The key 529 college savings plan statistics to know, including how much families have saved for college, where they are saving, the 529 plan rules by state, and more.
We update this page as new data arrives from The 529 Network (formerly the College Savings Plans Network), private surveys, and government research.
Data current as of June 30, 2026.
Key 529 Plan Statistics
Nationwide totals as of June 30, 2026. Source: The 529 Network.
529 College Savings Plan Facts
How states treat 529 contributions, and which ones have adopted the SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0 expansions.
Total 529 Plan Balance By Year
529 balances have grown most years over the past decade, with pullbacks in 2018 and 2022 when markets fell. The first half of 2026 added more than $50 billion.
| Year | Total Assets | Relative To June 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (June 30) | $653.5 Billion | |
| 2025 | $602.9 Billion | |
| 2024 | $525 Billion | |
| 2023 | $471.1 Billion | |
| 2022 | $411.2 Billion | |
| 2021 | $480.3 Billion | |
| 2020 | $425.2 Billion | |
| 2019 | $371.5 Billion | |
| 2018 | $311.2 Billion | |
| 2017 | $319.1 Billion | |
| 2016 | $275.1 Billion | |
| 2015 | $253.2 Billion | |
| 2014 | $247.9 Billion | |
| 2013 | $227.1 Billion | |
| 2012 | $190.7 Billion | |
| 2011 | $164.9 Billion | |
| 2010 | $157.4 Billion |
Year-end figures from The 529 Network. The 2026 row reflects assets as of June 30, 2026.
Who Manages The 529 Plan Assets?
529 plans are individually governed by their own states, which outsource day-to-day management to an investment firm. When a brokerage like Fidelity or Vanguard offers a 529 plan, it is running a specific state’s plan. Vanguard runs Nevada’s plan, and Fidelity manages several state plans.
It is a concentrated business. Ten firms manage about 90% of all 529 plan assets:
Which Brokerage Uses Which Plan?
Because every 529 plan is state-sponsored, opening one at a national brokerage means using that state’s plan on the back end.
| Brokerage | State Plan Used |
|---|---|
| Capital Group | Virginia |
| Charles Schwab | Kansas |
| Fidelity | Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire (main national plan) |
| Franklin Templeton | New Jersey |
| Goldman Sachs | Arizona |
| Morgan Stanley | North Carolina |
| Putnam | Nevada |
| State Farm | Nebraska |
| The Hartford | West Virginia |
| T. Rowe Price | Alaska |
| USAA | Nevada |
| Vanguard | Nevada |
| Wealthfront | Nevada |
How Families Save For College
529 plans are the biggest bucket, but far from the only one.
Families have a range of ways to save for college. Dedicated accounts include the 529 plan and the Coverdell Education Savings Account, while general-purpose accounts such as a basic savings account or even a Roth IRA also get used for tuition.
Two other options sit alongside them: prepaid college tuition plans such as Florida Prepaid, and the Private College 529 Plan, built for private colleges nationwide.
Outside the 529 data, the counts are less precise, because only 529 plans and Coverdells are used exclusively to pay for education.
Average Amount Saved For College By Age Group
Average balances by the child’s age and the type of account:
| Child’s Age | 529 Plan | Coverdell ESA | Prepaid College Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 To 6 | $9,196 | $506 | $1,656 |
| 7 To 12 | $14,787 | $6,018 | $3,415 |
| 13 To 17 | $24,618 | $6,578 | $7,354 |
| 18 And Older | $25,596 | $9,490 | $26,450 |
Where Families Find The Money To Pay For College
Paying for college is a pie with many slices. Most families do not draw the whole bill from one account. They assemble it from savings, income, scholarships, and loans.
The chart shows the average share of the total cost of attendance covered by each source:
Geographic Breakdown
Where the money sits, by state and by plan.
5 Largest 529 Plans By Assets
Assets as of June 30, 2026. The five largest plans hold 43.6% of all 529 assets. Virginia’s CollegeAmerica is sold through financial advisors nationwide, and Nevada’s plan is offered nationwide through Vanguard.
Find your state on the map, or browse the 529 plan rules by state for the details on each plan:
Click a state to open its 529 plan page.
529 ABLE Plan Statistics
Savings accounts for Americans with disabilities that protect means-tested federal benefits.
ABLE plans, short for Achieving a Better Life Experience, are tax-advantaged savings and investment accounts that let Americans with disabilities save without losing means-tested federal benefits.
46 states and Washington, D.C. offer ABLE plans, and residents of all 50 states can join a plan in another state.