Washington’s popular Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program has opened a new enrollment period for families to start saving for future education and career training costs while their children are young.

The 2023-2024 enrollment period runs now through May 31, 2024, and provides a unique opportunity to prepay future tuition costs by locking in today’s rates. The unit purchase price for the new enrollment period is $120.16.

GET is a 529 prepaid tuition program, carrying a state-backed guarantee that units purchased today will always keep pace with in-state college tuition costs. “GET savers can literally buy tomorrow’s education at today’s price, whether they plan to use those funds five, 10, or even 18 years from now,” says Washington College Savings Plans Director Luke Minor.

Savers can open a new GET account with as little as $25. Savings in a GET account grow tax-free and are not subject to the ups and downs of financial markets, so families can save with confidence.

“The current economic environment is an important reminder of the unique value that GET can provide a family looking for peace of mind as they prepare for their student’s educational future,” says Minor.

GET funds are flexible and can be used for a variety of expenses beyond tuition and fees, such as housing and food, books, computers and other supplies. Students can use GET at nearly any public or private university, community college, or technical school worldwide, and even for apprenticeship programs and student loan repayments.

The flexibility of all 529 plans, including GET, is set to expand in 2024. Beginning in January, unused 529 funds can be rolled into a Roth IRA retirement savings account for the student.