Top ten direct-sold 529 plans*

http://www.savingforcollege.com/articles/top-ten-direct-sold-529-plans-698

*One-year performance rankings as of 03/31/15

The highly anticipated Savingforcollege.com direct-sold 529 plan rankings are here!

529 plans are generally made up of mutual funds with varying investment options. Each quarter, after analyzing data from thousands of underlying investment portfolios, Savingforcollege.com determines the overall top performing 529 plans. The following slideshow features our most recent top ten list of the plans that can be purchased directly through the plan manager (without having to go through a financial advisor). The lower the “percentile” the better the ranking.

Remember that you can open a 529 plan from almost any state, regardless of where you live!

Click here to see the direct-sold rankings for 3-, 5-, and 10-year performance.

Click here to see rankings that include plans sold through brokers and fee-based financial planners.

10. Maine – NextGen College Investing Plan – Client Direct Series

• Percentile rank: 31.96
• Available to U.S. citizens and resident aliens at least 18 years old, UGMA/UTMA custodians, and legal entities.
• Program managers: Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
• Learn more
• Plan Details

9. Mississippi – Mississippi Affordable College Savings (MACS) Program

• Percentile rank: 30.49
• Available to U.S. citizens and resident aliens, UGMA/UTMA custodians, and legal entities.
• Program manager: TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC
• Learn more
• Plan Details

8. Colorado – Direct Portfolio College Savings Plan

• Percentile rank: 29.10
• Available to all U.S. citizens or resident aliens, trusts, 501(c)(3) organizations and local governments.
• Program managers: Ascensus Broker Dealer Services, Inc. and The Vanguard Group, Inc.
• Learn more
• Plan Details

7. Vermont – Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan

• Percentile rank: 27.61
• Available to all U.S. citizens and resident aliens, UGMA/UTMA custodians and legal entities.
• Program manager: TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc.
• Learn more

6. Louisiana – START Saving Program

• Percentile rank: 26.44
• Available to all U.S. citizens and resident aliens at least 18 years old, UGMA/UTMA custodians and legal entities.
• Program manager: Louisiana State Treasurer
• Learn more

5. California – The ScholarShare College Savings Plan

• Percentile rank: 25.25
• Available to all U.S. citizens and resident aliens at least 18 years old, emancipated minors, UGMA/UTMA custodians, and legal entities.
• Program manager: TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc.
• Learn more
• Plan Details

4. New York – New York’s 529 College Savings Program – Direct Plan

• Percentile rank: 22.49
• Available to all U.S. citizens and resident aliens including minors, UGMA/UTMA custodians and legal entities.
• Program manager: Ascensus College Savings
• Learn more
• Enroll Now

3. Michigan – Michigan Education Savings Program

• Percentile rank: 22.27
• Available to all U.S. citizens and resident aliens, UGMA/UTMA custodians, estates, trusts, 501(c)(3) organizations, corporations and state or local government agencies and instrumentalities.
• Program manager: TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc.
• Learn more
• Plan Details

2. Tennessee – TNStars College Savings 529 Program

• Percentile rank: 21.75
• Available to all U.S. citizens and legal residents at least 18 years old, UGMA/UTMA custodians and legal entities.
• Program manager: State of Tennessee Treasury Department
• Learn more
• Enroll Now

1. District of Columbia – DC 529 College Savings Program (Direct-sold)

• Percentile rank: 13.17
• Available to all U.S. citizens and resident aliens of legal age, and UGMA/UTMA custodians and legal entities.
• Program manager: Calvert Investment Management, Inc.
• Learn more