The latest 529 fee study from Savingforcollege.com compares the lowest and highest 10-year expense totals for all direct-sold 529 savings plans.
Minimizing fees and costs is one of the main goals when it comes to investing. It is no different with 529 plans. Despite the initial tax advantages, your state’s plan may not always be the best choice. Learn more about our college planning tips and services here, College Planning.
The table below summarizes the latest 529 fee study from Savingforcollege.com, sorted by State.
| State | Direct-sold 529 plan name | Lowest cost option | 2nd lowest option | 2nd highest option | Highest cost option | Annual account fee | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | CollegeCounts 529 Fund | $344 | $369 | $1,052 | $1,100 | $0 | |
| Alaska | T. Rowe Price College Savings Plan | $443 | $542 | $859 | $871 | $0 | |
| Alaska | University of Alaska College Savings Plan | $356 | $443 | $859 | $871 | $0 | |
| Arizona | Fidelity Arizona College Savings Plan | $141 | $154 | $1,327 | $1,369 | $0 | |
| Arkansas | GIFT College Investing Plan | $859 | $859 | $859 | $859 | $20 | LOWER figures ($659) apply to Arkansas residents eligible for account fee waiver. |
| California | The ScholarShare College Savings Plan | $103 | $116 | $703 | $715 | $0 | |
| Colorado | Direct Portfolio College Savings Plan | $627 | $627 | $627 | $627 | $20 | LOWER figures ($431) apply to Colorado residents and other accounts eligible for account fee waiver. |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET) | $230 | $243 | $861 | $1,392 | $0 | |
| Delaware | Delaware College Investment Plan | $141 | $154 | $1,327 | $1,370 | $0 | |
| District of Columbia† | DC College Savings Plan | $541 | $553 | $1,003 | $1,063 | $15 | LOWER figures (ranging from $492 to $1,015) apply to DC residents who pay a $10 annual maintenance fee. |
| Florida | Florida 529 Savings Plan | $0 | $492 | $905 | $928 | $0 | |
| Georgia | Path2College 529 Plan | $230 | $243 | $356 | $394 | $0 | |
| Hawaii | Hawaii’s College Savings Program | $932 | $944 | $980 | $1,016 | $20 | LOWER figures (ranging from $737 to $822) apply to Hawaii residents, eligible for account fee waiver. |
| Idaho | Idaho College Savings Program (IDeal) | $811 | $811 | $811 | $811 | $20 | LOWER figures ($616) apply to Idaho residents eligible for account fee waiver. |
| Illinois | Bright Start Direct-Sold College Savings Program | $128 | $141 | $800 | $1,029 | $0 | |
| Indiana | CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings Plan | $428 | $453 | $896 | $1,170 | $20 | LOWER figures (ranging from $255 to $978) apply to Indiana residents and other accounts eligible for account fee waiver. |
| Iowa | College Savings Iowa | $255 | $255 | $255 | $255 | $0 | |
| Kansas | Learning Quest 529 Education Savings Program (Direct-sold) | $293 | $306 | $955 | $1,002 | $0 | |
| Kansas | Schwab 529 College Savings Plan | $481 | $555 | $955 | $1,002 | $0 | |
| Kentucky | KY Saves 529 | $570 | $592 | $1,011 | $1,054 | $0 | |
| Louisiana† | START Saving Program | $0 | $52 | $167 | $389 | $0 | Zero-cost option is the fixed income fund managed by the state treasurer. |
| Maine | NextGen College Investing Plan – Client Direct Series | $236 | $332 | $758 | $810 | $0 | |
| Maryland | Maryland 529 – Maryland Senator Edward J. Kasemeyer College Investment Plan | $331 | $443 | $859 | $871 | $0 | |
| Massachusetts | U.Fund College Investing Plan | $141 | $154 | $1,327 | $1,371 | $0 | |
| Michigan | Michigan Education Savings Program | $154 | $167 | $255 | $306 | $0 | |
| Minnesota | Minnesota College Savings Plan | $221 | $259 | $359 | $397 | $0 | |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Affordable College Savings (MACS) Program | $798 | $810 | $894 | $906 | $20 | Figures would be HIGHER for accounts subject to the $20 annual document delivery fee (account owners who do not opt for electronic delivery). |
| Missouri | MOST – Missouri’s 529 Savings Plan (Direct-sold) | $293 | $318 | $628 | $714 | $0 | |
| Montana | Achieve Montana | $1,227 | $1,232 | $1,257 | $1,268 | $25 | LOWER figures (ranging from $987 to $1,028) apply to Montana residents and other accounts eligible for account fee waiver. |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Education Savings Trust – Direct College Savings Plan | $368 | $381 | $1,025 | $1,523 | $0 | |
| Nebraska | TD Ameritrade 529 College Savings Plan | $604 | $616 | $1,248 | $1,735 | $0 | |
| Nevada | The Vanguard 529 Savings Plan | $192 | $249 | $542 | $555 | $0 | |
| Nevada | SSGA Upromise 529 Plan | $553 | $615 | $992 | $1,287 | $20 | LOWER figures (ranging from $356 to $1,096) apply to Nevada residents eligible for account fee waiver, or account owners invested in the Savings Portfolio. |
| Nevada | USAA 529 College Savings Plan | $665 | $738 | $1,213 | $1,294 | $0 | Figures shown do not include the $10 annual low-balance fee applicable to non-residents accounts with a balance under $1,000. |
| New Hampshire | UNIQUE College Investing Plan | $141 | $154 | $1,327 | $1,370 | $0 | |
| New Jersey† | NJBEST 529 College Savings Plan | $179 | $443 | $1,014 | $1,075 | $0 | |
| New Mexico | The Education Plan’s College Savings Program | $192 | $205 | $593 | $630 | $0 | |
| New York | New York’s 529 College Savings Program – Direct Plan | $166 | $166 | $166 | $166 | $0 | |
| North Carolina | National College Savings Program | $393 | $418 | $431 | $493 | $18 | Figures would be HIGHER for accounts subject to the $18 annual document delivery fee (account owners who do not opt for electronic delivery). |
| North Dakota | College SAVE | $884 | $884 | $884 | $884 | $20 | Figures would be LOWER ($689) for North Dakota residents eligible for account fee waiver. |
| Ohio | Ohio’s 529 Plan, CollegeAdvantage | $217 | $236 | $542 | $677 | $0 | |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma College Savings Plan | $444 | $469 | $825 | $969 | $0 | |
| Oregon | Oregon College Savings Plan | $331 | $340 | $763 | $890 | $0 | |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania 529 Investment Plan | $288 | $307 | $352 | $414 | $10 | Figures would be HIGHER for accounts subject to the $10 annual document delivery fee (account owners who do not opt for electronic delivery). |
| Rhode Island | CollegeBound Saver (Direct-sold, Alternative NR) | $366 | $372 | $750 | $1,059 | $0 | LOWER figures (ranging from $45 to $750) apply to Rhode Island residents eligible for program management fee waiver. |
| South Carolina† | Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan (Direct-sold) | $26 | $64 | $255 | $306 | $0 | |
| South Dakota† | CollegeAccess 529 (Direct-sold) | $579 | $591 | $1,084 | $1,236 | $0 | |
| Tennessee | TNStars College Savings 529 Program | $462 | $462 | $462 | $462 | $0 | Figures reflect current subsidy limiting total annual asset-based fee to 0.35% per portfolio; substantial changes to investment options and fee structure as of 8/15/19 |
| Texas | Texas College Savings Plan | $51 | $738 | $1,150 | $1,211 | $0 | |
| Utah | my529 | $0 | $192 | $250 | $729 | $0 | Zero cost Public Treasurers’ Investment Fund option is only available to Utah residents. |
| Vermont | Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan | $505 | $505 | $505 | $505 | $10 | Figures would be HIGHER for accounts subject to the $10 annual document delivery fee (account owners who do not opt for electronic delivery). |
| Virginia | Invest529 | $155 | $168 | $693 | $923 | $0 | Published figures do not include the one-time $50 application fee (if application is not submitted online.) |
| Washington | Dream Ahead College Investment Plan | $699 | $702 | $780 | $852 | $35 | |
| West Virginia | SMART529 Select | $964 | $1,014 | $1,077 | $1,084 | $25 | Figures would be LOWER for West Virginia residents and for high-balance and auto-contribution accounts eligible for account fee waiver. |
| West Virginia† | SMART529 WV Direct College Savings Plan | $147 | $151 | $250 | $280 | $0 | |
| Wisconsin | Edvest | $179 | $192 | $481 | $518 | $0 |
† This direct-sold plan is open only to state residents.
Explanations and notes about the study: https://www.savingforcollege.com/529_fee_study/fee_study.php.
