529 Plan Calculator
Plan for your child's college education with tax-advantaged 529 savings plans
College Planning Information
Tuition, fees, room & board for one year
Historical average is 5-6% annually
Typically 4 years for bachelor's degree
Age-based portfolios typically 5-7%
State deduction/credit rate (varies by state)
For calculating state tax benefit value
Ready to Plan?
Enter your college planning information and click "Calculate" to see your 529 plan projection.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only. Actual college costs, investment returns, and tax benefits may vary. 529 plan rules and tax benefits vary by state. Consult with a qualified financial advisor for personalized college planning advice.
Understanding 529 College Savings Plans
A 529 plan is one of the most tax-efficient ways to save for education — contributions grow tax-free, and withdrawals are tax-free at the federal level when used for qualified expenses. The earlier you start, the more compound growth does the heavy lifting, which is why projecting your plan's trajectory years in advance is so valuable.
This calculator accounts for rising college costs (which have historically outpaced general inflation), your current savings and contribution rate, and any state tax benefit, so you can see whether you're on track or need to adjust your monthly contribution.
How This Calculator Works
Enter your child's age, expected college start age, current annual college cost, years in college, current 529 balance, and monthly contribution. The calculator projects your 529 balance forward year by year with compound growth, inflates today's college cost to the year your child actually enrolls, and compares the two to show any funding gap or surplus — along with the monthly contribution needed to close a gap.