Indiana 529 Plan: What College Savers Should Know

Updated on July 3, 2023

Edited by

• Fact-checked by Marley Hall

State residents get a tax credit for contributing to an Indiana 529 plan. Learn about Indiana’s three 529 plans plus rules for investing.

bird's-eye view of the City of Bloomington, Indiana and the campus of Indiana University with sunset in fall

Credit: Image Credit: Sanjin Wang / Moment Open / Getty Images

Per the Federal Reserve, Indiana held about $6.1 billion in 529 plansin June 2022.^[1] These savings accounts help people save for college and other educational expenses for themselves or beneficiaries like children or grandchildren.

529 plans also usually come with tax advantages. Here’s information about Indiana’s 529 plans and rules for state residents.

Indiana 529 Plans

Indiana offers three college savings plans: a fixed-rate account, a self-guided (direct) investment portfolio, and an advisor-guided plan.

CollegeChoice 529 Direct College Savings Plan

Requires State Residency? No
K-12 Expenses Eligible? Yes
Fees: 0.14-0.64% plus a $20 annual maintenance fee for out-of-state residents only
Performance Notes: The 2024 Enrollment Portfolio has gained 4.19% in average annual returns since its creation.

CollegeChoice CD 529 Savings Plan

Requires State Residency? No
K-12 Expenses Eligible? Yes
Fees: None
Performance Notes: A fixed-rate CD can earn 3.5-4% in interest over one to three years.

CollegeChoice Advisor 529 Savings Plan

Requires State Residency? No
K-12 Expenses Eligible? Yes
Fees: 0.31-2.15% plus a $20 annual maintenance fee for out-of-state residents, which could be waived if your balance is over $25,000
Performance Notes: The 2025 Enrollment Portfolio Class A has earned 4.83%-5.22% on average over its lifetime.

Behind the Numbers

The performance of Indiana’s direct college savings plan and advisor-led plans are bound to change over time with the market. We last updated our performance notes in January 2023.

Additionally, these plans offer multiple portfolios — not just the ones we noted here. Explore the plans yourself to see which is right for you.

Indiana 529 Tax Credit and Rules for Savers

According to the College Savings Plan Network:^[2]

State residents can take a tax credit on contributions to an Indiana 529 — up to 20% on $5,000 contributed.
In Indiana, you can contribute up to $450,000 in total to college savings plans.
Indiana also allows savers to use 529 plans for K-12 educational expenses.