Starting a college fund earlier means less out of pocket. See the cost of waiting.
This calculator shows how much a college fund can lose in growth by delaying the start of the same monthly contribution.
The tool runs two scenarios with identical monthly contributions and the same assumed return, changing only when you begin. Starting today lets every dollar compound for the full period, while waiting shortens the growth window and skips the contributions you would have made during the delay. The gap between the two ending balances is the price of procrastination, and it grows wider with higher returns and longer waits.
Results assume a steady annual return, which real markets do not deliver year to year, so treat the numbers as an illustration rather than a promise. The calculator does not account for taxes, fees, or the effect of inflation on future tuition. A 529 plan or similar account may offer tax advantages, but those depend on your state and situation and are not modeled here. This is educational and not financial advice.
Earlier contributions compound for longer and you make more of them, so both the extra deposits and the added years of growth widen the gap.
Use a conservative long-run figure that matches your investment mix; higher assumed returns make waiting look costlier but are not guaranteed.
No, the calculator grows your savings but does not adjust future college costs for inflation, so build in a margin when setting your goal.
See the exact formula and a worked example on our methodology page.