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529 Plan Statistics: Average 529 Plan Balance, Usage Rates, and More

There's over $500 billion invested in 529 college savings plans across 17 million accounts.

By Jack CaporalUpdated Jan 17, 2025 at 11:39 AM EST
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Key Points

  • 529 plans, growing in value from $105B in 2008 to $509B in 2024, demonstrate rising popularity.
  • The average 529 plan covers roughly 9% of college costs, with contributions varying by income.
  • Virginia-sponsored 529 plans lead in assets and accounts.
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About the Author

Jack Caporal
Jack Caporal is the Research Director for The Motley Fool and Motley Fool Money. Jack leads efforts to identify and analyze trends shaping investing and personal financial decisions across the United States. His research has appeared in thousands of media outlets including Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Bloomberg, and CNBC, and has been cited in congressional testimony. He previously covered business and economic trends as a reporter and policy analyst in Washington, D.C. He serves as Chair of the Trade Policy Committee at the World Trade Center in Denver, Colorado. He holds a B.A. degree in International Relations with a concentration in International Economics from Michigan State University.

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