West Virginia SMART529 Plans Earn Top Honors
All three state college savings plans received the highest designation for performance and accessibility.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Financial Aid
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Saving for College has awarded its Top of the Class designation to all three of West Virginia’s SMART529 college savings plans. Each plan achieved a perfect 5-out-of-5 rating, placing them among the top tier of programs nationwide.
Why it matters
These designations help families identify high-performing investment options for education, as the top-tier status requires plans to outperform at least 80 percent of their peers.
The SMART529 Select Plan and SMART529 WV Direct Plan ranked first and third nationally for five-year performance as of June 30, 2026. These plans were among seven direct-sold and five advisor-sold plans honored nationwide.
The players
Saving for College
This organization provides expert research and analysis on 529 college savings plans for families and financial professionals.
SMART529
These are the official college savings programs sponsored by the state of West Virginia.
The details
Saving for College evaluates plans based on a five-cap scale that considers program delivery, savings success, ease of use, and investment performance. West Virginia's portfolio includes the SMART529 Select Plan, the SMART529 WV Direct Plan, and The Hartford SMART529.
Timeline
June 30, 2026: The cutoff date for five-year performance rankings.
2026: The year West Virginia received the Top of the Class designations.
Culture Shift
The widespread adoption of tax-advantaged college savings reflects a broader cultural focus on financial planning for higher education. Achieving top ratings within the Saving for College five-cap rating scale positions these programs as benchmarks for success in state-sponsored investment.
Residents can utilize these highly-rated plans to potentially improve their education savings success compared to lower-scoring alternatives. The designations provide a verified performance baseline that can inform immediate investment decisions for families planning for future tuition costs.
The takeaway
Selecting a state-sponsored savings plan with a high performance rating is a key step in building a sustainable college fund. Families should regularly review their account performance against national benchmarks to ensure their investment remains on track for future goals.
Further reading
Find more resources for your education budget on our West Virginia Financial Aid page.
More information
Compare the current offerings and fee structures by reviewing the SMART529 plan comparison chart.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Moorefield Examiner.
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