College Savings

TIPS Program

With the TIPS program, you may be eligible for a 4-to-1 match!

Encouraging families to save for the future costs of college

The Tennessee Investments Preparing Scholars (TIPS) program was created to encourage families of qualifying income levels to save for the growing costs associated with post secondary education.

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The Tennessee Investments Preparing Scholars (TIPS) program can help you save more for college!

You want your kids to go to college. Find out how TIPS can help you get them there. Parents want to save and invest in their child’s future, but getting started can be the hardest part. The Tennessee Department of Treasury created a program to help. Tennessee Investments Preparing Scholars (TIPS) is a 4-to-1 matching grant program encouraging families of all income levels to save for the future cost of college.

TIPS program logo. Tennessee Investments Preparing Scholars

Here's how it works

A program of the Tennessee Treasury Department, TIPS is a matching grant program offering incentives to participate in the TNStars® College Savings 529 Program to Tennessee residents meeting certain household income requirements.

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4-to-1 match

When a qualifying family establishes a TNStars® account and enrolls a beneficiary in the TIPS program, the state will provide a 4-to-1 matching contribution.

That’s $100 for every $25 contributed by the account holder. Beneficiaries can receive a match of $500 per year, with a lifetime maximum match of $1,500.

2022 Total Federal Adjusted Gross Income*

If you are a Tennessee resident and your income does not exceed the limits below, you may qualify for a 4-to-1 match for college savings. Persons in a family or household:

1 = $33,975
2 = $45,775
3 = $57,575
4 = $69,375

5 = $81,175
6 = $92,975
7 = $104,775
8 = $116,575

9 = $128,375
10 = $140,175
11 = $151,975
12 = $163,775

13 = $175,575
14 = $187,375

*The TIPS program income limits are based on 250% of federal poverty guidelines. Beginning on January 1, 2023 through June 30, 2023,
TIPS applicants may use either the 2021 tax return or the 2022 tax return with the TIPS program application.

Get started today!

Open a TNStars® account with a minimum contribution of $25.
Complete the TIPS application, which you can find below.
Submit a tax return or transcript for each income earner in the household.

Open a TNStars account

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TIPS Reference Guide cover page

TIPS Resources to Keep or Share!

Know someone who could benefit from the TIPS 4-to-1 matching grant, or just want to keep some additional information on hand for your own use? Use the button below to download our TIPS Reference Guide!

Download the TIPS Reference Guide

TIPS forms

Use the following forms and documents to learn more, apply for, and manage your TIPS program account.
The Qualifying Period will begin August 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
No applications will be processed that are not postmarked by June 30, 2023.

Rollover of TIPS matching grant funds is not permitted. Also, if funds in the correlating TNStars account are rolled over to another plan, the balance in the TNStars account should not become less than the balance in the TIPS accounts. Otherwise, the amount in the TIPS account that exceeds the balance in the TNStars account will be forfeited.

TIPS program application TIPS program description
TIPS withdrawal of funds TIPS change of beneficiary