A walkthrough, end to end.
- 1
Enter the current annual cost of attendance, years until college starts, expected tuition inflation, and the rate of return on your savings.
- 2
The calculator returns the projected 4-year total cost and the monthly savings required to fund it.
- 3
Compare across schools and savings rates to find the right plan.
Tuition projection + savings PMT
Future annual cost = current cost × (1 + tuition inflation)^t. Sum of 4 years of inflated costs (each starting one year apart) gives total projected cost. Solve for monthly savings PMT that, at the assumed return rate, hits the target.
What you can do with this.
In-state public university
Average 2025 cost: ~$28K/year all-in. With 5% tuition inflation over 18 years, future cost ~$70K/year — total 4-year ~$300K. Sobering math worth seeing early.
Out-of-state public
Average ~$45K/year today. Inflated 18 years out at 5%: ~$108K/year. Total 4-year ~$465K. Many families discover they're underfunding by 50%+ once they run the math.
Private 4-year college
Average ~$60K/year today; top private schools $80–90K. Future projections regularly exceed $400–600K total. Financial aid and scholarships materially reduce sticker prices for most students.
Community college first 2 years
$5K/year × 2 years + $30K/year × 2 years = $70K total today. Massive savings for families who don't need brand-name 4-year experience. Most credits transfer; most jobs don't ask which college you started at.
529 plan tax advantage
529 plans grow tax-free for qualified education expenses. State income tax deduction for contributions in many states. The calculator's pre-tax assumption maps roughly to a 529 plan's after-tax growth.
Tuition inflation rate
US college tuition inflation has averaged 5–6%/year over the past two decades — well above general CPI. Don't use 3% inflation here; use 5% or higher for realistic projections.
Financial aid expectations
Don't fund the full sticker price unless you're certain you won't qualify for aid. Most middle-income families receive 30–60% off sticker through grants and scholarships at private schools.
College cost 2026 — what's current
Tuition inflation has moderated to 2–4% recently as enrollment trends pressure pricing. Plan with 4–5% to be safe — many private schools have actually frozen or cut tuition for 2025-26 to stay competitive.
Frequently asked.
529 for funds dedicated to education — tax-free growth and withdrawals. Taxable for flexibility (in case child doesn't go to college, attends cheap school, or you want to keep the money). Many families use both.
Yes, when child is young (10+ years away) — equity exposure handles tuition inflation. As college approaches, shift to bonds/cash. Most age-based 529 portfolios do this automatically.
Common situation. Mix of strategies: lower-cost schools, scholarships, federal student loans (not parent PLUS — bad terms), part-time work, gap years. Don't take on parent PLUS debt over your retirement security.
No. Calculations run entirely in your browser.