Florida's Prepaid Plan is different from Florida's 529 Investment plan, and it works differently with Backpack too. Instead of linking an account and withdrawing funds to your Backpack balance, a Florida Prepaid submission goes straight to your university on your behalf once approved.
If your university has enabled the Backpack integration with Florida Prepaid, here's how it works.
Submitting a payment
Visit the Florida Prepaid payment widget on your university's website and click Get Started.
Enter your Student Information: Student First Name, Student Last Name, Student ID, Plan Number, and a Contact Email. Make sure this exactly matches what's on file with your Florida Prepaid Tuition account.
Under Payment Request, select your Expense Type, Year, and Term, then choose the type of funding request you want to make.
Under Billing Evidence, upload a copy of the tuition bill you received from your university.
Click Review & Submit.
You'll receive a confirmation number so you can track your payment status. Backpack submits your request to Florida Prepaid on your behalf, and once Florida Prepaid approves it, funds are sent to your university.
Tracking your payment: Your submission moves through three stages: Submitted, Approved, and University Has Received Funds. Once a submission shows Approved, your university should see the funds on the student account shortly after.
How long does it take? Please allow up to a week for Florida Prepaid to review and approve your submission. If it's been longer than that, reach out to us and we're happy to look into it.
Don't have your confirmation number? Contact us at [email protected] with the student's name and we can look up your submission.
Questions specifically about your Florida Prepaid account or contract? Florida Prepaid's team can help at [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Can I link my Florida Prepaid plan to Backpack and withdraw funds like a 529 Investment plan?
No. Florida Prepaid pays your university directly once your submission is approved, rather than transferring funds to a linked Backpack account.
Are there any fees to use Backpack for a Florida Prepaid submission?
No. There are no fees for student families to use Backpack.
How do I know if my university supports Florida Prepaid payments through Backpack?
Visit Backpack’s university directory and select your university to open its payment portal. If your university has enabled Florida Prepaid payments through Backpack, you’ll see a Prepaid Tuition payment option. Click that option and follow the instructions to submit your payment request.
If you don’t see a Prepaid Tuition option, your university has not currently enabled the Backpack integration with Florida Prepaid. You can still submit a payment request directly through Florida Prepaid’s portal.
What if my university doesn't use the Backpack Florida Prepaid widget?
Your funds will still reach the university if you submit through Florida Prepaid's own portal, but we recommend using the Backpack widget if your school offers it, since it makes it easier to match your payment to your student account.