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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 2024
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
$406
2nd Highest
$847
Highest Cost Option
$1084
Annual account fee
$0
State
AK
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$192
2nd Lowest
$205
2nd Highest
$847
Highest Cost Option
$1084
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
$494
Highest Cost Option
$531
Annual account fee
$0
State
CO
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$565
2nd Lowest
$565
2nd Highest
$565
Highest Cost Option
$565
Annual account fee
$20
LOWER figures ($368) 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
$141
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
$116
2nd Lowest
$128
2nd Highest
$642
Highest Cost Option
$957
Annual account fee
$0
State
IN
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$403
2nd Lowest
$422
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
$573
2nd Highest
$918
Highest Cost Option
$993
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
$271
2nd Lowest
$283
2nd Highest
$659
Highest Cost Option
$672
Annual account fee
$0
State
MD
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$166
2nd Lowest
$243
2nd Highest
$798
Highest Cost Option
$822
Annual account fee
$0
State
MA
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$128
2nd Lowest
$141
2nd Highest
$1037
Highest Cost Option
$1166
Annual account fee
$0
State
MI
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$84
2nd Lowest
$96
2nd Highest
$160
Highest Cost Option
$236
Annual account fee
$0
State
MN
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$157
2nd Lowest
$170
2nd Highest
$284
Highest Cost Option
$359
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
$551
2nd Lowest
$561
2nd Highest
$579
Highest Cost Option
$581
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
$567
2nd Lowest
$738
2nd Highest
$1084
Highest Cost Option
$1108
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
$393
Highest Cost Option
$542
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
$378
2nd Highest
$1025
Highest Cost Option
$1049
Annual account fee
$0
State
NM
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$154
2nd Lowest
$164
2nd Highest
$441
Highest Cost Option
$455
Annual account fee
$0
State
NY
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$154
2nd Lowest
$154
2nd Highest
$154
Highest Cost Option
$154
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
$182
2nd Lowest
$186
2nd Highest
$484
Highest Cost Option
$533
Annual account fee
$0
State
OK
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$192
2nd Lowest
$205
2nd Highest
$481
Highest Cost Option
$531
Annual account fee
$0
State
OR
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$283
2nd Lowest
$296
2nd Highest
$733
Highest Cost Option
$822
Annual account fee
$0
State
PA
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$334
2nd Lowest
$344
2nd Highest
$448
Highest Cost Option
$461
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
$167
2nd Highest
$307
Highest Cost Option
$370
Annual account fee
$0
LOWER figures (ranging from $26 to $243) apply to Rhode Island residents eligible for program management fee waiver.
State
SC⚹
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$26
2nd Lowest
$51
2nd Highest
$255
Highest Cost Option
$306
Annual account fee
$0
State
SD⚹
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$443
2nd Lowest
$456
2nd Highest
$640
Highest Cost Option
$2168
Annual account fee
$0
State
TN
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$295
2nd Lowest
$302
2nd Highest
$936
Highest Cost Option
$1055
Annual account fee
$0
Figures reflect state subsidy.
State
TX
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$418
2nd Lowest
$430
2nd Highest
$530
Highest Cost Option
$653
Annual account fee
$0
State
UT
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$141
2nd Lowest
$150
2nd Highest
$177
Highest Cost Option
$571
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
$90
2nd Lowest
$103
2nd Highest
$481
Highest Cost Option
$704
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
$628
2nd Lowest
$629
2nd Highest
$666
Highest Cost Option
$670
Annual account fee
$30
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
$151
2nd Highest
$232
Highest Cost Option
$233
Annual account fee
$0
State
WI
Direct-sold 529 plan name
Lowest Cost Option
$141
2nd Lowest
$154
2nd Highest
$356
Highest Cost Option
$419
Annual account fee
$0
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