September is National College Savings Month: Enter to Win a College Savings Deposit
Read more about National College Savings Month in this guest article from Treasurer of State, Roby Smith. The ISL Education Lending Scholarship for Iowa high school and college students and their parents and guardians is open between now and December 4, 2026.
Why You Should Enter
- You have a chance to win.
ISL Education Lending will award 18 $2,500 deposits into ISave 529 (formerly College Savings Iowa) plan accounts. Iowa residents in high school or undergraduate college are eligible to enter, as are the parents, guardians or others who hold an ISave 529 account for a high school or undergraduate college student. Entering is simple: Visit our website and follow the link to enter. - Find tips in our Parent Handbook.
Take the time to explore the Parent Handbook for tips on academic success, exploring careers and education, selecting and applying to programs, and paying for college or other education. - Time may still be on your side.
Starting to save as early as you can allows more time for contributions to be added and those investments to grow before college bills start arriving. A 529 account is one method of saving, and it can be a significant element in your overall college financial plan.
How the Award Boosts Your Account
- Each $2,500 award is added to the ISave 529 plan account (either new or existing). Once it’s in an account for your student, it begins to earn interest according to your investment choices.
- This chart shows how creating an account with $1,000 and investing an additional $100 each month afterward grows at a 6.00% interest rate. (Estimated interest only; past performance of any investment choice does not indicate future returns.) The sooner you start, the more months your investment can grow before you need to pay educational costs.
What Else You Can Do
- Learn more about ISave 529 in this guest article from the State Treasurer of Iowa.
ISave 529 is the state-sponsored 529 plan that lets you save for education expenses and provides certain tax benefits. Visit www.ISave529.com to learn more about how 529 plans work and how to get started. - Understand education costs.
Depending on your student’s possible goals, multiple educational options may still be on the table at this point, and now is the time to explore the costs of those options and make a financial plan.
Supporting Tomorrow, Together: Help Build a Child’s Educational Future
Every child’s future is shaped by a village of people who encourage, inspire and invest in their dreams. Parents, grandparents, family members, educators, mentors, friends and community organizations all have a role to play in helping children build a bright future.
This fall, ISave 529™ is celebrating the power of a village with the Supporting Tomorrow, Together Giveaway. Register at Iowa529contest.com for the chance to win a $1,000 contribution to an ISave 529 account and help build a child’s educational future. The giveaway ends September 30.
An ISave 529 account can help families save for qualified education expenses at eligible institutions, including colleges, universities, apprenticeship programs and trade schools. Funds may also be used for qualified expenses beyond tuition, such as K-12 expenses, room and board, books, supplies and a computer.
The earnings grow tax-free while in the account, and there are no federal or state taxes on qualified withdrawals. Iowa taxpayers have the added benefit of deducting up to $6,100 in contributions per account from their 2026 state income taxes.
Whether you’re a parent saving for your child, a grandparent looking for a meaningful way to give, or a mentor who wants to make a difference, every member of a child’s village can help build their tomorrow. Learn more about how ISave 529 can be part of that village at ISave529.com or contact us at (888) 672-9116.
Roby Smith
Iowa State Treasurer
About the Author: Roby Smith is the State Treasurer of Iowa and administrator of the ISave 529 education savings plan. He serves as the State’s banker, coordinates bonding and invests Iowa’s money. Treasurer Smith is also the administrator of Iowa’s unclaimed property and Iowa’s ABLE plan for individuals with disabilities. To learn more about the Treasurer, visit IowaTreasurer.gov.
For additional details about ISave 529, read the Program Description. ISave 529 and the ISave 529 logo are trademarks of the Iowa Educational Savings Plan Trust.
Next Steps
Be sure to complete the survey questions at the end of this article to be entered into the 529 deposit giveaway!
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