529 College Savings Calculator
Project the future value of a 529 college savings plan from current savings, monthly contributions, return, and years to college.
Independently verified for accuracy
Calculator by Toolsloft ↗- Projected balance
- 130889.79
- Total contributed
- 69800
- Investment growth
- 61089.79
This calculator projects how much a 529 college savings plan could grow by the time your child starts school. Enter your current balance, monthly contribution, expected return, and the number of years until college to see the projected balance, what you put in, and the investment growth. Use it to set a savings amount that fits a tuition goal.
How this is calculated
The projected balance is the future value of your current savings plus a monthly contribution, compounded monthly at the expected annual return. Growth is the projected balance minus everything you contributed, which isolates the tax-advantaged investment gains.
How to use
- Enter your current 529 balance and monthly contribution.
- Enter the expected annual return and the years until college.
- Read the projected balance, total contributed, and growth.
Examples
- $5,000 saved, $300/mo, 6%, 18 years:
projected $130,889.79 - $0 saved, $500/mo, 5%, 10 years:
projected $77,641.14
FAQ
- What return should I assume?
- Age-based 529 portfolios shift from stocks to bonds as college nears, so the return falls over time. A long horizon might assume 5 to 7 percent, but use a figure you are comfortable with and revisit it yearly.
- Are 529 earnings taxed?
- Growth in a 529 plan is not taxed while it stays invested, and withdrawals are tax-free when used for qualified education expenses. This tool shows the gross balance and does not model any non-qualified withdrawal penalties.
- How much should I save?
- Work backward from a tuition goal. Try different monthly contributions here until the projected balance reaches your target, remembering that tuition itself tends to rise faster than general inflation.