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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

Best for my State

Lowest Fees

Best Performance

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.

New York's 529 College Savings Program -- Direct Plan

Compare

Our Rating

5 of 5

Fee Scoreix

4.5 of 5

Performanceix

5 of 5

Ohio’s 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage

Compare

Our Rating

5 of 5

Fee Scoreix

4.5 of 5

Performanceix

5 of 5

ScholarShare 529

Compare

Our Rating

5 of 5

Fee Scoreix

4.5 of 5

Performanceix

5 of 5

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.

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Lowest Fees

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

Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan (Direct-sold)

Restricted to South Carolina residents

Compare

Our Rating

5 of 5

Fee Scoreix

5 of 5

Performanceix

4 of 5

START Saving Program

Restricted to Louisiana residents

Compare

Our Rating

5 of 5

Fee Scoreix

5 of 5

Performanceix

3.5 of 5

Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP)

Compare

Our Rating

4.5 of 5

Fee Scoreix

5 of 5

Performanceix

2.5 of 5

Best Performance

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

ScholarShare 529

Compare

Our Rating

5 of 5

Fee Scoreix

4.5 of 5

Performanceix

5 of 5

Ohio’s 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage

Compare

Our Rating

5 of 5

Fee Scoreix

4.5 of 5

Performanceix

5 of 5

New York's 529 College Savings Program -- Direct Plan

Compare

Our Rating

5 of 5

Fee Scoreix

4.5 of 5

Performanceix

5 of 5

compare plans Compare

Reset

Our Rating

Fee ScoreixThe fee score is derived from the analysis of costs done as part of Savingforcollege.com's 5-Cap Rating. This analysis compares total average asset-based expenses of the plan to other 529 savings plans. See the methodology for more information.Close

PerformanceixThe performance score is based on Savingforcollege.com's composite ranking for five-year investment performance. In producing our rankings, we compare the reported investment performance of a subset of portfolios from each 529 savings plan.Close

Our Rating

Fee ScoreixThe fee score is derived from the analysis of costs done as part of Savingforcollege.com's 5-Cap Rating. This analysis compares total average asset-based expenses of the plan to other 529 savings plans. See the methodology for more information.Close

PerformanceixThe performance score is based on Savingforcollege.com's composite ranking for five-year investment performance. In producing our rankings, we compare the reported investment performance of a subset of portfolios from each 529 savings plan.Close

Our Rating

Fee ScoreixThe fee score is derived from the analysis of costs done as part of Savingforcollege.com's 5-Cap Rating. This analysis compares total average asset-based expenses of the plan to other 529 savings plans. See the methodology for more information.Close

PerformanceixThe performance score is based on Savingforcollege.com's composite ranking for five-year investment performance. In producing our rankings, we compare the reported investment performance of a subset of portfolios from each 529 savings plan.Close

Find the right 529 plan for you

Our Rating

Fee ScoreixThe fee score is derived from the analysis of costs done as part of Savingforcollege.com's 5-Cap Rating. This analysis compares total average asset-based expenses of the plan to other 529 savings plans. See the methodology for more information.Close

PerformanceixThe performance score is based on Savingforcollege.com's composite ranking for five-year investment performance. In producing our rankings, we compare the reported investment performance of a subset of portfolios from each 529 savings plan.Close

Our Rating

Fee ScoreixThe fee score is derived from the analysis of costs done as part of Savingforcollege.com's 5-Cap Rating. This analysis compares total average asset-based expenses of the plan to other 529 savings plans. See the methodology for more information.Close

PerformanceixThe performance score is based on Savingforcollege.com's composite ranking for five-year investment performance. In producing our rankings, we compare the reported investment performance of a subset of portfolios from each 529 savings plan.Close

Our Rating

Fee ScoreixThe fee score is derived from the analysis of costs done as part of Savingforcollege.com's 5-Cap Rating. This analysis compares total average asset-based expenses of the plan to other 529 savings plans. See the methodology for more information.Close

PerformanceixThe performance score is based on Savingforcollege.com's composite ranking for five-year investment performance. In producing our rankings, we compare the reported investment performance of a subset of portfolios from each 529 savings plan.Close

Our Rating

Fee ScoreixThe fee score is derived from the analysis of costs done as part of Savingforcollege.com's 5-Cap Rating. This analysis compares total average asset-based expenses of the plan to other 529 savings plans. See the methodology for more information.Close

PerformanceixThe performance score is based on Savingforcollege.com's composite ranking for five-year investment performance. In producing our rankings, we compare the reported investment performance of a subset of portfolios from each 529 savings plan.Close

Our Rating

Fee ScoreixThe fee score is derived from the analysis of costs done as part of Savingforcollege.com's 5-Cap Rating. This analysis compares total average asset-based expenses of the plan to other 529 savings plans. See the methodology for more information.Close

PerformanceixThe performance score is based on Savingforcollege.com's composite ranking for five-year investment performance. In producing our rankings, we compare the reported investment performance of a subset of portfolios from each 529 savings plan.Close

Our Rating

Fee ScoreixThe fee score is derived from the analysis of costs done as part of Savingforcollege.com's 5-Cap Rating. This analysis compares total average asset-based expenses of the plan to other 529 savings plans. See the methodology for more information.Close

PerformanceixThe performance score is based on Savingforcollege.com's composite ranking for five-year investment performance. In producing our rankings, we compare the reported investment performance of a subset of portfolios from each 529 savings plan.Close

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Performanceix

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