What Is a 529 Plan? A Simple Guide

Saving for education can feel overwhelming, especially with rising tuition costs and confusing financial jargon.

One of the most powerful—yet misunderstood—tools available to families in the U.S. is the 529 plan. Despite their benefits, these investment accounts are far less common than they should be.

Hadley is out to change that.

This post breaks down what a 529 plan is, how it works, and why its tax advantages matter. Don't worry; we'll go into more detail on all of these topics (and more!) in future blog posts.

A family discussing their education savings plans together.

529 Plan Basics

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings account designed specifically to help pay for education expenses. It's named after Section 529 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

529 plans are typically sponsored by individual states, but you can generally use a plan from any state, regardless of where you live or where the beneficiary (the student) ultimately attends school.

There are two main types of 529 plans:

1. Education Savings Plans (the most common)

2. Prepaid Tuition Plans (less common and more restrictive)

   
   

This article focuses on education savings plans, which offer greater investment flexibility and allow the beneficiary to use plan proceeds for nearly any school. Prepaid tuition plans, by contrast, lock in tuition, but to a very limited number of schools.

The vast majority of 529 plan owners choose the first category (education savings plans), which is also what Hadley recommends to most parents. We'll focus on this category in this blog post (and in general when we refer to "529 plans," unless we specify otherwise).

How Does a 529 Plan Work?

At a high level, a 529 plan works like this:

1. You open an account

The account owner is usually a parent, grandparent, or guardian. Plans are opened directly on the selected state's 529 plan website.

2. You choose a beneficiary

This is the student who will use the money—often a child, but it can be anyone (even the account owner!).

3. You contribute money

Contributions can be made regularly or in lump sums. There are no federal annual contribution limits, though very large contributions may have gift-tax considerations. Contributions are made "after-tax," i.e., with money for which you've already paid income taxes. In many states, however, contributions can be made pre-tax—that is, they lower your state income tax bill (a nice bonus!).

4. The money is invested

Funds are typically invested in mutual funds, ETFs, or similar passive index portfolios. Many plans offer age-based options that gradually reduce risk as the student approaches college age.

5. The money grows tax-free over time

529 plans grow like a Roth IRA; that is, you never pay any tax on capital gains or dividend or interest income. Pro-tip: limitless tax-free investment growth is the most attractive feature of 529 plans, and why they are so common among ultra-wealthy Americans with financial advisors—even though any American can open one!

6. Withdrawals are used for education expenses

In order to lock in these incredible tax benefits, withdrawals from the 529 plan must be used for qualified education expenses (more on that later).

How Common Are 529 Plans?

While 529 plans are incredibly valuable investment tools, many families don't yet take advantage of them.

A big part of this is simple awareness:

• A 2025 study found that 52% of Americans said they did not know what a 529 plan is. Edward Jones

• Only 14% of respondents reported that they have or plan to use a 529 plan as part of their education savings strategy. Edward Jones

And actual adoption remains relatively low compared with the overall U.S. population.

• As of December 2024, there were about 17 million 529 accounts in the United States. Bestcolleges.com

• Based on a U.S. population of roughly 334 million people, this implies that only about 5.1% of Americans owned a 529 account at that time (and this may be overstating the percentage, given some individuals hold multiple accounts). (Population estimate based on U.S. Census Bureau projections; calculation approximate.) Bestcolleges.com

Hadley's mission is to reverse these statistics by democratizing 529 plan awareness and transparency in the U.S.

What Counts as Qualified Education Expenses?

529 funds can be used for a wide range of education-related costs, including:

• College or university tuition and mandatory fees

• Room and board for eligible students

• Books, supplies, and required equipment

• Computers and related technology

• Certain apprenticeship and credential programs

• Up to $10,000 per year for K–12 tuition

• Student loan repayment (subject to rules)

• Student disability costs

This incredible flexibility makes 529 plans useful for a wide variety of education possibilities—even when you're not sure which path you (or your student) will take yet!

The Key Tax Benefits of a 529 Plan

As we mentioned, the biggest reason families choose 529 plans is tax efficiency.

1. Tax-Free Growth

Money invested in a 529 plan grows without being taxed each year, unlike your regular brokerage account. This allows earnings to compound more efficiently over time.

2. Tax-Free Withdrawals for Education

When withdrawals are used for qualified education expenses, both contributions and investment earnings are free from federal income tax.

3. Potential State Tax Advantages

Many states provide a state income tax deduction for 529 contributions. This lowers your state taxable income (and your state income tax bill) for contributing to your (or someone else's) 529 plan. The rules vary state by state—but don't worry, Hadley breaks down the benefits when we recommend a state 529 plan to you, and provides all the tax information you need to take full advantage in the Tax Center in the Hadley mobile app.

What If the Student Doesn't Go to College?

529 plans are not just for college! 529 plans offer more flexibility than many people realize:

• You can change the beneficiary to another eligible family member

• Funds can be used for trade schools, apprenticeship programs, professional schools, or certifications

• Money can be used for graduate school

• In some cases, unused funds may be rolled into a Roth IRA, subject to specific rules (e.g., age of account, contribution history)

• Unused funds in 529 plans can be gifted or handed down to subsequent generations (grandchildren or great-grandchildren) for their own education spending

Even if 529 funds are withdrawn for non-qualified expenses, there are no penalties against your original contribution amounts. Income tax and a penalty may apply only to the earnings portion (capital gains and dividend and interest income) in the accounts.

Final Thoughts

529 plans combine tax-free growth, tax-free withdrawals for education, and incredible spending flexibility. For families planning ahead, even modest contributions can grow meaningfully over time thanks to compounding and tax advantages.

The U.S. government introduced these incredible tax vehicles for a reason—to incentivize Americans to save for education. So let's get to it!

Not sure which state's plan is best for you? Visit Hadley's Find my 529 page to get routed to your best plan.