Open a 529 College Savings Account in California | 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 * Open an education plan account today Open a ScholarShare 529 account in minutes It's quick and easy to open a ScholarShare 529 account—with no minimum investment! Start their education savings now. Start enrollment Continue saved application Here's the information you'll need in order to open your ScholarShare 529 account. Account owner (the person in charge of the account) * Name * Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number * Date of birth * Current address * Investment portfolio decision * Bank account routing number Beneficiary (the person you're saving money for) * Name * Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number * Date of birth * Current address Note: You can be the beneficiary of your own account. Successor * (the person who would take over the account in the event of the account owner's death) * Name * Date of birth * Telephone number Successor Footnote * * Note: Naming a successor is recommended ↩ 529 fact An account can be opened in anyone's name (like a parent, grandparent, or family friend), at any time (even before a child is born) and easily transferred later. Let's talk Give us a call 800-544-5248 Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM PT For those with a hearing impairment, please contact us at the number above via a relay service. Language translation services available upon request. Speak to an expert You can schedule a consultation to discuss your college savings goals and ask questions about the plan. Schedule an appointment Want to enroll by mail? Request an enrollment kit Ready to start saving? Start enrollment Question Relevant FAQs Who can be the beneficiary of an account? Anyone with a valid Social Security number or taxpayer identification number can be the beneficiary (including the account owner), which is why ScholarShare 529 is a plan for everyone . Learn more about who can open, benefit from and contribute to the ScholarShare 529 plan. Do I need a ScholarShare 529 account for each child? There's no cost associated with opening a ScholarShare 529 account or owning more than one account. You could open a different account for each child. You might do this to align investment strategies with the time frame each child will begin using the funds. For example, an older child's account could be more conservatively invested to help protect your contributions as they near college, whereas a younger child's account might be invested to balance growth and income strategies during a longer time frame. You may also prefer to pay college expenses first out of your highest growth account to maximize federal tax benefits and to encourage gift contributions from friends and family. Keep in mind: ScholarShare 529 allows you the flexibility to select multiple investment portfolios within each account. This offers you more control to manage risk on your terms. For example, adding the Guaranteed Portfolio Option can help ensure a portion of your college savings is principal-protected. Multiple accounts can also aid in estate planning by ensuring that college funds are allocated appropriately to each beneficiary upon the death of the account owner. But if you'd like to stick to one account, you can change any eligible beneficiary at any time and at no additional cost. Are there any fees associated with opening a ScholarShare 529 account? There are no sales charges, startup or maintenance fees associated with ScholarShare 529 accounts. For details on total annual asset-based fees, comprised of the underlying investment expenses for each investment option, the plan manager fee and state administration fee, review the Plan Fees for each individual investment portfolio . 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. ↩ See all FAQs 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 Footnotes * Education Savings Consultants provide only general educational information and do not provide any specific investment advice or recommendations regarding 529 plan investment options/portfolios. Read the Plan Description before investing. Consult your legal or tax professional for tax advice. 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. 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