Rhode Island – Saving For College in 2024
As parents, grandparents and students, we know college is coming and that we're somehow going to have to pay for it someday. Fortunately, we have many options available to us, including savings bonds, the stock market and 529 plans. Starting a 529 account now is always the best option, no matter how old you (or your child) is. While playing the stock market may yield higher returns on your investment, placing your money into a 529 plan allows it to grow in a tax-free environment. One study even found that when the federal tax benefits were taken into consideration, 529 plans outperformed their benchmarks in every category.
Rhode Island has its own state-operated 529 plan called CollegeBound Fund. It is important to note that your child does not have to go to a RI college or university to use this savings account. 529 plan funds can be used at any accredited college or university across the nation, including some K-12 private schools!
Rhode Island College Costs & Trends
Colleges and universities across the United States experienced increased operating costs of 2.5% in 2019. This most recent inflation figure was down slightly from the 2.9 percent increase in 2018 and 3.4 percent increase in 2017. These costs are forwarded directly to students in the form of higher tuition and living expenses. As these costs steadily rise every year, parents are investigating how to help offset these future higher education costs.
These rising costs are hitting closer to home in Rhode Island as well. Rhode Island's higher education costs rose by 44.3% in just the last 10 years, ranking as the 16th highest state.
The table below shows the average one-year costs last year (2023) for different types of Rhode Island colleges and universities.
| Ownership | Degree | Schools | Public Out-of-State Tuition | Public In-State Tuition | Median Debt | Total Annual In-State Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private | 2 year | 10 | $18,263 | $18,263 | $13,098 | $14,970 |
| Private | 4 year | 10 | $40,644 | $40,644 | $24,350 | $34,219 |
| Public | 2 year | 1 | $12,156 | $4,564 | $10,370 | $6,575 |
| Public | 4 year | 2 | $25,666 | $11,284 | $22,250 | $14,899 |
These costs rise every year. Rising tuition is a major driver of these increased higher education costs. Tuition at a 4-year university in RI rose 19% (ranked 21st in the US), while a 2-year or trade school increased their tuition by 19 percent.
529 Tax Benefits for Rhode Island Residents
Rhode Island offers tax benefits and deductions when savings are put into your child's 529 savings plan.
| For single filers: | $500/yr |
|---|---|
| For joint filers: | $1,000/yr |
Best 529 Plans in Rhode Island
Rhode Island offers an advisor-sold plan, CollegeBound 529, and a direct-sold plan, CollegeBound Saver. Both plans are managed by Ascensus College Savings which replaced AllianceBernstein as program manager in 2016. The advisor-sold plan features Invesco mutual funds and ETFs, and the direct-sold plan features funds from Invesco, Vanguard and BlackRock.
| State Plan Name: | CollegeBound Fund |
|---|---|
| Minimum Contribution: | $0 |
| Maximum Contribution: | Contributions are cut off once the total market value reaches $395,000. After that, the account will just continue accruing earnings. |
| Fees: | Fees vary from 0.04% to 0.85%, depending on which portfolio you choose and your residency status. |
Rhode Island 529 Plan Statistics
There are 217,895 registered schools in Rhode Island with a total value of $5,680,426,847. That is an average of $26,070 per account. Unfortunately, 529 plans are not widely used... a 2018 study by Edward Jones found that only 29 percent of Americans were even aware that 529 savings plans exist!