Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about Tuition Rewards, your account, member colleges, and more.
Tuition Rewards, similar to frequent flyer miles, bridge the gap between students who want a quality private college education and over 440 private colleges and universities in 47 states.
Each Tuition Rewards Point represents a guaranteed minimum scholarship equivalent to one dollar, spread equally over four years. The student may receive more — but cannot receive less.
You can earn points through participating organizations including:
- Saving or investing with the Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Plan
- Through over 100,000 employers via health care plans, voluntary benefits, or 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
Don’t let list price scare you. Private college may actually cost less than a state school. 64% of students at private colleges graduate in 4 years vs. 37% at public universities, saving significant time and money.
You wouldn’t buy a house based solely on list price. Smart families aren’t intimidated by list price — they look at quality, fit, and the real cost after aid.
Download A Private College May Cost Less Than You Think to learn more.
- Students must be registered prior to August 31st of the year they begin 12th grade.
- Students cannot earn or receive points after August 31st of the year they begin 12th grade.
- 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.
Most Participating Colleges are required to accept up to 25% off tuition, spread evenly over four years. As an example, if tuition is $40,000/year, submitting at least 40,000 Points would guarantee a savings of up to $10,000 per year.
Note: A small number of schools accept less than 25%. Sign in to your account to view each school's current discount obligation before submitting Points.
Each Point is equal to a $1.00 guaranteed scholarship. For example, redeem 36,000 Points for a student at a participating college or university, and that student is guaranteed to receive at least $36,000 in scholarships, grants or discounts, spread equally over a projected four years of undergraduate education.
The maximum amount of Points a college is obligated to accept is based on the published freshman year tuition. For example, if the published list price is $40,000 for freshman year tuition, the school would be obligated to accept 40,000 Tuition Rewards Points. To view a college’s maximum obligation, sign in to your account and view a college’s profile page. Some schools may accept an amount less than their freshman year tuition. Please see a school’s profile page for complete information.
Absolutely! When the student reaches the equivalent high-school age, you can specify “Homeschooled” from the list of high schools.
A scholarship is financial support awarded to a student, based on academic achievement or other criteria that may include financial need, for the purpose of schooling. There are various types of scholarships — the two most common being merit-based and need-based. The donor or department funding the scholarship sets the criteria for recipient selection, and the grantor specifically defines how the money is to be applied.
Tuition Rewards Points work differently from a traditional scholarship. Rather than applying for an award, you earn Points over time through participating employers, financial institutions, or benefit providers. Each Point is equivalent to one dollar of guaranteed minimum institutional aid. When your student applies to a member college, the Points you submit set the floor for what that college must award them. The student may receive more financial aid, but is guaranteed not to receive less. Think of it as a scholarship you build over time, simply by being a member.
No, Tuition Rewards do not expire.
You can sponsor children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other family members including great/grand relations, step, God, and adopted children. You cannot sponsor students where there is no family relationship, such as a neighbor’s or co-worker’s children.
As long as the children you are sponsoring are in your immediate or extended family, there is no limit on the number of children you can sponsor.
Yes! Multiple family members can sponsor the same student and contribute toward that student’s Point total. When a second family member registers, they should enter the student’s information exactly as originally entered — name, date of birth, and ZIP code — so we can correctly match them to the existing student record. If you believe a duplicate student account has been created, please contact our support team.
No, it is up to you to decide how to allocate your Tuition Rewards. We recommend 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.
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 their rewards. Only submit to schools the student has actually applied to.
Yes, with some conditions depending on timing:
- Before August 1st of your student’s 12th grade year — Points can be freely transferred between students in your account.
- After August 1st of your student’s 12th grade year — Points can be returned to your account as a one-way transfer, but cannot be re-allocated to a student who has passed that same deadline.
- If Points were submitted to a college and the student does not matriculate — the Points are returned to your account and can be allocated to another eligible student.
Please contact our support team if you need assistance with a Point transfer.
Tuition Rewards can only be used by the children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews whom you sponsor. If an older beneficiary doesn’t use their points, you may transfer non-bonus points to a younger enrolled student. You cannot give unused Tuition Rewards to another parent or organization.
Yes. We suggest that you let other family members know about your Tuition Rewards account so that they know to contact us for assistance.
Simply save them or let them continue to accrue for use with a future niece, nephew, or grandchild. Since the program is free, there is no cost to holding unused points.
No, each school’s normal admissions standards still apply.
Absolutely! Tuition Rewards ensure the student receives a scholarship at least equal to their rewards. They may receive more aid — but cannot receive less.
Tuition Rewards represent the minimum scholarship a participating student will receive. If the student receives other institutional aid, the school can choose to “blend” (include) or “stack” (add on top) the Tuition Rewards with those other funds.
Yes. Tuition Rewards work the same regardless of whether your student receives merit-based or need-based institutional aid. The guaranteed minimum applies to any institutional scholarship or grant awarded by the college, and the school can choose to blend or stack the Tuition Rewards with that aid.
The one distinction worth noting: Tuition Rewards apply to institutional aid only — they do not apply against federal or private loans, work-study programs, or other non-institutional funding. Your student can still pursue all of those options in addition to their Tuition Rewards.
No, Tuition Rewards apply to tuition only.
No, Tuition Rewards can only be used for full-time traditional undergraduate education beginning freshman year at a participating private college’s main campus.
SAGE Prime is our continuing education program providing discounts at select Participating Colleges for degree completion, graduate education, and professional certificates.
It’s up to the school. While there is no contractual obligation requiring the school to honor the rewards for transfer students, 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 sponsored student’s education.
No. Tuition Rewards are Points and are never awarded in cash.
You stop accumulating Tuition Reward Points, but the points you’ve already earned are yours to use, unless the provider stipulates otherwise.
- By the time your child is ready to apply, additional schools of interest are likely to join.
- It costs nothing to participate, regardless of where your child goes to college.
- After research, you may find many appealing choices — or another child, niece, nephew, or grandchild could benefit in the future.
Yes! As more colleges join, Tuition Reward Points are applied to those schools too — and you have more choices.
If a student applies to, is accepted by, or has already matriculated at a college that subsequently joins the program, the college is under no obligation to honor their Tuition Rewards.
IRS Publication 970 states clearly that qualified tuition reductions do not need to be included in your income. Tuition Rewards meets the qualified tuition reduction definition. We recommend consulting a tax professional for your specific situation.
There is no catch. Member colleges recruit the students you sponsor once they’re in high school. We do not share your sponsor information with any schools or third parties.
