College Savings Calculator
See what steady saving can become. Project a monthly contribution to your child’s college fund, or work backwards from a goal to the monthly amount that reaches it.
Projection
How the projection works
The tool counts the months between your child’s age now and the target age, then grows the money two ways. Any balance you have already saved compounds on its own, and each monthly contribution compounds from the month you add it — the standard formula for a regularly funded, monthly-compounding account.
In goal mode it runs that math in reverse: given the finish line and the time available, it solves for the single monthly figure that lands you there, rounded up to the cent so it never falls short. The gap between what you contribute and the final value is the growth at the return you assumed, which is never guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does compound growth change the numbers?
Money you set aside early has the most time to earn returns on top of returns, so starting sooner matters more than saving more later. The calculator compounds monthly, so a modest amount begun when your child is young often finishes ahead of a larger amount started in their teens.
What return should I assume?
The return is an assumption, not a promise: it depends entirely on how the money is held, it is never guaranteed, and it can be negative in any given year. Try a cautious figure and a hopeful one to see the range. Then match it to your goal, because families plan this two ways. One school enters the goal in today's dollars (what a year of school costs now) and uses a return after inflation. The other grows today's cost by an assumed inflation rate to get a future-dollar goal and uses a return before inflation. Either works on its own terms; mixing them, a today's-dollar goal with a before-inflation return, understates what you need to save.
Can it tell me the monthly amount for a specific goal?
Yes. Switch to goal mode, enter your target amount and the age you'll need it, and the tool solves for the monthly contribution that gets you there — accounting for any balance you've already saved and its growth along the way.
Does this account for tax-advantaged accounts like a 529?
No. It is a plain compound-growth projection and does not model 529 plans, tax treatment, fees, or financial aid. Use it to get a feel for the size of the task, then talk to a qualified advisor about the right account for your situation.
Educational estimate only. Returns are not guaranteed and this is not investment, tax, or financial advice — consult a qualified professional before making decisions.