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Compare 529 Plans by Features
Plan
To whom are distributions made payable
Alabama
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative, may direct withdrawals from an ABLE account.
Alabama
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
Alaska
Beneficiary and an eligible educational institution jointly, beneficiary, estate of the beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Alaska
Qualified withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
Alaska
Beneficiary, an eligible educational institution for the benefit of the beneficiary (FBO), beneficiary, estate of the beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
Beneficiary and an eligible educational institution jointly, beneficiary, estate of the beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Arizona
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative may direct withdrawals from a STABLE Account.
To whomever the account owner specifies - the account owner, the beneficiary, a school, or anyone else.
Account owner, beneficiary or educational instituion.
Arizona
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
Arkansas
Withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Arkansas
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
California
Only the beneficiary or an authorized legal representative may direct withdrawals from an account.
California
Beneficiary, eligible educational institution or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Colorado
Withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Connecticut
Withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
CHET Advisor 529 College Savings Program
Connecticut
Eligible educational institution or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET)
Connecticut
Eligible educational institution or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Delaware
To whomever the account owner specifies - the account owner, the beneficiary, a school, or anyone else.
Delaware
Withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
District of Columbia
Withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
District of Columbia
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Florida
A distribution may be made payable to the beneficiary, a custodian or a third party by submitting a request. The individual submitting the request is responsible for providing the correct information about the payee.
Florida
Eligible educational institution; a cancellation refund or scholarship refund is payable to account owner.
Florida
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Georgia
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative may direct withdrawals from a STABLE Account.
Georgia
Eligible educational institution or account owner, as directed by the account owner. Distributions may be made payable to the Beneficiary. Note, non qualified withdrawals and withdrawals for K-12 expenses are payable to the account owner only.
Hawaii
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative, may direct withdrawals from an ABLE account.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Benefits are paid directly to the school on behalf of the beneficiary; refunds are made to the purchaser/owner of the account.
Illinois
Withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
Indiana
Withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Iowa
Withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the Account or a third party designated by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
Kansas
Withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Kansas
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Kentucky
Eligible educational institution or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Kentucky
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative may direct withdrawals from a STABLE Account.
Louisiana
A qualified withdrawal will be distributed to the account owner and sent to the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
Louisiana
Qualified withdrawals are made payable to the educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner; nonqualified withdrawals (refunds) are made payable to the account owner.
Maine
Only the beneficiary or their authorized representative may initiate a withdrawal from an account.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
Beneficiary, beneficiary and eligible educational institution jointly, estate of beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Maryland
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative, may direct withdrawals from an ABLE account.
Massachusetts
The designated beneficiary or PSA, as applicable, may request a distribution.
Massachusetts
To whomever the account owner specifies - the account owner, the beneficiary, a school, or anyone else.
Michigan
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, institution and beneficiary jointly, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Michigan
Qualified withdrawals will be payable to the account owner. Distributions will be sent to the address on the account, a third party designated by the account owner or by ACH.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, institution and beneficiary jointly, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Michigan
To the higher education institution if beneficiary is attending college; to the refund designee name in the MET contract if beneficiary is not attending college
Minnesota
Withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
Minnesota College Savings Plan
Minnesota
Eligible educational institution and/or the beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Mississippi
Withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Missouri
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative may direct withdrawals from a STABLE Account.
Eligible educational institution or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Montana
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Montana
Withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Nebraska
A Qualified Withdrawal will be distributed to the account owner and sent to the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
Nebraska
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
Nevada
Withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
Nevada
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Account owner, eligible educational institution, or other third party, as directed by account owner.
Nevada
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
New Hampshire
Beneficiary, eligible educational institution, or other distributee including the account owner
New Hampshire
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative may direct withdrawals from a STABLE Account.
New Hampshire
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative may direct withdrawals from The NH ABLE Account.
New Hampshire
To whomever the account owner specifies - the account owner, the beneficiary, a school, or anyone else.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
New Jersey
Withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
NJBEST 529 College Savings Plan
New Jersey
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
New Mexico
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative may direct withdrawals from a STABLE Account.
New Mexico
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Choice of account owner, beneficiary, or eligible educational institution; if the institution, then the withdrawal amount is first directed to the NY Higher Education Services Corp. and then paid to the institution from HESC
Choice of account owner, beneficiary, or eligible educational institution; if the institution, then the withdrawal amount is first directed to the NY Higher Education Services Corp. and then paid to the institution from HESC.
New York
Qualified withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
Morgan Stanley National Advisory 529 Plan
North Carolina
Account owner or designated beneficiary or institution
North Carolina
Participant, designated beneficiary, or copayable to the beneficiary and eligible educational institution, as directed by the participant.
North Carolina
Withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
North Dakota
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
North Dakota
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Ohio
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative may direct withdrawals from a STABLE Account.
Oklahoma
Eligible educational institution or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Oklahoma
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Oklahoma
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative may direct withdrawals from a STABLE Account.
Oregon
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative, may direct withdrawals from an ABLE account.
Oregon
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
Oregon
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative, may direct withdrawals from an ABLE account.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
Eligible educational institution or account owner; qualified distributions to account owner require substantiating documentation.
Pennsylvania
Qualified withdrawals may be paid directly to the account owner or to a designated third party.
Pennsylvania 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan
Pennsylvania
Account owner, eligible educational institution, or third parties (other than the beneficiary) designated by the account owner. Substantiation of expenses is required in order to receive full value as a qualified withdrawal.
Pennsylvania 529 Investment Plan
Pennsylvania
The account owner, designated beneficiary, or an eligible educational institution.
CollegeBound 529 (Advisor-sold)
Rhode Island
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
CollegeBound Saver (Direct-sold)
Rhode Island
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Rhode Island
Withdrawals will be sent by check or ACH to the account owner at the address on the account or a third party designated by the account owner.
Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan (Advisor-sold)
South Carolina
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, beneficiary and institution jointly, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan (Direct-sold)
South Carolina
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, beneficiary and institution jointly, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
South Carolina
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative may direct withdrawals from a STABLE Account.
CollegeAccess 529 (Advisor-sold)
South Dakota
Account owner, beneficiary, eligible educational institution, or third-party, as directed by the account owner
CollegeAccess 529 (Direct-sold)
South Dakota
Account owner, beneficiary, eligible educational institution, or third-party, as directed by the account owner.
Tennessee
A withdrawal may be made payable to a designated beneficiary or the designated beneficiary's legal representative.
TNStars College Savings 529 Program
Tennessee
The purchaser, beneficiary or the institution of higher education. Non-qualified withdrawals that are "refunds" or that are eligible for a waiver of the federal 10 percent penalty tax are payable to the purchaser.
Texas
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Texas
The designated beneficiary, or, if one has been named, an authorized legal representative, may direct withdrawals from an account.
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Tuition payments are made to the educational institution that the beneficiary attends.
Utah
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative may direct withdrawals from a STABLE Account.
Utah
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner. K-12 tuition will only be payable to the account owner.
Vermont
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative may direct withdrawals from a STABLE Account.
Eligible education institution, designated beneficiary or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Virginia
Only the Account Owner or authorized representative may request transfers, rollovers, investment changes, withdrawals and beneficiary changes.
Virginia
Account owners or authorized representatives can withdraw money from an account by using their ABLEnow Debit Card. Cash withdrawals are not permitted.
Virginia
Account owner, beneficiary, eligible educational institution, or other third party, as directed by account owner.
DreamAhead College Investment Plan
Washington
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET)
Washington
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
Washington State ABLE Savings Plan
Washington
A withdrawal may be made payable to a designated beneficiary or the designated beneficiary's legal representative.
West Virginia
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
West Virginia
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
SMART529 WV Direct College Savings Plan
West Virginia
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.
West Virginia
Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner
West Virginia
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative may direct withdrawals from a STABLE Account.
Wisconsin
Account owner, beneficiary, eligible educational institution, or other third party, as directed by account owner.
Wisconsin
Account owner, beneficiary, eligible educational institution, or other third party, as directed by account owner
Wyoming
Only the beneficiary, or, if one has been named, the authorized legal representative may direct withdrawals from a STABLE Account.