A study of 529 college savings plans was conducted by Morningstar. It was Morningstar’s seventh annual evaluation of such plans, and including many of the largest plans in the country. Consisting of months of research, in which comparisons of “asset allocation, underlying investments, returns, fees, stewardship practices, and tax incentives,” along with talking with the respective fund managers, the analysts at Morningstar developed a new ranking system for these plans. The plans that received top ratings included:
T. Rowe Price College Savings Plan
..................................Run by T. Rowe Price
Maryland College Investment Plan
..................................Also run by T. Rowe Price
CollegeAdvantage 529 Savings Plan
.................................Run by the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority
The Vanguard 529 College Savings Plan
.................................Available through the state of Nevada
And
CollegeAmerica
.................................A Virginia plan by American Funds

Congratulations to the respective plans and many Thanks to Morningstar for conducting such analysis. It is great information for all of us whom have plans for our children in the future. And coming from such a respective team and an organization who we can trust like Morningstar, makes such significant difference.

All information and quotes for this article were obtained from the article “Morningstar Names Best 529 Plans” in the December/January2011 ( p.12-13) issue of Morninginstar Advisor , an industry periodical.