How to pay using a 529 Savings Plan

A 529 plan is an education savings plan operated by a state or educational institution designed to help families set aside funds for future K-12 or college education costs.

BGSU accepts payments by mail or online (if your plan allows) from 529 plans. Please use this page to learn more about this payment option.

How to pay online

If you wish to pay online, first you need to find out if your 529 plan allows you to pay online. If it does, you will then follow either the student or the family online payment process.

Please Note: There is a $10 service fee for each payment transaction when paying online. A one-time $10 service fee is assessed when signing up for the Installment Payment Plan auto pay. To avoid this fee, you may contact your 529 Plan directly and have a check issued.

Students paying online

As a student, you can make your payment through MyBGSU.

  1. Log in to MyBGSU > Student Center > Account Summary > Make Payment
  2. Select Click Here to make a payment
  3. Select Payment toward my student account
  4. Enter the amount you wish to pay
  5. Enter Reference (Optional)
  6. Select Checkout
  7. Select Link My 529 Saving Plan
  8. Enter the requested information
  9. Select Continue
  10. Follow the prompts until you have submitted your payment.
Family/Student supporters paying online

If you have been given proxy access to your student's billing information, you can pay online by logging in to Access BGSU. If you havent been given access, your student will need to initiate the request by following the Access BGSU setup process, before you can begin.

What 529 Savings Plans accept online payment?

The following 529 Savings Plans accept onlline payment:

  • iShares 529 Plan
  • GIFT Arkansas 529 Plan
  • ScholarShare 529
  • CollegeInvest Direct Portfolio College Savings Plan
  • Scholars Choice 529 Plan
  • DC College Savings Plan
  • Path2College 529 Plan
  • IDeal Idaho College Savings Program
  • CollegeChoice Advisor 529 Savings Plan
  • CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings Plan
  • Learning Quest Advisor
  • Learning Quest Education Savings Program
  • KY Saves 529 Plan
  • MI 529 Advisor Plan
  • Michigan Education Savings Program (Direct Plan)
  • Missouri Saving for Tuition
  • Minnesota College Savings Plan
  • North Dakota: College SAVECollegeAdvantage Direct 529 Savings Plan
  • Oklahoma College Savings Plan
  • CollegeBound 529
  • CollegeBound Saver
  • TNStars College Savings 529 Program
  • Edvest College Savings Plan
  • The Hartford SMART529 College Savings Plan
  • SMART529 WV Direct College Savings Plan

How to pay by mail

You can pay by mail by contacting your 529 plan and requesting a check to be mailed to BGSU. Payments can take up to two weeks to arrive by mail at BGSU after you request them. So it is important that you request your 529 plan payment well in advance of the University's published payment due dates.  

Mail check payments to:

Office of the Bursar
1001 E. Wooster Street
Bowling Green, OH 43403

  • Make checks payable to: BGSU
  • Please include the student ID number on the check

Office of the Bursar

In-Person Assistance Main Campus:
227 Bowen-Thompson Student Union*

Mailing Address & Payments:
Office of the Bursar
1001 E. Wooster Street
Bowling Green, OH 43403

419-372-2815
Fax: 419-372-7665
bursar@bgsu.edu

Firelands Campus:
419-372-0655

Office Hours:
Monday-Friday | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

*We do not accept cash payments. We can answer questions and advise you in-person but all payments will need to be paid online or check by U.S. mail.

Updated: 05/17/2024 08:37AM