The plan gives you flexibility
Your beneficiary might want to attend community college, technical school, undergraduate or graduate school. The DC College Savings Plan lets you save for many possibilities. Account proceeds may be used at any qualified higher education institution.You can also change the account beneficiary to another member of the beneficiary's family without penalty.

Use the money for qualified education expenses
Money withdrawn from the account is exempt from federal income tax if it is used for qualified post-secondary education expenses such as tuition, required fees, room and board, textbooks, and supplies at qualified post-secondary institutions in the US and in some other countries.¹ Post-secondary education includes:

• Community colleges,
• Technical schools,
• Vocational schools,
• Colleges and universities, and
• Graduate schools.

To find out whether a school is qualified, use the school code search function at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. At least half-time enrollment is necessary for expenses to be qualified. There is no time limit on the use of account money. However, withdrawals must be made in the year the expense is incurred.

You are in control
For your protection,

• Only you, the account owner, can withdraw money from the account, change investments, or change the account beneficiary.
• Requests for withdrawals and beneficiary changes must be made in writing.
• A request to transfer ownership of the account must also be done in writing.
• If you decide not to use the account for qualified education expenses, the earnings portion of the withdrawals from the account is subject to a 10% federal penalty, taxed as ordinary income to the recipient, and may be subject to state income taxation.

It is hard to imagine a more convenient way to save
This plan definitely makes saving for education convenient for you. In addition to the low initial contribution, the low contribution minimum, and the wide range of investment options, you will find:

• Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week Internet account access,
• Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week toll-free telephone account access through a voice response system, and
• Plan representatives are available to speak with you Monday through Friday, between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. eastern time at 800.368.2745.

For all these reasons, if you see college in the future for yourself, your child, grandchild, or another special person, the DC College Savings Plan may be right for you!

For more information on the DC College Savings Plan, please contact your financial advisor or call 800.987.4859 (800.368.2745 for non-District residents).  An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of an investment carefully before investing. 

The District of Columbia College Savings Trust Program Disclosure Booklet contains this and other information.  Read it carefully before you invest or send money. An investor should also consider, before investing, whether the investor's or designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's 529 college savings plan.

The Government of the District of Columbia does not guarantee investments in the program.  Investment involves risk, including possible loss of principal.