Can You Use Any State's 529 Plan?
Yes — you can open a 529 plan from any state, regardless of where you live or where your child will attend college. The key exception: if your state offers a tax deduction for contributions to your own state's plan, check whether the tax savings outweigh using a better out-of-state plan. In most cases, if your state deduction is under $300-400, a lower-fee out-of-state plan wins.
Utah Educational Savings Plan (UESP / my529)
Best overall 529 — lowest fees, best investment options
Utah's my529 plan consistently ranks #1 nationwide for its investment lineup, extremely low expense ratios (as low as 0.10% for index funds), and excellent customer service. Available to all US residents. No minimum contribution.
Pros
- Industry-leading low fees
- Vanguard index fund options
- No residency requirement
- $0 account minimum
- Consistently rated #1 by Morningstar
Cons
- No state tax deduction unless Utah resident
- Interface less modern than some
- Must open directly
New York 529 Direct Plan
Best for New York residents — great for others too
NY's 529 Direct Plan features Vanguard index funds, low 0.12% expense ratios, and a generous NY state tax deduction ($5,000 single / $10,000 married). For NY residents, the state deduction alone often justifies choosing this plan.
Pros
- Excellent for NY residents (deduction)
- Vanguard fund lineup
- Very low fees
- Highly rated nationally
- $0 minimum
Cons
- Deduction only for NY residents
- Out-of-state residents should compare with Utah
Nevada 529 Vanguard Plan
Best for simplicity with Vanguard funds
Nevada's Vanguard-managed 529 plan offers direct access to Vanguard's core index funds including VTSAX and VTIAX at minimal overhead. No sales loads, no enrollment fees. Simple and effective.
Pros
- Vanguard's best index funds
- No sales loads
- Low fees
- $1 minimum
- Highly rated
Cons
- Nevada offers no state tax deduction for most
- Limited fund selection vs. Utah
- No mobile app
| State Plan | Expense Ratio | Fund Family | State Tax Benefit | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah my529 | ~0.10% | Vanguard + DFA | UT residents only | Best national option |
| New York 529 | ~0.12% | Vanguard | $5k/$10k deduction | NY residents |
| Nevada Vanguard | ~0.14% | Vanguard | None | Vanguard preference |
| Illinois Bright Start | ~0.10% | Vanguard + others | $10k deduction | IL residents |
| California ScholarShare | ~0.10% | Fidelity | No deduction (CA) | CA residents (no deduction) |
Calculate how much you need to save for college
Use the Savings Goal Calculator to see exactly how much to save monthly to hit your target by your child's 18th birthday.