Debt-Free College: One Family’s Success Story

It’s a big year for the Zolla family.

Gabi, Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Southern New Hampshire University, and her husband, William, are celebrating their oldest child, Ruthie, graduating from Pitzer College, a top-ranked school in California. Meanwhile, their son is finishing his senior year of high school. With one child graduating debt-free and the other making big college plans, Gabi reflects on the financial decisions that got them here.

“When Ruthie was born, I remember thinking that the price of tuition was just going to climb, so any dollars we could lock in today would go so much further,” says Gabi. “Private College 529 Plan turned out to be a tremendous benefit.”

Getting started, staying consistent

By starting early and saving monthly, the Zollas took full advantage of a long runway. They locked in lower tuition rates at hundreds of schools in the plan – including Pitzer – and gained considerable tax-free growth in their account.

Between Private College 529 Plan and additional savings in two 529 investment accounts, one owned by Gabi’s father-in-law, the Zollas were preparing to cover as many college expenses as possible. “We promised our kids a debt-free undergraduate experience,” says Gabi.

Saving pays off

By the time Ruthie was a junior in high school, the Zollas had saved one year of tuition and fees at several colleges in the plan, including their daughter’s top choice. Gabi laughs, “Had we known that Ruthie would end up at Pitzer, we would have put all our money in Private College 529 Plan.”

Since the Zollas’ Private College 529 account kept pace with tuition inflation over the years, its value nearly doubled. As a result, they were able to cover the $57,978 tuition for Ruthie’s first year at Pitzer.

Crossing the finish line

Today, Ruthie is getting ready to graduate with a major in Critical Global Studies and a minor in Spanish. Her experience at Pitzer has been highly experiential, and she hopes to apply her degree to social justice work. For mom and dad, they just took their last Private College 529 redemption to cover a portion of Ruthie’s spring semester.

When asked what advice she would offer to parents just starting out, Gabi recommends, “Do your research and start saving early. For us, Private College 529 Plan made sense because it took the complexity out of saving.”

Gabi and William Zolla originally shared their story in January 2025.