The University of Alaska College Savings Plan’s investment performance ranked among the nation’s top college savings plans in the second quarter of 2014, according to Savingforcollege.com.

The plan was ranked third, second, third and first among 55 direct-sold plans for the one-, three-, five- and 10-year periods respectively. Plans are ranked based on the average percentile rankings in seven asset allocation categories to produce a single combined or "composite" ranking.

Savingforcollege.com is an independent analyst of 529 investment performance. It analyzes the investment performance of thousands of 529 portfolios quarterly and ranks the plans from the best to worst.

As of June 30, the UA College Savings plan ranked in the top 10 in each category with a first-place ranking in the 10-year investment performance.

“We are pleased to remain among the top plans,” said Lael Oldmixon, the plan’s director. “The UA College Savings Plan has ranked in the top 10 in at least two of these categories in each of the last five years. We are thrilled to offer this excellent and nationally recognized college savings option for Alaskans.”

The full report showing rankings for all direct-sold 529 plans can be viewed at http://www.savingforcollege.com/articles/2014-plan-performance-rankings-q2

Alaskans can invest in the plan directly, through their Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) or through Alaska Native corporation dividends. Everyone who elects to automatically contribute half of their 2014 PFD to the plan is entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $25,000 scholarship account or one of four, $2,500 scholarship accounts.

The UA College Savings Plan is known as a “529 college savings plan,” named for Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. These plans help individuals and families save for college in a tax-advantaged way. The UA College Savings Plan is Alaska’s Section 529 plan offered by the Education Trust of Alaska and managed by T. Rowe Price. The UA College Savings Plan may be used at any eligible school, including the University of Alaska as well as most public and private universities, graduate and post-graduate schools, community colleges, and certain proprietary and vocational schools.