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Best rated 529 plans of 2020
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 - 0.19%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-9.88%
-
-
-
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
-9.65%
-
-
-
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 - 0.16%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-8.25%
2.18%
3.35%
-
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
- Large selection of age-based investment options
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.2%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-8.42%
2.09%
3.33%
6.91%
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 - 0.26%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-10.1%
-
-
-
Why we like this plan
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.34%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-8.09%
1.74%
-
-
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 - 0.38%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-8.18%
2.7%
3.94%
7.34%
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 - 0.43%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-13.04%
-
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Large selection of investment options
- Low fees
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.44%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-8.52%
2.91%
4.1%
-
Why we like this plan
- Large tax deduction on contributions for residents
- Large selection of investment options
- Upromise rewards service available
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.51%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-11.77%
0.05%
-
-
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 - 0.69%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-12.29%
1.73%
-
-
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 - 0.94%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-9.79%
2.49%
-
-
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 - 0.34%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-9.32%
-
-
-
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 - 0.15%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-10.25%
1.74%
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
- Upromise rewards service available
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.17%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-8.14%
2.27%
3.52%
6.82%
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 - 0.23%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-8.47%
2.05%
3.28%
6.68%
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 - 0.23%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-5.04%
-
-
-
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 - 0.41%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-10.86%
-
-
-
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 - 0.53%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-10.75%
1.15%
2.77%
6.47%
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 - 0.69%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-12.3%
1.75%
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Tax deduction on contributions for residents
- Protection from creditors
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.69%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-12.29%
1.73%
-
-
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Protection from creditors
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.79%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-10.02%
1.82%
3.17%
-
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 - 0.94%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-9.8%
2.49%
-
-
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 - 0.94%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-9.8%
2.5%
-
-
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 - 0.94%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
-9.8%
2.49%
-
-
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