Launch529

Private school, catholic

St. Joseph School

Columbia, SC · Grades PK to 6 · 257 students

Can a 529 pay for St. Joseph 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. St. Joseph School is a private school serving grades pk to 6, 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 St. Joseph School which of its charges are billed as tuition. Fees added to a tuition bill are not always covered.

What South Carolina does with it

The tax rule is your state of residence’s, so this applies if you live in South Carolina.

No difference reported for K-12 tuition in South Carolina

As of January 2026, South Carolina is not listed as treating K-12 tuition differently from federal law. State rules change, and a deduction you took for contributing can have its own conditions.

General information, not tax advice. Source: Saving for College, which states conform to federal 529 law (Jan. 2026). How it works

Plan and track St. Joseph 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 Columbia

School details: Columbia, SC · Private (Catholic) · Grades PK to 6. Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (2021-22). General information, not tax advice.