CollegeBound Saint Paul

Investing in Every Child’s Future

In Mayor Carter's 2017 inaugural address, he announced a bold vision: to invest in every child’s education. Working together, the people of Saint Paul made that vision a reality. Since January 1, 2020, every baby born in the City has received a college savings account with a $50 seed deposit.

Generous individual donors and local nonprofits provide the initial funding.
Families contribute their own funds and take advantage of incentive bonuses to grow their child’s account over time.

As of spring 2025, our community has invested $3.5 million in the future of CollegeBound children.

Visit the CollegeBound Website to Learn More

CollegeBound Programs

CollegeBound Saint Paul

The City of Saint Paul provides a college savings account with $50 for each child who lives in Saint Paul and was born on or after January 1, 2020. Families can earn bonuses for their child's college savings account through optional programming.

CollegeBound connects families to early childhood and financial education resources. Together, we're building a brighter future for our families and our City.

Learn More About CollegeBound

A woman wearing a light blue blazer and headscarf sits on a bench with her two young children on either side. There is a row of school lockers behind them.

CollegeBound Elementary

CollegeBound is partnering with Saint Paul Public Schools elementary schools to provide new opportunities for families. These include:

Earning bonuses for CollegeBound Accounts
Learning about college and career opportunities
Navigating the financial system

CollegeBound Elementary programming launched in the fall of 2024, when the first CollegeBound children entered Pre-Kindergarten.

Learn More About CollegeBound Elementary

How a College Savings Account Works

College savings accounts help children save for the future. They're often used for post-high school education. This includes four- and two-year colleges, and workforce or vocational training.

Open Account

Accounts can be opened as early as birth or Kindergarten. They're seeded with initial deposits. CollegeBound Saint Paul accounts start with $50 provided by the program.

Enroll in CollegeBound

Grow Savings

Families can grow their college savings accounts through additional contributions. CollegeBound also offers opportunities for families to earn money for their child's account.

Earn CollegeBound Bonuses

Attend College or Training

College savings accounts help pay for post-high school education and training programs.

Graduate

Children from low- and moderate-income families who have between $1 and $500 in a college savings account are four times more likely to graduate.

A young woman carries a young baby on her back with a colorful woven wrap. An older woman stands behind her with her hands on the child's shoulders.

Enroll Your Child or Volunteer

Visit the CollegeBound program website to enroll, volunteer, or learn more about the program.

Families celebrate adding money to their college savings accounts

Featured Video: CollegeBound Deposit Day

"Research says that children from low- and moderate-income families who graduate from high school with more than $1 - not $10,000, not $100,000 - in a college savings account are three times more likely to go to college. When they do, they're four times more likely to graduate." -Mayor Carter