Best 529 plans of 2023

The manager for the Alabama CollegeCounts 529 Fund direct-sold savings program changed from Van Kampen to Union Bank and Trust Company in August 2010. It features age-based, static and individual fund portfolio options using mutual funds from multiple fund firms.

T. Rowe Price College Savings Plan is a direct-sold plan that offers eight enrollment-based portfolios and six static portfolios. The investment portfolios offered by the plan utilize T. Rowe Price mutual funds. Plan participation is open to residents of any state.

The Vanguard 529 College Savings Plan, offered by Nevada, is available to residents of any state, and offers low costs, experience and easy-to-manage savings options.

New York's direct-sold 529 college savings plan is available to residents of any state. It offers low fees and diverse investment options featuring Vanguard mutual funds. New York residents may enjoy a state tax deduction for contributions to the plan. There is no minimum contribution to start saving with New York's 529 College Savings Program and you can enroll online in minutes.

Nebraska Education Savings Trust -- Direct College Savings Plan switched program managers in December 2010 from Union Bank and Trust Company of Lincoln, Nebraska to First National Bank of Omaha. Management of the plan returned to Union Bank and Trust in 2020. Accounts can be linked to the Upromise rewards service.

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.

The West Virginia SMART529 WV Direct College Savings Plan, available on a direct basis to those who meet certain West Virginia residency requirements, features a menu of age-based and static portfolio options utilizing index funds from Vanguard as well as an Invesco stable value portfolio option. Accounts can be linked to the Upromise rewards service.

Wisconsin's Edvest 529 is a direct-sold 529 college savings plan available to residents of any state, and offers low minimums and a variety of investment options from TIAA-CREF, T. Rowe Price and others. Wisconsin residents may enjoy a state tax deduction for contributions to the plan.

The Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan is only available to residents of South Carolina. It offers investment options from Columbia and Vanguard and a $426,000 contribution limit. Residents of South Carolina may enjoy a state tax deduction for contributions to the plan.

The Education Plan College Savings Program is managed by Ascensus College Savings and features enrollment-based, index and actively managed static portfolios, and individual fund options from a variety of fund families.

California's ScholarShare 529 is available to residents of any state. It offers a variety of investment options from TIAA-CREF, T. Rowe Price, Vanguard and others. While California does not offer a state tax deduction for contributions to the plan, Scholarshare allows contributions of any dollar amount, making it easy to get started.

The START Saving Program requires Louisiana residency to participate. It is subsidized by the state, resulting in no costs to the participant above the underlying fund costs. Vanguard funds and the State Treasurer's fixed income fund are utilized in the age-based and static portfolio options. Louisiana has established a separate program for K-12 savings, the Louisiana Student Tuition Assistance and Revenue Trust Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve Program, or START K12.

The Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan is only available to residents of South Carolina. It offers investment options from Columbia and Vanguard and a $426,000 contribution limit. Residents of South Carolina may enjoy a state tax deduction for contributions to the plan.

The Florida 529 Savings Plan is administered by the Florida Prepaid College Board. In September 2019 the Board enhanced the plan with expanded investment options, reduced fees, and additional investment managers. In 2022 the Board converted the age-based option to enrollment year funds that automatically reallocate quarterly within each fund. As a result, the plan currently offers 20 enrollment year options (each year represents an estimated time for when the funds will be needed), six static options (predesigned based on investment goals such as growth or income), and 15 individual funds (for more sophisticated investors who want to do it themselves).

The Georgia Path2College 529 Plan, a TIAA-managed 529 savings program, features a year of enrollment track with 10 portfolios and six static investment options including a Principal Plus Interest Portfolio with a minimum effective annual interest rate between 1% and 3%.

The Michigan Education Savings Program is similar to other TIAA-managed 529 savings programs. The Program features an enrollment year option, six multi-fund options, five single fund options and a principal protection option.

The West Virginia SMART529 WV Direct College Savings Plan, available on a direct basis to those who meet certain West Virginia residency requirements, features a menu of age-based and static portfolio options utilizing index funds from Vanguard as well as an Invesco stable value portfolio option. Accounts can be linked to the Upromise rewards service.

In September 2008, Upromise Investments, Inc., which was acquired by Ascensus College Savings in 2013, took over the management of the Indiana CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings Plan from JPMorgan, and it now features a year of enrollment option, eight individual portfolios using a variety of investment managers, and an FDIC-insured savings account from NexBank. Accounts can be linked to the Upromise Rewards service.

The DC College Savings Plan is managed by Ascensus College Savings. Ascensus succeeded Calvert Investments as program manager in March 2017. The plan features a menu of age-based and static portfolio options utilizing investments from BlackRock, Vanguard, Loomis Sayles, JP Morgan, Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA), Schwab, and Ameritas Life. The program was formerly sold nationally through financial advisors and on a load-waived basis to District of Columbia residents. The plan is now sold nationally on a direct-sold basis only.

T. Rowe Price College Savings Plan is a direct-sold plan that offers eight enrollment-based portfolios and six static portfolios. The investment portfolios offered by the plan utilize T. Rowe Price mutual funds. Plan participation is open to residents of any state.

Wisconsin's Edvest 529 is a direct-sold 529 college savings plan available to residents of any state, and offers low minimums and a variety of investment options from TIAA-CREF, T. Rowe Price and others. Wisconsin residents may enjoy a state tax deduction for contributions to the plan.