| When parents, grandparents, other family members and friends gather for the holidays this year, one gift for students that is sure to be popular is the one that will truly last a lifetime — a college education.
Purchasing units in Washington’s Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program makes the gift of education a viable option for families. GET allows the purchase of prepaid tuition units that can be used in the future, at any accredited college, university, technical or trade school in the country. By buying GET units, you can lock in the cost of future tuition at today’s prices.
All money invested in the GET program on behalf of a student is 100 percent guaranteed by the state of Washington. One hundred units buys the equivalent of one year of tuition and state-mandated fees at the highest-priced four-year public college or university in the state. This year’s unit price is $42. Once a GET account is opened, anyone can add to it and special gift cards are available.
“This program offers families an excellent gift — to put money away for college,” said Betty Lochner, Director of the GET program. “College tuition rose nearly seven percent this year, and is expected to continue rising even faster in the future. Locking in tuition costs now makes sense. And with the guarantee of the State behind it, families have the confidence of knowing their investments are secure and not subject to changes in the financial markets.”
Families can purchase units in lump sums, or on a customized payment plan to meet their needs.
Investing in GET accounts is easy. Families can request enrollment packages by calling (877) GET-TUIT, or by visiting www.get.wa.gov. | 
