Canonical URL: https://giftcard.news/gift-cards/mefa-gift-of-college-card-sales-redemptions-2026/ --- description: The authority reports 3,677 cards purchased and nearly 3,000 redeemed, with higher average values in stores than online. title: MEFA Gift of College card sales exceed USD1.49 million image: https://giftcard.news/images/social/v1/mefa-gift-college-card-sales-exceed-usd1-49-million-40204ce07e55059d04eccd1c2cbf320a.jpg --- 1. [Home](https://giftcard.news/) 2. [Gift Cards](https://giftcard.news/gift-cards/) # MEFA Gift of College card sales exceed USD1.49 million The authority reports 3,677 cards purchased and nearly 3,000 redeemed, with higher average values in stores than online. By [Suzie Elis](https://giftcard.news/author/suzie-elis/) September 15, 2026 3 min read [ Google News ](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=giftcard.news&utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news) Share [ ](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fgift-cards%2Fmefa-gift-of-college-card-sales-redemptions-2026%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dx%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&text=MEFA+Gift+of+College+card+sales+exceed+USD1.49+million&utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news "X") [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fgift-cards%2Fmefa-gift-of-college-card-sales-redemptions-2026%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dlinkedin%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news "LinkedIn") [ ](https://wa.me/?text=MEFA+Gift+of+College+card+sales+exceed+USD1.49+million+https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fgift-cards%2Fmefa-gift-of-college-card-sales-redemptions-2026%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dwhatsapp%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news "WhatsApp") ![MEFA Gift of College card showing the U.Fund, U.Plan and Attainable programme names](https://giftcard.news/images/variants/v1/mefa-gift-college-card-sales-exceed-usd1-49-million-showing-u-fund-w700.webp) MEFA’s existing Gift of College card connects a gift purchase with a contribution to a savings or student-loan account. Photo: MEFA Sales of [MEFA](https://giftcard.news/organization/mefa/) [Gift of College](https://giftcard.news/company/gift-of-college/) Cards have exceeded USD1.49 million, with 3,677 cards purchased since the programme became available two years earlier, the Massachusetts education-financing authority reported on September 15. Nearly 3,000 of those cards had been redeemed, and most of the redeemed funds went into MEFA U.Fund College Investing Plan accounts. The figures are cumulative programme results, rather than sales or redemptions for September alone. [\[S01\]](#article-source-1) The announcement also gives a view of the distribution mix. MEFA said most cards were purchased in Massachusetts stores. In-store purchases averaged USD420, compared with an average value of USD181 for online cards. It did not publish the precise number of cards sold through each channel or a comparable earlier-period series from which to calculate sales growth. ## A gift that becomes an account contribution The card lets a giver contribute without collecting the recipient's savings or loan-account details. The recipient redeems the value online and directs it to a college savings, ABLE or student-loan account. Gift of College manages the card service, according to MEFA's programme guide. [\[S01\]](#article-source-1) [\[S02\]](#article-source-2) Redemption requires the recipient to create a profile and connect the selected savings plan or loan account, supplying its account and beneficiary information. The recipient then enters the gift-card number and PIN. MEFA's guide says the funds are sent to the selected account within 14 business days. This makes the card an intermediary between a retail gift purchase and an account contribution, rather than a card for buying general merchandise. MEFA is a Massachusetts state authority established to help students and families access and afford higher education. The gift-card service sits alongside its savings programmes, while permitting transfers to eligible accounts beyond the U.Fund plan that received most of the reported redemptions. [\[S01\]](#article-source-1) [\[S02\]](#article-source-2) The data behind the story ### MEFA card purchases and reported redemptions Cumulative programme counts; the redemption figure is reported only as nearly 3,000. MEFA card purchases and reported redemptions cards Tap or hover for details. All values are also available in the data table. Source MEFA September15 programme results The 3,000 bar is an approximate source reference, not an exact observed count. Redeemed cards are included among cards sold, so do not add the bars or calculate a precise redemption rate. Account contribution is not education spending or investment return. Show data tableHide data table Scroll left or right to see all columns __MEFA card purchases and reported redemptions (cards)__ | Category | MEFA card purchases and reported redemptions | | ---------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | | Cards purchased: 3,677 | 3,677 cards | | Cards redeemed: nearly 3,000 | 3,000 cards | ## Purchase charges sit outside the recipient's value Physical cards are sold at [Cumberland Farms](https://giftcard.news/company/cumberland-farms/), [Stop & Shop](https://giftcard.news/company/stop-shop/) and [CVS](https://giftcard.news/company/cvs/) in Massachusetts, with an electronic option available online. MEFA's published guide lists a USD5.95 purchase charge at Stop & Shop and Cumberland Farms and USD6.95 at CVS. Electronic cards also carry a purchase fee. The recipient receives the card's full face value and pays no additional fee, according to the guide. [\[S02\]](#article-source-2) The data behind the story ### MEFA card purchase charges by retailer Published physical-card fees paid outside the recipient’s face value. MEFA card purchase charges by retailer USD per card purchase Tap or hover for details. All values are also available in the data table. Source MEFA purchase and redemption guide Existing guide terms, not a measured programme fee-revenue total. The recipient receives full face value. Online fees are not included, and these are not recipient redemption charges. Show data tableHide data table Scroll left or right to see all columns __MEFA card purchase charges by retailer (USD per card purchase)__ | Category | MEFA card purchase charges by retailer | | ---------------- | -------------------------------------- | | Stop & Shop | 5.95 USD per card purchase | | Cumberland Farms | 5.95 USD per card purchase | | CVS | 6.95 USD per card purchase | The sales announcement does not disclose a fee-revenue total or the dollar value of outstanding cards. Its combination of sales, card counts, redemption counts and channel averages nevertheless provides operating evidence for an existing distribution programme, without establishing the return earned on the funds after they reach a savings account. ## In this article ### Companies * [CVS](https://giftcard.news/company/cvs/) * [Cumberland Farms](https://giftcard.news/company/cumberland-farms/) * [Gift of College](https://giftcard.news/company/gift-of-college/) * [Stop & Shop](https://giftcard.news/company/stop-shop/) ### Organizations * [MEFA](https://giftcard.news/organization/mefa/) ### Sources and documents * [\[S01\] Cumulative card sales, redemptions and distribution results](https://www.mefa.org/article/mefa-gift-of-college-card-sales-surpass-1-49-million-helping-families-save-for-college/?utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news) — MEFA * [\[S02\] Programme mechanics, account transfers and purchase fees](https://www.mefa.org/article/collegegift/?utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news) — MEFA Share [ ](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fgift-cards%2Fmefa-gift-of-college-card-sales-redemptions-2026%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dx%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&text=MEFA+Gift+of+College+card+sales+exceed+USD1.49+million&utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news "X") [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fgift-cards%2Fmefa-gift-of-college-card-sales-redemptions-2026%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dlinkedin%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news "LinkedIn") [ ](https://wa.me/?text=MEFA+Gift+of+College+card+sales+exceed+USD1.49+million+https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fgift-cards%2Fmefa-gift-of-college-card-sales-redemptions-2026%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dwhatsapp%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news&utm%5Fcampaign=giftcard.news "WhatsApp") ![Portrait of Suzie Elis](https://giftcard.news/images/variants/v1/suzie-elis-editorial-portrait-w320.webp) About the author ## [Suzie Elis](https://giftcard.news/author/suzie-elis/) Journalist — Gift Cards & Digital Gifting Suzie Elis covers gift card products, digital gifting and distribution for Gift Card News. From reading to building ## Your next move in gift cards. Tell us what you’re building. We’ll help you explore suitable providers. [Find a provider ](https://giftcard.news/find-a-provider/) ## Related articles [Gift Cards](https://giftcard.news/gift-cards/) News ### [La Quinta opens a second local gift-card round with a 50% match](https://giftcard.news/gift-cards/la-quinta-second-local-gift-card-match-holiday-2026/) [Emma Carter](https://giftcard.news/author/emma-carter/) November 1, 2026 2 min [Gift Cards](https://giftcard.news/gift-cards/) News ### [Plano plans a second holiday gift-card bonus round](https://giftcard.news/gift-cards/plano-downtown-holiday-gift-card-bonus-2026/) [Emma Carter](https://giftcard.news/author/emma-carter/) October 29, 2026 2 min [Gift Cards](https://giftcard.news/gift-cards/) News ### [Lakewood launches community gift card with a 50% city bonus](https://giftcard.news/gift-cards/lakewood-community-gift-card-city-bonus-launch/) [Emma Carter](https://giftcard.news/author/emma-carter/) October 28, 2026 2 min ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","@id":"https://giftcard.news/#publisher","name":"Gift Card News","url":"https://giftcard.news/","description":"News and analysis covering gift cards, retail, loyalty, rewards and payments worldwide.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://giftcard.news/icon-512.png","contentUrl":"https://giftcard.news/icon-512.png","width":512,"height":512,"@id":"https://giftcard.news/#logo"},"publishingPrinciples":"https://giftcard.news/editorial-policy/","correctionsPolicy":"https://giftcard.news/editorial-policy/"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://giftcard.news/#website","url":"https://giftcard.news/","name":"Gift Card News","description":"News and analysis covering gift cards, retail, loyalty, rewards and payments worldwide.","inLanguage":"en","publisher":{"@id":"https://giftcard.news/#publisher"},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://giftcard.news/search/?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://giftcard.news/author/suzie-elis/#person","name":"Suzie Elis","url":"https://giftcard.news/author/suzie-elis/","description":"Suzie Elis covers gift card products, digital gifting and distribution for Gift Card News.","jobTitle":"Journalist — Gift Cards & Digital Gifting","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://giftcard.news/images/suzie-elis-editorial-portrait.webp","contentUrl":"https://giftcard.news/images/suzie-elis-editorial-portrait.webp","width":1254,"height":1254,"caption":"Illustrated portrait representing the Suzie Elis editorial profile.","@id":"https://giftcard.news/images/suzie-elis-editorial-portrait.webp#image","encodingFormat":"image/webp","description":"Illustrated portrait for Suzie Elis, a Gift Card News editorial pen name","creditText":"Gift Card News / AI-generated illustration"}},{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://giftcard.news/images/mefa-gift-college-card-sales-exceed-usd1-49-million-showing-u-fund.webp","contentUrl":"https://giftcard.news/images/mefa-gift-college-card-sales-exceed-usd1-49-million-showing-u-fund.webp","width":700,"height":700,"caption":"MEFA’s existing Gift of College card connects a gift purchase with a contribution to a savings or student-loan account.","@id":"https://giftcard.news/images/mefa-gift-college-card-sales-exceed-usd1-49-million-showing-u-fund.webp#image","encodingFormat":"image/webp","description":"MEFA Gift of College card showing the U.Fund, U.Plan and Attainable programme names","creditText":"MEFA","isBasedOn":"https://www.mefa.org/article/collegegift/"},{"@type":"Dataset","@id":"https://giftcard.news/gift-cards/mefa-gift-of-college-card-sales-redemptions-2026/#dataset","url":"https://giftcard.news/gift-cards/mefa-gift-of-college-card-sales-redemptions-2026/","name":"MEFA Gift of College card sales exceed USD1.49 million: figure data","description":"Tabular data for the figures accompanying \"MEFA Gift of College card sales exceed USD1.49 million\". 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