Can a 529 plan be used to pay for USF room and board?
DIRECT ANSWER
This answer preserves school guidance recorded on 2026-09-01. Follow the linked university sources for current requirements, costs and dates.
Yes, a 529 plan can generally pay qualified room-and-board costs when federal requirements are met.
IRS rules treat room and board as a qualified higher-education expense for an eligible student enrolled at least half time, subject to the applicable cost-of-attendance or institution-owned-housing limits. USF also supports line-item payments to the student account, so families should coordinate the 529 distribution with the exact housing and meal charges.
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