See future tuition, your projected savings, and the monthly contribution that closes the gap.
Project 4-year college costs in the year your child enrolls, then size a 529 contribution that lands on target — with tuition inflation and investment growth modeled honestly.
Direct answers to the most common questions, in plain language. Skim if you're in a hurry; dig deeper below.
Project tuition for the year of enrollment, not today's sticker price.
Tuition has grown 4–6% per year for decades. A child entering college in 18 years will face a sticker roughly 2–2.5× today's. Target a portion of that — most parents aim for 50–75%, with the rest from scholarships, work-study, and student loans.
A tax-advantaged investment account for education expenses.
Contributions grow tax-free. Withdrawals are tax-free if used for qualified education expenses (tuition, room and board, books, K-12 up to $10k/yr, student-loan repayment up to $10k lifetime). Most states offer a state-tax deduction for contributions.
For education spending, yes — the tax advantage compounds.
A 529 avoids capital-gains tax on 18 years of growth. On a $50k contribution growing to $120k, that's $10–18k of taxes you don't pay. The trade-off: penalty + tax on non-education withdrawals.
Plan as if your child gets nothing.
About 60% of students get some financial aid, but most is loans. Plan as if they'll get zero — anything else is upside. Scholarships and merit aid can be applied against college costs without 529 penalties.
The mechanics in short answers — no jargon, no upsell.
Today's sticker compounded at 4–5% annual tuition inflation. A $30k in-state cost today becomes $66k in 18 years at 4.5%.
A 529 invested in age-based equity funds historically returns 6–8% real. The calculator compounds your monthly contribution.
If savings fall short, three levers: contribute more monthly, target a lower share, or accept that loans will close the gap.
A 529 can transfer to siblings or beneficiaries, and excess can roll into a Roth IRA (up to $35k lifetime under SECURE 2.0).
Designed so anyone can model their situation in under a minute, with or without a finance background.
Today's sticker grown by inflation to the year your child enrolls.
What you'll have vs. what you'll need — both honest numbers.
Compare in-state, out-of-state, and private targets side by side.
Models 529-style tax-free growth over 18 years.
You don't need 100%. The calculator lets you set a realistic share.
See what monthly contribution closes the gap given the years you have left.
Everything you might ask before, during, or after using this tool.
As early as possible. The math: $300/month for 18 years at 7% growth = ~$130k. The same monthly contribution starting at age 10 (8 years) yields ~$38k. Earlier dollars compound longer — and that compounding is the entire game.
A 529 has several outs: transfer to a sibling, use for grad school, use for K-12 (up to $10k/yr), apply to student-loan payoff (up to $10k lifetime), or pay the 10% penalty + tax on non-qualified withdrawals (gain portion only). SECURE 2.0 also allows rolling up to $35k into a Roth IRA after 15 years.
For education, 529 wins on taxes and financial-aid treatment. A UTMA is considered the child's asset, which counts heavier against financial aid. 529s owned by a parent are assessed more favorably. Only use a UTMA if you want the money usable for non-education purposes.
In-state public: roughly $50–70k/year by 2044 (today's $25–30k inflated at 4–5%). Private: $130–160k/year. Out-of-state public: $80–110k. These are full sticker, before scholarships and aid.
Most parents target 50–75% of expected costs, with the rest from student loans, work-study, scholarships, and current income at the time. Targeting 100% is over-saving if your child gets meaningful aid.
A 529 owned by a parent counts as a parental asset and is assessed at no more than 5.64% in the FAFSA formula. A 529 owned by a grandparent isn't reported as an asset at all under current FAFSA rules. Both are far better than a UTMA, which is treated as the student's asset.
A 529 in age-based equity funds historically returns 6–8% real (after inflation). Most calculators use 6% nominal as a conservative base. As enrollment approaches (within 5 years), most age-based glide paths shift toward bonds to protect the balance.
Yes, up to the school's published cost of attendance for room and board, even if your child lives off-campus. Books, supplies, and required computers also qualify. Travel, health insurance, and dorm furnishings generally do not.
Other Lazysmirk tools that pair well with this one.
Project tax-free 529 growth, model state-tax deductions, and compare against a taxable brokerage outcome.
Solve for the monthly contribution that hits any savings goal — house down, wedding, sabbatical, anything.
Calculate compound interest with monthly contributions, see the growth curve, and find out why Einstein called it the eighth wonder of the world.
See what your money will be worth years from now. Model lump sums, monthly contributions, and compound growth with one clean calculator.
Project monthly SIP investments across any duration. Model step-up SIPs, inflation-adjusted real value, and conservative vs. optimistic return scenarios.
Tuition has grown roughly 4.5% per year since 2000. That's above general inflation and above wage growth.
Compounded over 18 years, a $30k sticker today becomes ~$66k. Over a 4-year degree, you're looking at $250–280k for in-state public, and $700k+ for private.
Contributions are after-tax federal (no federal deduction), but ~30 states give a state-tax deduction. Growth is tax-free. Withdrawals are tax-free for qualified education expenses.
A 529 in a parent's name is one of the best tax-advantaged accounts that exists — the math approaches Roth IRA territory once you account for state-tax deduction and tax-free growth.
Targeting 100% of in-state public is a strong goal for most families. That's roughly $300–500/month per child, started at birth, in a 529 with equity-heavy allocation.
If you start later or want private as a fallback, the number scales up — $700–1,000/month for full private coverage from year 1.
If you're maxing the 529 and still short, the realistic backstops are: student loans (federal first), work-study, scholarships, current-income contribution during college years, and a 401(k) or HELOC borrow.
Avoid raiding your own retirement savings — your child can borrow for college; you can't borrow for retirement.
Two short notes worth reading before you trust any number on this page.
Your loan amount, rate, and prepayment inputs never leave your device. No accounts, no cookies on your numbers, no analytics on the values you type. Disconnect from the internet and it still works.
We are not a bank, NBFC, advisor, broker, or distributor of any financial product. The numbers shown here are estimates for educational purposes only, based on the inputs you provide.
Results are not financial, legal, or tax advice. Please consult a qualified professional before any decision about your loan, investments, or personal finances. Actual loan terms and charges depend on your bank and individual circumstances.
