FACT SHEET

Quick overview of important CollegeAdvantage information.

• Since 1989, the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority has been helping Ohio families save for college through Ohio’s 529 plan, CollegeAdvantage. 529 plans are tax-advantaged college savings programs offered by states or eligible educational institutions and have quickly become one of the most popular ways to save for college. Ohio was one of the first states to offer a 529 plan. 
• CollegeAdvantage is offered to families directly through the Tuition Trust (direct plan) and is also offered through financial professionals (advisor plan). Both plans offer a wide variety of investment options in order to appeal to the diverse needs of families saving for college. 
• The CollegeAdvantage direct plan offers investment options from leading fund managers such as The Vanguard Group, PIMCO, OppenheimerFunds, GE Asset Management and Fifth Third Bank which offers FDIC-insured savings accounts and CD options. 
• Ohio’s 529 plan also offers a plan available exclusively through financial advisors managed by BlackRock Advisors. BlackRock offers a diverse range of quality investment options as well as investment choices from leading fund managers. 
• Withdrawals from CollegeAdvantage accounts made for qualified higher education expenses are exempt from federal and state income taxes when no other education tax incentive is used. 
• CollegeAdvantage is the only 529 plan that allows Ohio residents to deduct their contributions from Ohio 
• Ohio taxable income. Up to $2,000 per contributor (or married couple) can be deducted per beneficiary, with unlimited carryforward in future years. 
• Funds can be used at any college in the country to pay for tuition, fees and room and board. 
• CollegeAdvantage has paid out $1 billion to schools for higher education expenses for over 98,700 students (as of 6/30/11). 
• Morningstar, Inc., a leading provider of independent investment research named Ohio’s CollegeAdvantage 529 direct plan as one of the top five college savings plans in the nation for 2009 and 2010. “The strong investment options, low costs and good flexibility make this plan tough to beat for Ohio residents.” April 2009 
• Savingforcollege.com, a leading authority on 529 plans, rates Ohio’s CollegeAdvantage direct plan as one of the lowest cost and best plans in the country, with a perfect Five Cap Rating for Ohio residents. Savingforcollege.com also gives the CollegeAdvantage advisor plan a 4.5 Cap rating for Ohio residents. 
• Kiplinger, a renowned publisher of personal finance advice, sited Ohio’s direct plan in May 2010 as “Best for overall investment mix. Ohio’s CollegeAdvantage 529 offers great choices from Vanguard, PIMCO and GE Asset Management, as well as CDs from Fifth Third Bank.”