How 529 College Savings Plans Work, Pros & Cons, and How to Choose the Best One for You

Introduction: What is a 529 Plan?

A 529 plan is a type of college savings plan that allows you to save money for future college costs.

529 plans are sponsored by states, state agencies, or educational institutions. They offer tax-free earnings and withdrawals. The earnings on the investments grow without being taxed as long as they are used for qualified educational expenses.

What are the Different Types of 529 Plans?

529 plans are one of the best ways to save for college. These plans are sponsored by states and typically offer tax-advantaged treatment of earnings, which means that you don't have to pay taxes on investment gains over the life of the plan.

There are two types of 529 plans: prepaid tuition and savings plans. Prepaid tuition programs allow you to purchase credits or units at a participating school, while savings programs allow you to invest money and grow your account over time.

The best part about 529s is that there is no limit on how much money can be contributed each year, and it grows tax-free until it's withdrawn for qualified education expenses like tuition, books, room and board etc.

Section 1 - Costs & Benefits of a 529 Plan

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged educational savings account that provides a way to save for college. Contributions to the account are not deductible for federal income tax purposes, but earnings grow tax-deferred and distributions are generally tax-free when used to pay qualified higher education expenses.

A 529 plan is an investment account that is typically set up by parents or grandparents to help their children or grandchildren pay for college. There are two types of 529 plans: the traditional and Roth. The traditional 529 plan offers state income tax deductions, while the Roth version does not provide any upfront deduction, but instead offers potential future income tax benefits when contributions and earnings are withdrawn from the account.

Section 2 - How to Choose the Best Type of Plan for You

Choosing the right type of plan for you can be a daunting task. There are many factors that go into this decision, such as your budget and your needs. But there are also some things you should keep in mind when it comes to choosing between these different types of plans.

529 College Savings Plan - Everything you need to know

We did the research and narrowed down to ten sites that will help you get the information you need and make a decision. Keep reading to learn about each one.

We combined over twenty different criteria to establish out rankings with the help of cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence and expert contributors. These criteria include user reviews, content relevance, website reputation score, user votes, and more (We make sure to update these rankings on a regular basis so that the information is always up to date).

We've included the most useful 529 College Savings Plan videos in our review, as well as links to further resources for more information.

529 College Savings Plan
529 College Savings Plan

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Top 10 529 College Savings Plan and 529 College Savings Plan websites as ranked by people like you

The Community ranked the best 529 College Savings Plan websites so that you can find what you need. Help improve the ranking by voting too.

Last updated: 2024-05-06

Rank

Provider

Description & Features

Site

1

202

What Is a 529 Plan? - Savingforcollege.com
What Is a 529 Plan? - Savingforcollege.com
A 529 plan is a college savings plan that offers tax and financial aid benefits. 529 plans may also be used to save and invest for K-12 tuition in addition to college costs. There are two types of 529 plans: college savings plans and prepaid tuition plans. Almost every state has at least one 529 plan.

2

187

What is a 529 Plan? - Fidelity
What is a 529 Plan? - Fidelity
A 529 plan is a college savings plan sponsored by a state or state agency. Savings can be used for tuition, books, and other qualified expenses at most accredited colleges and universities.

3

173

CollegeChoice 529
CollegeChoice 529
You also may wish to contact directly your home state’s 529 college savings plan(s), or any other 529 plan, to learn more about those plans’ features, benefits, and limitations. Keep in mind that state-based benefits should be one of many appropriately weighted factors to be considered when making an investment decision.

4

160

Texas College Savings
Texas College Savings
The Texas College Savings Plan is a tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan designed to help families and individuals nationwide save for qualified higher education expenses. All U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens 18 years of age or older can open and contribute to a Texas College Savings Plan account.

5

148

NY's 529 College Savings Program | NY 529 Direct Plan
NY's 529 College Savings Program | NY 529 Direct Plan
Investment returns are not guaranteed, and you could lose money by investing in the Direct Plan. For more information about New York's 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan, download a Disclosure Booklet and Tuition Savings Agreement or request one by calling 877-NYSAVES (877-697-2837). This document includes investment objectives, risks ...

6

137

SEC.gov | An Introduction to 529 Plans
SEC.gov | An Introduction to 529 Plans
This publication provides an overview of 529 plans and comparison of the two types of these plans: prepaid tuition and college savings. You will gain some insight as to the advantages and disadvantages associated with the plans, the investment choices and options, the tax implications, and the questions to ask before investing in a 529 plan.

7

127

PA529
PA529
The Pennsylvania 529 College and Career Savings Program sponsors two plans – the PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) and the PA 529 Investment Plan (IP). The guarantee of the PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan is an obligation of the GSP Fund, not the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any state agency.

8

118

529 Plans - College Savings Plans - Fidelity
529 Plans - College Savings Plans - Fidelity
The UNIQUE College Investing Plan, U.Fund College Investing Plan, Delaware College Investment Plan, and Fidelity Arizona College Savings Plan are offered by the state of New Hampshire, MEFA, the state of Delaware, and the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education, respectively, and managed by Fidelity Investments.

9

109

www.nysaves.org
www.nysaves.org
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10

101

CollegeInvest
CollegeInvest
When you choose the CollegeInvest Direct Portfolio College Savings Plan, you gain the expertise of Vanguard, one of the world's largest and most trusted investment management companies.

Top 10 ranking changes over time

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Useful 529 College Savings Plan Resources

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