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How Much Should You Have in a 529 Plan? Savings Targets by Age for 2026

Benchmark 529 savings targets by age for in-state public, out-of-state public, private, and Ivy League institutions. Monthly contribution tables show what you need to start saving today.

Updated April 2026. Targets based on 2026 tuition data with 5.5% annual growth projection at 7% investment return.

The One-Third Rule

A common financial planning guideline: aim to save one-third of projected college costs in a 529 plan. The remaining two-thirds comes from income during college years, merit scholarships, need-based aid, and student work. This makes the targets below achievable rather than overwhelming. Even partially funding a 529 plan provides meaningful tax benefits and reduces future loan burden.

529 Savings Milestones by Age

These target balances represent one-third of projected 4-year college costs at the time of enrollment, assuming 5.5% annual tuition growth from 2026 base rates.

Child's AgeIn-State PublicOut-of-StatePrivateIvy League
Age 0$0$0$0$0
Age 1$4,000$8,000$12,000$16,000
Age 2$8,000$16,000$24,000$32,000
Age 3$12,000$24,000$36,000$48,000
Age 4$16,000$32,000$48,000$64,000
Age 5$20,000$40,000$60,000$80,000
Age 6$25,000$50,000$75,000$100,000
Age 7$30,000$60,000$90,000$120,000
Age 8$36,000$72,000$108,000$144,000
Age 9$42,000$84,000$126,000$168,000
Age 10$49,000$98,000$147,000$196,000
Age 11$57,000$114,000$171,000$228,000
Age 12$66,000$132,000$198,000$264,000
Age 13$76,000$152,000$228,000$304,000
Age 14$87,000$174,000$261,000$348,000
Age 15$100,000$200,000$300,000$400,000
Age 16$140,000$280,000$420,000$560,000
Age 17$190,000$380,000$570,000$760,000

Monthly Contribution Required to Hit Targets

Monthly contributions needed (starting with $0 balance) to reach one-third of projected 4-year costs at enrollment, assuming 7% annual return.

Start AgeIn-State PublicOut-of-StatePrivateIvy League
Birth (Age 0)$340$660$920$1,220
Age 1$380$740$1,030$1,370
Age 2$425$830$1,160$1,540
Age 3$480$940$1,310$1,740
Age 4$555$1,080$1,500$2,000
Age 5$640$1,250$1,740$2,310
Age 6$760$1,480$2,060$2,730
Age 7$920$1,790$2,490$3,300
Age 8$1,130$2,200$3,070$4,070
Age 9$1,450$2,830$3,940$5,230
Age 10$1,950$3,800$5,290$7,020
Age 11$2,820$5,500$7,660$10,160
Age 12$4,500$8,780$12,230$16,230
Age 13$8,300$16,200$22,600$29,970
Age 14$19,100$37,300$51,900$68,900

Monthly contributions at age 14+ are extremely high because compounding time is minimal. Late starters should consider grandparent superfunding or higher initial lump sum contributions.

The Power of Starting Early

$200/month from Birth vs $400/month from Age 9

$200/month from birth (18 years)$87,000 at age 18
$400/month from age 9 (9 years)$70,000 at age 18
Total contributions: early starter$43,200
Total contributions: late starter$43,200
Early starter advantage+$17,000

Both scenarios contribute the same total amount ($43,200). The early starter wins by $17,000 solely due to more years of compounding. At 7% annual return.

Multiple Children Strategy

For families with multiple children, separate 529 accounts provide the clearest accounting and most flexibility. You can open one account per child and contribute according to each child's age and target institution. If one child receives a large scholarship, you can transfer the excess to a younger sibling without any tax penalty. Beneficiary transfers between family members (including siblings) are always permitted at no cost.

An alternative is to open one account for the eldest child and plan to change the beneficiary as each child uses it. This concentrates assets and may qualify for a higher state deduction in some states that limit deductions per account rather than per beneficiary. However, tracking contributions and withdrawals becomes more complex.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good amount to have saved in a 529 by age 10?+
A rough benchmark is the child's age multiplied by $3,000 for in-state public college targets, $6,000 for out-of-state, and $8,000 for private universities. At age 10, that suggests $30,000 for in-state, $60,000 for out-of-state, and $80,000 for private. These are estimates, not guarantees. A 10-year-old with $30,000 in a 529 at 7% return and $300/month in ongoing contributions would have approximately $115,000 at age 18. Whether that is enough depends on the institution and how costs have grown by then.
What if I started saving late for my teenager?+
Starting late does not mean giving up. A family beginning to save when their child is 14 still has four years to build a base. Contributing $500/month from age 14 grows to approximately $29,000 by age 18 at 7% return. That is not enough to cover a full four-year degree, but it meaningfully reduces the loan burden. Late starters should also consider the grandparent superfunding strategy: grandparents can superfund $95,000 (single) or $190,000 (married) into a 529 at any point. A 14-year-old's 529 with a $95,000 grandparent superfund, even with only four years of growth, reaches $125,000 at age 18 at 7% return.
How much does starting one year earlier save in monthly contributions?+
Starting one year earlier reduces the required monthly contribution meaningfully. For a family targeting $248,800 (four-year in-state public at 2044 projected costs) with no existing savings and 7% return: starting at birth requires $425/month. Starting at age 1 requires $470/month. Starting at age 5 requires $730/month. Starting at age 10 requires $1,600/month. Each year of delay increases the required monthly contribution by 8-15% because there are fewer months for compounding to work. The earlier you start, the more the market does the work for you.
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