How to use the 529 calculator
- Enter your child's age, the age they'll start college, what you've saved so far and what you add each month.
- Pick a type of college, or enter your own yearly cost. Costs include tuition, fees, housing and food.
- Set your expected return, how fast college costs grow, the number of years of college, and the share you want to cover.
What college costs (2025-26 averages)
| Type of college | Tuition & fees | With housing & food |
|---|---|---|
| Community college (living at home) | $4,150 | — |
| Public 4-year, in-state | $11,950 | $25,850 |
| Public 4-year, out-of-state | $31,880 | $45,780 |
| Private nonprofit 4-year | $45,000 | $60,920 |
Source: College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2025. These are published prices; after grants, the average student pays much less, especially at private colleges.
How much $100, $250 or $500 a month grows from birth
At a 6% return, saving from birth to 18:
| Monthly | You put in | 529 at 18 |
|---|---|---|
| $100 | $21,600 | $38,700 |
| $250 | $54,000 | $96,800 |
| $500 | $108,000 | $193,700 |
Starting early matters most: almost half of the $250-a-month balance is tax-free growth. Starting at age 10 instead, the same $250 grows to only about $30,700.
How a 529 plan works
A 529 is a state-sponsored investment account for education. You invest after-tax money; the growth is federally tax-free when you spend it on qualified education costs. Most plans offer age-based portfolios that move from stocks to bonds as college gets closer, so the return is higher early and lower later. Use a lower return in the calculator if the child is already a teenager.
529 rules worth knowing in 2026
- K–12: up to $20,000 a year per student for private school tuition and related costs (it was $10,000 until 2025). Some states haven't adopted the higher limit.
- Roth rollover: up to $35,000 over a lifetime can move to the beneficiary's Roth IRA if the 529 is at least 15 years old.
- Gifts: grandparents and family can contribute; up to $19,000 per person per year with no gift tax paperwork.
- Financial aid: a parent-owned 529 counts as a parent asset, which reduces aid much less than money in the student's name.
Balance college saving with your own goals
Don't pause retirement saving to fund college: students can borrow for college, but nobody lends for retirement. A common order is emergency fund, employer 401(k) match, then 529. The savings goal calculator plans any target, the compound interest calculator shows long-term growth, and if loans are still part of the plan, the student loan payoff calculator and our guide to paying off student loans faster help afterwards.
Track the college fund with your other goals
Nest is a savings tracker for goals with target dates, from a college fund to a holiday; every deposit shows your progress. Summit tracks net worth across every account. Both have a free demo with sample data.
An estimate, not investment advice; returns aren't guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I save in a 529 per month?
How much does college cost in 2026?
What can a 529 plan pay for?
What if my child doesn't go to college?
How much can I put in a 529?
Do I get a tax deduction for 529 contributions?
Written by
Finance Specialist & Editor, VaultlyApps
Emma Whitfield writes and edits the VaultlyApps money guides and free calculators. Her focus is US household finance — budgeting on a real paycheck, paying down credit card and student debt, emergency funds and savings goals, renting — and the money side of freelancing and small-business income, from pricing and profit margins to self-employment tax. Every guide is researched against primary sources such as IRS publications and the CFPB, every number is checked in our tested calculators, and tax content is reviewed each year when new IRS figures come out. Emma is not a licensed financial adviser or tax preparer; her work is general education, not personal advice.
Researched against primary US sources, checked against independent calculators and reviewed by a finance expert on our team. Written for US readers — general education, not financial, tax or legal advice. Editorial policy · Disclaimer
