General InformationDownload PDF Report
TNStars College Savings 529 Program
The TNStars College Savings 529 Program is administered by the Tennessee Treasury Department. It features an age-based option, individual investment options with underlying funds from a range of fund companies including Vanguard, DFA, and Primecap, and an interest bearing account option with First Tennessee Bank.
Our Ratingix
Fee Scoreix
Performanceix
- Program typeSavings
- Inception2012
- State agencyState of Tennessee Department of Treasury and the Baccalaureate Education System Trust Board of Trustees
- Tax deductionTax deduction for single filers NoneTax deduction for joint filers None
- Program ManagerState of Tennessee Department of Treasury
- Program distributorNot applicable.
- Manager contract termUNLOCK PRO
Ratings & Rankings
Our overall rating for TN residents
This is an excellent program with many benefits for the participant and positive investment attributes. If it has any significant weaknesses then it also has some particularly good things to recommend it.
Our overall rating for non-residents
This is an excellent program with many benefits for the participant and positive investment attributes. If it has any significant weaknesses then it also has some particularly good things to recommend it.
Savingforcollege.com's 5-Cap Ratings provides an evaluation and comparison of 529 plans, utilizing a formula that examines dozens of factors grouped into the following categories.
Each plan's performance score is developed directly from Savingforcollege.com's Quarterly 529 Performance Rankings. A 529 savings plan must have at least one year of performance history before they will be assigned a 5-cap rating. For those plans that are not part of our quarterly performance rankings, such as plans offering a single set of bank-based investment options, we assign a performance score by evaluating the returns currently available on similar types of investments outside of 529 plans.
Eligibility
State residency requirements:
NoneWho can be a participant/owner in the program?
U.S. citizens and legal residents at least 18 years old, UGMA/UTMA custodians, and legal entities.Significant time or age restrictions imposed by the program:
Any contribution made to an account must be on the account for 21 days before it can be withdrawn.Contributions
Maximum contributions:
$350,000 including all accounts in the program and any accounts in Tennessee's BEST Prepaid Program held for the same beneficiaryMinimum contributions:
The minimum initial or subsequent contribution to an account for each investment option is $25. Once an initial contribution is made to the account, there are no required subsequent contributions.Investment Options
Age-based investment options:
An age-based option offers five age bands. Contributions are placed into the portfolio corresponding to the beneficiary's age and automatically shift to a more conservative portfolio over time.View more age-based investment optionsStatic investment options:
Select among 12 individual options investing in Vanguard, DFA, or Primecap funds, or an interest bearing account option with First Tennessee Bank National Association.View more static investment optionsUnderlying investments:
Vanguard and DFA in the age-based option; Vanguard, DFA, and Primecap in the individual optionsView a full list of this plan's investment optionsUnderlying fund allocations:
UNLOCK PROPortfolio Fees & Performance Lookup
UNLOCK PROFees & Expenses
Enrollment or application fee:
NoneAccount maintenance fee:
NoneProgram management fees:
0.00% - 0.315%Expenses of the underlying investments:
Ranges from 0.04% to 0.27% in the age-based option; 0.04% to 0.64% in the individual options; none for the interest bearing account.Total asset-based expense ratio:
Capped at 0.35% due to state subsidy, none for the interest bearing account.Taxes and other Benefits
- Tax deduction for single filersNone
- Tax deduction for joint filersNone
Note
Tennessee doesn't offer tax deductions
Program match on contributions:
Under the Tennessee Investments Preparing Scholars Program (TIPS), eligible families can receive a matching contribution of $100 for a minimum $25 investment, or $500 for a minimum $125 investment. Beneficiaries can receive a maximum match of $500 per year for up to three years.State tax deduction or credit for contributions:
Not applicable. Tennessee does not have a personal income tax.State definition of qualified expenses
The state conforms with the federal definition of qualified education expenses, which includes expenses for higher education, as well as up to $10,000 per year in tuition in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school.State tax treatment of qualified distributions:
Not applicable. Tennessee does not have a personal income tax. Contributions to, and distributions from, Tennessee and non-Tennessee 529 plans are specifically exempt from all Tennessee state, county, and municipal taxes.Does the sponsoring state exclude the value of an account for state financial aid purposes?
NoDoes participation in the program provide beneficiaries with any advantages in qualifying for resident tuition status at state institutions?
NoDoes the program have a formal agreement with a rewards program or outside scholarship program?
Yes, the Upromise Rewards program can be linked to any 529 college savings plan. Upromise Rewards is free to join and offers members cash back for college.
Upromise Helps Families Save for College
Upromise Helps Families Save for College
Statutory protection of an account from creditors:
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