College Cost Calculator — 529 Savings & Tuition Projection

Project college costs using College Board data, model 529 savings growth, and see your funding gap. Compare in-state, out-of-state, and private costs.

✓ Formula verified: March 2026For informational purposes only

College Cost Calculator

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Child's Current Age*Current age of the child. Used to calculate years until college (assumes college starts at age 18).

Current College Savings*Total amount already saved for college (529 plan, savings account, etc.)

Monthly Contribution*Amount you plan to save each month between now and when college begins

Institution Type*Average 2024-25 tuition & fees from College Board data

Include Room & Board*Room & board averages $12,770/yr (public) to $14,650/yr (private)

Additional Annual Costs (Optional)Additional annual costs beyond tuition and room & board (e.g., books, supplies, travel, personal expenses).

Expected Annual Financial Aid (Optional)Expected annual financial aid, grants, or scholarships to subtract from the annual cost.

Annual Tuition Inflation Rate*Historical college cost inflation has averaged 5-6% per year. Enter your assumed rate.

Expected Annual Investment Return*Expected annual return on your college savings (529 plan historical average: 5-7%)

Expected Years in College*Typical undergraduate programs are 4 years. Some programs may be 2 or 5 years.

Projected Cost of 4-Year Degree

$168,708

Current In-State Public Annual Cost

$24,030

Annual Cost When College Starts (10 yrs)

$39,142

Projected Savings at College Start

▲ $50,970

Percent of Costs Covered

▼ 30%

Total Monthly Savings Needed

$918.45

Years Until College

10 years

Data Source

Annual cost projections use the College Board 2024-25 published tuition & fees and estimated room & board. Tuition is assumed to increase at the specified annual rate. Savings projections assume the specified annual return compounded monthly. This is a simplified projection — actual costs and returns will vary. See collegecost.ed.gov for official net price data.

What if your child's current age changes? 7 → $177,144 · 8 → $168,708 · 9 → $160,675

Scenario Comparison

Conservative (5%)

$47,526.55

$37,526.55 interest

Your scenario (7%)

$54,713.58

$44,713.58 interest

Aggressive (10%)

$68,039.41

$58,039.41 interest

High-risk (14%)

$92,038.49

$82,038.49 interest

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College Cost Projection

Cost data source: College Board, "Trends in College Pricing 2024". Average published tuition & fees for In-State Public: $24,030/year. Actual net prices vary by institution and financial aid.

Total Projected Cost

$168,708

Projected Savings

$50,970

Coverage

30%

Funding Gap

$117,739

Savings Growth Until College (Age 8 → Age 18)

Projected Annual Costs in College

Year	Age	Estimated Cost	% of Total
Year 1	Age 18	$39,142	23%
Year 2	Age 19	$41,099	24%
Year 3	Age 20	$43,154	26%
Year 4	Age 21	$45,312	27%
Total		$168,708	100%

You are on track to cover 30% of projected costs.

In-State Public currently costs $24,030/year. With 5% annual inflation, a 4-year degree starting in 10 years is projected at $168,708. Review annually and adjust contributions as the child gets closer to college age.

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