SAGE Tuition Reward Program Now Reaches 203 Colleges & 99,000 Families

SAGE Scholars, America's largest private college savings program with over 99,000 sponsored students, is changing the way families, colleges and savings companies approach college savings. This week, the Milwaukee School of Engineering became the 203rd U.S. private college to join the SAGE Tuition Reward Program, which provides guaranteed scholarships to families that save for college with participating financial providers

(PRWEB) May 14, 2007 -- Dr. James Johnston, CEO of SAGE Scholars, the nation's first savings plan exclusively devoted to private colleges and universities, today announced that its Tuition Reward Plan has exceeded 99,000 enrolled students and has signed its 203rd college, the Milwaukee School of Engineering.

MSOE, founded in 1903, is ranked 9th in the nation for undergraduate engineering schools, according to "America's Best Colleges.", compiled by US News & World Report. MSOE is the 12th Wisconsin college to join the Tuition Reward program.

Other schools to join SAGE in 2007 include Concordia University (Milwaukee, WI), Edgewood College (Madison, WI), Lincoln College (Lincoln, IL), Milliken University (Decatur, IL), Rockford College (Rockford, IL) and Wittenberg University (Springfield, OH). Thirty colleges joined in 2006. SAGE member colleges are now located in 33 states.

"We believe that reaching these milestones - over 200 colleges and 99,000 students -- verifies our concept, that families can be encouraged to plan and save for their children's -- or grandchildren's -- college education," Johnston said. "Our member colleges are working hard to keep higher education affordable for America's families."

The Tuition Reward program brings together three separate groups: families, colleges, and financial institutions. Families enroll and receive guaranteed scholarships -- of up to one full year's tuition -- at each of the 203 participating private colleges. Tuition Rewards represent the minimum scholarship that sponsored students will receive if and when they attend a member school.

Unlike other college savings plans, Tuition Reward participants can invest in a wide variety of financial vehicles, including mutual funds, CDs, money markets and annuities. Partners include the Pennsylvania and Wisconsin state 529 college savings plans.

About SAGE Scholars:
SAGE was founded in 1996 by Dr. James Johnston, the former head of admissions and financial aid at the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania. SAGE's Tuition Reward Program is now the largest private college savings program in the U.S., based on the number of participating students. SAGE's list of financial partners through which families can earn Tuition Rewards includes Asset Marketing Systems, Pennsylvania's TAP 529 Plan, Wisconsin's EdVest 529 Plan, the Monetta Family of Mutual Funds and others.

###