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529 fee study
Last Updated:
Millions of Americans invest in 529 Plans each year to save for college. But before you invest, you should consider 529 plan fees and how they affect your budget.
Saving For College uses data from 529 program official disclosure statements to inform the 529 Fee Study below. The study compares the lowest and highest 10-year expense totals for all direct-sold 529 savings plans and 529 fees by state.
This reference makes it easy for you to compare 529 plan fees, even helping you narrow down the 529 plans with the lowest fees.
Please click here for a further explanation of this fee study.
Saving For College’s 529 Fee Study - As of September 2025
10-year costs on $10,000 investment
⚹ This direct-sold plan is open only to state residents.
State
AL
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$243
2nd Lowest
$255
2nd Highest
$897
Highest Cost Option
$981
Annual account fee
$0
State
AK
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$205
2nd Lowest
$456
2nd Highest
$835
Highest Cost Option
$1073
Annual account fee
$0
State
AK
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$192
2nd Lowest
$205
2nd Highest
$835
Highest Cost Option
$1073
Annual account fee
$0
State
AZ
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$128
2nd Lowest
$141
2nd Highest
$1037
Highest Cost Option
$1166
Annual account fee
$0
State
AR
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$859
2nd Lowest
$859
2nd Highest
$859
Highest Cost Option
$859
Annual account fee
$20
LOWER figures ($659) apply to Arkansas residents eligible for account fee waiver.
State
CA
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$51
2nd Lowest
$64
2nd Highest
$481
Highest Cost Option
$494
Annual account fee
$0
State
CO
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$553
2nd Lowest
$553
2nd Highest
$553
Highest Cost Option
$553
Annual account fee
$20
LOWER figures ($356) apply to Colorado residents and other accounts eligible for account fee waiver.
State
CT
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$128
2nd Lowest
$141
2nd Highest
$1037
Highest Cost Option
$1166
Annual account fee
$0
State
DE
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$128
2nd Lowest
$141
2nd Highest
$1037
Highest Cost Option
$1166
Annual account fee
$0
State
DC⚹
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$547
2nd Lowest
$551
2nd Highest
$1015
Highest Cost Option
$1063
Annual account fee
$15
LOWER figures (ranging from $497 to $1,015) apply to DC residents who pay a $10 annual maintenance fee.
State
FL⚹
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$25
2nd Lowest
$37.29
2nd Highest
$311
Highest Cost Option
$559
Annual account fee
$0
State
GA
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$77
2nd Lowest
$90
2nd Highest
$128
Highest Cost Option
$154
Annual account fee
$0
State
HI
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$920
2nd Lowest
$932
2nd Highest
$980
Highest Cost Option
$1016
Annual account fee
$20
LOWER figures (ranging from $726 to $822) apply to Hawaii residents, eligible for account fee waiver.
State
ID
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$652
2nd Lowest
$652
2nd Highest
$652
Highest Cost Option
$652
Annual account fee
$20
LOWER figures ($456) apply to Idaho residents eligible for account fee waiver.
State
IL
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$103
2nd Lowest
$116
2nd Highest
$867
Highest Cost Option
$951
Annual account fee
$0
State
IN
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$403
2nd Lowest
$409
2nd Highest
$871
Highest Cost Option
$992
Annual account fee
$20
LOWER figures (ranging from $205 to $798) apply to Indiana residents and other accounts eligible for account fee waiver.
State
IA
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$217
2nd Lowest
$217
2nd Highest
$217
Highest Cost Option
$217
Annual account fee
$0
State
KS
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$256
2nd Lowest
$555
2nd Highest
$955
Highest Cost Option
$1014
Annual account fee
$0
State
KS
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$218
2nd Lowest
$230
2nd Highest
$811
Highest Cost Option
$859
Annual account fee
$0
State
KY
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$563
2nd Lowest
$578
2nd Highest
$922
Highest Cost Option
$979
Annual account fee
$0
State
LA⚹
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$0
2nd Lowest
$26
2nd Highest
$104
Highest Cost Option
$138
Annual account fee
$0
Zero-cost option is the fixed income fund managed by the state treasurer.
State
ME
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$267
2nd Lowest
$271
2nd Highest
$322
Highest Cost Option
$372
Annual account fee
$0
State
ME
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$245
2nd Lowest
$267
2nd Highest
$696
Highest Cost Option
$709
Annual account fee
$0
State
MD
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$166
2nd Lowest
$243
2nd Highest
$810
Highest Cost Option
$835
Annual account fee
$0
State
MA
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$128
2nd Lowest
$141
2nd Highest
$1166
Highest Cost Option
$1477
Annual account fee
$0
State
MI
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$84
2nd Lowest
$96
2nd Highest
$147
Highest Cost Option
$173
Annual account fee
$0
State
MN
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$142
2nd Lowest
$168
2nd Highest
$206
Highest Cost Option
$320
Annual account fee
$0
State
MS
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$786
2nd Lowest
$798
2nd Highest
$883
Highest Cost Option
$894
Annual account fee
$20
Figures would be HIGHER for accounts subject to the $20 annual document delivery fee (account owners who do not opt for electronic delivery).
State
MO
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$205
2nd Lowest
$230
2nd Highest
$468
Highest Cost Option
$518
Annual account fee
$0
State
MT
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$548
2nd Lowest
$549
2nd Highest
$575
Highest Cost Option
$577
Annual account fee
$0
State
NE
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$154
2nd Lowest
$167
2nd Highest
$592
Highest Cost Option
$812
Annual account fee
$0
State
NE
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$205
2nd Lowest
$217
2nd Highest
$642
Highest Cost Option
$873
Annual account fee
$0
State
NV
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$702
2nd Lowest
$775
2nd Highest
$1050
Highest Cost Option
$1085
Annual account fee
$0
Figures shown do not include the $10 annual low-balance fee applicable to non-resident accounts with a balance under $1,000 that do not have an active automatic investment plan.
State
NV
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$154
2nd Lowest
$166
2nd Highest
$418
Highest Cost Option
$468
Annual account fee
$0
State
NH
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$128
2nd Lowest
$141
2nd Highest
$1037
Highest Cost Option
$1166
Annual account fee
$0
State
NJ⚹
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$167
2nd Lowest
$217
2nd Highest
$847
Highest Cost Option
$1002
Annual account fee
$0
State
NM
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$154
2nd Lowest
$160
2nd Highest
$441
Highest Cost Option
$456
Annual account fee
$0
State
NY
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$141
2nd Lowest
$141
2nd Highest
$141
Highest Cost Option
$141
Annual account fee
$0
State
NC
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$375
2nd Lowest
$387
2nd Highest
$400
Highest Cost Option
$449
Annual account fee
$18
Figures would be HIGHER for accounts subject to the $18 annual document delivery fee (account owners who do not opt for electronic delivery).
State
ND
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$799
2nd Lowest
$799
2nd Highest
$799
Highest Cost Option
$799
Annual account fee
$20
Figures would be LOWER ($604) for North Dakota residents eligible for account fee waiver.
State
OH
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$181
2nd Lowest
$187
2nd Highest
$445
Highest Cost Option
$532
Annual account fee
$0
State
OK
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$192
2nd Lowest
$205
2nd Highest
$444
Highest Cost Option
$456
Annual account fee
$0
State
OR
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$283
2nd Lowest
$292
2nd Highest
$709
Highest Cost Option
$819
Annual account fee
$10
Figures would be HIGHER for accounts subject to the $10 annual Paper form (account owners who do not opt for electronic delivery).
State
PA
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$323
2nd Lowest
$329
2nd Highest
$386
Highest Cost Option
$436
Annual account fee
$10
Figures would be HIGHER for accounts subject to the $10 annual document delivery fee (account owners who do not opt for electronic delivery).
State
RI
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$154
2nd Lowest
$161
2nd Highest
$294
Highest Cost Option
$307
Annual account fee
$0
LOWER figures (ranging from $26 to $179) apply to Rhode Island residents eligible for program management fee waiver.
State
SC⚹
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$26
2nd Lowest
$39
2nd Highest
$255
Highest Cost Option
$318
Annual account fee
$0
State
SD⚹
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$217
2nd Lowest
$456
2nd Highest
$701
Highest Cost Option
$714
Annual account fee
$0
State
TN
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$291
2nd Lowest
$309
2nd Highest
$977
Highest Cost Option
$1136
Annual account fee
$0
Figures reflect state subsidy.
State
TX
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$418
2nd Lowest
$431
2nd Highest
$665
Highest Cost Option
$762
Annual account fee
$0
State
UT
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$128
2nd Lowest
$133
2nd Highest
$158
Highest Cost Option
$490
Annual account fee
$0
State
VT
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$505
2nd Lowest
$505
2nd Highest
$505
Highest Cost Option
$505
Annual account fee
$25
Figures would be HIGHER for accounts subject to the $25 annual document delivery fee (account owners who do not opt for electronic delivery).
State
VA
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$86
2nd Lowest
$99
2nd Highest
$469
Highest Cost Option
$701
Annual account fee
$0
Published figures do not include the one-time $50 application fee (if application is not submitted online.)
State
WA
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$272
2nd Lowest
$281
2nd Highest
$320
Highest Cost Option
$481
Annual account fee
$0
State
WV
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$915
2nd Lowest
$965
2nd Highest
$1020
Highest Cost Option
$1024
Annual account fee
$25
Figures would be LOWER for West Virginia residents and for high-balance and auto-contribution accounts eligible for account fee waiver.
State
WV⚹
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$147
2nd Lowest
$154
2nd Highest
$232
Highest Cost Option
$234
Annual account fee
$0
State
WI
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$128
2nd Lowest
$141
2nd Highest
$369
Highest Cost Option
$431
Annual account fee
$0
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