The 15 lowest-cost 529 savings plans

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Savingforcollege.com Editorial Team
 

Worried about 529 plan fees? To ease your concerns about paying too much to save for college, here’s a list of the 15 lowest cost direct-sold plan options, based on our latest annual 529 Fee Study, dated March 2021.

15. Nevada – The Vanguard 529 Savings Plan 

 
 
The Vanguard 529 College Savings Plan

529 plan fees

10 year costs on a $10,000 investment: 

  • Lowest cost options – $154
  • Highest cost options – $530

Available to residents of any state

14. West Virginia – SMART529 WV Direct College Savings Plan

 
 
 
West Virginia College Savings plan
 

529 plan fees

10 year costs on a $10,000 investment: 

  • Lowest cost options – $147
  • Highest cost options – $280

Only available to West Virginia residents

13. Virginia – Invest529

Virginia 529 Plan

529 plan fees

10 year costs on a $10,000 investment: 

  • Lowest cost options – $142
  • Highest cost options – $779 

Available to residents of any state

12. New Hampshire – UNIQUE College Investing Plan (tie)

New Hampshire College Savings

529 plan fees

10 year costs on a $10,000 investment: 

  • Lowest cost options – $141
  • Highest cost options – $1,208

Available to residents of any state 

11. Massachusetts U.Fund College Investing Plan (tie)

 
Massachusetts 529 Plan
 

529 plan fees

10 year costs on a $10,000 investment: 

  • Lowest cost options – $141
  • Highest cost options – $1,208

Available to residents of any state 

10. Delaware –  Delaware College Investment Plan (tie)

 
Delaware College Savings
 

529 plan fees

10 year costs on a $10,000 investment: 

  • Lowest cost options – $141
  • Highest cost options – $1,208
 
 

Available to residents of any state 

9. Connecticut – Connecticut Higher Education Trust (tie)

 
CHET 529 plan
 

529 plan fees

10 year costs on a $10,000 investment: 

  • Lowest cost options – $141
  • Highest cost options – $1,208
 
 

Available to residents of any state 

 

8. Arizona –  Fidelity Arizona College Savings Plan (tie)  

 
Arizona Fidelity 529 Plan
 

529 plan fees

10 year costs on a $10,000 investment: 

  • Lowest cost options – $141
  • Highest cost options – $1,208

Available to residents of any state 

7. Illinois – Bright Start College Savings Program – Direct-sold Plan

 
Illinois 529 Plan
 

529 plan fees

10 year costs on a $10,000 investment: 

  • Lowest cost options – $122
  • Highest cost options – $999 

Available to residents of any state  

6. Michigan – Michigan Education Savings Program

Michigan College Savings
 

529 plan fees

10 year costs on a $10,000 investment:

  • Lowest cost options – $96
  • Highest cost options – $173

Available to residents of any state 

5. California – The ScholarShare College Savings Plan 

 
California 529 Plan
 

 529 plan fees

10 year costs on a $10,000 investment: 

  • Lowest cost options – $77
  • Highest cost options – $666

Available to residents of any state 

 4. Texas – Texas College Savings Plan   

 
Texas 529 Plan
 

529 plan fees

10 year costs on a $10,000 investment: 

  • Lowest cost options – $51
  • Highest cost options – $1,211 

Available to residents of any state 

 3. South Carolina – Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan (Direct-sold)   

South Carolina College Savings

529 plan fees

10 year costs on a $10,000 investment: 

  • Lowest cost options – $26
  • Highest cost options – $318

Only available to South Carolina residents 

 2. Florida – Florida 529 Savings Plan 

 
Florida 529 Plan
 

529 plan fees

10 year costs on a $10,000 investment: 

  • Lowest cost options – $25
  • Highest cost options – $957 

Only available to Florida residents

 1. Louisiana – START Saving Program   

Louisiana College Savings

529 plan fees

10 year costs on a $10,000 investment: 

  • Lowest cost options – $0
  • Highest cost options – $138

Only available to Louisiana residents

A good place to start:

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