Open House Focuses on Financial Security, Savvy as College Illinois!SM Deadline Ends

Parent and grandparents can learn how to provide for future college tuition for as little as $57 a month

DEERFIELD, Ill.— College Illinois!SM program officials will provide one-on-one assistance with application materials and last minute questions at an open house at its Deerfield, Ill. office on Wednesday, April 22, 2009. April 30 is the last day to enroll at current rates. The flexible SmartChoice College Illinois! pricing plans provide financial security with rates that keep pace with tuition inflation, which has risen eight percent per year over the past 20 years in Illinois. College Illinois!, the state’s 529 prepaid tuition program offers the only solution for stopping tuition inflation in its tracks.

College Illinois! allows purchasers to protect a child’s college education from tuition inflation by locking in a price now to cover future tuition and fees. The program provides an opportunity for families to pay less for their children’s college education and allows students the freedom to enroll in universities nationwide.

"Illinoisans look to College Illinois! every year for a safe and smart way to provide for their childrens’ educational futures," said Andy Davis, executive director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. "Now, perhaps more than ever, this program helps us bring the ISAC mission of making college accessible and affordable to Illlinois students into financial reality."

Parents and grandparents who attend the open house anytime between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission building, 1755 Lake Cook Road (across from the Hyatt), can ask questions and consult one-on-one with program representatives throughout the evening. A Spanish-speaking representative and information and enrollment materials in both English and Spanish will also be available.

Registration for the open house is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. To register, visit collegeillinois.com and click on the registration link for the College Illinois! open house or call the program toll-free at 877.877.3724, option 3.

Additional College Illinois! Contract Benefits & Details

Not only can Illinois taxpayers deduct up to $10,000 per individual or $20,000 for married couples filing jointly, but all plan earnings are exempt from state and federal tax exemptions as well.* College Illinois! applications can be completed online in less than 10 minutes at collegeillinois.com.

SmartChoice pricing provides three distinct price levels with different payment options. The plans are completely flexible and let the purchaser choose a pricing option that best matches financial needs and realities. Combination plans including four semesters at a community college and four semesters at a university level are also available. Various payment options include monthly and annual installments and multiple down payment levels. In addition, program beneficiaries can choose to attend college anywhere because benefits can be used outside of the state at public and private institutions nationwide.

College Illinois! is open for enrollment through April 30, 2009. For more information about College Illinois!, or to enroll in the program, visit http://www.collegeillinois.com/ or call 877.877.3724.

About College Illinois! and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission:

Administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), College Illinois! is a secure college funding option. Similar to an insurance policy, College Illinois! is a contract between the purchaser and the state of Illinois that ensures tuition and fee benefits for college.

Since the program’s inception in 1998, more than 62,500 prepaid tuition contracts with a value of more than $1.4 billion have been purchased. The program’s Trust Fund is managed by professional money managers and is subject to oversight by the program’s Investment Advisory Panel and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission provides students of all ages and backgrounds with the resources and support to obtain financial aid for higher education. A state agency, ISAC has paved the path to post-secondary education with innovative programs for more than 50 years. Last year alone, ISAC continued its mission to make college affordable for Illinois students by issuing 185,000 grants and scholarships totaling more than $448 million. Students and families have free access to a wealth of financial aid and college planning information at ISAC’s family of websites at: http://www.knowhowtogoillinois.org/.

*Neither ISAC nor College Illinois! can provide legal or tax advice. Please consult a professional tax advisor concerning federal and state tax implications or purchasing any contract.