Start a 529 Account

‍Studies have shown that children with college savings of just $500 are three times more likely to enroll in higher education and four times more likely to graduate.

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What is a 529 account?

ScholarShare 529 is a California-based 529 account, which helps people save for college and education-related expenses.

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How is This Different from a Typical Savings Account?

529 accounts can help you save on your taxes: any earnings and withdrawals are tax-free when they are used toward education-related expenses. This includes tuition, housing, computers, WiFi, books and more at any eligible college, university or vocational school as well as some K-12 schools.

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One of the biggest differences between a traditional savings account and a 529 is how your money grows. While a traditional savings account may garner 1% interest, a 529 account works similarly to a 401k. Money in your account is invested in stocks and bonds, allowing your money to grow bigger and faster.

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ScholarShare Perks

Investment expenses for ScholarShare plans are half the cost of other 529 plans. In addition, with ScholarShare , many cities and counties across California have programs that help put money towards your 529 account. See if your community offers any ScholarShare incentives here.

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Ready to Get Started?

Visit ScholarShare529.org to start your account today!

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Undocumented or Have an ITIN?

Participants are not required to have a Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to access and use the money in their CalKIDS accounts. 

Anyone with a valid Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number can open a ScholarShare529 account. 

Learn more here.

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Knowledge Check

Let's do a quick knowledge check on 529 accounts!

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