College Savings (529) Calculator
A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged account for education savings, and its power comes from compounding: contributions grow tax-deferred and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. This calculator projects what a 529 balance could grow to by combining two pieces of the time value of money. First it grows your current balance forward at the expected annual return. Then it adds the future value of a stream of equal yearly contributions, treated as an ordinary annuity, so each year's deposit compounds for the years that remain. The sum is the projected balance when the beneficiary starts college. Enter your current savings, the amount you plan to add each year, a realistic long-run rate of return, and the number of years until enrollment, and the tool returns the projected balance that you can weigh against the expected future cost of college. Investment returns are never guaranteed and 529 plans hold market investments that can fall as well as rise, so treat the figure as a planning projection rather than a promise, and revisit it as markets and your contributions change. Every number here is computed deterministically from the future-value formulas shown below, with a worked example that reconciles exactly to the calculator defaults.
A 529 projection grows the balance and adds an annuity of contributions: FV = PV(1+r)^n + PMT x ((1+r)^n - 1) / r. With 10,000 saved, 3,000 added yearly at 6% for 10 years, the projected balance is $57,450.86.
529 future value formula
FV = PV x (1 + r)^n + PMT x ((1 + r)^n - 1) / r
PV = current balance
PMT = yearly contribution
r = expected return per year (as a decimal)
n = number of years
The first term compounds today's balance forward. The second term is the future value of an ordinary annuity: each yearly contribution compounds for the years remaining after it is deposited.
Worked example
Suppose the plan holds 10,000 dollars today, you add 3,000 dollars a year, the expected return is 6 percent, and college is 10 years away.
- Growth factor: 1.06^10 = 1.790848
- Current balance grown: 10,000 x 1.790848 = 17,908.48
- Annuity factor: (1.790848 - 1) / 0.06 = 13.180795
- Future value of contributions: 3,000 x 13.180795 = 39,542.38
- Projected balance: 17,908.48 + 39,542.38 = 57,450.86
The projected 529 balance after 10 years is 57,450.86 dollars. These are the calculator's default inputs, so the result matches the widget exactly.
College Savings (529) Calculator: frequently asked questions
What is a 529 plan?
A 529 plan is a state-sponsored, tax-advantaged investment account for education expenses. Earnings grow tax-deferred, and withdrawals used for qualified education costs are free of federal income tax. Many states also offer a deduction or credit for contributions. Rules vary by state and plan, so check your specific plan's terms.
What return should I assume?
There is no guaranteed return; 529 plans invest in market portfolios that rise and fall. Many savers use a conservative long-run assumption and reduce it as the beneficiary nears college, often through an age-based portfolio that shifts toward bonds over time. This tool leaves the return fully editable so you can test different assumptions.
Are contributions and growth guaranteed?
No. The projection assumes a steady annual return for simplicity, but actual investment results will vary year to year and could be lower or negative. Treat the projected balance as a planning estimate, and review it regularly against your plan statements.
What if I save more or for longer?
Both higher contributions and a longer time horizon increase the projected balance, but the time horizon usually matters most because of compounding: money invested earlier has more years to grow. Try raising the years input to see how starting early changes the outcome.
What happens to unused funds?
Funds not used for the original beneficiary can often be transferred to another eligible family member, and federal rules allow limited rollovers from a long-held 529 to a Roth IRA under certain conditions. Non-qualified withdrawals of earnings may face income tax and a penalty. Confirm current rules with your plan and a tax adviser.
Official sources
- Family financial planning and benefits guidance: US Social Security Administration (SSA). As at 25 June 2026.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 25 June 2026. See our methodology. This is general information, not financial, tax, legal or investment advice.