Kansas Treasurer Announces New 529 Program Manager and March 2026 Rebranding
Topeka, Kansas - Kansas State Treasurer Steven Johnson today announced the next chapter for the Kansas 529 postsecondary education savings program, including a new program manager, a refreshed identity, and significant enhancements designed to deliver greater value for Kansas families.
Following a competitive procurement process, the Treasurer selected TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. (TFI) as the new plan manager for the Learning Quest 529 Education Savings Program. Partnering with TFI positions the program to deliver a best-in-class experience for account holders.
Plan management will transition after the close of business on February 27, 2026, with the conversion completed and the new platform fully live on March 2, 2026. At that time, Learning Quest will officially rebrand, reflecting a modernized program built to better serve today’s families and the next generation of education savers.
“For more than 25 years, this program has helped Kansas families plan for the future,” said Kansas State Treasurer Steven Johnson, the 529 plan administrator and national chair of the College Savings Plan Network. “We took a measured approach and studied what works in other states to build best-in-class 529 plans for Kansas.”
Kansas’ 529 plans, including Learning Quest and the Schwab 529 Plan, together serve more than 228,000 families and represent approximately $14.5 billion in assets under management.
Under new program management, the Kansas 529 plans will be positioned as one of the lowest-cost 529 plans in the market. Kansas 529 account owners will experience a significant fee reduction that will collectively save millions of dollars, keeping more of their contributions working for future education expenses.
The transition also brings streamlined investment options, including a shift to enrollment-year portfolios that better align savings with a student’s expected education timeline. Account owners will benefit from a modernized website, improved digital tools, and a more user-friendly account management experience when the new program launches on March 2, 2026.
“Our responsibility is to be good stewards of this program,” Johnson said. “This transition carries that commitment forward. It empowers families by reducing costs and complexity, while strengthening the program for the long term.”
Account holders will receive detailed transition communications and guidance starting January 20th ahead of the March 2026 conversion. Additional information about the transition process is available at LearningQuestEnhancements.com.