Florida Prepaid College Plans Annual Open Enrollment Begins Oct. 18

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Florida Prepaid College Board begins its 2010-2011 annual enrollment period on Monday, October 18, which means parents can purchase a Prepaid College Plan to prepay higher education costs at this year's plan prices until the January 31, 2011 deadline. This open enrollment season, plans will include tuition and most mandatory fees, and Florida Prepaid is introducing a 4-Year Florida College Plan in response to the evolving Florida College landscape. The Florida Prepaid College Plans continue to help families save smartly for future college expenses.

"This year, we are expanding our consumer-friendly savings choices with the introduction of a new plan option - the 4-Year Florida College Plan - to allow a student to obtain a bachelor's degree in many workforce related areas such as teaching, nursing and business management at one of Florida's 28 Colleges," said Chairman Duane Ottenstroer of the Florida Prepaid College Board. "Our goal is to make the plans more comprehensive and to keep the plans relevant for college savings today, as well as less confusing for Florida families."

The Florida Prepaid College Board's plan options include:

• 4-Year Florida University Plan: prepays tuition, registration fees, the tuition differential fee and local fees for 120 semester hours at any of the 11 state universities in Florida.
• 2 + 2 Florida Plan: prepays 60 lower division semester hours of tuition, registration fees and local fees at a Florida College (formerly known as a community college) and 60 undergraduate semester hours of tuition, registration fees, tuition differential fee and local fees at a Florida state university.
• 4-Year Florida College Plan: prepays the tuition, registration fees and local fees for 60 lower division as well as 60 upper division semester hours at a Florida College (formerly known as a community college).
• 2-Year Florida College Plan (formerly Community College Plan): prepays 60 lower division semester hours of tuition, registration fees and local fees at a Florida College (formerly known as a community college).

Since 1988, families have purchased more than 1.4 million Florida Prepaid College Plans, making it the largest and most successful prepaid plan in the nation. One in 10 Florida children has a prepaid college plan.

When a child is ready for college, this year's Florida Prepaid College Plan will cover the cost of tuition and most required fees at Florida's 11 state universities and 28 Florida Colleges (formerly known as community colleges) and can also include dormitory housing. If the student decides to attend a private college in Florida, out-of-state college or technical school, the value of the plan may be transferred to any eligible educational institution. To qualify for a plan, the child or child's parent/guardian must be a Florida resident. Parents, grandparents, friends and even businesses can purchase a plan.

For much more information on new plan options or to sign up online for the Florida Prepaid College Plan, families can visit www.myfloridaprepaid.com or call 1-800-552-GRAD (4723) to request an Enrollment Kit in English or Spanish and speak with a customer service representative.

*Florida Prepaid College Plans offers two different plans. The Florida Prepaid College Plan is a prepaid plan guaranteed by the State of Florida; see s. 1009.98(7), Fla.Stat. Florida's state universities and state colleges impose fees not covered by the Prepaid Plan. The Florida College Investment Plan is a college savings plan and is not guaranteed. Returns will fluctuate; you could lose all or part of your funds. Read the Investment Plan Disclosure Statement before investing. This ad does not offer financial or other advice; consult your own advisors.

SOURCE Florida Prepaid College Plan