In case you haven't heard, today is "529 Day," part of an effort to create some buzz around the tax-advantaged college savings vehicles known as 529 plans.

Apparently they could use the publicity: Though the plans have been around since the mid-1990s, 62 percent of Americans don't know what they are, according to a recent survey by brokerage firm Edward Jones.

With student-loan debt now exceeding credit-card debt in this country, 529 plans can be one way to lighten the load. To find out more about 529 plans, including how they stack up against other college saving options, like Roth IRAs and Coverdell ESAs, see our report Tax-wise ways to save for college.

Source: May 29 is '529 Day,' Yet Edward Jones Survey Reveals That Nearly Two-Thirds of Americans Don't Know What They Are [Market Watch]