Project future college cost and the monthly savings needed.
Today's cost is inflated forward to the target year, present savings grow at the return rate, and the remaining shortfall is solved with an annuity payment. Education inflation outpaces general inflation, so compounding a realistic goal early shows the real monthly commitment.
College Savings Goal
Future cost = cost x (1 + inflation)^years; monthly via annuity formula
Future cost = cost x (1 + inflation)^years; monthly via annuity formula Today's cost is inflated forward to the target year, present savings grow at the return rate, and the remaining shortfall is solved with an annuity payment.
Education inflation outpaces general inflation, so compounding a realistic goal early shows the real monthly commitment.
This calculator takes 5 inputs: Cost today, Years until, Cost inflation, Annual return, Saved so far. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.