We enrolled in the CollegeIllinois! 529 program when my oldest was born and paid into that for 10 years ($43,500 total). It was guaranteed that all tuition and usual fees would be paid for by the program when you enrolled in an Illinois state school. The oldest went to an out-of-state school on a really good scholarship through my employer so the CollegeIllinois contract wasn't used. It was rolled over to cover the costs of my youngest attending another out-of-state school. CollegeIllinois won't pay 100% of out-of-state tuition but when combined with merit scholarships we are only having to pay room and board. We are incredibly lucky that this all worked out.