Ultimate College Guide 2005
529s: State by state
A state-by-state listing, plus MONEY's picks for the top plans.
From the August 2005 issue of MONEY Magazine

  • Build an A+ college savings plan
  • Tips for choosing a 529 plan
  • The 529 alternatives
    • NEW YORK (MONEY Magazine) -- A state 529 college savings plan is best described as a 401(k) for college, a simple plan that lets you put aside money regularly, invest in mutual funds and watch the earnings grow tax-free.

    In the table below you can see, state-by state, the three things you need to know about each plan: Do I get a tax break? Where can I buy it? and What are the expenses? For more on how much you can contribute and how to go about choosing a plan, see "Tips for choosing a 529 plan."

    You can also view MONEY's picks for the best plans, both nationally and for in-state residents.
    MONEY'S PICKS ALL STATE PLANS
      STATE TAX
    WRITE-OFF?    		 BUY FROM...
    (SALES LOAD)    		 EXPENSE
    RATIO
    ALABAMA
    Higher Education 529 Fund
    Van Kampen
    vankampen.com 866-529-2228    		 no plan1 (no load)
    broker (5.75)    		 0.83 to 2.82
    ALASKA
    John Hancock Freedom 529
    T. Rowe Price
    johnhancockfreedom529.com 866-222-7498    		 no state tax broker only (5.25) 1.30 to 2.95
    T. Rowe Price College Savings Plan
    T. Rowe Price
    troweprice.com/collegesavings 800-369-3641    		 no state tax plan only (no load) 0.79 to 1.05
    ARIZONA
    Arizona Family College Savings Program
    College Savings Bank
    arizona.collegesavings.com 800-888-2723    		 no plan (no load)
    broker (no load)    		 none
    Waddell & Reed InvestEd Plan
    Waddell & Reed
    waddell.com 888-923-3355    		 no broker only (5.75) 1.58 to 2.42
    ARKANSAS
    GIFT College Investing Planrecommended for state
    Vanguard/Upromise
    thegiftplan.com 800-587-7301    		 yes plan only (no load) 0.85
    CALIFORNIA
    Golden State ScholarShare College Savings Trust
    TIAA-CREF
    scholarshare.com 877-728-4338    		 no plan only (no load) 0.8
    COLORADO
    CollegeInvest Direct Portfolio College Savings Planrecommended for state
    Vanguard/Upromise
    collegeinvest.org 800-997-4295    		 yes plan only (no load) 0.75
    Scholars Choice College Savings Program
    Citigroup Asset Management
    scholars-choice.com 888-572-4652    		 yes broker only (3.50) 0.10 to 2.04
    CONNECTICUT
    Connecticut Higher Education Trust
    TIAA-CREF
    aboutchet.com 888-799-2438    		 no plan only (no load) 0.69 to 0.71
    D.C.
    District of Columbia College Savings Plan
    Calvert
    dccollegesavings.com 800-368-2745    		 yes plan1 (no load)
    broker (4.75)    		 0.15 to 1.92
    DELAWARE
    Delaware College Investment Plan
    Fidelity
    fidelity.com/delaware 800-544-1655    		 no plan only (no load) 0.86 to 1.13
    FLORIDA
    Florida College Investment Plan
    Florida Prepaid College Board
    florida529plans.com 800-552-4723    		 no state tax plan only (no load) 0.75
    GEORGIA
    Georgia Higher Education Savings Planrecommended for state
    TIAA-CREF
    gacollegesavings.com 877-424-4377    		 yes plan only (no load) 0.85
    HAWAII
    TuitionEDGE
    Delaware Investments
    tuitionedge.com 866-529-3343    		 no plan1 (no load)
    broker (5.75)    		 0.95 to 1.95
    IDAHO
    Idaho College Savings Programrecommended for state
    TIAA-CREF
    idsaves.org 866-433-2533    		 yes plan only (no load) 0.81 to 0.85
    ILLINOIS
    Bright Start College Savings Plan
    Citigroup Asset Management
    brightstartsavings.com 877-432-7444    		 yes plan (no load)
    broker (no load)    		 0.99
    INDIANA
    CollegeChoice 529 Investment Plan
    J.P. Morgan Investment Advisors
    collegechoiceplan.com 866-400-7526    		 no plan (no load)
    broker (5.25)    		 0.75 to 2.64
    IOWA
    College Savings Iowarecommended nationally
    Vanguard
    collegesavingsiowa.com 888-672-9116    		 yes plan only (no load) 0.65
    KANSAS
    Learning Quest 529 Education Savings Program
    American Century
    learningquest.com 800-579-2203    		 yes plan (no load)
    broker (3.25)    		 0.47 to 1.31
    KENTUCKY
    Kentucky Education Savings Plan Trust
    TIAA-CREF
    kysaves.com 877-598-7878    		 no plan only (no load) 0.8
    LOUISIANA
    START Saving Programrecommended for state
    Vanguard
    startsaving.la.gov 800-259-5626    		 yes plan only1 (no load) 0.15 to 0.28
    MAINE
    NextGen College Investing Plan
    Merrill Lynch
    nextgenplan.com 877-463-9843    		 no plan (no load)
    broker (5.75)    		 0.72 to 2.63
    MARYLAND
    Maryland College Investment Planrecommended for state
    T. Rowe Price
    collegesavingsmd.org 888-463-4723    		 yes plan only (no load) 0.84 to 1.09
    MASSACHUSETTS
    U. Fund College Investing Plan
    Fidelity
    fidelity.com/ufund 800-544-2776    		 no plan only (no load) 0.86 to 1.15
    MICHIGAN
    Michigan Education Savings Programrecommended nationally
    TIAA-CREF
    misaves.com 877-861-6377    		 yes plan only (no load) 0.652
    MINNESOTA
    Minnesota College Savings Plan
    TIAA-CREF
    mnsaves.org 877-338-4646    		 no plan only (no load) 0.65
    MISSISSIPPI
    Mississippi Affordable College Savings Programrecommended for state
    TIAA-CREF
    collegesavingsms.com 800-486-3670    		 yes plan (no load)
    broker (5.00)    		 0.70 to 0.90
    MISSOURI
    Missouri Saving for Tuitionrecommended for state
    TIAA-CREF
    missourimost.org 888-414-6678    		 yes plan (no load)
    broker (5.00)    		 0.65
    MONTANA
    Montana Family Education Savings Program
    College Savings Bank
    montana.collegesavings.com 800-888-2723    		 yes plan (no load)
    broker (no load)    		 none
    Pacific Funds 529 College Savings Plan
    College Savings Bank/Pacific Life
    collegesavings.pacificlife.com 800-722-2333    		 yes plan1 (no load)
    broker (5.50)    		 0.50 to 2.55
    NEBRASKA
    AIM College Savings Plan
    Union Bank & Trust/AIM Capital Management
    aiminvestments.com 877-246-7526    		 yes plan (no load)
    broker (5.50)    		 0.90 to 2.02
    College Savings Plan of Nebraska
    Union Bank & Trust
    planforcollegenow.com 888-993-3746    		 yes plan (no load)
    broker (5.75)    		 0.65 to 2.29
    NEVADA
    Upromise College Fund
    Vanguard/Upromise
    upromisecollegefund.com 800-587-7305    		 no state tax plan only (no load) 0.65
    USAA College Savings Plan
    USAA Investment Management Company
    usaa.com 800-292-8825    		 no state tax plan only (no load) 1.1
    Vanguard 529 College Savings Planrecommended nationally
    Vanguard/Upromise
    vanguard.com 866-734-4530    		 no state tax plan only (no load) 0.60 to 0.81
    NEW HAMPSHIRE
    Fidelity Advisor 529 Plan
    Fidelity
    advisor.fidelity.com 877-208-0098    		 no state tax broker only (5.75) 0.95 to 1.64
    UNIQUE College Investing Plan
    Fidelity
    fidelity.com/unique 800-544-1914    		 no state tax plan only (no load) 0.85 to 1.14
    NEW JERSEY
    NJBEST 529 College Savings Plan
    Franklin Templeton
    njbest.com 877-465-2378    		 no plan only1 (no load) 0.85 to 1.24
    NEW MEXICO
    CollegeSense 529 Higher Education Savings Plan
    Evergreen
    collegesense.com 866-529-7367    		 yes broker only (5.75) 0.67 to 2.21
    Scholar'sEdge
    OppenheimerFunds
    scholarsedge529.com 866-529-7283    		 yes broker only (4.75) 0.98 to 1.45
    The Education Planrecommended for state
    OppenheimerFunds
    theeducationplan.com 877-337-5268    		 yes plan only (no load) 0.80 to 0.95
    NEW YORK
    New York's 529 College Savings Program Direct Planrecommended nationally
    Vanguard
    nysaves.org 877-697-2837    		 yes plan only (no load) 0.58
    NORTH CAROLINA
    North Carolina's National College Savings Program
    College Foundation
    cfnc.org/savings 800-600-3453    		 no plan only (no load) 0.30 to 1.37
    NORTH DAKOTA
    College SAVE
    Morgan Stanley
    collegesave4u.com 866-728-3529    		 no broker only (no load) 1.67 to 2.21
    OHIO
    CollegeAdvantage 529 Savings Planrecommended for state
    Putnam Investments/Vanguard
    collegeadvantage.com 800-233-6734    		 yes plan only (no load) 0.35 to 1.42
    Putnam CollegeAdvantage
    Putnam Investments
    putnaminv.com 800-225-1581    		 yes broker only (5.25) 1.01 to 2.76
    OKLAHOMA
    Oklahoma College Savings Planrecommended for state
    TIAA-CREF
    ok4saving.org 877-654-7284    		 yes plan only (no load) 0.75 to 0.77
    OREGON
    Oregon College Savings Plan
    OppenheimerFunds
    oregoncollegesavings.com 866-722-8464    		 yes plan only (no load) 0.33 to 1.04
    PENNSYLVANIA
    TAP 529
    Delaware Investments/Calvert
    tap529.com 800-440-4000    		 no plan1 (no load)
    broker (5.75)    		 0.80 to 2.64
    RHODE ISLAND
    CollegeBoundfund
    AllianceBernstein
    collegeboundfund.com 888-324-5057    		 yes plan (no load)
    broker (4.25)    		 0.68 to 2.29
    SOUTH CAROLINA
    Future Scholarrecommended for state
    Banc of America Capital Management
    futurescholar.com 888-244-5674    		 yes plan1 (no load)
    broker (5.75)    		 0.30 to 2.60
    SOUTH DAKOTA
    CollegeAccess 529 Plan
    Allianz Global Investors
    collegeaccess529.com 866-529-7462    		 no state tax plan1 (no load)
    broker (5.50)    		 1.07 to 2.55
    TENNESSEE
    Tennessee's BEST 529 College Savings Plan
    TIAA-CREF
    tnbest.org 888-486-2378    		 no plan only (no load) 0.8
    TEXAS
    Tomorrow's College Investment Plan
    Enterprise Capital Management
    enterprise529.com 800-445-4723    		 no state tax plan (no load)
    broker (4.75)    		 0.45 to 1.00
    UTAH
    Utah Educational Savings Planrecommended nationally
    Utah Higher Ed. Assist. Auth./Vanguard
    uesp.org 800-418-2551    		 yes plan only (no load) 0.25 to 0.40
    VERMONT
    Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan
    TIAA-CREF
    vsac.org 800-637-5860    		 no3 plan only (no load) 0.8
    VIRGINIA
    CollegeAmerica
    American Funds
    virginia529.com 800-421-4120    		 yes broker only (5.75) 0.66 to 1.26
    Virginia Education Savings Trustrecommended for state
    VEST Investment Advisory Committee
    virginia529.com 888-567-0540    		 yes plan only (no load) 0.85 to 1.00
    WEST VIRGINIA
    SMART529 WV Direct
    Hartford Life
    smart529.com 877-767-8529    		 yes plan only1 (no load) 1.16
    WISCONSIN
    EdVestrecommended for state
    Wells Fargo Funds Management
    edvest.com 888-338-3789    		 yes plan (no load)
    broker (5.75)    		 0.35 to 1.12
    Tomorrow's Scholar
    Wells Fargo Funds Management
    tomorrowsscholar.com 866-677-6933    		 yes broker only (5.75) 0.75 to 1.23
    WYOMING
    College Achievement Plan4
    Mercury Advisors
    collegeachievementplan.com 877-529-2655    		 no state tax plan1 (no load)
    broker (no load5)    		 1.82 to 2.43
    Notes: Expense ratios encompass all fund options, plus any management or administrative fees; other fees may apply.
    1 Available to state residents only. 2 Scheduled to drop to 0.60 percent. 3 Tax credit available. 4 Plan changes pending. 5 Broker earns 1 percent up front and 0.50 percent annually thereafter.
    Sources: The states, Savingforcollege.com.
    recommended for staterecommended for state     recommended nationallyrecommended nationally»top«

    Contact Us Closed Captioning Manage Cookies+ Site Map

    Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.

    Contact Us Closed Captioning Manage Cookies+ Site Map

    Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.

    		graphic


    YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS
    College
    Family
    Investing
    Finance
    Manage alerts | What is this?