Best 529 plans of 2018
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 Rated
These are the highest-rated 529 plans on the Savingforcollege.com 5-cap rating system, offering individual investors all around excellence. See our methodology for more detailed information.
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
- Large tax deduction on contributions for residents
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
- Large tax deduction on contributions for residents
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
- Large selection of investment options
Why we like this plan
- Tax deduction on contributions for residents
- Low fees
- Large selection of investment options
Why we like this plan
- Tax deduction on contributions for residents
- CollegeBoundbaby grant for qualifying accounts
- Protection from creditors
Best Plan for my State
Some states offer multiple 529 plans. Below are the best plans in your state. See our methodology for more detailed information.
Lowest Fees
Some states offer multiple 529 plans. Below are the best plans in your state. See our methodology for more detailed information.
Why we like this plan
- Large selection of investment options
- Fidelity Investments 529 College Rewards American Express Card rebates 2% of purchases
- Low-cost index fund investment options
Why we like this plan
- Residents allowed to deduct full contribution amount from WV state taxes
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
- Residents allowed to deduct full contribution amount from SC state taxes
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
- Large tax deduction on contributions for residents
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
- Large selection of age-based investment options
Best Performance
These 529 plans had the highest returns over the past 1-year period. To create this list of best performing 529 plans, we compared the returns for a moderate risk, age-based portfolio across plans. See our methodology for more detailed information.
Why we like this plan
- Large tax credit on contributions for residents
- Upromise rewards service available
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Protection from creditors
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Tuition-value guarantee for University of Alaska students invested in the ACT portfolio
- Protection from creditors
Why we like this plan
- Tax deduction on contributions for residents
- Protection from creditors
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Protection from creditors
FDIC Insured
Are you a more conservative investor? These plans offer FDIC-insured or CD investment options. See our methodology for more detailed information.
Why we like this plan
- CD investments for investors looking for guaranteed returns
- Tax deduction on contributions for residents
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
- Large tax deduction on contributions for residents
Why we like this plan
- CD investments for investors looking for guaranteed returns
- Large tax credit on contributions for residents
Table of Contents
- What is a 529 Plan?
- Name the top 7 benefits of 529 plans
- Which is the best 529 plan available?
- What is the penalty on an unused 529 plan?
- Does a 529 plan affect financial aid?
- Are 529 plans only for my state's public colleges?
- Are there gift & estate tax benefits for 529 plans?
- Can I have 529 plans from multiple states?
- How do I select the right investments for my 529 plan?
- 529 savings plans and private school tuition