Initiating a tuition payment through Backpack immediately alerts the University that you are planning to pay the amount via 529. The University will then apply a temporary credit to your students account to reflect this so that your student can get on with the important parts of their education experience without the risk of late fees or being dropped. The reason we do this is that we understand that withdrawing from a 529 can involve a number of administrative steps that take time. We also know that any expedited payment methods offered by 529 plans often come with fees associated. This is our way of helping you make payments via 529 without that added stress or fees.
How do I create a Backpack account?
Creating a Backpack account allows you to withdraw funds from your 529 and pay your University online. Backpack will always be available to walk you through how to setup your account and make payments (simply start a chat with us below). If you prefer step through the setup yourself, you can read this step-by-step guide in our Help Center.
How do I link my Backpack account to my 529?
Backpack supports 100% of 529 plans, either through our automated linking capability or by walking you through step by step instructions. Go to the top of this page, select your 529 plan and click “See my Payment Options” for the best linking and payment methods for you.
Where can I find step-by-step instructions on how to make a payment with my specific 529 plan?
Backpack has a complete library of step-by-step instructions on how you can connect your 529 plan to Backpack and make a payment. You can find it here and search for the 529 plan that is relevant for you.
How does Backpack know where to send my payment?
Backpack sends your payment directly to the right place thanks to our partnership with your university, ensuring we always have the most up-to-date payment details for hassle-free transactions.