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529 Plans

Education Savings Plans and State Prepaid Plans

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed specifically for a beneficiary's future education expenses. There are two main types of 529 plans: Education Savings Plans and State Prepaid Tuition Plans.

Submit a Payment from a 529 Education Savings Plan

Online Payment (Recommended)

Most 529 plan providers do not require that plan payments be sent directly to the university. Instead, the payment can be sent to the plan beneficiary (student), who can subsequently make a payment directly to the student account through My Financial Center. We recommend this option if available, as it allows you to select the specific charges you want the 529 payment to cover. To ensure the tuition deadline is met, submit your request to your provider no later than six weeks before the tuition due date. For questions regarding your specific plan, contact your 529 plan administrator.

Mailing Check Payment

If you prefer to have your 529 provider mail the funds directly to BYU, please provide them with at least six weeks' notice to ensure the payment arrives and is processed prior to the tuition deadline.

Payments must include your full name and BYU student ID number. Funds received without identifying student information are promptly returned to the 529 provider.

Mail the payment to the address below:

Brigham Young University
Student Financial Services
A-153 ASB
Provo, UT 84602

*Due to the high volume of checks received, we are unable to fulfill any request to confirm receipt of payment.

IMPORTANT: If you choose to mail or wire a 529 payment, BYU will first apply it towards tuition charges, short-term loans, and program fees, starting with the oldest charge. Any excess credit will then be allocated to other charges, including housing, meal plans and miscellaneous fees, before any remaining funds are refunded. Expenses related to the student health plan, health center, cell phone, or traffic charges will not be covered by 529 payments. Once the payment is applied to your account, no adjustments will be made to how the funds are allocated. Therefore, if you prefer to specify how the 529 payment is applied, we recommend using the online payment system described above.

Wire Transfer Payment

BYU can accept wire transfers for 529 payments if a wire transfer is your only option. Processing times may vary depending on the time of year and volume of requests.

To initiate a wire transfer, email wires@byu.edu for instructions. The email must include:

  • Student's Name
  • BYU Student ID Number
  • Reference "529"

Payments sent to BYU without this information will not be processed and will be returned to the 529 payment provider.

Submit a Payment from a State Prepaid Education Tuition Plan

Currently there are nine states who participate in the state prepaid education tuition plans with special requirements. If you are a beneficiary of one of the 529 state plans shown below, please complete a Verification Request with the Registrar's Office so a Tuition Billing Statement can be generated. If your 529 plan is not listed among the state plans mentioned below, refer to the instructions outlined in the 529 Education Savings Plan section described above.

  • Florida - Florida Prepaid College Plan
  • Maryland - Maryland Prepaid College Trust
  • Massachusetts - MEFA
  • Michigan - Michigan Education Trust
  • Mississippi - Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Savings (MPACT)
  • Nevada - Nevada Prepaid Tuition Program
  • Pennsylvania - PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP)
  • Texas - Texas Tuition Promise Fund (TGRP)
  • Washington - Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET)

IMPORTANT: Tuition Billing Statements will be produced after the BYU Add/Drop Deadline. Since the Add/Drop Deadline falls after the Tuition Deadline, we recommend setting up a Short-Term Loan to prevent class deletion. Once your 529 state plan payment arrives, it will apply towards the short-term loan.

If you have any questions, submit a case to the Record's Office through the Student Success Hub.

529 Plans FAQs

  • Payments must arrive by the BYU Tuition Deadline to avoid class deletion and ensure that your financial obligations are met in a timely manner. If BYU does not receive your 529 payment by the payment due date, consider enrolling in a Short-Term Loan through My Financial Center. Once your payment arrives, it will apply towards the loan.
  • The recommended payment method is to have the 529 provider send the plan beneficiary (student) the 529 funds, who can subsequently make a payment directly to the student account through My Financial Center. Paying online will allow you to select the specific charges you want the 529 payment to cover.

    If you choose to mail or wire a 529 payment, BYU will apply such payment towards tuition first. Any excess amount beyond tuition will then be applied to other charges, including short-term loans, housing, meal plans, bookstore charges, and miscellaneous charges on the student's account before any remainder is refunded. Expenses related to the student health plan, health center, cell phone, or traffic charges will not be covered by 529 payments.

    Once the payment is applied to your account, no adjustments will be made to the allocation of funds. Therefore, if you prefer to specify how the 529 payment is applied, we recommend using the online payment system mentioned earlier.
  • BYU processes 529 payments just like any other payments sent to the university, so it is not necessary to inform BYU.

    If your 529 State Prepaid Plan provider requires verification, proof of attendance, financial needs analysis, or a statement of charges, complete a Verification Request for a Tuition Billing Statement to be produced.

    If you have any questions, submit a case to the BYU Record's Office through the Student Success Hub.
  • If your 529 plan provider requires cost of attendance, see Cost of Attendance.
  • If you have questions about what qualifies as legitimate expenses for 529 funds, tax implications, options for accessing your funds, or general questions about 529 plans, contact your 529 plan provider.