Project College Savings (529 Plans)
Plan for college tuition by projecting how monthly contributions to a 529 plan grow over 18 years.
Final balance after 30 years
$650,568
$185,000
$465,568
Year-by-year breakdown
| Year | Total contributed | Interest earned | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $11,000 | $558 | $11,558 |
| 2 | $17,000 | $1,590 | $18,590 |
| 3 | $23,000 | $3,130 | $26,130 |
| 4 | $29,000 | $5,215 | $34,215 |
| 5 | $35,000 | $7,885 | $42,885 |
| 6 | $41,000 | $11,181 | $52,181 |
| 7 | $47,000 | $15,149 | $62,149 |
| 8 | $53,000 | $19,839 | $72,839 |
| 9 | $59,000 | $25,300 | $84,300 |
| 10 | $65,000 | $31,591 | $96,591 |
| 11 | $71,000 | $38,770 | $109,770 |
| 12 | $77,000 | $46,901 | $123,901 |
| 13 | $83,000 | $56,054 | $139,054 |
| 14 | $89,000 | $66,303 | $155,303 |
| 15 | $95,000 | $77,726 | $172,726 |
| 16 | $101,000 | $90,409 | $191,409 |
| 17 | $107,000 | $104,442 | $211,442 |
| 18 | $113,000 | $119,923 | $232,923 |
| 19 | $119,000 | $136,958 | $255,958 |
| 20 | $125,000 | $155,657 | $280,657 |
| 21 | $131,000 | $176,142 | $307,142 |
| 22 | $137,000 | $198,542 | $335,542 |
| 23 | $143,000 | $222,994 | $365,994 |
| 24 | $149,000 | $249,648 | $398,648 |
| 25 | $155,000 | $278,663 | $433,663 |
| 26 | $161,000 | $310,209 | $471,209 |
| 27 | $167,000 | $344,469 | $511,469 |
| 28 | $173,000 | $381,639 | $554,639 |
| 29 | $179,000 | $421,930 | $600,930 |
| 30 | $185,000 | $465,568 | $650,568 |
Quick presets
💡 The 7% rate is roughly the long-term US stock market average after inflation. Real returns vary year to year. This calculator assumes a fixed annual rate and constant contributions — useful for planning, not a guarantee.
College Savings tips
For a newborn: $250/month at 6% for 18 years = ~$97K. Covers in-state public college; helps significantly toward private.
Start as early as possible. Year 1 contributions have 18 years to grow; year 17 contributions have only 1.
Use the daily compounding option for 529 plans — most plans compound daily. The difference vs annual is small but real.
Cómo funciona
¿Por qué usar el nuestro?
Also check out…
Plan Your Retirement Savings
See how monthly contributions grow over decades —
Compare Investing vs Debt Payoff
Should you pay off the mortgage early or invest th
Hit a Savings Target by a Specific Date
Work backwards: how much do you need to save month
Build Up an Emergency Fund
Calculate how long it takes to save 3-6 months of