MEFA Transitions U.Plan Prepaid Tuition Program to New Online Platform

The updated U.Plan platform, powered by Catalis, offers enhanced features to help Massachusetts families save for college.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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MEFA, the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, announced that its U.Plan prepaid tuition program will transition to a new online platform developed in partnership with Catalis, an integrated payments and SaaS provider. The updated U.Plan platform will offer a streamlined and mobile-friendly experience, including new features like the ability to make contributions via PayPal and Venmo, automatic payroll deductions, and simplified multi-factor authentication.

Why it matters

The U.Plan has helped Massachusetts families save for college for over 30 years by allowing them to lock in today's tuition rates at participating schools. This transition to a new digital platform aims to make the U.Plan more accessible and user-friendly, empowering more families to take advantage of this long-standing college savings program.

The details

The updated U.Plan platform will offer a fully online, end-to-end user experience, with new payment options like PayPal and Venmo, automatic payroll contributions, and streamlined multi-factor authentication. Families will also be able to see the value of their savings at each participating school. MEFA partnered with Catalis, which has extensive experience supporting education-focused savings programs, to develop the new platform.

  • The transition to the new U.Plan platform began on February 17, 2026.
  • The U.Plan program celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2026.

The players

MEFA

The Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority, a state authority established in 1982 to help Massachusetts students and families access and afford higher education.

Catalis

An integrated payments and SaaS partner that has deep experience supporting the postsecondary education savings industry.

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What they’re saying

“For over 40 years, MEFA has been committed to helping families plan and save for the future. This year, as the U.Plan celebrates 30 years of helping families save for college, we're proud to enhance the online experience to empower even more families to save with confidence and help students pursue their dreams.”

— Thomas Graf, MEFA's Executive Director

“Catalis is proud to partner with MEFA, a pioneer and national leader in helping families save and pay for college. We look forward to delivering state-of-the-art technology and modern digital tools to the families and students who utilize the U.Plan to advance their education and careers.”

— Maria Padin, Catalis VP Strategic Relationships

What’s next

The enhanced U.Plan platform with the new features will be available to current and prospective savers starting on February 17, 2026.

The takeaway

The transition of the U.Plan prepaid tuition program to a new digital platform powered by Catalis demonstrates MEFA's ongoing commitment to providing Massachusetts families with innovative and user-friendly tools to help them save and plan for the rising costs of higher education.