529 Plans for College Savings: 529 Plans Listed By State

A 529 plan allows you to save for college in a tax-advantaged way. These plans are offered by state, with some offering additional tax benefits.
Erica Corbin
Alana Benson
By Alana Benson and  Erica Corbin 
Edited by Arielle O'Shea

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A 529 plan can be a great way to save for college, especially as inflation surges. You just have to know where to start.

What is a 529 plan?

A 529 plan is a type of savings and investment account in which money grows tax-free as long as the withdrawals are for qualified education expenses. The plan is named after a section of the IRS code

.

There are two types of 529 plans:

  1. 529 college savings plans are the most common type. Investments grow tax-free and can be withdrawn tax-free for educational expenses such as tuition, room and board, and required textbooks.

  2. 529 prepaid plans let you prepay part or all of an in-state public tuition, locking in the tuition at time of payment.

How do I find the best one?

By state. Unlike retirement and other investment accounts, 529 plans are typically operated by states, which makes searching for the best option fairly easy. If your state offers a tax deduction for contributing, you’ll likely get the most bang for your buck by contributing to its plan.

You don't have to contribute to your state’s plan, though. In reality, you’re free to choose any plan you’d like, so it’s worth comparing your options. Plus, some states offer more than one 529 plan to consider.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Looking to save a little money? Consider direct-sold 529 plans, which are sold by the state, rather than through an advisor. Cutting out the middleman, so to speak, often results in lower fees. Just know that you'll be responsible for managing your investment.

College savings 529 plans by state

Explore your state's 529 plan(s) and possible tax deductions on the map below. Note, these are only direct-sold options.

You can also find the information in the table below, including the minimum contribution you'll have to make to start an account.

State

Plan Name

Tax benefit for in-state contributors?

Minimum contribution

Alabama

Yes

$0

Alaska

No

$25

Arizona

Yes

$25 or less

Arkansas

Yes

$25

California

No

$0

Colorado

Yes

$25

Connecticut

Yes

$0

Delaware

No

$0

District of Columbia

Yes

$25

Florida

No

$0

Georgia

Yes

$25

Hawaii

Yes

$15

Idaho

Yes

$25

Illinois

Yes

$0

Indiana

Yes

$10

Iowa

Yes

$25

Kansas

Yes

$0

Kentucky

No

$25

Louisiana

Yes

$10

Maine

No

$25

Maryland

Yes

$25

Massachusetts

Yes

$0

Michigan

Yes

$25

Minnesota

Yes

$25

Mississippi

Yes

$25

Missouri

Yes

$1

Montana

Yes

$25

Nebraska

Yes

$0

Nevada

No

$15

New Hampshire

No

$0

New Jersey

No

$25

New Mexico

Yes

$1

New York

Yes

$0

North Carolina

No

$25

North Dakota

Yes

$25

Ohio

Yes

$25

Oklahoma

Yes

$100

Oregon

Yes

$25

Pennsylvania

Yes

$10

Rhode Island

Yes

$0

South Carolina

Yes

$0

South Dakota

No

$250

Tennessee

No

$25

Texas

No

$25

Utah

Yes

$0

Vermont

Yes

$25

Virginia

Yes

$10

Washington

No

$25

West Virginia

Yes

$1

Wisconsin

Yes

$25

Wyoming

No plan available.

Prepaid 529 plans by state

This table shows only prepaid plans. Note that the minimum contributions required depend on the cost of a credit or the monthly payment plan. You'll need to check the specific plan for the correct minimum.

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APY

4.00%

With $0 min. balance for APY

APY

3.75%

With $0 min. balance for APY

APY

3.50%

With $0 min. balance for APY

Bonus

N/A

Bonus

$250

Earn up to $250 with direct deposit. Terms apply.

Bonus

$200

Requirements to qualify

» Looking for other ways to pass money to your kids? Learn about trusts

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