529 & college savings calculator
See what future college could cost, whether each child’s separate 529 plan is on track, and the monthly saving the whole family plan needs before enrollment.
Advanced options
Scenario comparison
Funding timeline
Family saving, investment, college, withdrawal, and aid periods across the plan.
Student funding summary
| Child | Scenario | First-year tuition | Future cost | Enrollment target | Projected at enrollment | Gap | Required monthly | Funded |
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Student funding targets
529 balance and costs
The balances in separate child accounts beside the remaining liability through the final planned withdrawal, aligned on a union plan-year axis.
Contributions and growth
What is added and what the accounts earn in each year. Withdrawals appear in their own chart.
Annual education costs
Gross future costs for every child in the academic year they occur, before aid and the funding percentage.
Annual 529 withdrawals
What the accounts can withdraw at each academic-year start, with any amount the modeled balances cannot cover.
Funding percentage by year
Combined account balances divided by the investment value needed for remaining planned withdrawals, through the final academic-year cost.
$250/month by starting age
A fixed, shareable comparison ending at age 18, using this scenario’s investment return.
Annual family projection
| Year | Scenario | Contributed | Growth | College cost | 529 withdrawal | Uncovered | Balance | Liability | Funded | State benefit |
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College years
| Child | Scenario | College year | Age | Tuition | Room and board | Books/other | Aid | Planned from 529 | Withdrawn | Uncovered | Balance after year |
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What this model assumes
- Each child has a separate 529 account. Money is not automatically transferred between beneficiaries. Family targets and enrollment balances are discounted to today before aggregation; recognized coverage is capped child by child, and total deficits and surpluses are reported separately.
- Contributions arrive at period end through the last period before enrollment. Each planned college-year cost is withdrawn at that academic year’s start, and the remaining account continues to grow monthly.
- Child costs and projections are nominal future dollars. Tuition, room and board, and books use the education-inflation assumption; scholarships use their own growth rate. Family enrollment target, balance, deficit, surplus, and funded percentage are the stated present-value exception.
- Only eligible qualified expenses receive tax-free 529 treatment. Room and board is generally limited and requires at least half-time enrollment; confirm current rules and the school’s allowance.
- 529 contributions are not deductible for federal income tax. The state deduction or credit is a manual estimate, does not determine eligibility or tax liability, and is not reinvested.
- Returns and inflation are steady assumptions. Real markets, college prices, aid and tax rules will vary.
Calculations are estimates based on your assumptions and are not financial, investment or tax advice. Actual results may differ. Read the financial disclaimer.