By the numbers: Section 529 college savings plans
Plans with the most assets, top adviser-sold and direct-sold plans, and top plans based on three-year performance
Ranked by assets
| State | Program | Manager | Assets ($M) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VA | CollegeAmerica | American Funds | $58,773.50 |
| 2 | NY | New York’s 529 Program (direct-sold) | Ascensus | $21,637.70 |
| 3 | NH | UNIQUE College Investing Plan | Fidelity Investments | $11,847.40 |
| 4 | UT | Utah Educational Savings Plan | Utah Educational Savings Plan | $10,840.30 |
| 5 | ME | NextGen College Investing Plan Select | Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith | $8,841.00 |
| 6 | NV | The Vanguard 529 College Savings Plan | Ascensus | $7,940.80 |
| 7 | CA | ScholarShare College Savings Plan | TIAA Tuition Financing Inc. | $7,825.70 |
| 8 | RI | CollegeBound 529 (adviser-sold) | Ascensus College Savings | $5,991.80 |
| 9 | MA | U.Fund College Investing Plan | Fidelity Investments | $5,662.40 |
| 10 | MD | Maryland College Investment Plan | T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. | $5,244.00 |
| 11 | OH | BlackRock CollegeAdvantage 529 Plan | BlackRock Advisors | $5,081.90 |
| 12 | MI | Michigan Education Savings Program | TIAA Tuition Financing Inc. | $5,031.90 |
| 13 | OH | CollegeAdvantage 529 Savings Plan | Ohio Tuition Trust Authority | $4,929.50 |
| 14 | AK | John Hancock Freedom 529 | T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. | $4,818.20 |
| 15 | NH | Fidelity Advisor 529 Plan | Fidelity Investments | $4,688.10 |
| 16 | NY | New York’s 529 Program (adviser-guided) | Ascensus | $4,671.80 |
| 17 | CO | Scholars Choice College Savings Program | Legg Mason Global Asset Allocation | $4,045.70 |
| 18 | VA | Invest529 | Virginia College Savings Plan | $4,008.30 |
| 19 | NJ | Franklin Templeton 529 Coll Savings Plan | Franklin Templeton Distributors Inc. | $3,727.60 |
| 20 | NV | USAA College Savings Plan | Ascensus | $3,317.80 |
| 21 | CO | CollegeInvest Direct Portfolio | Ascensus | $3,202.50 |
| 22 | AK | University of Alaska Coll Savings Plan | T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. | $3,071.20 |
| 23 | MO | MOST Missouri’s 529 Plan | Ascensus | $2,853.00 |
| 24 | CT | Connecticut Higher Education Trust | TIAA Tuition Financing Inc. | $2,850.10 |
| 25 | WI | Edvest 529 Plan | TIAA Tuition Financing Inc. | $2,842.30 |
Most-current assets available as of Aug. 21. Source: Morningstar Inc.
Adviser-sold plans
Ranked by assets ($ in millions)
Direct-sold plans
Ranked by assets ($ in millions)
Most-current assets available as of Aug. 21. Source: Morningstar Inc.
Top five plans, based on three-year performance
Direct-sold
h
New York
New York’s 529 College Savings Program — Direct Plan
E
California
The ScholarShare College Savings Plan
U
Maine
NextGen College Investing Plan — Client Direct Series
i
Ohio
Ohio CollegeAdvantage Direct 529 Savings Plan
L
Iowa
College Savings Iowa
Adviser-sold*
U
Maine
NextGen College Investing Plan — Client Select Series
g
Nevada
Putnam 529 for America
n
South Carolina
Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan
c
Nebraska
Nebraska Education Savings Trust — Advisor College Savings Plan
v
Wisconsin
Tomorrow’s Scholar 529 Plan
RIA-sold*
n
South Carolina
Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan (Class Z)
v
Wisconsin
Tomorrow’s Scholar 529 Plan (Class W)
s
Virginia
CollegeAmerica (Class 529-F)
c
Nebraska
TD Ameritrade 529 College Savings Plan
h
New York
New York’s 529 Advisor-Guided College Savings Plan (adviser class)
As of June 30. Rankings are derived using the plans’ relevant portfolio performance in seven unique asset allocation categories. The asset allocation categories used are 100% equity, 80% equity, 60% equity, 40% equity, 20% equity, 100% fixed and 100% short-term. The plan composite ranking is determined by the average of its performance score in the seven categories.
* Adviser-sold rankings use A share class or equivalent. RIA-sold rankings use RIA-sold share classes within adviser-sold plans.
Source: Savingforcollege.com
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