What is a 529 college savings plan?

A 529 is a tax-advantaged savings account designed for education expenses. Contributions grow tax-free and withdrawals for qualified education expenses are also tax-free at the federal level.

College Savings Calculator

Estimate how much to save monthly for college using a 529 or other investment account.

This tool runs in your browser. None of your data is saved or sold.

Child's current age (years)

Age when college starts (years)

Annual college cost ($)

Years of college (years)

Already saved ($)

Expected annual return (%)

About This Calculator

College costs have risen roughly 5-6% per year for decades. This calculator projects your total college cost, accounts for any savings you already have compounding at your expected return rate, and tells you exactly how much to save each month to meet the goal.

Estimates only — not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Verify important results with a qualified professional before making decisions.

total college cost = annual cost × 4 years; projected from current savings = current savings × (1+r/12)^n; monthly needed = (total cost − projected savings) × r / ((1+r)^n − 1), where r = monthly rate, n = months until college