College Cost Calculator

Project the future cost of college after inflation and the monthly saving needed to fund it, given your current savings and expected return. Calculates in your browser.

Monthly saving needed

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Total future cost-
First-year cost-
Your savings will grow to-
Funding gap-

Show the math

Each year of tuition is inflated from today, then totalled:

costyear = today's cost × (1 + inflation)years away

College costs have historically risen faster than general inflation, so the future bill can dwarf today's price. Your current savings are grown at the expected return up to the start of college, and the monthly saving closes whatever gap remains. Assumes the full balance is needed at the start, a conservative target. All math runs locally in your browser.

What this does

A college cost calculator projects what a multi-year degree will cost after inflation and works out the level monthly saving needed to fund it, taking into account what you have already saved and the return it earns.

How to use it

  1. Enter today’s cost for one year of college.
  2. Enter the years until college starts and how many years it lasts.
  3. Enter the expected cost inflation.
  4. Add your current savings and expected return to see the monthly saving needed.

How it works

Each year of tuition is inflated forward from today and the years are totalled. Your current savings are grown at the expected return up to the start of college, and the tool solves for the monthly contribution that closes the remaining gap by then.

cost_year = today’s cost × (1 + inflation)^(years away)

Understanding your result

College costs have historically outpaced general inflation, so the future bill can be far larger than today’s sticker price — starting to save early is what makes the monthly amount manageable. The tool targets the full balance by the first year, a conservative goal since in practice you pay over several years and savings keep growing.

Example

A $30,000-a-year college 10 years away, rising 5% a year, totals roughly $210,000 for four years — about $1,300 a month from scratch at a 6% return.

Sources & methodology

Last updated .

Frequently asked questions

How much should I save for college?

Enter today’s annual cost, the years until your child starts, and an inflation rate; the tool projects the future bill and the level monthly saving that funds it given your current savings and expected return.

Why is the future cost so much higher than today’s?

College costs have historically risen faster than general inflation. Even a 5% annual rise roughly doubles the price over about 15 years, which is why the projected total can dwarf today’s figure.

What return should I assume?

For a 529 or diversified investment account, a long-run figure of 5–7% is a common starting point, but returns vary. Use a lower rate as college nears, since there is less time to recover from a downturn.

Is my data stored?

No. Everything is calculated locally in your browser.