WiseCalc

College Savings (529) Calculator

Compare entered college savings assumptions with four nominal annual tuition bills. This scenario does not determine 529 tax treatment or eligibility.

Assumes a constant nominal annual rate, monthly compounding and deposits at month end. Fractional months use a continuous extension of the same annuity formula. Excludes taxes and fees; actual returns can differ.

All amounts are in US dollars (USD). Savings grow only to enrollment, then are compared with a fixed pool against four nominal tuition bills at college-year beginnings W, W+1, W+2 and W+3. No enrollment-year earnings, later deposits, discounting, living expenses, aid, taxes or fees are modeled. Inflation and nominal annual investment rate are entered assumptions, not historical forecasts or guaranteed returns. Fractional ages retain the mathematical annuity extension, not actual deposit dates; fractions shorter than a month can produce a signed modeled contribution-growth adjustment. Negative rates and losses are outside this scenario. This does not calculate 529 tax benefits, qualified expenses or plan eligibility. Result amounts round to the nearest cent, with halfway values rounding away from zero; totals use unrounded amounts. Very small amounts use scientific notation.

years
0 years25 years
years
0 years25 years
$
$0$100,000
$
$0$2,000
$
$0$100,000
%
0%10%
%
0%15%
Years Until College
13
Total Projected Savings
$100,776.87
Total Future Tuition (4 Years)
$203,184.59
Savings Shortfall
$102,407.72
Savings Surplus
$0.00
Savings and Modeled Deposits
$56,800.00
Modeled Investment Growth
$43,976.87
College year 1
$47,141.23
Modeled annual tuition
College year 2
$49,498.29
Modeled annual tuition
College year 3
$51,973.20
Modeled annual tuition
College year 4
$54,571.86
Modeled annual tuition

Projected Savings Growth

  • Modeled savings at each time point

College Savings (529) Calculator

All amounts are in US dollars (USD). Savings grow only to enrollment, then are compared with a fixed pool against four nominal tuition bills at college-year beginnings W, W+1, W+2 and W+3. No enrollment-year earnings, later deposits, discounting, living expenses, aid, taxes or fees are modeled. Inflation and nominal annual investment rate are entered assumptions, not historical forecasts or guaranteed returns. Fractional ages retain the mathematical annuity extension, not actual deposit dates; fractions shorter than a month can produce a signed modeled contribution-growth adjustment. Negative rates and losses are outside this scenario. This does not calculate 529 tax benefits, qualified expenses or plan eligibility. Result amounts round to the nearest cent, with halfway values rounding away from zero; totals use unrounded amounts. Very small amounts use scientific notation.

How to use this calculator

  1. Compare entered college savings assumptions with four nominal annual tuition bills. This scenario does not determine 529 tax treatment or eligibility.
  2. All amounts are in US dollars (USD). Savings grow only to enrollment, then are compared with a fixed pool against four nominal tuition bills at college-year beginnings W, W+1, W+2 and W+3. No enrollment-year earnings, later deposits, discounting, living expenses, aid, taxes or fees are modeled. Inflation and nominal annual investment rate are entered assumptions, not historical forecasts or guaranteed returns. Fractional ages retain the mathematical annuity extension, not actual deposit dates; fractions shorter than a month can produce a signed modeled contribution-growth adjustment. Negative rates and losses are outside this scenario. This does not calculate 529 tax benefits, qualified expenses or plan eligibility. Result amounts round to the nearest cent, with halfway values rounding away from zero; totals use unrounded amounts. Very small amounts use scientific notation.

Frequently Asked Questions