Morningstar's Guide to College Savings

This year, with the release of our annual assessment of the best and worst plans in the 529 college-savings industry, we've taken a look at a number of other issues facing 529 savers. For starters, while 529 college-savings plans might ring a bell with some, many aren't familiar with the basics. For those who want an easy primer, take a look at our our video on the basics, benefits, and drawbacks of 529 plans, which walks investors through the key advantages and disadvantages of the plans. We discuss why investors should sometimes consider foregoing in-state tax advantages for an out-of-state plan in this article, and we walk investors through the steps of successful 529 investing here.

However, 529 college-savings plans aren't the only option available, and, for some college savers, they may not even be the best option. To help investors explore other options outside the 529 college-savings world, we discuss 529 prepaid plans, a close cousin to the more prevalent college-savings plans, here. We then delve into other alternatives, including Coverdells, home equity loans, and standard brokerage accounts in this article.

Saving for college is without a doubt a major undertaking for most households. These articles should help you address some of the confusion. And for a look at your state's 529 college-saving plan, visit our 529 index page, which links to data and analysis on the different college-savings plans available.