Best for my State
Some states offer multiple 529 plans. Below are the best plans in your state. See our methodology for more detailed information.
The manager for the Alabama CollegeCounts 529 Fund direct-sold savings program changed from Van Kampen to Union Bank and Trust Company in August 2010. It features age-based, static and individual fund portfolio options using mutual funds from multiple fund firms.
Our Rating
4.5/ 5
Fee Score
4.5/ 5
Performance
3.5/ 5
68,093 Clicked to Enroll
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Featured Plans
T. Rowe Price College Savings Plan is a direct-sold plan that offers eight enrollment-based portfolios and six static portfolios. The investment portfolios offered by the plan utilize T. Rowe Price mutual funds. Plan participation is open to residents of any state.
Our Rating
4.5/ 5
Fee Score
4/ 5
Performance
4/ 5
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132,475 Clicked to Enroll
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Invest529, Virginia's direct-sold college savings plan is available to residents of any state, and offers low fees, diverse investment options and tax benefits for residents.
Our Rating
4.5/ 5
Fee Score
4.5/ 5
Performance
3.5/ 5
116,744 Clicked to Enroll
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The Vanguard 529 College Savings Plan, offered by Nevada, is available to residents of any state, and offers low costs, experience and easy-to-manage savings options.
Our Rating
4.5/ 5
Fee Score
4.5/ 5
Performance
3.5/ 5
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48,123 Clicked to Enroll
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New York's direct-sold 529 college savings plan is available to residents of any state. It offers low fees and diverse investment options featuring Vanguard mutual funds. New York residents may enjoy a state tax deduction for contributions to the plan. There is no minimum contribution to start saving with New York's 529 College Savings Program and you can enroll online in minutes.
Our Rating
4.5/ 5
Fee Score
4.5/ 5
Performance
3/ 5
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315,250 Clicked to Enroll
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Missouri's 529 Education Plan (Direct-sold), managed by Ascensus College Savings, features three-age based options and 16 static portfolios with funds from Vanguard and Dimensional Fund Advisors. Accounts can be linked to the Upromise rewards service.
Our Rating
4.5/ 5
Fee Score
4.5/ 5
Performance
2.5/ 5
enroll now
53,886 Clicked to Enroll
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Best Rated
These are the highest-rated 529 plans on the 5-cap rating system, offering individual investors all around excellence. See our methodology for more detailed information.
Restricted to West Virginia residents
The West Virginia SMART529 WV Direct College Savings Plan, available on a direct basis to those who meet certain West Virginia residency requirements, features a menu of age-based and static portfolio options utilizing index funds from Vanguard as well as an Invesco stable value portfolio option. Accounts can be linked to the Upromise rewards service.
Our Rating
5/ 5
Fee Score
4.5/ 5
Performance
5/ 5
Plan details
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The Education Plan College Savings Program is managed by Ascensus College Savings and features enrollment-based, index and actively managed static portfolios, and individual fund options from a variety of fund families.
Our Rating
5/ 5
Fee Score
4.5/ 5
Performance
4/ 5
Plan details
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Wisconsin's Edvest 529 is a direct-sold 529 college savings plan available to residents of any state, and offers low minimums and a variety of investment options from TIAA-CREF, T. Rowe Price and others. Wisconsin residents may enjoy a state tax deduction for contributions to the plan.
Our Rating
5/ 5
Fee Score
4.5/ 5
Performance
4.5/ 5
25,777 Clicked to Enroll
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Restricted to South Carolina residents
The Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan is only available to residents of South Carolina. It offers investment options from Columbia and Vanguard and a $540,000 contribution limit in July 2022. Residents of South Carolina may enjoy a state tax deduction for contributions to the plan.
Our Rating
5/ 5
Fee Score
5/ 5
Performance
4.5/ 5
105,232 Clicked to Enroll
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California's ScholarShare 529 is available to residents of any state. It offers a variety of investment options from TIAA-CREF, T. Rowe Price, Vanguard and others. While California does not offer a state tax deduction for contributions to the plan, Scholarshare allows contributions of any dollar amount, making it easy to get started.
Our Rating
5/ 5
Fee Score
Performance
3.5/ 5
Plan details
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Lowest Fees
Fees can eat away at your earnings. Here are the lowest fee 529 plans available. See our methodology for more detailed information.
Restricted to Louisiana residents
The START Saving Program requires Louisiana residency to participate. It is subsidized by the state, resulting in no costs to the participant above the underlying fund costs. Vanguard funds and the State Treasurer's fixed income fund are utilized in the age-based and static portfolio options. Louisiana has established a separate program for K-12 savings, the Louisiana Student Tuition Assistance and Revenue Trust Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve Program, or START K12.
Our Rating
5/ 5
Fee Score
5/ 5
Performance
2.5/ 5
Plan details
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Restricted to South Carolina residents
The Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan is only available to residents of South Carolina. It offers investment options from Columbia and Vanguard and a $540,000 contribution limit in July 2022. Residents of South Carolina may enjoy a state tax deduction for contributions to the plan.
Our Rating
5/ 5
Fee Score
5/ 5
Performance
4.5/ 5
105,232 Clicked to Enroll
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Restricted to Florida residents
The Florida 529 Savings Plan is administered by the Florida Prepaid College Board. In September 2019 the Board enhanced the plan with expanded investment options, reduced fees, and additional investment managers. In 2022 the Board converted the age-based option to enrollment year funds that automatically reallocate quarterly within each fund. As a result, the plan currently offers 20 enrollment year options (each year represents an estimated time for when the funds will be needed), six static options (predesigned based on investment goals such as growth or income), and 15 individual funds (for more sophisticated investors who want to do it themselves).
Our Rating
4.5/ 5
Fee Score
5/ 5
Performance
3/ 5
50,114 Clicked to Enroll
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The Georgia Path2College 529 Plan, a TIAA-managed 529 savings program, features a year of enrollment track with 10 portfolios and six static investment options including a Principal Plus Interest Portfolio with a minimum effective annual interest rate between 1% and 3%.
Our Rating
4.5/ 5
Fee Score
5/ 5
Performance
4/ 5
Plan details
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The Michigan Education Savings Program is similar to other TIAA-managed 529 savings programs. The Program features an enrollment year option, six multi-fund options, five single fund options and a principal protection option.
Our Rating
4.5/ 5
Fee Score
5/ 5
Performance
4/ 5
Plan details
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Best Performance
These 529 plans had the highest returns over the past 5-year period.
Restricted to West Virginia residents
The West Virginia SMART529 WV Direct College Savings Plan, available on a direct basis to those who meet certain West Virginia residency requirements, features a menu of age-based and static portfolio options utilizing index funds from Vanguard as well as an Invesco stable value portfolio option. Accounts can be linked to the Upromise rewards service.
Our Rating
5/ 5
Fee Score
4.5/ 5
Performance
5/ 5
Plan details
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In September 2008, Upromise Investments, Inc., which was acquired by Ascensus College Savings in 2013, took over the management of the Indiana 529 Direct Savings Plan from JPMorgan, and it now features a year of enrollment option, eight individual portfolios using a variety of investment managers, and an FDIC-insured savings account from NexBank. Accounts can be linked to the Upromise Rewards service.
Our Rating
4.5/ 5
Fee Score
4/ 5
Performance
5/ 5
enroll now
75,109 Clicked to Enroll
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T. Rowe Price College Savings Plan is a direct-sold plan that offers eight enrollment-based portfolios and six static portfolios. The investment portfolios offered by the plan utilize T. Rowe Price mutual funds. Plan participation is open to residents of any state.
Our Rating
4.5/ 5
Fee Score
4/ 5
Performance
4/ 5
enroll now
132,475 Clicked to Enroll
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The Maryland 529 -- Senator Edward J. Kasemeyer College Investment Plan is a direct-sold 529 plan available to residents of any state, and is managed by T. Rowe Price. Maryland residents may enjoy a state tax deduction for contributions to the plan.
Our Rating
4.5/ 5
Fee Score
4/ 5
Performance
4/ 5
Plan details
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Restricted to Florida residents
The Florida 529 Savings Plan is administered by the Florida Prepaid College Board. In September 2019 the Board enhanced the plan with expanded investment options, reduced fees, and additional investment managers. In 2022 the Board converted the age-based option to enrollment year funds that automatically reallocate quarterly within each fund. As a result, the plan currently offers 20 enrollment year options (each year represents an estimated time for when the funds will be needed), six static options (predesigned based on investment goals such as growth or income), and 15 individual funds (for more sophisticated investors who want to do it themselves).
Our Rating
4.5/ 5
Fee Score
5/ 5
Performance
3/ 5
50,114 Clicked to Enroll
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