{"id":24096,"date":"2026-04-21T04:58:53","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T04:58:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/incredipros.com\/?p=24096"},"modified":"2026-04-21T04:58:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T04:58:53","slug":"10-best-ways-to-save-for-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/incredipros.com\/?p=24096","title":{"rendered":"10 Best Ways to Save for College"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>How much student loan debt do you think the average college student racks up by the time they cross the graduation stage? Seriously, take a guess. $10,000? $20,000? You\u2019d be what\u2019s known as <em>wrong<\/em>.\n    <\/p>\n<div class=\"BlogInsert-copy\">\n<p>Get expert money advice to reach your money goals faster!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The average college student graduates with a whopping $38,290 of student loan debt.<sup>1\u00a0<\/sup>Yikes. And that\u2019s just the average!\n    <\/p>\n<p>And when you multiply that amount by millions of college grads in America, you get an overall student loan debt of $1.6 trillion.<sup>2<\/sup><em>\u00a0<\/em>Yeah, that\u2019s trillion with a T<em>.<\/em> Not a misprint. At this rate, college graduates will be lucky to pay off their student loans before <em>their<\/em> kids start college.\n    <\/p>\n<p>But thankfully, there\u2019s a much better way to pay for your kids\u2019 education\u2014with a college fund. And if you take the time to plan now, you can save enough for your child to graduate from college debt-free!\n    <\/p>\n<p>How Much Should You Save for College?<br \/>When Should You Start Saving for College?<br \/>How to Start a College Fund and Types of College Funds<br \/>10 Simple College Savings Tips for Students\n    <\/p>\n<div id=\"how-much-should-you-save\">\n<p><h2>How Much Should You Save for College?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The first step to starting a college fund is knowing how much you need to save. If your kid is a junior in high school, for example, you\u2019ll need to save more money (and faster) than if you start saving when your kid is in first grade. Or you can really get a head start by saving for your child\u2019s college the moment they\u2019re born (which is exactly what my wife and I did).\n    <\/p>\n<p>It also helps if you have an idea of where your child will go to school\u2014like an in-state community college or an Ivy League university (which, unless your toddler is doing advanced calculus, you probably won\u2019t know until your kid is a junior or a senior).\n    <\/p>\n<p>Just keep in mind that while there\u2019s typically a huge cost difference between a public school and a private school, it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean the quality of the education is that different. So do what makes the most sense for your student and your budget.\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>For an estimate of how much to start saving, here are the average costs of attendance for the 2023\u20132024 school year:<sup>3<\/sup>\n    <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Public, Two-Year College: $19,860<\/li>\n<li>Public, Four-Year, In-State College: $28,840<\/li>\n<li>Public, Four-Year, Out-of-State College: $46,730<\/li>\n<li>Private, Four-Year College: $60,420<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The cost of attendance includes tuition and fees, housing and food, books and supplies, transportation and other personal expenses for full-time undergraduate students. Also, these numbers don\u2019t take inflation into account. So, 18 years from now, the rates will likely be much higher.\n    <\/p>\n<div id=\"when-should-you-start-saving\">\n<p><h2>When Should You Start Saving for College?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>As soon as possible!\n    <\/p>\n<p>Now, if you\u2019re on a tight timeline, give yourself some grace here. People often assume parents are responsible for paying for their kids\u2019 college, but that\u2019s not always possible. And the reality is, your kids can help pay for college by earning grants and scholarships or by working a part-time job (more on that later).\n    <\/p>\n<p>So, for any parents out there: Before you jump into saving for college for your kids, you need to set up\u00a0<em>your<\/em>\u00a0future for success. And no, it isn\u2019t selfish\u2014it\u2019s smart. This is one of those \u201cput your mask on before assisting others\u201d situations. Just follow the 7 Baby Steps:\n    <\/p>\n<p>Baby Step 1: Save $1,000 for your\u00a0starter emergency fund.\n    <\/p>\n<p>Baby Step 2: Pay off all debt (except the house) using the\u00a0debt snowball.\n    <\/p>\n<p>Baby Step 3: Save 3\u20136 months of expenses in a fully funded emergency fund.\n    <\/p>\n<p>Baby Step 4: Invest 15% of your household income in retirement.\n    <\/p>\n<p><strong>Baby Step 5: Save for your children\u2019s college fund.<\/strong>\n    <\/p>\n<p>Baby Step 6: Pay off your home early.\n    <\/p>\n<p>Baby Step 7: Build wealth and give.\n    <\/p>\n<p>Now, depending on where you are financially, Baby Step 5 may feel like a ways away. But it\u2019s important to do things in the <em>right<\/em> order. Because your child may or may not go to college (or graduate), but there\u2019s a 100% chance you\u2019ll have to retire one day\u2014so trust the steps.\n    <\/p>\n<p><h2>How to Start a College Fund and Types of College Funds<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve gotten your own finances in order and have an idea of what it\u2019ll cost for your child to go to college, it\u2019s time to start saving for college using a tax-favored plan.\n    <\/p>\n<p>Setting up a college fund is simple\u2014you just need to know which fund is the right choice for you and your savings goals. You can also work with an investing professional to help you pick a savings plan and walk you through your investment options.\n    <\/p>\n<h3>Education Savings Account (ESA) or Education IRA<\/h3>\n<p>An Education Savings Account (ESA) works a lot like a\u00a0Roth IRA, except it\u2019s for education expenses. It allows you to invest up to $2,000 (after tax) per year, per child. Plus, it grows tax-free! So, if you start saving $2,000 a year when your child is born, by the time they turn 18, you\u2019d have invested $36,000.\n    <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s hard to say exactly what the rate of growth is with an\u00a0ESA\u00a0because it varies based on the investments in the account. But if you invest in good growth stock mutual funds and get an average return of 10\u201312%, that $36,000 could grow to around $112,000 by the time your child is ready to go off to college. Congrats, you more than tripled your investment, and now Junior doesn\u2019t have to worry about paying for tuition!\n    <\/p>\n<p>I like the ESA because it\u2019s likely a much higher rate of return than you\u2019d get in a regular savings account\u2014and you won\u2019t have to pay taxes when you withdraw the money to pay for education expenses. An ESA isn\u2019t just for college tuition either. It can be used for K-12 private school tuition, vocational school or things like textbooks, school supplies or tutoring. And if your child doesn\u2019t end up needing the money, you can transfer it to a sibling so they can use it for <em>their<\/em> school expenses.\n    <\/p>\n<h4>Why I Like It:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>There\u2019s a variety of investment options.<\/li>\n<li>Your money grows tax-free.<\/li>\n<li>There\u2019s a higher rate of return than a regular savings account.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Why I Don\u2019t Like It:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Contributions are limited to $2,000 per year.<\/li>\n<li>You must be within the income limit to qualify.<\/li>\n<li>The amount must be used by the beneficiary by age 30.<br \/>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div>\n<div id=\"college-savings-tips\">\n<h3>529 Plan<\/h3>\n<p>If you want to save <em>more<\/em> than $2,000 a year for your children\u2019s college education, or if you don\u2019t meet the income limits for an ESA, a\u00a0529 plan\u00a0could be a better option. But be careful\u2014some 529 plans are no good. Look for a savings plan that allows you to choose which funds you invest in. These are usually called \u201cflexible\u201d plans.\n    <\/p>\n<p>I\u00a0<em>wouldn\u2019t<\/em>\u00a0use a prepaid 529 plan that freezes your tuition savings rate or automatically changes your investments based on the age of your child. Stay away from so-called \u201cfixed\u201d or \u201clife phase\u201d plans too. You want to stay in control of the mutual funds at all times.\n    <\/p>\n<p>Like the ESA, the 529 can be used for other education expenses, like K-12 tuition, vocational school or required college textbooks. Some\u00a0529 plans also give you the option to move the funds from one family member to another, which is helpful if the child you\u2019ve been saving money for decides\u00a0<em>not<\/em>\u00a0to go to college\u2014but some 529 plans don\u2019t allow this.\n    <\/p>\n<h4>Why I Like It:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Contribution rates are higher (this varies by state, but generally you can contribute up to $300,000).<\/li>\n<li>Most of the time, there aren\u2019t any income limits or restrictions based on age.<\/li>\n<li>Your money grows tax-free.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Why I Don\u2019t Like It:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Restrictions may apply if you choose to transfer the funds to another child.<\/li>\n<li>If one person contributes more than $18,000 to the 529 in 2024 that money is subject to a gift tax.<sup>4<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>UTMA or UGMA<\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019ve already done an ESA and a 529, or if you don\u2019t qualify for an ESA, then (and <em>only <\/em>then) should you look into a Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (UTMA) or a Uniform Gift to Minors Act (UGMA). These plans are different from ESAs and 529 plans because they\u2019re not just for saving for college.\n    <\/p>\n<p>The account is in the child\u2019s name but controlled by a parent or guardian until the child reaches either age 18 or 21 (this age varies by state, but it\u2019s generally age 18 for UGMA and age 21 for UTMA). Once the child reaches the set age, they\u2019ll be able to control the account to use any way they choose. So, you\u2019re basically opening up a mutual fund in your child\u2019s name.\n    <\/p>\n<p>There are no limits to the amount of gift money you contribute to these funds, but anything above $18,000 per year (or $36,000 for a married couple) will have a federal gift tax.\n    <\/p>\n<p>While you\u00a0<em>can<\/em>\u00a0use a UTMA or UGMA to save for college and\u00a0invest in your child\u2019s future\u00a0with reduced taxes, your kid ultimately gets to choose how the money is spent. And I don\u2019t know about you, but when <em>I<\/em> was 18, I would\u2019ve bought a vintage guitar and way too many plaid western snap-button shirts (if you haven\u2019t been through that phase, it\u2019s coming for you).\n    <\/p>\n<h4>Why I Like It:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Funds can be used for more than just college expenses.<\/li>\n<li>There are tax advantages for the contributor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Why I Don\u2019t Like It:<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Once the beneficiary is of legal age, they can use the money however they want (aka they could pay for a sports car instead of college).<\/li>\n<li>The beneficiary can\u2019t be changed once selected.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><h2>10 Simple College Savings Tips for Students<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Many of us want our kids to pursue a college degree. But college is a privilege\u2014not a requirement. And to be honest, college isn\u2019t\u00a0worth it\u00a0for everyone.\n    <\/p>\n<p>But if your child <em>does<\/em> decide to go to college, remember that it\u2019s not necessarily your responsibility to pay for it. It\u2019s totally okay (and even empowering) for your child to take some ownership in their education. Even if they\u2019re a full-time student, they can still start saving money themselves and establish healthy money habits they\u2019ll carry into the future.\n    <\/p>\n<p>Here are some college savings tips to help your student pay their way through school:\n    <\/p>\n<h3>1. Apply for scholarships.<\/h3>\n<p>Scholarships are<em> free<\/em> money for college that your child doesn\u2019t have to pay back! If Jimmy or Suzie excels in athletics, academics or extracurricular activities, they should use those abilities to their advantage and try to get rewarded for it. Encourage your child to\u00a0apply for any scholarship\u00a0they\u2019re eligible for. In fact, make it almost a part-time job where they\u2019re applying for several scholarships every single week. And don\u2019t ignore the small scholarship awards\u2014they add up fast!\n    <\/p>\n<h3>2. Apply for aid.<\/h3>\n<p>Everyone who wants to go to college should fill out the\u00a0Free Application for Federal Student Aid\u00a0(FAFSA). It\u2019s a form schools use to figure out how much money they can offer the student. The FAFSA allows you to get\u00a0federal grants, work-study programs, state aid and school aid\u2014all versions of free money! But beware: The FAFSA also shows how much student loans you can borrow, which is a terrible idea. So, when the award letter arrives, read the fine print to make sure it\u2019s a scholarship or grant\u2014not a student loan.\n    <\/p>\n<h3>3. Take AP classes.<\/h3>\n<p>Advanced Placement (AP) classes give high school students the opportunity to earn college credits while they\u2019re still in high school. Now, whether or not you receive college credit depends on your AP test scores and the college you\u2019re heading to. Also, you usually have to pay a small fee for the class, but it\u2019s way less than the cost of a college class. <em>Hallelujah!<\/em>\u00a0Tell your child to talk to their academic counselor to see what AP classes are available. You can also look into dual enrollment courses offered through local community colleges.\n    <\/p>\n<h3>4. Get a job.<\/h3>\n<p>Whether they take on a full-time gig during the summer (like mowing lawns, walking dogs, or lifeguarding at the local Y) or a\u00a0part-time job\u00a0during the school year, your child will be able to save money for college and gain work experience to put on their resum\u00e9. And trust me, there are some things that you can only learn by working at the Apple Store (mostly how to quickly close out of apps with Command + Tab + Q) .\n    <\/p>\n<h3>5. Open a savings account.<\/h3>\n<p>Your student will need a safe place to keep all their earnings from their part-time jobs. Most banks offer a student checking account that includes a debit card and a savings account. Plus, there\u2019s usually no monthly maintenance fees or minimum balance requirements. If your child is under 18, you\u2019ll need to be the joint account holder, but this is a great way to get them used to saving, spending and budgeting.\n    <\/p>\n<h3>6. Save money instead of spending it.<\/h3>\n<p>Encourage your child to <em>immediately<\/em> put a portion of the money they get into their savings account, so they aren\u2019t tempted to spend it. You can also agree to match their savings dollar for dollar to get them to save even more.\n    <\/p>\n<h3>7. Never use student loans.<\/h3>\n<p>You\u2019ve got to take student loans completely off the table. They may seem like a quick fix, but they\u2019re actually a nightmare that sends college graduates out into the world anchored in debt. If your child can\u2019t pay cash when tuition is due, then they need to decide what has to change. Should they transfer schools? Take a semester off to work and save more money? It may not be ideal\u2014but student loan debt is worse.\n    <\/p>\n<h3>8. Choose a cheaper school.<\/h3>\n<p>I know Ivy League might be the dream, but going to an in-state school can offer the same degree programs at a huge fraction of the cost. Plus, if your kid stays local, that cuts down on moving costs, out-of-state tuition, and travel expenses to visit family and friends.\n    <\/p>\n<h3>9. Let them live at home.<\/h3>\n<p>Having your child live at home and commute as a college student can save thousands of dollars a year on room and board expenses. Plus, your child can ditch the campus meal plan and save money by cooking at home or joining family dinners instead. I did that for my first year of college and I have no regrets (mostly because Mama Kamel\u2019s cooking is <em>chef\u2019s kiss<\/em>). And don\u2019t worry, your kid can still join clubs and be a part of campus life as a commuter!\n    <\/p>\n<h3>10. Look for tuition reimbursement at work.<\/h3>\n<p>Some companies offer tuition reimbursement for their college student employees. If your child is applying for part-time jobs, help them filter their job search to include companies that offer a tuition reimbursement benefit. Any little bit helps, plus they\u2019ll get professional experience to add to their resum\u00e9.\n    <\/p>\n<h2>It\u2019s Time to Get Serious About Saving for College<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s never too early to start thinking about a college savings plan. Whether your child is a teenager or toddler, the best time to start a college fund is <em>now <\/em>(after you\u2019ve paid off debt, saved an emergency fund, and started investing 15% of your income in retirement accounts, of course).\n    <\/p>\n<p>And the best way to save for college\u2014or any other goal\u2014is with a budget.\n    <\/p>\n<p>The EveryDollar budget app can help you free up thousands in margin\u2014money you didn\u2019t even know you had\u2014and give you a custom plan to put it to work on crushing debt, stacking savings, and building wealth that actually lasts.\n    <\/p>\n<p>Download EveryDollar for free today and finally make the progress you\u2019ve wanted all along.\n    <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Read the full article <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ramseysolutions.com\/saving\/saving-for-college-is-easier-than-you-think\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" rel=\"nofollow\">here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How much student loan debt do you think the average college student racks up by the time they cross the graduation stage? Seriously, take a guess. $10,000? $20,000? You\u2019d be what\u2019s known as wrong. Get expert money advice to reach your money goals faster! The average college student graduates with a whopping $38,290 of student<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24097,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-24096","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>10 Best Ways to Save for College | IncrediPros<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How much student loan debt do you think the average college student racks up by the time they cross the graduation stage? 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