Give the gift of education with a Florida Prepaid College Plan

This is a sponsored post through the Florida Prepaid College Board. All opinions are 100% my own.

When I was a child, my parent’s made the decision to give me an amazing gift. I wouldn’t find out what this gift was until I was 18 years old and about to graduate high school. I was handed an envelope and inside, was told that I was the recipient of a 4-Year Florida University Florida Prepaid College Plan. This amazing gift gave me the ability to attend any 4-Year Florida University and would cover tuition, the tuition differential fee and other specified fees at a State University for 120 credit hours, the amount generally required to earn a bachelor’s degree.

I was beyond grateful and since receiving my plan, have gone on to earn a degree in marketing. Now that I’m a mom myself, I would love to be able to offer my own children the same opportunity that was gifted to me. My parents went with the 4-Year Florida University Plan, which as I stated above covers tuition, tuition differential fees and other specified fees at a State University for 120 credit hours, which is the amount that’s usually required to earn a bachelor’s degree.

The Florida Prepaid College Board offers an array of different plans:

• 1-Year Florida University Plan
• 2-Year Florida College Plan
• 4-Year Florida College Plan
• 2+2 Florida College Plan
• 4-Year Florida University Plan

The 4-Year Florida University Plan will start your child off at one of Florida’s 12 prestigious state universities and see them through their four-year journey. The plan even features Florida’s two preeminent universities, Florida State University and the University of Florida.

 

4-Year Florida University Plan Facts

• If your child decides to start at a college (typically less expensive), the unused funds from this plan can be applied to a post-secondary degree or you can get the remaining money back.
• Like all of our plans, use isn’t restricted to Florida schools; the amount covered by your prepaid plan can be used at schools nationwide.
• If the child receives a scholarship, such as Bright Futures, the amount covered by the 4-Year Florida University Plan, not just what you paid in, can be refunded or used to pay for tuition and fees not covered by the scholarship.
• If the child moves out of Florida, the child remains eligible for in-state tuition and fees at a Florida College or State University while using his/her 4-Year Florida University Plan.
• The child has 10 years from the projected enrollment year selected on the application to use his/her 4-Year Florida University Plan.

You can see the list of eligible in state and out of state schools here.

How to enroll

• Open Enrollment is October 15, 2016 – February 28, 2017.
• No payment due until April 20, 2017.
• Be sure to have read the Master Contract.
• Have your and the child’s Social Security Numbers available.
• Have your bank account information available, if you would like to set up automatic withdrawal.
• Have the driver’s license of the child’s parent or legal guardian to submit proof of Florida residency online.

For more information on the 4-Year Florida University Plan and to enroll or to find out more about the other plans offered, head here.

There’s nothing greater than a gift that gives back. Being gifted the gift of a college education has been the most amazing present I’ve ever received. I’m hoping my children will feel the same way some day.