MIAMI (CBSMiami) — If you’re one of the thousands of parents who want to buy a Florida Prepaid College plan before the prices go up again, you only have until Thursday, January 31st, to enroll and lock in this year’s prices.

The program doesn’t open again until October when next year’s plans are released.

“Saving in this economy is difficult, but the peace of mind a Florida Prepaid College Plan offers families is more valuable today than ever,” said Chairman Duane Ottenstroer of the Florida Prepaid College Board. “With college costs rising, the savings options of a prepaid plan gives
Florida families an opportunity to safely save for their childʼs college education.”

A prepaid college savings plan can be purchased for children and grandchildren as soon as they are born and up until the 11th grade.

Four flexible plan options are available to lock in tuition and most fees at Floridaʼs 11 state universities and 28 colleges (formerly known as community colleges).

• 2-Year Florida 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).
• 4-Year Florida College Plan: launched in 2010 in response to the evolving Florida College landscape, this 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.
• 2 + 2 Florida Plan: prepays 60 lower division semester hours of tuition, registration fees and local fees at a Florida College and 60 undergraduate semester hours of tuition, registration fees, tuition differential fee and local fees at a state university in Florida.
• 4-Year Florida University Plan: prepays tuition, registration fees, the tuition differential fee and local fees for 120 semester hours at any of the 12 state universities in Florida.

When children are ready for college, the planʼs full dollar value, what would be paid to a Florida higher education institution, can be transferred to most private and out-of-state colleges.

To buy a new or add-on plan, go to www.myfloridaprepaid.com.