Senator: Take advantage of college savings plans

COLUMBUS -- September is National College Savings Month, and a state senator from Trumbull County says more people from the area need to take advantage of Ohio's plans.
Sen. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-32nd, a board member of the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority, says Ohio's college savings programs are especially important to the Mahoning Valley.
"We're running an education deficit in this state and especially in this area," he said. "Obviously we can do much better in getting young people from this area through college."
He says roughly 20 percent of Americans have bachelor's degrees, while the percentage for Ohio is 17 percent.
The Trumbull County rate is about 11 percent.
Ohio Tuition Trust Authority administers a plan that allows Ohioans to put money away now for future higher education expenses.
Parents, grandparents and others can purchase tuition units at today's prices that can be used when a teen-ager or adult enters college.
Ohioans can also invest money for college in one of several funds, using proceeds to pay college expenses.
Both programs can be used at any accredited college or university in the country.
For more information on college savings, call the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority at (800)-Afford-It.