Electronic E-check and I’ve been able to do that since 2007 for all 3 kids’ colleges. I could use a credit card but there are associated fees. No fees with echeck and I’m not a big “points” person although if I was the fee from the college for the credit card might be worth it.
E-check is what I do, but I have to take an extra step and transfer monies from the 529 to my checking account first, then electronic transfer.
We did the monthly payment plan (Tuition Pay or whatever it’s called now). We set it up to do an auto withdraw every month.
We had the 529 plan send a check directly to college. Because it was our first time doing it, we waited a bit too long, and the college received it late. But, they said it happens all the time (was not a problem).
We did what @ProfessorPlum168 stated in his post. Transfer from the 529 plan to our checking and then E-check.
With S17, I order a check to be sent directly to the school from his 529 account. When he took summer classes at the local CC this past summer, they didn’t charge a credit card fee, so I used my airline card and got some points. With D and middle son, I used to use the installment plan and paid via ACH from my checking account.
To those of you who get the 529 check sent to you and then remail it, why? I am just curious because it seems like it would take a lot longer that way. I order the check about one week in advance and then call the bursar and tell them the details.
I don’t think you can use a cc to pay tuition or fees at my daughter’s college. We use their online echeck option, which is pretty handy.
Online withdrawal from our checking account via the college website.
My parents were lucky. I got tons of aid from my need based school but not 100%. I did have a couple of scholarships that sent me money directly instead of the school. Each semester I would trudge over and pay my bill myself. I later got an apartment 100% in my name and made the payments along with whatever utilities that were in my name. I don’t think my folks ever wrote a check to my university.
Next year I will either pay by credit card. Or
I always used my bank’s bill pay service. There was never a problem, but if any creditor claimed not to have received a check, I would simply ask the bill pay service to look into it. The bank would replace the check if necessary and also take care of any late fees – basically part of the deal with the online payment system was that the transmission and delivery became the bank’s problem, not mine. But again, never an issue with the college. It really didn’t occur to me to do anything else.
Have the 529 plan sends checks directly to the college. So far, so good.
We can use a credit card without any additional fees so we do that and get the miles! If that ever changes and fees make it not worth it, then I would likely have the 529 send the money directly to the university.