HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvanians poured more than $1 billion into education and disability savings last year, delivering a record-breaking performance for two cornerstone Treasury programs and signaling growing confidence in long-term financial planning.
State Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced that combined contributions to the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program and the PA ABLE program topped the $1 billion mark in 2025, the strongest year on record for both initiatives.
“The record growth of both the PA 529 and PA ABLE programs shows that Pennsylvanians are committed to investing in themselves or their loved ones,” Garrity said, crediting outreach efforts aimed at connecting residents statewide with Treasury-backed savings tools.
The PA 529 program led the surge, setting records for enrollments and contributions. During 2025, families opened 32,349 new accounts and contributed more than $960 million. Within that total, the PA 529 Investment Plan logged 22,157 new accounts and $726.4 million in contributions, both program highs.
The PA 529 program allows families to save for a broad range of education expenses, including college, technical and trade schools, K–12 education, apprenticeships, and credential programs. Account holders benefit from tax-free growth and qualified withdrawals, annual state income tax deductions on contributions, and exemptions from Pennsylvania inheritance tax. Treasury officials say PA 529 savings also do not affect eligibility for state financial aid.
Statewide, more than 330,000 PA 529 accounts now hold over $9 billion earmarked for future education costs.
The PA ABLE program also posted a banner year, opening 2,981 new accounts and recording $48.5 million in contributions. Designed for Pennsylvanians with disabilities, PA ABLE allows savings without jeopardizing benefits such as Supplemental Security Income, while offering tax-free growth and tax-exempt qualified withdrawals for disability-related expenses.
PA ABLE accounts can be used for necessities ranging from rent and groceries to healthcare, assistive technology, and vehicle modifications. The program now ranks as the fifth largest ABLE program in the nation, with more than 11,900 accounts and over $190 million in assets.
Beginning this month, eligibility for PA ABLE expanded to include individuals whose disability onset occurred before age 46, up from the previous cutoff of 26.
Treasury officials also pointed to repeated fee reductions under Garrity’s tenure, which they say have saved families more than $22 million since she took office.
More information on PA 529, PA ABLE, and other Treasury programs is available at https://www.patreasury.gov/consumer.
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