The 10 best college savings plans in America that anyone can use

In 18 years, the cost to attend a public college is estimated to be about $54,000 a year - over $200,000 for a 4-year degree, according to a recent analysis by investment management company Vanguard. At private colleges, that figure is about $120,000 a year - nearly half a million dollars in total.

Given that enormous expense, it's no wonder many parents worry about how - and when - to start saving for college.

Some families look to 529 plans, an account that allows college savings to grow tax-free, similarly to saving for retirement in an IRA. Some states offer a full or partial tax deduction on 529 contributions as well. When the funds are used to pay for college and other qualified education expenses, withdrawals from a 529 plan are not taxed.

But the offerings in 529 plans vary from state to state, meaning families need to do their due diligence before signing up. Savingforcollege.com (SFC) takes some of the guesswork out of deciding on a plan. The site provides "5-Cap Ratings" - rating each plan from 0 to 5 - in areas such as investment performance, costs (fees and other expenses), and reliability (flexibility to make changes and the quality of financial disclosures from the program).

Still, there are additional things to keep in mind when choosing a 529 plan. If you select an out-of-state plan but live in a state with income tax, you may miss out on a valuable tax deduction. And each plan has a different fee schedule, which should be taken into consideration before making a choice.

Below, take a look at the top 10 college savings plans in America. All scores are out of a possible five points.