4Q 2025 529 and ABLE Market Sizing Highlights
By Paul Curley, CFA | paul.curley@issmarketintelligence.com | February 2, 2026What was the 529 and ABLE market sizing as of 4Q 2025 (December 31, 2025)?
December 2025 Quarterly 529 & ABLE Market Sizing Data
– 17.7 million accounts invested $603 billion in assets in 529 savings and prepaid plans
– 16.9 million accounts invested $577 billion in assets in 529 savings plans
– 0.8 million accounts invested $26 billion in assets in 529 prepaid plans
– 234,435 accounts invested $3.068 billion in assets in ABLE (529A) accounts
September 2025 Quarterly 529 & ABLE Market Sizing Data
– 17.4 million accounts invested $588 billion in assets in 529 savings and prepaid plans
– 16.6 million accounts invested $562 billion in assets in 529 savings plans
– 0.8 million accounts invested $26 billion in assets in 529 prepaid plans
– 223,182 accounts invested $2.871 billion in assets in ABLE (529A) accounts
December 2024 Quarterly 529 & ABLE Market Sizing Data
– 17.0 million accounts invested $525 billion in assets in 529 savings and prepaid plans
– 16.1 million accounts invested $500 billion in assets in 529 savings plans
– 0.9 million accounts invested $25 billion in assets in 529 prepaid plans
– 194,728 accounts invested $2.306 billion in assets in ABLE (529A) accounts
Net Flows (contributions minus withdrawals):
– Estimated 529 savings plan net inflows were $3.5 billion in 4Q 2025 compared to net inflows of $3.0 billion in 4Q 2024 and net inflows of $2.1 billion in 4Q 2023. Therefore, net inflows increased from 4Q 2023 to 4Q 2024 to 4Q 2025, which aligns with increasing demand for education as more parents successfully use 529s for their intended purpose of qualified educational expenses to and through the market and economic volatility in 2024 and 2025 in the United States. Furthermore, as more families use 529s for their intended purpose of qualified education and career training expenses, more families and their friends are becoming more aware and familiar with their power to help save and pay for educational expenses, which generates the next positive feedback loop of momentum and success.
Building upon the momentum of growing utilization, the expansion of 529 qualified expenses in recent years to credentials, credential programs or beyond K-12 tuition will drive further success for 529s. This increase in volume and scale provides an opportunity for product providers, distributors, and fintech firms alike to create, partner, and implement ease of use enhancements to 529s which will further drive growth of 529s for years to come. Together, ISS projects new positive energy from a legislative, product, marketing and distribution perspective to drive continued growth over the next three to five years through the expansion of qualified expenses, broadening of demographics and implementation of economies of scale.
From an industry asset and account level perspective, 529 saving plans continue to expand to help even more families. Therefore, investor interest in 529 plans and saving for education in an efficient and effective manner in terms of tax, financial aid and estate planning continues to rise, and especially as part of year-end tax planning, estate planning, and education financial planning.
Top 10 529 Savings Plans by 4Q 2025 Assets
Top 5 529 Savings Plan Program Managers by 4Q 2025 Assets
For questions, commentary or feedback on the data, please contact Paul Curley at paul.curley@issgovernance.com.
– 17.7 million accounts invested $603 billion in assets in 529 savings and prepaid plans
– 16.9 million accounts invested $577 billion in assets in 529 savings plans
– 0.8 million accounts invested $26 billion in assets in 529 prepaid plans
– 234,435 accounts invested $3.068 billion in assets in ABLE (529A) accounts
September 2025 Quarterly 529 & ABLE Market Sizing Data
– 17.4 million accounts invested $588 billion in assets in 529 savings and prepaid plans
– 16.6 million accounts invested $562 billion in assets in 529 savings plans
– 0.8 million accounts invested $26 billion in assets in 529 prepaid plans
– 223,182 accounts invested $2.871 billion in assets in ABLE (529A) accounts
December 2024 Quarterly 529 & ABLE Market Sizing Data
– 17.0 million accounts invested $525 billion in assets in 529 savings and prepaid plans
– 16.1 million accounts invested $500 billion in assets in 529 savings plans
– 0.9 million accounts invested $25 billion in assets in 529 prepaid plans
– 194,728 accounts invested $2.306 billion in assets in ABLE (529A) accounts
Net Flows (contributions minus withdrawals):
– Estimated 529 savings plan net inflows were $3.5 billion in 4Q 2025 compared to net inflows of $3.0 billion in 4Q 2024 and net inflows of $2.1 billion in 4Q 2023. Therefore, net inflows increased from 4Q 2023 to 4Q 2024 to 4Q 2025, which aligns with increasing demand for education as more parents successfully use 529s for their intended purpose of qualified educational expenses to and through the market and economic volatility in 2024 and 2025 in the United States. Furthermore, as more families use 529s for their intended purpose of qualified education and career training expenses, more families and their friends are becoming more aware and familiar with their power to help save and pay for educational expenses, which generates the next positive feedback loop of momentum and success.
Building upon the momentum of growing utilization, the expansion of 529 qualified expenses in recent years to credentials, credential programs or beyond K-12 tuition will drive further success for 529s. This increase in volume and scale provides an opportunity for product providers, distributors, and fintech firms alike to create, partner, and implement ease of use enhancements to 529s which will further drive growth of 529s for years to come. Together, ISS projects new positive energy from a legislative, product, marketing and distribution perspective to drive continued growth over the next three to five years through the expansion of qualified expenses, broadening of demographics and implementation of economies of scale.
From an industry asset and account level perspective, 529 saving plans continue to expand to help even more families. Therefore, investor interest in 529 plans and saving for education in an efficient and effective manner in terms of tax, financial aid and estate planning continues to rise, and especially as part of year-end tax planning, estate planning, and education financial planning.
Top 10 529 Savings Plans by 4Q 2025 Assets
Top 5 529 Savings Plan Program Managers by 4Q 2025 Assets
For questions, commentary or feedback on the data, please contact Paul Curley at paul.curley@issgovernance.com.