Sam Houston
State University

529 Payments Center

Pay Tuition with your 529 Plan

SHSU uses Backpack to receive 529 payments electronically. The platform is free to families and integrated with SHSU's Business Office.
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Pay Tuition using your 529 Plan

Backpack’s student family platform is free to setup & use, and directly integrated into our Business Office so we know as soon as you make a payment.

Make a Payment

First time using Backpack? Sign up here

Questions? Contact us

Avoid the stress of mailed checks

Nearly 1 in 3 families using paper checks for tuition will face a payment issue at some point*.

Secure, one-time account linking

You’ll connect your 529 plan to your Backpack account, like linking a bank. This one-time step enables digital, plan-compliant transfers.

Secure enrollment for 20 days

Your University gives you 20 days of enrollment protection to cover hold periods required by some 529 plans when first linked.

Peace of Mind

Track payments online, receive text & email alerts, and reach out to our dedicated support team whenever you need.
*The High Cost of Checks: Why Nearly 1 in 3 Families Could Face Tuition Payment Issues. May, 2025. The content in our blog reflects Backpack's professional interpretation of the referenced materials and readers are encouraged to conduct their own due diligence before making any decisions based on this information.

Important Dates

Academic Year 2024/25

Tuition Bills Released
Mid Dec
Send Physical Check deadline
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20-Dec
Link Backpack to your 529 (if first time)
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25-Dec
Last day to submit Backpack payment
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10-Jan
Bill Payment Deadline
10-Jan
Dates coming soon!
For additional payment deadline details, please visit the Student Account Services website.
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FAQs

What do you mean by “secure your enrollment”?
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.

Reach out if you have any questions