529 College Savings Calculator

Use the 529 College Savings Calculator

Your results

Projected 529 balance: $0.00
Total contributions: $0.00
Investment growth: $0.00
Surplus or shortfall vs target cost: $0.00

How this calculator works

What it does: Estimate how a 529 plan could grow with monthly contributions and compare the projected balance with your target college cost.
Inputs used: The estimate uses current 529 balance, monthly contribution, expected annual return (%), years until college, and target college cost.
Calculation approach: The calculator applies the relationships defined for the 529 college savings calculator to those inputs and updates projected 529 balance, total contributions, investment growth, and surplus or shortfall vs target cost.
How to read the result: Treat the result as a scenario based on the values entered. Compare a few reasonable inputs and consider costs, taxes, timing, or risks that the calculator does not include.

How to Use This Calculator

Enter Current 529 balance and Monthly contribution using values that match the scenario you want to evaluate.
Enter Expected annual return (%) and Years until college using values that match the scenario you want to evaluate.
Enter Target college cost using values that match the scenario you want to evaluate.
Review the assumptions for the 529 college savings calculator, especially rates, time periods, and optional amounts.
Select Calculate to update the results, then adjust one input at a time to compare scenarios.

Understanding the Results

Projected 529 balance: The estimated value at the end of the selected period after applying the entered contributions, rates, and timing assumptions.
Total contributions: The amount added from contributions, separate from investment growth or interest.
Investment growth: The portion of the result attributed to growth rather than money contributed or originally invested.
Surplus or shortfall vs target cost: The difference between the current position and the calculated target or comparison value.

Common Mistakes

Leaving out irregular expenses, annual bills, or small recurring charges.
Using gross income when the calculator asks for spendable or after-tax income.
Treating an ambitious contribution as sustainable without checking monthly cash flow.
Counting the same savings, asset, debt, or expense in more than one field.

Worked Example

Example inputs

Current 529 balance: $10,000
Monthly contribution: $500
Expected annual return (%): 6%
Years until college: 15
Target college cost: $150,000

Example results

Projected 529 balance: $169,950.29
Total contributions: $90,000.00
Investment growth: $69,950.29
Surplus or shortfall vs target cost: $19,950.29

With these illustrative inputs, the projected 529 balance is $169,950.29. The result shows how the example assumptions interact and is not a prediction of future performance.

Frequently asked questions

How does the 529 college savings calculator work?

It compounds the current balance monthly, adds the entered contribution at the end of each month, and compares the projected balance with your target cost.

What is a 529 plan?

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged education savings account. Qualified withdrawals can generally be used tax-free for eligible education expenses, subject to plan and tax rules.

Does the target college cost increase with inflation?

No. Enter the future college cost you want to fund. If your estimate is in today’s dollars, adjust it separately for expected education inflation.

What does the surplus or shortfall show?

It is the projected 529 balance minus the target college cost. A positive amount is a surplus, while a negative amount is a shortfall.

Does this calculator include taxes, fees, or financial aid?

No. It does not model plan fees, taxes on nonqualified withdrawals, financial aid effects, changing contributions, or variable investment returns.

What does the 529 College Savings Calculator calculate?

Estimate how a 529 plan could grow with monthly contributions and compare the projected balance with your target college cost. The result is based only on the inputs and assumptions shown on the page.

How should I interpret the projected 529 balance from the 529 College Savings Calculator?

Use it as an estimate for the scenario entered, not as a guarantee or personal recommendation. Test changes to current 529 balance, monthly contribution, and expected annual return (%) to see which assumptions have the greatest effect.