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Education planning
College Savings Analyzer
Will your 529 cover 4 years of tuition? See your projected coverage, gap, and the monthly bump needed to close it.
How this works
The analyzer compounds your current balance and monthly contributions at your investment return rate, then projects 4 years of college costs inflated at the education-inflation rate. The two figures are compared to show coverage and any gap.
Realistic numbers (2026)
- Public 4-year (in-state, all-in): ~$28,000/year
- Public 4-year (out-of-state): ~$45,000/year
- Private 4-year: ~$60,000/year
- Education inflation: averages 4–6% annually, often above general inflation
Why a 529 plan is usually the right vehicle
529 plans grow tax-free, allow tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses, and many states give a deduction for contributions. SECURE Act 2.0 also allows up to $35,000 of unused 529 funds to be rolled into a Roth IRA for the beneficiary, reducing the over-saving risk.