Compare 529 Investment Options for College Savings | ScholarShare 529 Skip to the main content > Accessibility Statement > Turn Animations Off: * * Workplace 529 * News * Español * Search * * Log in Search: Submit Log in * Why ScholarShare 529 * * Benefits of Our 529 * A Plan for Everyone * About Us * Learn and Plan * * How Our 529 Works * Compare Ways to Save * The Cost of College * Investment Options * * Compare Investment Options * Enrollment Year Investment Portfolios * Risk-Based Portfolios * Guaranteed Portfolio Option * Daily Price & Performance * Fees & Expenses * Resources * * Popular Resources * Report on Higher Ed * Planning Tools * FAQs * Gifting * Events & Webinars * Glossary * Children's Savings Accounts * Schedule an Appointment * Account Center * * How-tos * Forms * Open An Account * Workplace 529 * News * Español * Home * Compare Investment Portfolios Which investment portfolio is right for me? Compare Investment Portfolios When it comes to investing in a 529 plan, we all have the same goal: to help pay for college. However, everyone's investment strategy can look quite different. To help determine the right strategy for you, answer the following questions as you are choosing your investment portfolio: * How much do I want to save? * How fast do I want to save? * How comfortable am I with risk? * How hands-on do I want to be? ScholarShare 529 investment choices Choose from multiple portfolios to fit your preferences—aligning with your risk tolerance, preferred level of involvement, and desired results. The Risk Tolerance questions can help determine what's best for you. Most Popular Enrollment Year Investment Portfolios Consider this if: You're looking for an investment customized for your student's expected enrollment year. * Can be a good, all-in-one solution to manage your savings over the long term without any extra work on your part * Risk level automatically becomes more conservative as the enrollment year approaches View Details Risk-Based Portfolios Consider this if: You're an experienced investor and you want more control over your investment option's diversification and investment strategy. * Select from a range of investment objectives * Suitable for a variety of risk profiles and asset allocation blends View Details Guaranteed Portfolio Option Consider this if: You're in a position of having a short-term investment horizon or are looking for a low risk, conservative investment. * Seeks to preserve capital and provide a stable return View Details Questions Have any questions? ScholarShare 529 is here to help! Can I roll over funds from another 529 plan into a ScholarShare 529 account? Yes. Whether you have recently moved to the state, have an underperforming or higher-cost 529 plan, or just want to simplify, consolidating 529 accounts into ScholarShare 529 is easy. You can transfer funds from another 529 plan to your ScholarShare 529 account for the same beneficiary once within a 12-month period without incurring tax penalties. Consolidating education savings into ScholarShare 529 also gives you a single view of your savings and performance as well as single-step payments to colleges, universities, K-12 schools, etc. 1 You may also save money that can go right back into your college fund. ScholarShare 529 expenses are less than half the national average for 529 plans. 2 You pay no sales charges, start up or maintenance fees. The 529 plan from which you are transferring funds may be subject to different features, costs and surrender charges. As such, you should consult your tax advisor or the other 529 college savings plan prior to making any decisions. For more information, see How to manage an incoming rollover from another 529 saving plan account . Footnotes * 1 Withdrawals for tuition expenses at a public, private or religious elementary, middle, or high school can be withdrawn free from federal tax. For California taxpayers these withdrawals are subject to state income tax and an additional 2.5% California tax. You should talk to a qualified professional about how tax provisions affect your circumstances. K-12 withdrawals are limited to $20,000 per year for K-12 tuition. ↩ * 2 Source: ISS Market Intelligence 529 College Savings Fee Analysis Q2 2026. ScholarShare 529's average annual asset-based fees are 0.21% for all portfolios compared to 0.46% for all 529 plans. ↩ What if my child decides not to attend college? With your ScholarShare 529, you're never locked in. You'll always have access to several options for this money: * Your funds can be used to pay for a variety of eligible education expenses , including at any accredited college, university, apprenticeships, community college or postgraduate program in the United States—and even some schools abroad. 1 * Your 529 can be used for student loan repayment up to a $10,000 lifetime limit per individual. 1 * Your funds can be used to pay for K-12 qualified expenses - up to $20,000 annually can be used per student at a public, private, or religious elementary, middle, or high school. Qualified education expenses include curriculum, instructional materials, tutoring by approved professionals, standardized test and dual enrollment fees, and licensed educational therapies for students with disabilities.  Click here for more information on recent changes to qualified expenses. 2 * You can transfer the funds to another eligible beneficiary, such as another child, a grandchild, yourself or a friend. * If you just want the money back, you can withdraw the funds at any time. If funds are withdrawn for a purpose other than qualified higher education expenses, the earnings portion of the withdrawal is subject to federal and state taxes plus a 10% additional federal tax on earnings (known as the "Additional Tax"). Non-qualified withdrawals may also be subject to an additional 2.5% California tax on earnings. See the Plan Description for more information and exceptions. * Or you can always wait because the funds never expire , and often the choice to go to school is a delayed decision. So if your child changes their mind down the road, your savings will still be available. * Effective January 1, 2024, 529 funds may be rolled over to a Roth IRA in the name of the beneficiary of the 529 plan. State tax treatment of a rollover from a 529 plan into a Roth IRA is determined by the state where you file state income tax. There are conditions that must be met including the 529 plan must have been in existence for at least 15 years. You should talk to a qualified professional about how tax provisions affect your circumstances. * Pay for qualified expenses when enrolled in a recognized postsecondary credentialing program. Click here for more information on the recent changes to qualified expenses. 3 Footnotes * 1 Withdrawals for registered apprenticeship programs and student loans can be withdrawn free from federal and California income tax. If you are not a California taxpayer, these withdrawals may include recapture of tax deduction, state income tax as well as penalties. You should talk to a qualified professional about how tax provisions affect your circumstances. Read about eligible education expenses. Apprenticeship programs must be registered and certified with the Secretary of Labor under the National Apprenticeship Act. ↩ * 2 Withdrawals for K-12 qualified expenses can be withdrawn free from federal tax. For California taxpayers, any earnings portion of these withdrawals are subject to state income tax and an additional 2.5% California tax. If you are not a California taxpayer, these withdrawals may include recapture of tax deduction, state income tax as well as penalties. You should talk to a qualified professional about how tax provisions affect your circumstances. ↩ * 3 Withdrawals for Recognized Postsecondary Credentialing Programs—including tuition, books, equipment, supplies for the enrollment or attendance, testing fees if required to obtain or maintain a Recognized Postsecondary Credential, fees for continuing education if required to maintain an Recognized Postsecondary Credentialing Program and therapies for students with disabilities—are exempt from federal income tax. Consult a tax professional for guidance. ↩ Click here for more information on recent changes to qualified expenses Can I change my investment selection? Yes. Each time you make a contribution, you may select from any of the ScholarShare 529 investment portfolio options. Once invested in a particular portfolio, contributions and earnings may be transferred to another investment option twice per calendar year or upon transfer of funds to a plan account for a different eligible beneficiary (see the Plan Description for more information). To transfer funds between investment portfolios, log in to your account, click "View Details" for your beneficiary, then choose "Change investment options." You may also request and submit by mail the Change of Investment Form. How much do I need to save each month/year? A ScholarShare 529 can be started with any amount. How much you need to save will depend on what you plan to use the money for and when. A few helpful tools: * Check out the College Savings Calculator to estimate the cost of college. * Use our College Planning Calculator to see how your savings could add up over time. See all FAQs More resources to explore * Compare ways to save Learn how ScholarShare 529 compares with other college savings options. Start comparing * Contact us Have questions about ScholarShare 529? Need information for your current account? We're here to help! Get in contact * Ready to get started? Open an Account Want more time before getting started? Sign up to receive ScholarShare 529 information and college savings tips. Enter your email address (required) Submit Why ScholarShare 529 * Benefits of Our 529 * A Plan for Everyone * About Us Learn & Plan * How Our 529 Works * Compare Ways to Save * The Cost of College Investment Options * Compare Investment Options * Enrollment Year * Risk-Based * Guaranteed * Daily Price & Performance * Fees & Expenses Resources * Popular Resources * Report on Higher Ed * Planning Tools * FAQs * Gifting * Events & Webinars * Glossary * Children's Savings Accounts * Schedule an Appointment Account Center * How-tos * Forms * Open An Account Need Help? Call 1-800-544-5248 * Contact Us Follow Us * * * * * Access your account on–the–go with the ReadySave ™ 529 App * Managed by TIAA–CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. (TFI) * Privacy Policy * Accessibility Statement * Sitemap * Security Center * Plan Description * Unsubscribe Disclosures For more information about the ScholarShare College Savings Plan, call 1-800-544-5248 or click here for a Plan Description , which includes investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information. Read and consider it carefully before investing. Please note: Before you invest, consider whether your or the beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds, and protection from creditors that are only available for investments in that state's qualified tuition program. You should also consult your legal or tax professional for tax advice based on your own circumstances. Investments in the plan are neither insured nor guaranteed and there is the risk of investment loss. If the funds aren't used for qualified higher education expenses, a federal 10% penalty tax on earnings (as well as federal and state income taxes) may apply. Non-qualified withdrawals may also be subject to an additional 2.5% California tax on earnings. The ScholarShare College Savings Plan is offered by the State of California. TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. (TFI), program manager. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, Member FINRA, distributor and underwriter for the ScholarShare College Savings Plan. The Plan website contains links to other websites. Neither the Plan nor TFI and its affiliates are responsible for the content of those other websites. The accuracy of information on those sites cannot be confirmed. All social media platforms are managed by the State of California. 5792406 Close Need help finding something? Type in the search bar below. 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