Save with your child. Start a piggy bank and encourage your child to save regularly. Add whatever you save to the U.Plan each spring.

160 Federal Street 4th Floor Boston, MA 02110 www.mefa.org How the U.Plan works List of 80 Participating

The U.Plan helps you stay ahead of rising college costs Colleges and Universities by letting you “prepay” up to 100% of your child’s future tuition at today’s rates, at any of the 80 participating American International College Massachusetts College of Art public and private colleges in Massachusetts. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts You don’t have to choose a college ahead of time. Anna Maria College Massachusetts Maritime Academy However, the percentage of costs your investment covers Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University Massasoit Community College will vary by college, since each college charges different Assumption College tuitions and fees. Middlesex Community College This chart shows how much a $1,000 U.Plan Tuition Bay Path College Montserrat College of Art Certificate would be worth at three different types of Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology colleges: Bentley University Mount Ida College Berklee College of Music Mount Wachusett Community College Berkshire Community College New England Conservatory of Music How much How it trans- Types of How much Newbury College money you lates into a Colleges it costs now: put in: percentage: Nichols College Bridgewater State University North Shore Community College Community $5,000 $1,000 20% Bristol Community College College per year Why the U.Plan How to enroll Bunker Hill Community College Northern Essex Community College Cape Cod Community College Pine Manor College is a smart choice You can contribute to the U.Plan during the annual Quinsigamond Community College enrollment period, usually from May 1st to June 30th. While no one knows where tuition, interest rates or the To sign up to receive an enrollment kit, visit College of Our Lady of the Elms Regis College $10,000 $1,000 10% stock market may be in the future, the U.Plan offers Public www.mefa.org/uplan or call us at College of the Holy Cross Roxbury Community College per year certainty and peace of mind. College 800.449.MEFA (6332). Curry College Salem State University No volatility. U.Plan Tuition Certificates are backed Dean College School of the Museum of Fine Arts by bonds, issued by the Commonwealth of Eastern Nazarene College Simmons College Massachusetts. Unlike stock or mutual fund investments, Still have questions about how the U.Plan works? Emerson College Smith College Private $25,000 $1,000 4% you will know what the Tuition Certificate will be worth Call us at 800.449.MEFA (6332). Emmanuel College Springfield College College per year at maturity. Endicott College Springfield Technical Community College No obligation. If you do not use your Tuition Fisher College Stonehill College Certificates at a participating Massachusetts college or Fitchburg State University university, your initial investment will be returned to you University of Massachusetts Amherst at maturity with interest compounded annually at the Framingham State University Gordon College University of Massachusetts Boston Suppose your child decides to attend a public college, and Consumer Price Index (CPI). Greenfield Community College University of Massachusetts Dartmouth by that time, tuition and fees have gone up to $15,000 per Tax benefits. U.Plan earnings are exempt from state “ The U.Plan is a sound, University of Massachusetts Lowell year. Your U.Plan Tuition Certificate will still be worth 10% and federal tax. of tuition and fees: 10% of $15,000 is $1,500. Hebrew College No application or enrollment fees. Every dollar you good savings choice Hellenic College Wentworth Institute of Technology contribute goes directly toward helping you reach your Holyoke Community College Western New England University college savings goal. for our family. The Laboure College Westfield State University Lasell College Wheaton College U.Plan is a hidden Lesley University Wheelock College Marian Court College Worcester Polytechnic Institute gem.” - Antonio C. Massachusetts Bay Community College Worcester State University