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Texas College Savings Plan

The Texas College Savings plan, managed by NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC offers two age-based investment options and seven static options using underlying investments managed by Artisan, DFA, Dodge & Cox, Dreyfus, Invesco, T. Rowe Price, TIAA-CREF, and Vanguard.


  • Program typeSavings
  • Inception2002, but substantially changed in November 2007. NorthStar replaced Oppenheimer as plan manager in September 2014.
  • State agency
    Texas Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board
  • Tax deduction
    Tax deduction for single filers None
    Tax deduction for joint filers None
  • Program Manager
    NorthStar Financial Services Group, LLC
  • Program distributor
    Northern Lights Distributors, LLC
  • Manager contract termUNLOCK PRO
Plan Details
Investment Options

Investors in Texas College Savings Plan can select from the following investment options. Click on a portfolio name for more information.

Use the form below to filter through the investment options in this plan

Child age


Max Expense Ratio:2.5%

Age Based Investment Options

Sometimes referred to as the enrollment-based option, this is an investment approach where your asset allocation is programmed to change over time. Accounts for young beneficiaries are invested aggressively and accounts for beneficiaries with college right around the corner are invested much more conservatively. In some 529 plans, the age-based option operates by automatically transferring your investment from one static portfolio to another at certain points in time. Others utilize lifecycle funds or employ lifecycle-type tactics within the portfolio containing your investment so that it is not necessary to transfer your investment between portfolios.

PortfolioE.R% Equity1YR PerformanceRank
Blended Age Based 0-6 Years Portfolio0.93%90%9.18%8 of 29
Blended Age Based 7-9 Years Portfolio0.89%70%6.99%8 of 65
Blended Age Based 10-11 Years Portfolio0.86%60%5.85%18 of 43
Blended Age Based 12-14 Years Portfolio0.83%50%4.5%28 of 100
Blended Age Based 15-17 Years Portfolio0.77%30%2.58%41 of 80
Blended Age Based 18 Years and Over Portfolio0.71%10%0.3%81 of 83
Index Age Based 0-6 Years Portfolio0.59%90%10.15%18 of 29
Index Age Based 7-9 Years Portfolio0.59%70%7.67%15 of 65
Index Age Based 10-11 Years Portfolio0.59%60%6.34%29 of 43
Index Age Based 12-14 Years Portfolio0.60%50%5.12%33 of 100
Index Age Based 15-17 Years Portfolio0.60%30%2.86%39 of 80
Index Age Based 18 Years and Over Portfolio0.60%10%0.44%80 of 83

Static Investment Options

This refers to an investment option that is not programmed to change over time. The individual fund portfolio and multi-fund portfolio described below are static options. So are many portfolios that do not use mutual funds, such as stable-value options, guaranteed options, CD options, etc.

PortfolioE.R% Equity1YR PerformanceRank
Blended 100% Equity Portfolio0.98%100%10.59%109 of 228
Blended Balanced Portfolio0.85%60%5.79%13 of 52
Index 100% Equity Portfolio0.58%100%11.54%128 of 228
Index Balanced Portfolio0.59%60%6.43%18 of 52

Individual Investment Options

Sometimes called a single-fund option, this is a portfolio invested in a single mutual fund. Often the name of the 529 portfolio is very similar to the name of the underlying mutual fund. A large number of broker-sold 529s offer an extensive line-up of individual fund options, while a smaller number of direct-sold 529s offer them.

PortfolioE.R% Equity1YR PerformanceRank
Inflation Protected Bond Portfolio0.73%0%-0.42%12 of 68
Fixed Income Portfolio0.66%0%-1.75%62 of 68
U.S. Government Money Market Portfolio0.65%0%1.39%33 of 66

Use the form below to filter through the investment options in this plan

Child age


Max Expense Ratio:2.5%