529 College Savings Calculator

Your details

Your child's age today. Used to calculate years until college enrollment.
years
The age your child will start college. Usually 18.
years
Choose a preset based on current national averages, or enter your own annual cost.
How many years of college expenses you plan to fund.
The amount already in the 529 account today.
How much you plan to add to the 529 each month.
Average yearly investment return, before fees. A 60/40 stock-bond mix has historically returned about 6-7% annually.
%
Average annual increase in college costs. The 20-year historical average is about 4-5% per year.
%
Any scholarships, grants, or other aid you expect annually, in today's dollars. Subtracted from the annual cost before computing your savings target.
Currency
Projected 529 balance at enrollmentNeeds attention
$95,776

Estimated 529 account value when your child starts college

Total projected college cost$214,134
Investment growth$36,776
Total contributions$59,000
Savings gap$118,358
Monthly contribution needed to close gap$407
529 coverage44.7%
44.7% %
Needs attention<50Partially funded50-75On track75-90Fully funded90+

Your 529 is on track to cover about 45% of projected college costs.

  • Investment earnings add about 62% on top of your contributions, thanks to compound growth over 15 years.
  • To fully cover the projected cost, you would need to add about 407 more per month on top of your current contribution.
  • 529 earnings grow tax-deferred and withdrawals for qualified education expenses are federal-income-tax-free, giving you a real advantage over a regular taxable account.
  • With more than 10 years until enrollment, you still have time to benefit from a higher equity allocation before gradually shifting to more conservative investments.

Next stepIncrease your monthly contribution, adjust your investment allocation, or explore merit-aid opportunities to close the gap.

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