You earn Tuition Reward Points through any participating organization, such as:

• Saving or investing with the Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Plan
• Through over 100,000 employers in conjunction with employer provided health care plans, voluntary benefits participation or Tuition Rewards on qualified retirement plans
• Saving or investing with a participating bank or credit union
• By purchasing cash-value life insurance through a participating organization
• By maintaining membership in affiliated fraternal organizations
• By working with an affiliated financial professional (individual or organization) who provides asset management, qualified product sales, annual financial reviews, seminars or workshops

Don’t let the list price of tuition scare you away from considering a private college education — it may actually end up costing less than a state school. 64% of students at a private college graduate in 4 years vs. 37% at public universities, saving a lot of time and money.

You wouldn’t buy a house or car based solely on list price. You’d look at quality and the fit, right? Likewise, smart families aren't intimidated by list price. When you determine what represents quality in a college education, there are numerous factors vital to consider beside cost. And, when you do look at cost, be aware that the list price numbers don't alwayspaint a realistic picture.

Download A Private College May Cost Less Than You Think to learn about college affordability.

1. Students must be registered in the Tuition Rewards program prior to August 31st of the year that the student begins 12th grade
2. Students cannot earn, or receive points after August 31st of the year that the student begins 12th grade
3. A student’s Tuition Rewards must be submitted within ten (10) days of application to any Participating College

Nothing! Tuition Rewards is always free for families and students.

The maximum that a Participating College is obligated to accept is 25% of the cost of tuition (based on freshman year tuition), spread equally over four (or five if student is in a co-op program) years of undergraduate education. For example, if the “list price” of tuition for a school is $40,000 per year when the student matriculates, it means that the guaranteed minimum discount would be up to $10,000 per year (providing that at least 40,000 points were submitted to the school when the student applied). Published list prices are updated annually from the Higher Education Directory. One point equals one dollar in tuition discounts.

Please note that a small number of Participating Colleges accept less than 25%. To view the number of points that each Participating College accepts sign into your account and view the Participating Colleges list. This will show the number of points that each school is currently obligated to accept.

No, Tuition Rewards do not expire.

You can sign up children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other family members (including great/grand relations, step, God, and adopted children) to use your Tuition Reward Points. You cannot sponsor students such as your neighbor's or co-worker's children where there is no family relationship.

As long as the children you are sponsoring are in your immediate or extended family, there is no limit on the number of children that you can sponsor.

No, it is up to you to decide how you want to give your Tuition Rewards to the students you sponsor. We recommend that sponsors allocate Points to the oldest child first; if he or she doesn’t attend a member college, transfer the Points to the next-oldest child in your family.

Within ten (10) days of the student’s application, log in to your account, locate the student on your page and follow the link to submit his or her rewards. Do not submit a student's rewards weeks or months late or early. Submit rewards only to schools that the student has actually applied to.

Tuition Rewards can only be used by the children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews whom you sponsor in the program. If an older beneficiary doesn’t use his or her Tuition Reward points, you may transfer the points that are not student-specific (for example, non-bonus points) to a younger enrolled student. You cannot give unused Tuition Rewards to another parent or organization.

If your intendeded student recipient cannot use the Tuition Rewards, simply save them or let them continue to accrue and perhaps you can use them in the future with a niece, nephew, or grandchild. If that doesn’t work out, the program is free and has not cost you anything.

No, each school's normal admission’s standards still apply

Absolutely! The purpose of the Tuition Rewards Program is to insure that the student(s) you’ve sponsored will receive a scholarship at least equal to the size of his/her Tuition Rewards. He or she may receive more aid, but cannot receive less!

Tuition Rewards represent the minimum scholarship, spread equally over four years (5 years if student is in a co-op program), a participating student will receive if and when they attend a participating college or university. If the student receives a scholarship, or other institutional aid from a member school, then the school can choose to “blend” (include) or “stack” (add on top) the Tuition Rewards with the other scholarship funds, grants or other discounts.

No, just tuition.

No, Tuition Rewards can only be used for full-time, traditional, undergraduate education beginning with the freshman year at a participating private college or university. Unless specifically listed as an alternate campus on the tuitionrewards.com website, Participating Colleges are only obligated to honor submitted Tuition Rewards points for students enrolled at the Participating College's main campus.

SAGE Prime is our continuing education program for sponsors (parents, grandparents etc.) and provides discounts at select Participating Colleges to account holders for degree completion, graduate education and professional certificates. See our SAGE Prime FAQ for complete information.

It’s up to the school that he or she is transferring to. While there is no contractual obligation to the Tuition Rewards Program that would require that the school honor the rewards, most schools are willing to honor at least a portion of the rewards.

No. Funds used to earn Tuition Rewards do not need to be used to pay for college. It’s always your choice how you finance your child’s, grandchild’s, or other family member’s sponsored student’s education.

No. Tuition Rewards are Points and are never awarded in cash.

You stop accumulating Tuition Reward Points, but the points that you’ve already earned are yours to use, unless the provider that you earned your Tuition Rewards with stipulates otherwise.

• By the time your child is ready to apply to college, additional schools of interest are likely to join.
• It costs you nothing to participate in the program, regardless of where your child goes to college.
• After doing research, you may find that we offer many appealing choices. Or, you may have another child — or niece, nephew or grandchild — who could benefit in the future.

Yes! That's the beauty of Tuition Rewards — as more colleges join, Tuition Reward Points are applied to these schools, too — and, you have more choices!

If a student applies to, is accepted by, or has already matriculated at a college that is not participating in this program — but subsequently decides to participate — the college is under no obligation to honor his or her Tuition Rewards.

We are not tax attorneys; however, IRS Publication 970, “Tax Benefits for Education”, states clearly, “You do not have to include a qualified tuition reduction in your income.” Tuition Rewards meets the qualified tuition reduction definition.

There is no catch. Member colleges are encouraged to recruit the students whom you sponsor once the student is in high school. Your students are likely to receive some print mail or email from the participating colleges and universities after they begin high school. We do not share your, the Sponsor’s, information with any schools or other third parties.