ScholarShare 529 review

ScholarShare 529 is California's plan, and its fee page shows why it competes nationally: passive enrollment portfolios charge 0.07% in total annual asset-based fees, built from a 0.01% plan manager fee, 0.00% board fee and about 0.06% in underlying fund costs. Across all portfolios, including active ones, the plan cites ISS Market Intelligence for a 0.21% average, against 0.46% for all 529 plans. Choices span enrollment year, risk-based, ESG and guaranteed options, and ScholarShare says it takes about 15 minutes to open. It manages more than $20.97 billion for over 509,000 accounts as of 6/30/26. The catch for California residents is tax: California does not offer a deduction for 529 contributions, as Schwab's 529 FAQ also notes, and non-qualified withdrawals can carry an additional 2.5% California tax on earnings. That means Californians have no tax reason to stay in-state, and should compare ScholarShare's passive portfolios against NY 529 or MESP on cost alone.

Who it is for

California families and ESG-minded savers

Price

Average annual asset-based fees of 0.21%; passive enrollment portfolios at 0.07%.

ScholarShare 529's average annual asset-based fees are 0.21% for all portfolios compared to 0.46% for all 529 plans.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 14, 2026.

Key features

• Average annual asset-based fees of 0.21% for all portfolios, against 0.46% for all 529 plans (ISS Market Intelligence, Q2 2026)
• Passive enrollment portfolios at 0.07% total annual asset-based fees
• Enrollment Year, Risk-Based, ESG and Guaranteed options
• Takes about 15 minutes to start
• Manages more than $20.97 billion for over 509,000 accounts as of 6/30/26

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Passive enrollment portfolios are among the cheapest age-based options here
• Strength: ESG portfolio option for values-based investors
• Strength: Large plan with more than 50,000 student accounts added each year
• Weakness: California offers no state income tax deduction for 529 contributions
• Weakness: Non-qualified withdrawals can face an extra 2.5% California tax on earnings
• Weakness: The 0.21% average is higher than MESP's 0.09%

Key facts

• Average asset-based fee: 0.21%
• Passive enrollment portfolios: 0.07%
• Assets: More than $20.97 billion (6/30/26)
• State deduction: None

Where it ranks

ScholarShare 529 is No. 7 in our Best 529 Plans verdict.