Accounts & Plans

The Vanguard 529 Plan

Reach your education savings goals by investing in a 529 account.

Ready to jumpstart your savings?

Achieve higher education

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged account for education savings. You can save for your child, another family member, or even for yourself.

We offer different portfolio options

Check out the advantages of each one.

Individual 529 portfolios

Want a more hands-on approach to investing? Design and manage your own investment strategy by choosing from our individual portfolios.

Target Enrollment Portfolio

Target-enrollment investing makes saving for education about as easy as it gets. With our Target Enrollment Portfolios (TEP), you make just 1 decision—and your portfolio does a lot of the work for you.

What can I use 529 savings for?

You can use the money for qualified K-12 private school tuition; higher-education expenses (including tuition at a college, university, trade school, or vocational school); apprenticeship program expenses; as well as room and board, fees, books, supplies, equipment, computer hardware and software, and internet access and related services.*

See if a 529 Plan is right for you

Why choose the Vanguard 529 Plan?

More than 300,000 investors across all 50 states have chosen the Vanguard 529 Plan for their kids.**

We hire top investment professionals with the experience and expertise you've come to expect from Vanguard. And as one of the largest 529 plan money managers, we’re here for you now-- and in the long run.†

The Vanguard 529 plan has earned a "Silver" rating from Morningstar.††

You can link your bank account to your 529 account and set up an automatic investment schedule, which allows you to add to your savings conveniently and systematically.

You can use Ugift® to invite others to celebrate a child's milestones with the gift of education savings. The gifts are then deposited directly into your Vanguard 529 Plan account.

You can also join Upromise® to get cash back for education when you make everyday purchases. Your Upromise earnings can then be transferred to your 529 account.

What do I need to start a Vanguard 529 account?

It's fast and easy to get started online. You only need 3 things:

Basic information

Make sure you have the beneficiary’s Social Security number, birth date, and address. 

Investment choices

Pick just 1 Target Enrollment Portfolio or assemble your own investment strategy from our individual portfolios.

Check out our Target Enrollment Portfolios

Check out our individual portfolios

Bank information

If you're going to make your first contribution through an electronic bank transfer, you'll need your bank account and routing numbers. You can also set up automatic contributions from your bank account to your 529 account.

Fees & other details

  • No enrollment fees, transfer fees, or commissions.
  • Minimum initial investment of $3,000 ($1,000 for Nevada residents); minimum additional investment is just $50.
  • Maximum contribution limit is $500,000.

Other plans we service

Ready to start?

More about 529 and your options

Which account is right for your education savings goals?

Which account is right for your education savings goals?
It feels like a big decision, but don't worry—it's easy to find the account that has everything your family needs.

What is a 529 plan?

What is a 529 plan?

Find the right 529 plan for you

Find the right 529 plan for you

FAQs about 529s

How to choose a college savings account

College saving for your grandchild (or niece or nephew or…)

College saving for your grandchild (or niece or nephew or …)

How much to save for college

How much to save for college

529 plan tools

Ready to create a plan for education savings? Learn about your options and map out a way to meet those expenses.

Calculate your 529 state tax deduction

Investing in your state's 529 savings plan? Find out the state tax deduction you might be able to take.

Compare 529 savings plans

Compare the features of a Vanguard-associated 529 savings plan to another state-sponsored 529 plan.

College savings planner

Determine your college savings goals and how much you'll need to save to help meet them.

Learn more about a specific 529 plan

Find detailed information on a 529 savings plan or prepaid tuition plan.

College cost projector

Our college cost projector helps determine how inflation could increase the cost of college.

The Vanguard 529 College Savings Plan is a Nevada Trust administered by the office of the Nevada State Treasurer.