529 College Savings Calculator
Project your 529 balance at 18 and the monthly amount needed to cover college. Uses 2025-26 College Board costs ($30,990/yr public in-state, $65,470 private) and 2026 529 rules.
Calculator
Key Takeaways
What You Should Know
- The average 2025-26 student budget (tuition, fees, housing, food, books and other costs) is $30,990 a year at a public four-year college in-state and $65,470 at a private nonprofit, per the College Board.
- Fully funding four years at an in-state public college for a newborn takes about $688 a month, assuming 4% annual cost growth and a 6% return. Covering half takes about $344.
- Starting in 2026, 529s cover up to $20,000 a year of K-12 tuition and more credential programs. Unused money can go into the beneficiary’s Roth IRA, up to $35,000 over a lifetime, if the account is 15+ years old.
How it works
Calculation methodology
Short answer: a newborn needs about $688 a month in a 529 to fully cover four years at an in-state public university, about $1,131 for out-of-state and about $1,454 for a private college. These estimates use 2025-26 College Board budgets, 4% annual cost growth and a 6% average return. Covering half the cost takes half those amounts. Starting at age 8 or 10 roughly doubles the monthly amount for the same goal.
What college costs now (2025-26 averages)
| College type | Published tuition & fees | Total student budget* |
|---|---|---|
| Public four-year, in-state | $11,950 | $30,990 |
| Public four-year, out-of-state | $31,880 | ≈ $50,920 |
| Private nonprofit four-year | $45,000 | $65,470 |
| Public two-year (living off campus) | $4,150 | $21,320 |
*College Board budgets include tuition, fees, housing, food, books, transportation and personal costs. The out-of-state budget is estimated as the in-state budget plus the difference in tuition. Many students pay much less than the sticker price. The average net tuition after grant aid for in-state public students is about $2,300.
Monthly savings needed from birth
| Goal (4 years, costs grow 4%/yr) | Cost at enrollment | Save monthly for 100% | For 50% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public in-state | $266,593 | $688 | $344 |
| Public out-of-state | $438,042 | $1,131 | $565 |
| Private nonprofit | $563,209 | $1,454 | $727 |
Assumes 216 monthly contributions and a 6% annual return. For comparison, a steady $250 a month grows to about $96,800 by 18 at the same return.
What changed for 529s in 2026
- K-12 limit doubled: up to $20,000 per year per beneficiary for K-12 tuition, up from $10,000.
- More K-12 expenses qualify: curriculum and online materials, outside tutoring by an unrelated tutor, standardized and AP test fees, dual-enrollment fees, and educational therapy for students with disabilities.
- Credentials: eligible trade, professional certification and licensing programs now count as qualified higher-education expenses.
- Unchanged: the $19,000 annual gift exclusion (five-year superfunding up to $95,000) and the 529-to-Roth rollover, $35,000 lifetime.
How to use the calculator
- Enter your child’s age, the current 529 balance and your monthly contribution.
- Pick a school type. The costs are the 2025-26 College Board budgets above.
- Keep college cost growth between 3% and 5%. Published tuition rose 2.9%–4.0% in 2025-26.
- Use a return that fits your plan’s allocation. Age-based portfolios shift toward bonds as the child nears 18, so long-run averages of 5%–7% are common planning assumptions, not promises.
Compare other savings targets with the Savings Goal Calculator, or read How Much Should I Save for College?.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Assumptions
What this example assumes
- Contributions are made monthly until the child turns 18; the return you enter is compounded monthly.
- Today’s annual cost is inflated at your chosen rate to each of the four college years.
- The ’tax savings’ figure compares 529 growth with a taxable account paying 15% on gains; state tax deductions for contributions are not included.
Sources
Data sources
These sources support the inputs and assumptions used by this calculator. They are not personalized financial advice.
- College Board — Trends in College Pricing 2025 (highlights)
2025-26 average published tuition and fees: $11,950 public in-state, $31,880 out-of-state, $45,000 private nonprofit, $4,150 public two-year.
- College Board newsroom — 2025-26 student budgets
Average full-time budgets range from $21,320 (public two-year) to $65,470 (private nonprofit four-year); $30,990 public four-year in-state.
- Chase — New 529 plan rules for 2026 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act)
K-12 limit rises to $20,000 in 2026, new qualified K-12 and credential expenses, $19,000 gift exclusion and $95,000 five-year superfunding.
- IRS — 2026 tax inflation adjustments
Annual gift tax exclusion remains $19,000 in 2026.