Facebook Pixel
Quick links
LoginGet started
529 Plans
College Savings 101
Student Loans
For Professionals

MOST - Missouri's 529 Education Plan (Direct-sold)

4 / 5

Our rating

Best MO resident benefits

MO resident benefits

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.

Enroll Now
Enroll Now Count62,552 Clicked to Enroll
MOST - Missouri's 529 Education Plan (Direct-sold)High Honors

KEY METRICS

OVERVIEW

Program type

Savings

Inception

1999, but substantially changed in June 2006

State agency

Missouri Education Program Board

Tax deduction

For single filers: $8,000/yr per beneficiary

For joint filers: $16,000/yr per beneficiary

Program manager

Ascensus College Savings

Program distributor

Ascensus College Savings

Manager contract term

MORE INFORMATION

Eligibility

State residency requirements:

None

Who can be a participant/owner in the program?

U.S. citizens and resident aliens who have a Social Security number or taxpayer identification number, UGMA/UTMA custodians, and legal entities.

Significant time or age restrictions imposed by the program:

None

Did you know?

  • MO residents can claim a tax deduction for contributions to a MO 529 plan.

    Up to $16,000/yr ($8,000/yr for single filers) per year are eligible.

  • 529 plan contributions grow tax-free.

    Withdrawals are tax-free when used to pay for qualified higher education expenses.

  • You can contribute as much as you want, as often as you want.

    The key is to get started. Enroll today by completing a quick form online.

MOST - Missouri's 529 Education Plan (Direct-sold)
Enroll Now
Enroll Now Count62,552 Clicked to Enroll

Contributions

Maximum contributions:

Accepts contributions until all account balances in Missouri's 529 plans for the same beneficiary reach $550,000.

Minimum contributions:

No minimum.

Does the program offer an e-gifting platform for receiving gift contributions?

This plan offers a robust gifting platform that allows gift-givers to save their own profile for recurring or future contributions.

Investment Options

Investors in MOST - Missouri's 529 Education Plan (Direct-sold) can select from the following investment options. Click on a portfolio name for more information.

The Age-Based option is offered in 3 different risk levels (Aggressive, Moderate, and Conservative) each containing 9 portfolios of underlying mutual funds. Contributions are placed into the portfolio corresponding to the risk level selected and the number of years to expected enrollment, and later reassigned to more conservative portfolios as the beneficiary approaches college age.
PortfolioE.R. % Equity1yr performance
Aggressive Age-Based (6-7) (Vanguard Aggressive)0.18%90%6.71%
Aggressive Age-Based (8-9) (Vanguard Growth)0.18%80%6.44%
Aggressive Age-Based (10-11) (Vanguard Blended Growth)0.18%70%6.28%
Aggressive Age-Based (12-13) (Vanguard Moderate Growth)0.18%60%6.04%
Aggressive Age-Based (14-15) (Vanguard Blended Moderate Growth)0.18%50%5.83%
Aggressive Age-Based (16-17) (Vanguard Conservative Growth)0.18%40%5.6%
Aggressive Age-Based (18) (Vanguard Conservative)0.18%30%5.29%
Moderate Age-Based (6-7) (Vanguard Blended Growth)0.18%70%6.28%
Moderate Age-Based (8-9) (Vanguard Moderate Growth)0.18%60%6.04%
Moderate Age-Based (10-11) (Vanguard Blended Moderate Growth)0.18%50%5.83%
Moderate Age-Based (12-13) (Vanguard Conservative Growth)0.18%40%5.6%
Moderate Age-Based (14-15) (Vanguard Conservative)0.18%30%5.29%
Moderate Age-Based (16-17) (Vanguard Income)0.18%20%5.03%
Moderate Age-Based (18) (Vanguard Blended Income)0.18%10%4.67%
Conservative Age-Based (6-7) (Vanguard Blended Moderate Growth)0.18%50%5.83%
Conservative Age-Based (8-9) (Vanguard Conservative Growth)0.18%40%5.6%
Conservative Age-Based (10-11) (Vanguard Conservative)0.18%30%5.29%
Conservative Age-Based (12-13) (Vanguard Income)0.18%20%5.03%
Conservative Age-Based (14-15) (Vanguard Blended Income)0.18%10%4.67%
Conservative Age-Based (16-17) (Vanguard Conservative Income)0.18%0%4.43%
Conservative Age-Based (18) (Vanguard Conservative Income)0.18%0%4.43%
Aggressive Age-Based (0-5) (Vanguard Aggressive Growth)0.18%100%6.88%
Aggressive Age-Based (19+) (Vanguard Income)0.18%20%5.03%
Moderate Age-Based (0-5) (Vanguard Growth)0.18%80%6.44%
Moderate Age-Based (19+) (Vanguard Conservative Income)0.18%0%4.43%
Conservative Age-Based (0-5) (Vanguard Moderate Growth)0.18%60%6.04%
Conservative Age-Based (19+) (Vanguard Interest Accumulation)0.16%0%2.86%

Age-based/Enrollment Year investment options:

The Age-Based option is offered in 3 different risk levels (Aggressive, Moderate, and Conservative) each containing 9 portfolios of underlying mutual funds. Contributions are placed into the portfolio corresponding to the risk level selected and the number of years to expected enrollment, and later reassigned to more conservative portfolios as the beneficiary approaches college age.

Static investment options:

Select among 6 multi-fund portfolios and 10 individual-fund portfolios.

Underlying investments:

Vanguard and Dimensional Fund Advisors funds

Underlying fund allocations:

Portfolio Fees & Performance Lookup

Fees & Expenses

Enrollment or application fee:

None

Account maintenance fee:

None

Program management fees:

0.15%

Expenses of the underlying investments:

0.02% - 0.27%

Total asset-based expense ratio:

0.17% - 0.42%

Taxes and other Benefits

Tax deduction for single filers:

$8,000/yr per beneficiary

Tax deduction for joint filers:

$16,000/yr per beneficiary

Program match on contributions:

The MOST Matching Grant Program has been discontinued.

State tax deduction or credit for contributions:

Contributions to Missouri AND non-Missouri 529 plans of up to $8,000 per year by an individual, and up to $16,000 per year by a married couple filing jointly, are deductible in computing Missouri taxable income. Rollover contributions are not deductible. Contribution deadline is December 31 postmark.

Calculate your Missouri 529 tax benefit

Find out how much you can save on state taxes this year by contributing to a Missouri 529 plan.

Your tax savings per year
$0

Household income

$100,000

Monthly Contribution

$100

State tax recapture provisions:

Rollovers to another state’s qualified 529 plan are not taxable for Missouri income tax purposes and are not subject to recapture on the Missouri income tax return.

State definition of qualified expenses

MO passed state legislation that ensures that the MO 529 state legislation will mirror federal 529 legislation. Therefore all federal 529 qualified withdrawal types are applicable to the MOST program.

State tax treatment of qualified distributions:

Qualified distributions from Missouri and non-Missouri 529 plans are exempt.

State tax treatment of rollovers:

Missouri follows federal tax-free treatment for rollovers.

Does the sponsoring state exclude the value of an account for state financial aid purposes?

Yes

Does participation in the program provide beneficiaries with any advantages in qualifying for resident tuition status at state institutions?

No

Is there a rewards program or outside scholarship program that works with this program?

Yes, Yes, the MOST program is fully integrated with the Upromise Rewards program. MOST accounts can be linked to Upromise. Upromise Rewards is free to join and offers members cash back for college.

Statutory protection of an account from creditors:

Did you know?

  • Residents are not limited to investing in their own state's 529 plan.

    Another state may offer a plan that performs better and has lower fees.

  • The 529 plan chosen does not affect which state the student enrolls in.

    You can live in New York, open a plan from Nevada and send a student to college in Florida.

  • The best way to maximize your college savings?

    Start early and save often. You can get started today with easy online enrollment.

MOST - Missouri's 529 Education Plan (Direct-sold)
Enroll Now
Enroll Now Count62,552 Clicked to Enroll

Distributions & Terminations

To whom are distributions made payable:

Eligible educational institution or account owner, as directed by the account owner.

Account Changes

Policy regarding participant/owner changes:

Accepts requests to transfer account ownership.

Documents, Access & Reporting

Does participant have online password-protected access to account?

Yes

Can the complete enrollment process including funding be done online?

Yes

Documents and other services accessible or downloadable on the program's public Web site:

Contact

Website:

http://www.missourimost.org

Telephone:

1-888-414-6678

Twitter

https://twitter.com/most529

Social Media

Start saving for your child's future today

Complete the online application and make your first deposit

MOST - Missouri's 529 Education Plan (Direct-sold)
Enroll Now
Enroll Now Count62,552 Clicked to Enroll

A good place to start:

See the best 529 plans, personalized for you

Enroll Now
Enroll Now Count62,552 Clicked to Enroll
Helping families save for college since 1999
Key Resources
Our Company
Join our email list

The latest articles and tips to help parents stay on track with saving and paying for college, delivered to your inbox every week.

Frequently featured in:

Saving For College is an unbiased, independent resource for parents and financial professionals, providing them with information and tools to understand the benefits of 529 college savings plans and how to meet the challenge of increasing college costs.

20533 Biscayne Blvd Ste 4 #199 Miami, FL 33180-1501Phone: (585) 286-5426Copyright © 2025 Saving for College, LLC. All Rights Reserved