Project tomorrow's college cost and the monthly savings to be ready for it.
A college savings calculator projects the future cost of college and the monthly savings needed to fund it, accounting for cost inflation, your current savings, and investment growth.
College costs have historically risen faster than general inflation, so tomorrow's bill is much larger than today's sticker price. The calculator inflates today's annual cost to each year your child will attend, totals it, then solves for the monthly savings that, with your current balance and expected return, would fund it. Starting early makes the monthly number far smaller.
Tax-advantaged accounts like a 529 plan let college savings grow tax-free when used for qualified education expenses, which meaningfully boosts the result versus a taxable account. Because the money is needed on a fixed timeline, many families shift toward more conservative investments as college approaches, so a downturn right before freshman year can't derail the plan.
It depends on the projected cost, your timeline, current savings, and return. The calculator solves for the monthly amount, starting early lowers it a lot.
College costs have historically risen faster than general inflation, so the future bill is well above today's price.
A 529 plan grows tax-free for qualified education expenses, which beats a taxable account. Shift more conservative as college nears.
See the exact formula and a worked example on our methodology page.