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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 - 0.17%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
35.06%
13.76%
-
-
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 - 0.13%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
35.24%
14.14%
-
-
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
40.37%
13.85%
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Large selection of investment options
- Low fees
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.51%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
30.43%
10.95%
-
-
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
41.1%
15.22%
15.45%
-
Why we like this plan
- Tax deduction on contributions for residents
- Protection from creditors
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.26%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
34.19%
13.25%
-
-
Why we like this plan
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.14%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
32.96%
13.88%
-
-
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 - 0.15%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
32.89%
13.56%
13.01%
10.09%
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 - 0.21%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
36.38%
14.15%
-
-
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 - 0.47%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
36.54%
13.84%
13.41%
10.32%
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 - 0.65%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
41.12%
15.22%
15.46%
-
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
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.65%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
41.12%
15.22%
15.46%
-
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Protection from creditors
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.68%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
52.81%
12.84%
13.01%
10.15%
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 - 0.12%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
33.66%
14.4%
13.56%
10.2%
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 - 0.19%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
31.85%
13.1%
12.69%
10.1%
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 - 0.31%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
34.91%
14.29%
-
-
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
30.5%
-
-
-
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 - 0.35%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
32.59%
13.89%
13.67%
10.65%
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 - 0.14%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
32.96%
13.88%
-
-
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
32.96%
13.88%
-
-
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 - 0.14%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
32.99%
13.89%
-
-
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 - 0.2%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
31.78%
13.07%
12.66%
9.91%
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 - 0.32%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
35.1%
13.7%
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Large selection of age-based investment options
- Low fees
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.39%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
32.9%
11.88%
-
-
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 - 0.87%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
36.65%
13.12%
13.05%
9.72%
Why we like this plan
- Large selection of investment options
- Upromise rewards service available