529 Plan Calculator

Project your 529 college savings plan growth against estimated future college costs. Enter your child's current age, current balance, monthly contributions, and expected investment return to see if you're on track.

529 College Savings Projector

Child's Current Age

Age When College Starts

Current 529 Balance ($)

Monthly Contribution ($)

Expected Annual Return (%)

College Type

College Cost Inflation (%/yr)

What is a 529 Plan?

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage saving for future education costs. Contributions grow tax-free and withdrawals for qualified education expenses (tuition, books, room and board) are also tax-free federally.

2024 Average College Costs (Per Year)

Type	Tuition & Fees	Room & Board	Total
Public In-State	$11,260	$12,720	~$27,000
Public Out-of-State	$29,150	$12,720	~$45,000
Private	$41,540	$14,200	~$58,000

529 Contribution Limits

There is no annual contribution limit, but contributions above the annual gift tax exclusion ($18,000 per donor in 2024) may require a gift tax return. Many states have total account limits of $300,000–$550,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I over-save in a 529?+

Starting in 2024 (SECURE 2.0 Act), unused 529 funds can be rolled into a Roth IRA for the beneficiary (subject to limits). You can also change the beneficiary to another family member or use funds for K-12 tuition.

Does a 529 affect financial aid?+

A 529 owned by a parent counts as a parental asset on the FAFSA, which reduces aid eligibility by up to 5.64% of the account value — much less than student-owned assets (20%).

Can I use a 529 for any school?+

Yes. 529 funds can be used at most accredited colleges, universities, trade schools, and graduate programs in the U.S. and even some international institutions.

How Investment Growth Is Calculated

Investment accounts grow through compound interest — your returns earn returns. Unlike simple interest (where you only earn on the principal), compounding means that every dollar of gain becomes part of the base that earns the next round of gains. The longer the time horizon, the more dramatic the effect.

The Compound Interest Formula

A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt) + PMT × [((1 + r/n)^(nt) − 1) / (r/n)]

P = Starting balance (principal)
r = Annual interest rate (as a decimal)
n = Compounding frequency (12 for monthly)
t = Time in years
PMT = Regular monthly contribution

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your starting balance (or $0 if starting from scratch)
Enter your expected annual return rate (7–10% is a common long-term stock market assumption)
Enter your monthly contribution
Set the number of years until you plan to withdraw
Click Calculate to see projected balance and growth breakdown

The Power of Starting Early

Investing $300/month starting at age 25 at 8% annual return gives you ~$1,006,000 by age 65.

Starting at 35 with the same $300/month: ~$440,000 — less than half, even though you only missed 10 years.

Those 10 years cost you $566,000 in future value, even though the missed contributions were only $36,000. That gap is the compounding effect in action.

Important Caveats

Investment returns are not guaranteed. Stock market returns vary year to year — 8% is a long-term historical average for diversified index funds, not a promise. Tax-advantaged accounts (401k, IRA, Roth IRA) shelter gains from annual taxation, which can significantly increase real returns compared to a taxable brokerage account.