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Best rated 529 plans of 2021
We assign a rating to each state-sponsored 529 plan ranging from one cap (least attractive) to five caps (most attractive). The 5-Cap Rating represents our analysis of the overall usefulness of a state's 529 plan based on many considerations.
The 5-Cap Rating is not strictly a measure of historical returns and it is not a predictor of future investment performance, level of investment risk, or financial solvency of the program funds.
plan name
state
rating
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.12%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
11.58%
8.16%
10.15%
9.11%
Why we like this plan
- Residents allowed to deduct full contribution amount from WV state taxes
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.13%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
9.79%
7.71%
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
- Large tax deduction on contributions for residents
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.14%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
11.05%
8.02%
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Large selection of investment options
- Tax deduction on contributions for residents
- Fidelity Investments 529 College Rewards American Express Card rebates 2% of purchases
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.18%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
9.9%
-
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
- Large tax deduction on contributions for residents
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.43%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
7.34%
6.02%
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Large selection of investment options
- Low fees
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.92%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
11.35%
7.5%
-
-
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
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.14%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
9.91%
7.19%
9.54%
8.98%
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
- Tax deduction on contributions for residents
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.15%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
10.04%
7.34%
9.65%
9.06%
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
- Tax credit on contributions for residents
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.2%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
9.59%
7.08%
9.47%
9.19%
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
- Large tax deduction on contributions for residents
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.21%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
9.16%
7.19%
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Large selection of investment options
- Large tax deduction on contributions for residents
- Collegecounts 529 Rewards Visa Card earns you 1.529% on everyday purchases
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.26%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
9.34%
-
-
-
Why we like this plan
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.32%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
10.67%
-
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Residents allowed to deduct full contribution amount from CO state taxes
- Matching Grant Program with a dollar-for-dollar match for qualifying CO residents
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.34%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
7.71%
-
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Tax deduction on contributions for residents
- CollegeBoundbaby grant for qualifying accounts
- Protection from creditors
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.36%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
11.09%
8.26%
10.5%
9.83%
Why we like this plan
- Large tax credit on contributions for residents
- Upromise rewards service available
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.41%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
4.95%
-
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Large selection of investment options
- FDIC-insured savings account option
- Upromise rewards service available
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.5%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
5.71%
4.48%
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Tax deduction on contributions for residents
- Socially responsible investment portfolio
- Protection from creditors
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.58%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
9.88%
7.62%
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Tax deduction on contributions for residents
- Protection from creditors
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.74%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
9.09%
7.68%
9.88%
9.58%
Why we like this plan
- Large selection of investment options
- Matching Grant Program for qualifying KS residents
- Upromise rewards service available
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.14%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
10.97%
8%
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Large selection of age-based investment options
- Account balances excluded for AZ state financial aid purposes
- Low-cost index fund investment options
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.2%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
9.57%
7.05%
9.43%
8.96%
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Large selection of investment options
- Large selection of investment options
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.2%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
6.86%
6.26%
9.34%
10.35%
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Protection from creditors
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.23%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
8.81%
-
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Large selection of age-based investment options
- Upromise rewards and SAGE Scholars service available
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.32%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
9.84%
7.07%
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Large selection of age-based investment options
- Low fees
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.5%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
7.8%
6.43%
9.01%
9.09%
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
- Matching Grants for qualifying accounts
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.58%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
9.86%
7.61%
10.96%
-
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