Private school, other religious
Bethel Lutheran School
Bay City, MI · Grades PK to 8 · 68 students
Can a 529 pay for Bethel Lutheran School?
Yes. Federal law lets a 529 plan pay tuition at a private, public or religious elementary or secondary school, up to $20,000 a year per student. Bethel Lutheran School is a private school serving grades pk to 8, so its tuition is the kind of cost this covers.
What a 529 can pay
- Tuition, up to $20,000 a year per student
- Curriculum, books and instructional materials
- Tutoring and classes outside the home
- Fees for SAT, ACT, AP and other exams
- Online educational materials
- Educational therapies for a student with a disability
What it can’t
- Registration, application and building fees
- Activity, field trip and technology fees
- Uniforms, sports and extracurriculars
- School meals and transportation
- Aftercare and summer camps
Ask Bethel Lutheran School which of its charges are billed as tuition. Fees added to a tuition bill are not always covered.
What Michigan does with it
The tax rule is your state of residence’s, so this applies if you live in Michigan.
Michigan does not follow the federal K-12 rule
Michigan does not treat K-12 withdrawals from a 529 as qualified. The earnings part is generally taxed as Michigan income, and a Michigan deduction you took for contributing may be taken back. Federally the withdrawal can still be tax-free, so the question is whether the benefit is worth the state tax.
General information, not tax advice. Source: Saving for College, which states conform to federal 529 law (Jan. 2026). How it works
Plan and track Bethel Lutheran School costs
Add this school to a free plan, see how it fits with college savings, and log each tuition bill, book and test fee so it is checked against the rules and ready for tax time.
More private schools in Bay City
- All Saints Central Middle & High SchoolGrades 6 to 12
- All Saints ElementaryGrades PK to 5
- Faith Lutheran SchoolGrades PK to 8
- Immanuel Lutheran SchoolGrades PK to 8
- St. Johns Lutheran SchoolGrades K to 8
- St. Paul Lutheran SchoolGrades PK to 7
- Trinity Evangelical Lutheran SchoolGrades PK to 8
- Trinity Lutheran School, MonitorGrades PK to 8
School details: Bay City, MI · Private (other religious) · Grades PK to 8. Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (2021-22). General information, not tax advice.