529 qualified expenses
Champlain College
Burlington, VT
Monthly 529 budget
$0
$71,000/year across 9 months
Qualified Expense Categories
03Rules that matter here
The five categories are the budget. These rules decide what counts.
Most non-qualified withdrawals aren’t exotic purchases; they’re ordinary bills that break a rule. Here are the ones families hit most, with Champlain College’s own figures where the school publishes them.
Off-campus housing has a ceiling
Rent, utilities and food off campus count only up to Champlain College’s allowance of $15,794 a year (about $1,755 a month over nine months). Anything above that is a non-qualified withdrawal, even if it’s a real bill.
Room & board needs half-time enrollment
Housing and food are qualified only while the student is enrolled at least half time. Watch summer terms, gap semesters and the final semester if the course load drops.
What the 529 will not cover
Transportation and travel home, health insurance, parking, phone plans, club or Greek dues, gym and event fees, and any fee not required for enrollment.
Withdraw in the same tax year you pay
A December tuition bill paid with a January withdrawal creates a mismatch the IRS can tax. Take the money out in the calendar year the expense is paid, and keep the receipt with the withdrawal.
Don’t double-dip with the tax credit
The American Opportunity Tax Credit is worth up to $2,500 a year, but the $4,000 of tuition used to claim it can’t also be paid tax-free from the 529. Pay that slice out of pocket and use the 529 for the rest.
Special-needs services are qualified
Services a student with special needs requires to enroll or attend are qualified expenses in addition to the categories above.
Money left over has good uses
Up to $10,000 lifetime can repay the student’s federal or private loans (and $10,000 for each sibling). Up to $35,000 lifetime can roll into the student’s Roth IRA once the account is 15 years old. The beneficiary can also be changed to another family member.
Newer uses under the 2025 tax law
Fees, books and exam costs for recognized professional credentials and licenses became qualified for withdrawals after July 4, 2025, and K-12 uses expand from 2026. Guidance is still settling, so confirm specifics with a tax professional.
Study-abroad terms
A semester abroad is qualified when it runs through Champlain College or another eligible institution and is billed as part of enrollment. Airfare to get there is not.
Based on IRS Publication 970, chapter 7. Not tax advice.
Check a specific expense04Will the money last?
What Champlain College costs over four years, and beyond.
Prices keep rising while a student is enrolled, so the first-year figure understates the bill. Below is the full picture for a student starting in 2028–29, how the school’s prices have moved, and whether a 529 plan gets there.
National tuition growth has averaged roughly 3–5% a year.
Four-year total
$326,102
2028–29 through 2031–32
Add graduate school
–
Choose a program above to include it
Total to plan for
$326,102
4 years · on-campus housing
Year by year
- Undergraduate
| Year | Phase | Tuition | Living | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2028–29 | undergrad | $54,080 | $22,714 | $76,794 |
| 2029–30 | undergrad | $56,243 | $23,622 | $79,865 |
| 2030–31 | undergrad | $58,493 | $24,567 | $83,060 |
| 2031–32 | undergrad | $60,833 | $25,550 | $86,383 |
Does your 529 get there?
Enter what you have and what you add each month. Nothing is saved.
Age-based 529 portfolios have historically returned roughly 5–7% a year before college.
Shortfall
$290,382short
By 2028–29 the plan would hold about $35,720. It covers 11% of the estimated cost and runs out in 2028–29.
To fully fund it
$10,636/mo
instead of $300/mo, starting now
Or a one-time deposit
$233,954
added today, keeping $300/mo
- 2028–29−$77k−$41k
- 2029–30−$80k−$121k
- 2030–31−$83k−$204k
- 2031–32−$86k−$290k
Balances keep earning the expected return while the student is enrolled. Estimates only; not investment advice.
Turn this into a real plan for Champlain College
Save this savings goal for free, even if Champlain College is years away. When the bills start, verify every expense against IRS rules and keep audit-ready records for $9/month.
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