Update 12/7/25: Scholarshare529.com $50 Instacart gift card bonus at this link. Valid 12/3-12/12. (ht Grant)
Update 11/25/24: Deal is back on Edvest for $100 this time, from 11/25/24 – 12/13/24. (ht Josh)
Update 5/22/24: Deal is back for the next number of weeks (ht Vanson). All offer $50 as a base bonus with some plans offering a $100 bonus option:
- 5/31/24 end date:
https://www.edvest.com/program/summer-2024
https://www.misaves.com/program/529-day-2024
https://www.scholarshare529.com/program/529-day-2024 - 6/9/24 end date:
https://www.mnsaves.org/program/529-day-2024
https://www.oklahoma529.com/program/529-day-2024 - 6/23/24 end date:
https://www.myfloridaprepaid.com/collegedefinitely/3-reasons-to-open-a-florida-529-savings-plan-this-summer/ - $40 bonus for Utah’s plan (ends 5/31/24):
https://my529.org/my529-marks-national-5%c2%b729-day-with-promotional-offer/ - And the sweepstakes/contest is in effect for Pennsylvania’s plan (ends 5/31/24):
https://www.pa529.com/529Day/
Update 5/22/23: Deal is back beginning today through 5/31/23 (ht Vanson and Superman):
- $50 bonus:
https://www.myfloridaprepaid.com/collegedefinitely/its-prime-time-for-a-529/
https://www.oklahoma529.com/program/529-day-2023
https://www.virginia529.com/blog/save-50-get-50-with-invest529/
https://www.brightstart.com/first-steps/ - $100 bonus:
https://www.edvest.com/program/529-day-2023
https://www.misaves.com/program/529-day-2023
https://www.mnsaves.org/529day2023/
https://www.scholarshare529.com/program/529-day-2023?tc_mcid=hp_5D23_learn_pr_na_ca - $40 bonus:
https://my529.org/my529-marks-national-5-29-day-with-promotional-offer/
Update 5/24/21: Deal available again for May 24 – May 31. Get a $50 bonus when you open a new 529 Plan account with a $50 contribution (and sign up for recurring contributions of $25 per month for 6 months) between May 24 and May 31, 2021. Your $50 bonus will be deposited on or before January 31, 2022.
- https://www.scholarshare529.com/529Day
Limit: one (1) Matching Deposit per new ScholarShare 529 account per unique accountholder/beneficiary combination. - https://www.mnsaves.org/529Day
Limit: one (1) Matching Deposit per new MNSAVES account per beneficiary. - https://www.ok4saving.org/529Day
Limit: Only one Matching Deposit per new OCSP account per beneficiary. - https://www.edvest.com/529Day
Limit: One (1) Matching Deposit per new Edvest account per beneficiary. - Michigan https://www.misaves.com/buzz/529day.php?tc_mcid=em_529_opennew_ao_na_mi
- Utah link
Hat tip to reader Superman
Update 12/2/20: Deal available again, valid 12/9-12/13. This is a Target gift card. Hat tip to reader G E
Update 5/26/20: Deal is back again for many states. Valid 5/26 – 5/31 (note: dates may vary by offer). Hat tip to reader Burton
Update 5/26/19: Deal is back for Scholarshare again. Valid from May 28th until May 31st. Hat tip to reader Yosk
Update 11/30/18: Looks like the deal will return for December 5th – December 12th. So far we’ve only been able to find a working link for ScholarShare. Hat tip to reader Superman.
Update: Added Ideal and FL Prepaid offers.
The Offer
ScholarShare link | Virginia529 link | Idaho Ideal link | Florida Prepaid link | MN Saves
In honor of “5/29 day”, various 529 plans are offering a special bonus for those opening a new 529 plan:
- Open a 529 plan with ScholarShare with $50 and get a $50 match
- Open a 529 plan with Virginia529 with $50 and get a $50 match
- Open a 529 plan with Ideal Idaho with $25 and get a $25 match
- Open a 529 plan with Florida Prepaid with $25 and get a $25 match
The Fine Print
- These offers are available nationwide
- ScholarShare is through June 1, and Virginia529 is through May 31
Our Verdict
Being that these two are offering a similar bonus, there may be similar bonuses elsewhere. I’m not familiar with the ins and outs of college plans and their tax affect – please do your own research before deciding whether to open one and which plan to choose. (People who get a state tax deduction to contribute to their own plan in their own state should do that first.)
Regardless, it could be a nice bonus for someone saving for college who was planning to open a 529 plan anyway.
Hat tip to readers Misha and to Jeffery who notes that you can open multiple accounts by having the beneficiary and account owner combination be different
