Titled Higher Education Perspectives & The State of Saving, the survey found that while 75% of Americans deem a post-high-school education important for becoming wealthy, uncertainty persists when it comes to achieving it. 

The survey’s findings include several key themes that respondents expressed, including:

• Higher education is still viewed as necessary to become wealthy, but there are many pathways to success.
• Parents and other savers have a high degree of confidence they can reach their education savings goals, yet many still plan to take on debt to bridge the gap.
• Millennials and Gen Zers have the lowest amount of 529 awareness, despite being next in line to fund higher education for their children, a loved one, or themselves.
• Concerns about using 529s are rooted in misunderstanding how they operate and how much savers must contribute.
• The most compelling features of 529s are related to flexibility (location, spending options aside from tuition, and the ability to use the savings even if a child does not pursue higher education).

• Kicking the tires of a 529 glide path (article, issued May 2023)
• The early bird gets the advantage, and other tips for college savings (article, issued May 2022)
• How to estimate the net cost of college (even when it’s a long way off) (article, issued May 2022)