Data & Research May 8, 2026

529 Plans Total $569B in Q1

ISS Market Intelligence tracked increases in assets of 529 college saving plans and ABLE accounts during the first quarter of 2026.

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The markets for 529 college savings plans and ABLE [Achieving a Better Life Experience] (or 529A) accounts built on a strong 2025 with higher adoption and inflows in the first quarter of 2026, according to data from ISS Market Intelligence.

In Q1, total assets under management for 529 college savings plans and prepaid tuition programs were $595 billion across 17.9 million accounts, up from $525 billion in assets across 17.2 million accounts one year earlier, according to ISS MI, which, like PLANADVISER, is owned by ISS STOXX.

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The Q1 2026 data showed 17.1 million accounts invested $569 billion in assets in 529 savings plans, while prepaid tuition plans totaled $26 billion across roughly 800,000 accounts. The amount invested in 529 savings plans increased year over year from a previous total of 16.3 million accounts with $500 billion invested. Last year, prepaid tuition plans totaled $25 billion across 900,000 accounts.

ABLE accounts offer tax-advantaged savings to benefit individuals with disabilities. Take-up of these accounts also increased in the first quarter of 2026, growing to 246,000 accounts holding nearly $3.3 billion in assets, up from 204,000 accounts holding approximately $2.5 billion one year prior.

Estimated 529 college savings plan net inflows were $2.5 billion in Q1, up from $2.2 billion a year prior, which the report attributed to a continued increase in demand.

The report forecasted ongoing growth in 529 accounts. ISS MI reported that upcoming changes in legislation, product offerings, marketing strategies and distribution channels are likely to fuel further expansion over the next three to five years, driven by the inclusion of more qualified expenses that can be paid from the accounts, an expanding customer base and greater economies of scale.

The five largest 529 savings plan program managers through Q1 2026 were:

  • Ascensus: $155.2 billion;
  • American Funds: $104.9 billion;
  • TIAA: $83.5 billion;
  • Fidelity: $56.3 billion; and
  • the State of Utah: $29.2 billion.

In addition, the five largest 529 savings plans, ranked by Q1 assets, were:

  • CollegeAmerica 529 Savings, by American Funds: $104.9 billion;
  • New York 529 Direct, by Vanguard: $50.4 billion;
  • Vanguard 529, by Vanguard: $43.3 billion;
  • My529, by Utah: $29.2 billion; and
  • UNIQUE College Investing Plan, by Fidelity: $28.1 billion.

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