How This Is Calculated
Future 4-year cost = today's annual cost compounded at 3.2%/year, summed over 4 escalating years. Monthly savings = the contribution needed to reach that target via compounding monthly growth at your chosen return rate.
Source: College Board — Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2025 (2025-26 academic year, full cost of attendance including room & board). Assumed return rates are a standard industry planning convention for age-based 529 portfolios (conservative/bond-heavy vs. moderate/blended), not a College Board figure. · Updated 2026-07-07 · Full methodology
What to Know
- Public in-state college is typically the least expensive path at $30,990/year today, versus $65,470/year for private nonprofit — the type you select changes the target significantly.
- Starting earlier dramatically lowers the required monthly contribution because more months are available for compounding growth, not just principal.
Frequently Asked Questions
For the 2025-26 academic year, the average full cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room & board) is $30,990/year for public in-state, $50,920/year for public out-of-state, and $65,470/year for private nonprofit colleges.
This calculator compounds today's cost forward at 3.2% per year, based on College Board's recent multi-year average increase, then sums four escalating years to estimate the total 4-year cost at enrollment.
This calculator offers a conservative (4%) and a moderate (6.5%) option, reflecting typical age-based 529 portfolio assumptions. Your actual returns will vary.
No. This tool estimates a savings target and monthly contribution only. It does not recommend a specific 529 plan, fund, or investment product.
The fewer years until enrollment, the higher the required monthly contribution to reach the same target — try a few different ages to compare.