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
π‘ 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 β 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 β most plans compound daily. The difference vs annual is small but real.
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