Welcome to Ohio’s tax-free 529 Direct Plan

This is the simple, flexible way to save for whatever school comes after high school. This site is for do-it-yourself 529 Plan savers looking for the lowest cost way to invest.

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Got $25? Got $25?
Start Saving. Start Saving.

Saving a little can help a lot:

  • Everything you save helps your kids or grandkids borrow less
  • Use for college, trade school, certificates, apprenticeships, and more
  • Most families don’t plan to cover all education costs (watch 29-second video)
  • Setting up an automatic investment plan keeps your account growing tax-free

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Want To Do This Super Fast? Want To Do This Super Fast?

You can start without a deep dive into financial education.

  1. Check out 529s at a glance for the basics
  2. Take a look at the most popular investment choices
  3. Check out “529s in 29 Seconds” or FAQs for questions

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529 Short Course: 529 Short Course:
Grandparents Grand parents

An educational playlist on 529s just for grandparents.

  • See how saving in a 529 might fit with your goals
  • 29-second videos and Quick Read posts make things simple
  • Watch in order or hop around

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529 Short Course: 529 Short Course:
New Parents New Parents

A playlist of 529 content made for new parents.

  • Get up to speed on the best way to save for education
  • Short videos and posts curated for you
  • Watch in order or hop around
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Now’s the time to 529.
An Ohio 529 Plan is the simple, affordable way to save for college or career training, nationwide. Unlike a traditional bank account, savings grow tax-free, plus you can invest your savings in mutual funds or FDIC insured bank accounts. And don’t worry, if all the money you’ve saved isn’t needed, you have lots of options.
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529 Explorer Explore all the topics
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Ohio 529 Office Closed Nov. 11 For Veterans Day

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Ohio 529 Secure Site Maintenance Set For Nov. 9

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529 Short Course: New Parents

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5 things every new parent needs to know about saving for education

  1. Why Ohio 529?
    529s are specifically created for higher education savings. Unlike a traditional banking account, a 529 account benefits from tax-free earnings and tax-free withdrawals. For Ohio residents, there is also a state income tax deduction for those contributions.
  2. It’s simple to start.
    You can open your 529 account online in minutes with as little as $25. With ready-made portfolio options, you don’t have to be a financial expert to feel confident in your savings plan choices.
  3. Set it and forget it with automatic deposits.
    The sooner you start saving, the longer your account benefits from the Ohio 529 tax advantages as well as compound interest. Many new parents take their 529 contributions off their to-do list by setting up small automatic deposits from either their banking accounts or paycheck. Also, with our ReadySave 529 app, it’s also easy to track and adjust your account right on your mobile device.
  4. Save for college, career training, and more.
    Ohio 529 can be used at over 30,000 schools of all kinds, nationwide, including universities; community colleges; trade, technical, and vocational schools; certificate programs; and apprenticeships. Your Ohio 529 account can also pay for K-12 tuition at a public, private, or religious school. And, if it’s not needed for educational expenses, you can now roll over your 529 to a Roth IRA.
  5. Others can help.
    It’s easy for family and friends to contribute to your child’s account and receive tax benefits for themselves. You can share your account’s unique Ugift number with others to contribute online without creating their own 529 accounts. Those who live in Ohio will also receive a state income tax deduction for their contributions. Also, you can sign up to have reminder emails sent to you and loved ones for the big milestones in your child’s life.
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A mother watches her daughter open a gift

Ugift Is Savings Gold

Hoping to find gold at the end of the rainbow? If you are saving with Ohio 529 CollegeAdvantage, you have the benefit of Ugift with your account, which is savings gold.

Ugift makes it easy for others to give to your Ohio 529 account. With Ugift, you generate a unique code which allows loved ones to contribute to your Ohio 529 savings plan without needing the actual account number. Once they have the Ugift code, your friends and family can visit Ugift529.com to make their online gifts directly to your 529.

When friends and family ask for gift ideas, share that you are saving for your child’s future education with Ohio 529. Then invite them to join in with gift contributions to your Ohio 529 account with Ugift. After all, a gift for your child’s education will truly last a lifetime.

The quickest and easiest way to pass along your child’s Ugift code is with the ReadySave 529 app, which you can access as an Ohio 529 CollegeAdvantage account owner. At the bottom of every page is an Ugift icon. Click on the gift symbol to view your Ugift code which you can send immediately as an invitation via texts, emails, and Facebook/Instagram chats from your phone.

Or log into your account online to view your child’s Ugift code to send to family and friends who would like to give the gift of education.

The Ugift code doesn’t expire. Which means whenever there is an occasion to celebrate­ like baby showers, holidays, birthdays, graduations, and special achievements, your family and friends can give to your Ohio 529 account. And they can choose to contribute as much as they want whenever they want. It can be a one-time gift or recurring gift; all they need is that Ugift code. Your loved ones’ contributions - whether big or small – will add up over the years. Added to the power of compound interest, these gifts will power your 529 savings to cover even more college and career training costs.

An added bonus for gift givers who live in Ohio: They are also eligible to receive a state income tax deduction for their Ohio 529 gift contributions, up to $4,000 per year, per beneficiary.

To learn more about all of the gifting options with Ohio 529 and order cards for special occasions, visit  529 Gift Central.

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  • 1 Thumbnail image for WATCH: Understand the cost of delaying
  • 2 Thumbnail image for WATCH: Compare the two most common ways to save
  • 3 Thumbnail image for READ: The 5 things every new parent needs to know about saving for education
  • 4 Thumbnail image for WATCH: Wondering about flexibility?
  • 5 Thumbnail image for WATCH: Here's help figuring out how much to save.
  • 6 Thumbnail image for READ: Why a Ugift code is savings gold
  • 7 Thumbnail image for WATCH: Concerned about annoying fees?
  • 8 Thumbnail image for WATCH: The simplest, most popular way to invest
  • 9 Thumbnail image for WATCH: Complete portfolios with predefined risk levels
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529 Short Course: Grandparents

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Does it matter where your grandkids live when saving in a 529?

A big misperception about 529s is that you have to open them in the state(s) where your grandkids live. Here’s the real story.

No, it doesn’t matter where grandkids live the vast majority of the time.

Let’s say you’re a grandparent paying taxes in Ohio but your grandkids live in other states. You should start Ohio 529 Plans for each of them. You’ll become eligible for an Ohio tax deduction for each account, every year you contribute. Your grandkids can then use the savings nationwide for college, career training, an apprenticeship, certificate programs, grad schools, over 30,000 schools of all kinds. As account owner, you’re in control of every decision and can even move money between grandkid accounts.

Even if you’re not an Ohio resident, it can still be a smart move to use Ohio 529s given the consistently high ratings, low-cost investment options, and flexibility to use the savings for K-12 tuition. Thousands of Ohio 529 accounts are held by non-residents.

Yes, it can matter if grandkids live in a state with a prepaid tuition plan.

As of 2025, nine states offer a prepaid tuition plan for a select list of in-state colleges. However, it’s very important to research the benefits and limitations of each prepaid program before locking in a very specific future for your grandchild.

Still have questions? We can help at 1-800-AFFORD-IT (233-6734).

Our representatives are available from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

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How much can you contribute to an Ohio 529?

The minimum is $25 per deposit. The maximum account size is $555,000* per beneficiary across all accounts. So what’s the maximum annual contribution?

A 529 deposit falls under IRS gift tax rules.

As of 2025, in one year an individual can give another individual up to $19,000*, tax-free, without affecting the givers’ lifetime exemption. 529 contributions fall under these rules. Want to put more than $19k per year in a 529? Ask your tax advisor about it.

What’s the $4,000 figure you keep seeing?

$4,000 is the maximum Ohio tax deduction per grandchild, per year. If you deposit more than that in a year, you can carry forward the excess and deduct it in future tax years until you've deducted the entire contribution.

Still have questions? We can help at 1-800-AFFORD-IT (233-6734).

Our representatives are available from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm Eastern time, Monday through Friday. We can give you the facts, not advice. Please consult a qualified tax advisor for advice on your individual situation.

* Subject to change annually. Visit CollegeAdvantage.com/Grandparents for current amounts.

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529s can play a role in estate planning.

Here are some topics to discuss with your financial advisor(s).

Tuition gift tax exclusion vs 529s.

Should you save for education in advance with a 529 and let tax-free compounded growth work its magic? Or should you wait and use the tuition gift tax exclusion (if still available)? It currently allows you to pay an unlimited amount directly to a college, but only for tuition, without reducing your lifetime gift tax exemption.

Super-funding your 529s.

"Super-funding" refers to a special tax treatment allowed for very large 529 contributions. Each grandparent can deposit up to $95,000* in a grandchild’s 529 as a lump sum and then average that gift over five years to avoid reducing the lifetime exemption.

Open a 529 for each grandchild or use one for all?

Factors to consider include: maximizing the Ohio tax deduction, whether you want to share your plans and progress with your family, annual account maintenance, and the complexity of future redistribution.

We can help at 1-800-AFFORD-IT (233-6734).

Our representatives are available from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm Eastern time, Monday through Friday. We can give you the facts, not advice. Please consult a qualified tax advisor for advice on your individual situation.

* Subject to change annually. Visit CollegeAdvantage.com/Grandparents for current amounts.

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  • 1 Thumbnail image for WATCH: Saving for grandkids' education made simple.
  • 2 Thumbnail image for WATCH: Wondering about flexibility?
  • 3 Thumbnail image for QUICK READ: It’s pretty simple really.
  • 4 Thumbnail image for WATCH: Triple tax advantages for Ohio 529 savers.
  • 5 Thumbnail image for QUICK READ: It’s way more than you might believe.
  • 6 Thumbnail image for WATCH: Relax, most of the common expenses qualify.
  • 7 Thumbnail image for WATCH: It’s all in how you set it up.
  • 8 Thumbnail image for QUICK READ: 529s can play a role in estate planning.
  • 9 Thumbnail image for WATCH: Great answers to an important question.