Updated November 2026
529 Plan Calculator: How Much You Need to Save Based on Your Child's Age, Your State, and Tomorrow's Tuition
In-state public college cost $25,850 a year in 2025-26 in tuition, fees, housing and food (College Board published price). If that rises 4% a year, a child born this year would face about $54,500 a year in fall 2044, roughly $231,300 for four years. This calculator projects that cost for your child's age and target school, models tax-free 529 growth, adds your state's tax break, and shows how much to save each month.
529 College Savings Projector
Adjust the sliders to model your savings scenario. Costs start from College Board 2025-26 published prices (tuition, fees, housing and food) and rise 4% a year, our planning assumption. See the methodology.
Years to College
16
Projected Annual Cost
$50,353
per year at enrollment
Total 4-Year Cost
$213,823
Projected 529 Balance
$120,955
Shortfall
$92,868
below target
Needed Monthly
$564
to fully fund goal
Investment Growth Breakdown
529 vs Taxable Account Comparison
State Tax Benefit: New York
$5k single / $10k joint deduction
All states comparedHow much should you save EACH MONTH to fund college?
Set your child's age, the school you're aiming for, and your state. We'll solve the inverse problem and tell you the monthly contribution.
Should you actually use your home state's 529 plan?
A state tax deduction is only worth taking if it beats the fee drag of staying in a pricier in-state plan. Enter your numbers and we'll weigh your deduction against the cheapest national plan (about 0.10% all-in).
Not sure of your plan's expense ratio? Direct-sold age-based portfolios typically run 0.10%-0.40%. Check your plan's fee disclosure.
2026 Key 529 Numbers at a Glance
All figures reflect current IRS limits, SECURE 2.0 provisions, and OBBBA changes (expanded expenses effective July 4, 2025; the $20,000 K-12 cap effective January 1, 2026).
Annual Gift Exclusion
$19,000
per person (single)
Superfunding Limit
$95,000
single / $190,000 married
529-to-Roth Rollover
$35,000
lifetime limit (SECURE 2.0)
K-12 Annual Limit
$20,000
raised from $10,000 (OBBBA)
College Cost Benchmarks and Future Projections
Published prices are the starting point: tuition, fees, housing and food at the average college in each group in 2025-26. From 2024-25 to 2025-26 those prices rose 3.7% at public four-year colleges and 4.1% at private nonprofits. Over 2015-16 to 2025-26, in-state public tuition and fees fell 7% after inflation. The projections below grow every price 4% a year, our planning assumption, so you can redo them.
| Institution Type | Annual 2025-26 | Projected 2040-41 | Projected 2044-45 | 4-Year Total (from fall 2044) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-state public | $25,900 | $46,600 | $54,500 | $231,300 |
| Out-of-state public | $45,800 | $82,400 | $96,500 | $409,600 |
| Private nonprofit | $60,900 | $109,700 | $128,300 | $545,000 |
| Private research (doctoral) university | $72,400 | $130,400 | $152,600 | $647,900 |
Source: College Board, Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2025, Table CP-1 (2025-26 published tuition, fees, housing and food); the private research row is the private nonprofit doctoral average. Projections grow each price 4% a year (our assumption, not a College Board forecast); the four-year total adds four consecutive years. Sticker prices, before grants.
How Much Should a 529 Hold by Age?
These are on-track balances for fully funding college, working back from the projected four-year cost at enrollment. Each figure is the balance a family would have accumulated on a steady, full-funding plan started at birth, growing at a 7% average annual return. To fully fund an in-state public degree that way takes about $537 per month from birth.
| Child's Age | In-State Public | Out-of-State | Private | Private Research |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth (Age 0) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Age 2 | $14,000 | $24,500 | $32,500 | $38,500 |
| Age 4 | $29,500 | $52,500 | $70,000 | $83,000 |
| Age 6 | $48,000 | $85,000 | $113,000 | $134,000 |
| Age 8 | $69,000 | $122,000 | $162,000 | $193,000 |
| Age 10 | $93,000 | $164,500 | $219,000 | $260,500 |
| Age 12 | $120,500 | $213,500 | $284,500 | $338,000 |
| Age 14 | $152,500 | $270,000 | $359,500 | $427,500 |
| Age 16 | $189,000 | $335,000 | $446,000 | $530,000 |
| Age 18 | $231,500 | $409,500 | $545,000 | $648,000 |
Full-funding benchmarks, not a requirement. Many families target one-third to one-half of costs and cover the rest from income, financial aid, and scholarships. Balances assume a 7% average return and the four-year cost projections in the table above. Use the projector to model your child's exact age, balance, and state, or see the per-age monthly contribution targets.
State Tax Benefits: The Hidden Multiplier
Contributing $10,000 per year to a 529 in South Carolina (fully deductible) saves a family in the 7% state tax bracket $700 per year. Over 18 years, that is $12,600 in tax savings alone, before accounting for investment growth. California residents get $0 in state deduction despite having some of the highest income tax rates in the country.
Top States for 529 Tax Benefits
20% tax credit up to $1,500/yr
Full contribution deductible, no cap
Full contribution deductible, no cap
Up to $26,200 single / $39,200 joint per beneficiary
Up to $20,000/yr joint deduction
States With No 529 Deduction
These states offer no state income tax deduction or credit for 529 contributions:
If you live in a no-deduction state, consider Utah my529, Nevada Vanguard 529, or New York 529 for their low expense ratios. Federal tax-free growth still applies regardless of state.
529 vs Other College Savings Options
A quick comparison of the major college savings vehicles and their key tradeoffs.
| Account Type | Tax on Growth | State Deduction | FAFSA Impact | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 529 Plan | Tax-free | 30+ states | 5.64% (parent) | Education-focused |
| Roth IRA | Tax-free | None | Excluded* | High (retirement/edu) |
| UTMA/UGMA | Kiddie tax | None | 20% (student) | Full |
| Brokerage | Capital gains 15-23.8% | None | 5.64% (parent) | Full |
| HYSA | Interest taxed | None | 5.64% (parent) | Full |
*Roth IRA assets are excluded from FAFSA if the parent is the owner. Qualified distributions for education may count as income if taken from retirement account.
What If My Child Does Not Go to College?
The fear of locking up money is the most common reason parents delay opening a 529. The options below show why that fear is largely outdated.
Transfer to Another Family Member
Change the beneficiary to a sibling, cousin, niece, nephew, or even yourself. No taxes, no penalties. If your first child gets a full scholarship, transfer the account to your second child.
Roll to a Roth IRA (SECURE 2.0)
Up to $35,000 lifetime can roll from a 529 into a Roth IRA for the beneficiary. The 529 must be open 15+ years. Annual limit matches the Roth contribution cap ($7,500 in 2026).
K-12 Private School Tuition
The OBBBA 2026 raised the annual K-12 limit to $20,000. Expanded expenses now include tutoring, test fees (AP, SAT), dual enrollment, and therapies for students with disabilities.
Trade Schools and Apprenticeships
Any accredited institution with a federal school code qualifies. OBBBA 2026 added postsecondary credentialing programs: welding, aviation mechanics, electrician training, CDL programs, and more.
Contribution Limits and Superfunding
529 plans have no IRS annual contribution limit, but large contributions interact with federal gift tax rules. The superfunding strategy lets you front-load five years of contributions at once for maximum early compounding.
2026 Gift Tax Rules
State Maximum Balances (Selected)
Complete 529 Plan Guides
State Tax Deduction Calculator
Live per-state 529 savings
Roth Rollover Calculator
SECURE 2.0 $35K schedule
Plans by State
Compare all 50 state plans
Contribution Limits 2026
$19K exclusion, $95K superfunding
Tax Deductions by State
How much you save in your state
Roth IRA Rollover Rules
SECURE 2.0 $35,000 explainer
K-12 Tuition Rules
$20,000 cap, expanded expenses
Trade Schools
Vocational and credentialing programs
Financial Aid Impact
FAFSA rules and grandparent loophole
Superfunding Strategy
$95K lump sum guide
Best 529 Plans 2026
Independent rankings by fees
How Much to Save
Savings targets by child's age
Qualified Expenses
Complete 2026 expense list
529 vs Roth IRA
Side-by-side comparison