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Free college savings goal calculator for finance & housing planning— estimate how much to save each month to reach a target balance by enrollment, given current savings and a return assumption. Educational only.
Last updated: April 18, 2026
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Target balance when bills start (illustrative).
Nominal return assumption; not a guarantee—529 investments vary.
Monthly contribution needed
$286
FV of current savings
$36,811
Gap after growth
$83,189
Rough growth vs contributions
Out-of-pocket (PV + monthly×months) ~$66,489 · Estimated investment growth ~$53,511
We grow current savings to ~$36,811 then fill the gap with level monthly contributions through enrollment.
Goal
Lump sum at college
Enter what you want available when bills begin—adjust for tuition inflation separately.
Compounding
Monthly periods
Longer horizons increase the power of compounding on both lump sum and contributions.
Sensitivity
Stress-test
Try lower and higher returns to see how much the monthly number moves.
Math
Level monthly
We solve for steady monthly savings after projecting current assets forward.
If FV ≥ goal
$0 / mo needed
When projected growth on current savings meets the goal, we show zero additional contribution.
Disclaimer
Illustrative
Markets, fees, and account rules are not modeled in full detail.
Default: $120,000 goal, 15 years, $15,000 saved today, 6% annual return (illustrative):
Monthly contribution needed (approx.)
~$286
We convert your annual return into a monthly rate and project the future value of today’s savings. If that projection is below your college savings goal, we calculate the fixed monthly contribution required so that the combined future value of your starting balance and monthly deposits reaches the goal at the end of your time horizon.
FV(current savings) = PV × (1 + monthly rate)^monthsGap = Goal − FV(current savings)Monthly payment solves FV(contributions) = Gap (ordinary annuity)If the gap is zero or negative, we treat the plan as on track at the assumed return.
Pair this with our 529 plan calculator for account-specific projections.
Building cash reserves first? See our emergency fund goal calculator.
Get a Custom CalculatorRevisit the goal annually as college cost estimates and your account balances change.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Share it with families planning education funding
Suggested hashtags: #CollegeSavings #529 #Education #FamilyFinance #Calculator