Free tool
College savings calculator
How much should you save each month to reach a college savings goal by your child's 18th birthday? Enter a goal, what you've saved and an assumed yearly return. It's an illustration, not a promise: real returns go up and down. Nothing is stored.
Save about
$165 a month
- Years until 18
- 13
- You'd put in
- $25,755
- Already saved
- $2,000
- Assumed growth
- $12,245
Assumes monthly deposits and a steady return, which real investments don't have. Fees, taxes and timing change the result. See 529 plans, explained.
Before you start saving for college
- Build an emergency fund first, so a car repair doesn't come out of the college fund.
- Check whether your state gives a tax break for contributions to its own 529 plan.
- Ask grandparents and relatives whether they'd like to contribute instead of buying another toy.
- Start small. A little every month from an early age often beats a big amount later.