The Illinois Bright Start Direct plan is amongst the top five best performing college savings plans in the country, according to U.S. News & World Reports. “I am pleased by this ranking,” said Treasurer Dan Rutherford, whose office oversees the program.  “The Bright Start Direct, Bright Start Advisor, and Bright Directions Advisor programs currently have nearly $7 billion in assets and a record 370,000 accounts.  Since becoming State Treasurer in 2011 assets in the college savings division have grown by 85%, and the number of accounts has increased by 38%.”  The Bright Start distinction is based on annualized three year return of all 529 data plans provided by Morningstar.