CHARLESTON, W.Va. (The Hinton News) – State Treasurer Larry Pack announced all three of West Virginia’s SMART529 plans have once again earned Saving for College’s “Top of the Class” designation in its 2026 national 529 rankings.
“This recognition reinforces what we already know – West Virginia families have access to some of the strongest college savings options in the country,” Treasurer Pack said. “We’re proud that all three SMART529 plans continue to earn top marks, and we remain committed to giving families reliable, competitive tools to help them save for their children’s future.”
Saving For College is a national informational service that evaluates 529 savings plans across the country. Its ratings use a five-cap scale and consider factors including performance, ease of use, savings success and program delivery. The organization’s “Top of the Class” designation is reserved for plans that outscore more than 80 percent of their peers within their respective categories.
For 2026, the SMART529 Select Plan, which is available to families nationwide, and the SMART529 WV Direct Plan, which is available exclusively to West Virginia residents, were among just seven direct-sold plans nationwide to receive the honor. The Hartford SMART529, which is sold through financial investment professionals, was one of only five advisor-sold plans nationwide to be recognized.
All three West Virginia plans received an overall rating of 5 out of 5.
Saving for College identified West Virginia’s resident benefits as among the strongest available to state residents. The SMART529 Select Plan and the SMART529 WV Direct Plan also continue to rank highly in Saving for College’s investment-performance rankings. Based on data through June 30, 2026, the SMART529 Select Plan ranked first nationally for five-year performance, while the SMART529 WV Direct Plan ranked third.
A comparison of each of the three West Virginia SMART529 plans is available here: https://www.smart529.com/invest/smart529-plan-comparison-chart.html
SMART529 is a qualified tuition program issued by the Board of Trustees of the West Virginia College and Jumpstart Savings Programs and administered by Hartford Funds. Complete information about SMART529 plans and investment options is available at www.SMART529.com.
