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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
24.4%
-
-
-
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
25.1%
-
-
-
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 - 0.16%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
23.72%
10.75%
8%
-
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 - 0.18%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
25.94%
12.25%
8.92%
-
Why we like this plan
- Tax deduction on contributions for residents
- Low fees
- 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
23.16%
10.95%
7.96%
9.48%
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
24.36%
-
-
-
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
21.34%
9.85%
-
-
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
24.5%
11.62%
8.58%
9.94%
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 - 0.44%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
24.82%
-
-
-
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
24.28%
11.87%
8.79%
-
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
18.43%
9.15%
-
-
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
27.84%
13.19%
-
-
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
27.83%
13.14%
-
-
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
25.11%
-
-
-
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
25.05%
-
-
-
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
23.04%
10.97%
8.07%
9.36%
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
23.14%
10.9%
7.91%
9.24%
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
19.83%
-
-
-
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
22.41%
-
-
-
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
23.83%
10.91%
7.97%
9.42%
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 - 0.54%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
22.59%
11.95%
8.78%
-
Why we like this plan
- Strong long-term performance
- Low fees
- Large selection of investment options
Our rating for residents
Our rating for non-residents
Fees - 0.69%
Performance
1-YR
3-YR
5-YR
10-YR
27.86%
13.17%
-
-
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
27.84%
13.19%
-
-
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
26.78%
11.77%
8.35%
9.94%
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
27.85%
13.12%
-
-
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