Best 529 plans of 2024

Find the best 529 college savings plan for your family.

To help you narrow the field, we analyze plans across the country each quarter and identify the best performing 529 plans for you. Whether you're looking for the lowest-fee 529 plans, the top-rated plans, or plans with high returns, these 529 plan rankings are a great place to start.

Wondering how your state's 529 plan compares to other top plans? Select up to three plans for a side-by-side comparison.

Best for my State

Best for my State

Some states offer multiple 529 plans. Below are the best plans in your state. See our methodology for more detailed information.

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.

Our Rating

4.5 / 5

Fee Score

4.5 / 5

Performance

3.5 / 5
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66,807 Clicked to Enroll
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Best Rated

Best Rated

These are the highest-rated 529 plans on the 5-cap rating system, offering individual investors all around excellence. See our methodology for more detailed information.

Restricted to West Virginia residents

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.

Our Rating

5 / 5

Fee Score

4.5 / 5

Performance

5 / 5
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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.

Our Rating

5 / 5

Fee Score

4.5 / 5

Performance

4 / 5
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Restricted to South Carolina residents

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.

Our Rating

5 / 5

Fee Score

5 / 5

Performance

4.5 / 5
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102,655 Clicked to Enroll
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Alaska 529 (previously known as University of Alaska College Savings Plan) is a direct-sold 529 savings plan. The plan features both enrollment-based and static portfolios, along with an additional portfolio called the University of Alaska Portfolio providing special benefits to future University of Alaska students along with a very low expense ratio. Alaska residency is not required to participate in this T. Rowe Price-managed program.

Our Rating

5 / 5

Fee Score

4 / 5

Performance

4 / 5
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63,479 Clicked to Enroll
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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.

Our Rating

4.5 / 5

Fee Score

4.5 / 5

Performance

3 / 5
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309,208 Clicked to Enroll
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Lowest Fees

Lowest Fees

Fees can eat away at your earnings. Here are the lowest fee 529 plans available. See our methodology for more detailed information.

Restricted to Louisiana residents

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.

Our Rating

5 / 5

Fee Score

5 / 5

Performance

2.5 / 5
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Restricted to South Carolina residents

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.

Our Rating

5 / 5

Fee Score

5 / 5

Performance

4.5 / 5
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102,655 Clicked to Enroll
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Restricted to Florida residents

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).

Our Rating

4.5 / 5

Fee Score

5 / 5

Performance

3 / 5
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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%.

Our Rating

4.5 / 5

Fee Score

5 / 5

Performance

4 / 5
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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.

Our Rating

4.5 / 5

Fee Score

5 / 5

Performance

4 / 5
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Best Performance

Best Performance

These 529 plans had the highest returns over the past 5-year period.

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.

Our Rating

4.5 / 5

Fee Score

4 / 5

Performance

5 / 5
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72,727 Clicked to Enroll
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Restricted to Florida residents

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).

Our Rating

4.5 / 5

Fee Score

5 / 5

Performance

3 / 5
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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.

Our Rating

4.5 / 5

Fee Score

4 / 5

Performance

4 / 5
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127,674 Clicked to Enroll
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Restricted to West Virginia residents

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.

Our Rating

5 / 5

Fee Score

4.5 / 5

Performance

5 / 5
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The Maryland 529 -- Senator Edward J. Kasemeyer College Investment Plan is a direct-sold 529 plan available to residents of any state, and is managed by T. Rowe Price. Maryland residents may enjoy a state tax deduction for contributions to the plan.

Our Rating

4.5 / 5

Fee Score

4 / 5

Performance

4 / 5
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