529 Plans: The Ultimate Guide To College Savings Plans

Piggy bank labeled 529 with a coin going in, illustrating 529 college savings plans by state

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Every state except Wyoming sponsors at least one 529 plan, and for most families the best plan is the one their own state sponsors. That's because most states only give their tax deduction or credit for contributions to the home-state plan, and the tax break is worth more than the fee gap between plans. If your state has no income tax or no 529 tax break, you're free to shop any state's plan on fees alone, and our 529 plan and college savings calculator shows what steady contributions can grow into.

37 + D.C.

States with a tax break for 529 contributions

9

States whose tax break works with any state's plan

$653.5B

Invested in 529 plans as of June 30, 2026

18.2M

Open 529 accounts nationwide

Find Your State's 529 Plan

Click your state on the map, or pick it from the list below, to see its plans, fees, tax rules, and where it lands in our best 529 plans rankings. Each state page was checked against the plan's own documents and the state's tax rules in September 2026.

Click a state to open its 529 plan page, or use the state list below.

529 Plans And Tax Breaks By State

Each card shows the state's plan, its tax break, and its rank in our Net ROI rankings. Pair it with our student loans and financial aid by state pages to see what college costs where you live.

AlabamaRanked #22State tax deductionAlabama sponsors CollegeCounts (direct and advisor-sold) with a deduction of up to $5,000 per contributor; the PACT prepaid plan is closed.See the Alabama 529 plan →AlaskaRanked #49No state income taxAlaska sponsors three T. Rowe Price-managed 529 plans (Alaska 529, T. Rowe Price 529, and the advisor-sold John Hancock Freedom 529); Alaska has no income tax, so there's no deduction.See the Alaska 529 plan →ArizonaRanked #28Tax break for any planArizona sponsors AZ529 (Fidelity, direct) and the Goldman Sachs 529 Plan (advisor-sold), and deducts up to $2,000 per beneficiary ($4,000 joint) for contributions to any state's 529 plan.See the Arizona 529 plan →ArkansasRanked #40Tax break for any planArkansas sponsors the Brighter Future 529 Plan (direct and advisor-sold) with a deduction of up to $5,000 per taxpayer, plus up to $3,000 for contributions to other states' plans.See the Arkansas 529 plan →CaliforniaRanked #36No state tax breakCalifornia sponsors ScholarShare 529 (TIAA, direct-sold) with fees from 0.04%; there's no state deduction, and California taxes K-12 and Roth rollover earnings.See the California 529 plan →ColoradoRanked #29State tax deductionColorado's CollegeInvest sponsors four 529 plans (Direct Portfolio, Stable Value Plus, Smart Choice, and the advisor-sold Scholars Choice), with a 2026 deduction of up to $26,200 per beneficiary ($39,200 joint).See the Colorado 529 plan →ConnecticutRanked #10State tax deductionConnecticut sponsors CHET (direct and advisor-sold, both run by Fidelity) with a deduction of up to $5,000 per taxpayer or $10,000 joint and a five-year carryforward.See the Connecticut 529 plan →DelawareRanked #37State tax deductionDelaware sponsors the Fidelity-managed DE529 Education Savings Plan with an income-limited deduction of up to $1,000 per taxpayer or $2,000 joint.See the Delaware 529 plan →FloridaRanked #34No state income taxFlorida offers the state-guaranteed Florida Prepaid 529 Plan and the Florida Investment 529 Plan, which charges no admin fee; Florida has no state income tax.See the Florida 529 plan →GeorgiaRanked #16State tax deductionGeorgia sponsors Path2College, one of the lowest-cost 529 plans, with a deduction of up to $4,000 per beneficiary ($8,000 joint) that any Georgia contributor can claim.See the Georgia 529 plan →HawaiiRanked #49No state tax breakHawaii sponsors HI529, a direct-sold Vanguard-based plan with no state tax deduction and all-in costs of 0.55% to 0.66% a year.See the Hawaii 529 plan →IdahoRanked #27State tax deductionIdaho sponsors IDeal, a direct-sold Vanguard-based plan with a deduction of up to $6,000 ($12,000 joint) and all-in costs of 0.34% to 0.35%.See the Idaho 529 plan →IllinoisRanked #18State tax deductionIllinois sponsors Bright Start (direct) and Bright Directions (advisor-sold) with a deduction of up to $10,000 ($20,000 joint); the College Illinois! prepaid plan serves existing contracts.See the Illinois 529 plan →IndianaRanked #1State tax creditIndiana sponsors Indiana529 Direct and Indiana529 Advisor, with a 20% tax credit worth up to $1,500 a year ($750 married filing separately); CollegeChoice CD is closed to new accounts.See the Indiana 529 plan →IowaRanked #26State tax deductionIowa sponsors ISave 529 (direct-sold) and the IAdvisor 529 Plan, with a 2026 deduction of up to $6,100 per beneficiary for each account owner.See the Iowa 529 plan →KansasRanked #12Tax break for any planKansas sponsors Quest529 and the Schwab 529 Education Savings Plan, both run by TIAA, with a deduction of up to $3,000 per beneficiary ($6,000 joint) for any state's 529 plan.See the Kansas 529 plan →KentuckyRanked #48No state tax breakKentucky sponsors KY Saves 529, which has no state tax deduction but tax-free Kentucky earnings; the KAPT prepaid plan is closed.See the Kentucky 529 plan →LouisianaRanked #25State tax deductionLouisiana sponsors the START Saving Program, with a deduction of up to $2,400 per account ($4,800 joint), a 2% to 14% state match, and a separate START K12 account for Louisiana schools.See the Louisiana 529 plan →MaineRanked #9Tax break for any planMaine sponsors NextGen 529 (Connect, Direct, and advisor-sold Select) with a $1,000-per-beneficiary deduction for any state's 529 plan and a $500 Alfond Grant for Maine babies.See the Maine 529 plan →MarylandRanked #11State tax deductionMaryland sponsors the College Investment Plan, managed by T. Rowe Price, with a $2,500-per-beneficiary subtraction and 10-year carryforward; the Prepaid College Trust is closed to new enrollment.See the Maryland 529 plan →MassachusettsRanked #17State tax deductionMassachusetts sponsors the Fidelity-managed U.Fund and the U.Plan prepaid tuition program, with a deduction of up to $1,000 ($2,000 joint) for either one.See the Massachusetts 529 plan →MichiganRanked #20State tax deductionMichigan sponsors the MESP (direct), the MI 529 Advisor Plan, and the MET prepaid tuition program, with a deduction of up to $5,000 ($10,000 joint) net of same-year qualified withdrawals.See the Michigan 529 plan →MinnesotaRanked #4Tax break for any planMinnesota sponsors MNSAVES, the Minnesota College Savings Plan, and gives a subtraction of up to $1,500 ($3,000 joint) or a credit of up to $500 for contributions to any state's 529 plan.See the Minnesota 529 plan →MississippiRanked #44State tax deductionMississippi sponsors the MACS savings plan and the MPACT prepaid tuition plan, with a MACS deduction of up to $10,000 per year ($20,000 joint).See the Mississippi 529 plan →MissouriRanked #23Tax break for any planMissouri sponsors MOST 529, a direct-sold plan run by Ascensus with Vanguard and DFA portfolios, and gives a deduction of up to $8,000 per taxpayer ($16,000 joint) for any state's 529 plan.See the Missouri 529 plan →MontanaRanked #31Tax break for any planMontana sponsors Achieve Montana and gives a 2026 deduction of up to $4,600 ($9,200 joint) for contributions to any state's 529 plan.See the Montana 529 plan →NebraskaRanked #24State tax deductionNebraska sponsors four 529 plans (NEST Direct, NEST Advisor, Bloomwell 529, and State Farm 529) with an account-owner deduction of up to $10,000 per return.See the Nebraska 529 plan →NevadaRanked #39No state income taxNevada sponsors four 529 savings plans (Vanguard, Victory Capital, Future Path, and Wealthfront) plus Nevada Prepaid Tuition; the state has no income tax.See the Nevada 529 plan →New HampshireRanked #38No state income taxNew Hampshire sponsors the UNIQUE College Investing Plan (direct) and the Fidelity Advisor 529 Plan, both managed by Fidelity; the state has no income tax on wages.See the New Hampshire 529 plan →New JerseyRanked #2State tax deductionNew Jersey sponsors NJBEST (direct) and the Franklin Templeton FT529 plan, with a deduction of up to $10,000 for taxpayers with gross income of $200,000 or less.See the New Jersey 529 plan →New MexicoRanked #15State tax deductionNew Mexico sponsors The Education Plan (direct) and Scholar's Edge (advisor-sold), and contributions to either are fully deductible with no annual cap.See the New Mexico 529 plan →New YorkRanked #3State tax deductionNew York sponsors the NY 529 Direct Plan and the Advisor-Guided Plan, with a deduction of up to $5,000 per account owner ($10,000 joint); K-12 tuition withdrawals trigger recapture.See the New York 529 plan →North CarolinaRanked #46No state tax breakNorth Carolina sponsors the direct-sold NC 529 Plan and the Morgan Stanley National Advisory 529 Plan, and offers no state tax deduction for contributions to either.See the North Carolina 529 plan →North DakotaRanked #45State tax deductionNorth Dakota sponsors College SAVE (direct and advisor-sold), run by the Bank of North Dakota, with a deduction of up to $5,000 ($10,000 joint) for any contributor, owner or not.See the North Dakota 529 plan →OhioRanked #30Tax break for any planOhio sponsors CollegeAdvantage (direct) and the BlackRock CollegeAdvantage Advisor plan, with a $4,000-per-beneficiary deduction and unlimited carryforward; the Guaranteed prepaid plan is closed.See the Ohio 529 plan →OklahomaRanked #21State tax deductionOklahoma sponsors the direct-sold Oklahoma 529 (Oklahoma College Savings Plan) and the advisor-sold OklahomaDream 529, with a deduction of up to $10,000 per return ($20,000 joint) and a five-year carryforward.See the Oklahoma 529 plan →OregonRanked #42State tax creditOregon sponsors Embark (formerly the Oregon College Savings Plan) and the advisor-sold MFS 529 Savings Plan, with a refundable tax credit of up to $190 per return ($380 joint) in 2026.See the Oregon 529 plan →PennsylvaniaRanked #32Tax break for any planPennsylvania sponsors the PA 529 Investment Plan and the tuition-linked PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan, and it lets taxpayers deduct up to $19,000 per beneficiary ($38,000 joint) for contributions to any state's 529 plan.See the Pennsylvania 529 plan →Puerto RicoNo state tax breakPuerto Rico doesn't sponsor a 529 plan, so residents open another state's plan, and Puerto Rico follows the federal 529 tax rules.See the Puerto Rico 529 plan →Rhode IslandRanked #14State tax deductionRhode Island sponsors CollegeBound Saver (direct) and CollegeBound 529 (advisor-sold) with a deduction of up to $500 per return or $1,000 joint for the account owner, with carryforward.See the Rhode Island 529 plan →South CarolinaRanked #8State tax deductionSouth Carolina sponsors Future Scholar (direct and advisor-sold) with no dollar cap on the state deduction; the SC Tuition Prepayment Program is closed.See the South Carolina 529 plan →South DakotaRanked #35No state income taxSouth Dakota sponsors CollegeAccess 529, with a direct plan for South Dakota residents and an advisor-sold plan; the state has no income tax, so there's no deduction.See the South Dakota 529 plan →TennesseeRanked #43No state income taxTennessee sponsors TNStars, a direct-sold 529 run by the state Treasury, with a 4-to-1 TIPS match for eligible families; the state has no income tax, so there's no deduction.See the Tennessee 529 plan →TexasRanked #47No state income taxTexas sponsors the Texas College Savings Plan (direct), LoneStar 529 (advisor), and the Texas Tuition Promise Fund prepaid plan; the Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan is closed and there's no state income tax.See the Texas 529 plan →UtahRanked #19State tax creditUtah sponsors my529, a direct-sold plan with all-in costs from 0.08% and a 4.45% state tax credit on up to $2,560 per beneficiary ($5,120 joint) in 2026.See the Utah 529 plan →VermontRanked #5State tax creditVermont sponsors VT529, a direct-sold plan run by VSAC with a 10% tax credit worth up to $250 per beneficiary ($500 joint) and fees of 0.15%–0.17%.See the Vermont 529 plan →VirginiaRanked #13State tax deductionVirginia sponsors Invest529 (direct) and CollegeAmerica (advisor-sold) through Commonwealth Savers, with a $4,000-per-account deduction and unlimited carryforward; Prepaid529 is closed.See the Virginia 529 plan →WashingtonRanked #41No state income taxWashington sponsors WA529 Invest (formerly DreamAhead), a direct-sold plan costing 0.21%–0.38%, and GET, an open prepaid tuition plan; the state has no income tax.See the Washington 529 plan →Washington, D.C.Ranked #6State tax deductionWashington, D.C. sponsors the DC College Savings Plan (managed by Ascensus) with a deduction of up to $4,000 per account owner, $8,000 for joint filers who each own accounts.See the Washington, D.C. 529 plan →West VirginiaRanked #33State tax deductionWest Virginia sponsors SMART529 WV Direct, SMART529 Select, and the advisor-sold Hartford SMART529, with a state deduction for all contributions and no annual cap.See the West Virginia 529 plan →WisconsinRanked #7State tax deductionWisconsin sponsors Edvest (direct) and Tomorrow's Scholar (advisor-sold), with a 2026 deduction of up to $5,280 per beneficiary and a 365-day holding rule.See the Wisconsin 529 plan →WyomingNo state income taxWyoming doesn't sponsor a 529 plan and has no state income tax, so residents can use any state's plan and should choose on fees.See the Wyoming 529 plan →

How State 529 Tax Breaks Work

Federal law makes 529 growth tax-deferred and qualified withdrawals tax-free in every state, so the difference between states comes down to the state income tax break on contributions (IRS Publication 970). Our table of 529 plan tax deductions by state lists each state's limit side by side.

Deduction for the in-state plan. Most states let you deduct contributions to the state's own plan, up to a set amount per taxpayer or per beneficiary. Contributions to another state's plan get nothing, which is why our where to open a 529 plan breakdown starts with your home state.

Tax break for any state's plan. Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania give their tax break for contributions to any state's 529 plan, though Arkansas caps out-of-state contributions at a lower amount. Residents of these states can pick a plan on fees and investments, and our explainer on having 529 plans in multiple states covers how that works.

Tax credit. Indiana, Oregon, Utah, and Vermont give a credit instead of a deduction, and Minnesota lets residents choose a credit or a subtraction. A credit cuts your tax bill dollar for dollar, which is why Indiana's 20% credit puts it at #1 in our best 529 plans rankings.

No state tax break. Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming have no state income tax, and California, Hawaii, Kentucky, and North Carolina have an income tax but no 529 break. Families in these states give up nothing by using another state's plan, so compare fees with our list of the best brokers to open a 529 plan.

States also differ on what they take back. Many recapture a deduction when money goes to a non-qualified expense or rolls to another state's plan, and some limit deductions on money withdrawn soon after it's contributed, which our 529 plan churning and withdrawal limits breakdown covers. Each state page lists its own rules for K-12 withdrawals, student loan payments, and 529-to-Roth IRA rollovers.

Top-Ranked 529 Plans

Our Net ROI rankings model $100 a month for 10 years at a 5% annual return, subtract plan fees, and reinvest the value of the state tax break each year. The chart shows the 10 highest scores, and each bar links to that state's page, where you'll find how the rest of the 529 plan rankings compare with neighboring states.

1. Indiana87.8%2. New Jersey74.3%3. New York74.2%4. Minnesota73.5%5. Vermont72.6%6. Washington, D.C.72.2%7. Wisconsin70.6%8. South Carolina70.2%9. Maine69.9%10. Connecticut69.1%

Net ROI from our 2026 rankings. Bars start at 50% so the gaps between plans are visible.

Don't switch plans because of this chart. Each score assumes a taxpayer in that state using its own plan, so a New York family that opens Indiana's plan gets no Indiana credit and loses its New York deduction. The rankings show what a dollar is worth inside each state's plan, which our breakdown of how 529 plans work explains in more detail.

Should You Use Your Own State's 529 Plan?

Start with your home state if it gives a deduction or credit only for its own plan, since that break beats the fee savings from most other plans. Our 529 plan contribution limits page shows how much you can put in before the state cap or the plan's balance limit stops you.

Look elsewhere if your state has no income tax, no 529 break, or a break that works with any plan. Low-cost direct-sold plans charge well under 0.20% a year on their age-based portfolios, and you can roll an existing account to a new plan once every 12 months, as our 529 plan rollovers and transfers explainer shows.

Advisor-sold plans carry sales charges and higher yearly fees than direct-sold plans in the same state. If you want help picking investments, compare that cost with the direct plan first, and check how a parent-owned 529 affects aid in our 529 plans and FAFSA breakdown.

529 Plan Basics

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged account for education costs. Qualified withdrawals cover college tuition, fees, books, and room and board, plus up to $20,000 a year of K-12 tuition and related expenses starting in 2026, registered apprenticeships, postsecondary credential programs, and up to $10,000 of student loan payments over the beneficiary's lifetime. Our list of qualified 529 plan expenses covers each category, and the 2026 529 plan expansion explains what changed.

Withdrawals for anything else trigger income tax and a 10% federal penalty on the earnings, and some states add back the deduction you took. Accounts open at least 15 years can roll up to $35,000 over the beneficiary's lifetime into a Roth IRA, which our 529-to-Roth IRA rollover rules walk through, and our 529 plan penalty explainer shows how to avoid the tax hit.

Ways To Save More For College

Upromise. Upromise lets you earn money for your 529 plan through rebates and rewards on everyday spending, and the Upromise credit card sends cash back straight into your child's 529 plan. You can link most state 529 plans to your Upromise profile (Upromise), so the rewards stack on top of your state's tax break.

Grandparents and family. Anyone can contribute to a child's 529 plan, and some states give the tax break to any contributor, not only the account owner. Our breakdown of grandparent-owned 529 plans covers the gift-tax and financial aid rules.

529 Plan Terms And Definitions

ABLE Account Annual Contribution Limits College Fund Distributions Education Savings Account Elementary Education Estate Planning With A 529 Plan Gift-Tax Exclusion Grandparent-Owned 529 Plan Multi-Generational 529 Plan Penalties Prepaid Tuition Plans Private 529 Plan Qualified Education Expenses Rollover State Tax Incentives

Frequently Asked Questions

Which State Has The Best 529 Plan?

Indiana ranks #1 in our Net ROI rankings because its 20% tax credit adds more to each dollar than any other state's break. The best plan for you is still your own state's plan in most cases, so check your state's rank and tax rules in our best 529 plans rankings.

Can I Use Another State's 529 Plan?

Yes. Most 529 plans accept savers from any state, and the money can pay for qualified expenses at any eligible school in the country. You'll give up your home state's tax break unless your state is one of the nine that allow it for any plan, as our explainer on 529 plans in multiple states shows.

Which State Doesn't Have A 529 Plan?

Wyoming is the only state that doesn't sponsor its own 529 plan, and Puerto Rico doesn't sponsor one either. Families there open another state's plan, and our Wyoming 529 plan options page lists low-cost choices open to out-of-state savers.

Do All States Give A Tax Deduction For 529 Contributions?

No. 37 states plus D.C. give a deduction or credit, while states with no income tax, and California, Hawaii, Kentucky, and North Carolina, give none. Our 529 plan tax deductions by state table lists every limit.

Can I Contribute To A 529 Plan And Withdraw The Money Right Away?

In most states, yes, as long as you use the money for a qualified expense. A few states limit or take back deductions on money withdrawn soon after it's contributed, including Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, and Wisconsin, which our 529 plan churning and withdrawal limits breakdown explains.

How Much Can I Put In A 529 Plan?

There's no federal annual limit, but each state caps the total balance per beneficiary, and those caps run from $269,000 in North Dakota to $675,000 in Virginia among the plans we reviewed. Contributions above the annual gift-tax exclusion may need a gift tax return, which our 529 plan contribution limits page covers.

Related 529 Resources

Best 529 Plans For 2026 →529 Plan Tax Deductions By State →529 Plan Calculator →Student Loans And Financial Aid By State →529 Plan And College Savings Statistics →

How We Sourced This Data

Every state page in this series was rebuilt in September 2026 from the plans' own disclosure documents and fee pages, state tax agency guidance, and state statutes, with gaps filled from Savingforcollege plan profiles where official documents weren't available. Account and asset figures come from The 529 Network's plan data as of June 30, 2026, and rankings come from our 2026 Net ROI analysis. Read more about how we fact-check and update content.

Page refreshed annually in September, after most plans publish updated fee schedules, and reviewed in January for tax season. Last full refresh: September 24, 2026.

Editor: Clint Proctor Reviewed by: Ashley Barnett