529 Plan Calculator
Project four years of college costs, compare them with your savings and estimate the monthly contribution needed under your assumptions.
For a 5-year-old, four college years starting at 18 project to $251,949, assuming $31,000 a year in today's costs at a public in-state school and 5% education inflation. Starting with $20,000 and adding $400 monthly covers about 57% under a constant 6% return.
What it takes to fully fund, by the age you start
| Starting at | Years to college | Projected four-year cost | Monthly to fully fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newborn | 18 | $321,558 | $760/mo |
| Age 5 | 13 | $251,949 | $979/mo |
| Age 10 | 8 | $197,409 | $1,471/mo |
| Age 14 | 4 | $162,409 | $2,747/mo |
Choose a cost target you can explain
The calculator prices college at the College Board's average 2025-26 student budget: $31,000 a year for a public in-state school and $65,000 for a private one, covering tuition, housing, food, books and other costs. If you expect aid, read the result against a smaller bill: the calculator does not estimate it. The cost figures and the 5% inflation rate are assumptions, not forecasts.
Try several contribution amounts and both school types. Money needed in the first year of college has less time to recover from losses than money intended for later years.
Compare college saving with retirement contributions and emergency reserves. A projected shortfall can also be addressed through school choice, aid or later cash flow; it does not automatically mean you should increase investment risk.