529 College Savings Projector - Locally Optimal Tools

Calculate if your college savings are on track. Enter your current savings and contributions to see projected balance at college age.

Results

Projected 529 Balance at Age

Comparison to College Costs (4 years total)

UC System^[1]
Examples: UC Berkeley, UCLA

4 years today: $140,000

Out-of-State Public^[2]
Examples: Univ. of Michigan, Univ. of Virginia

4 years today: $200,000

Private California^[3]
Examples: Stanford, USC

4 years today: $340,000

Notes & Citations

College Cost Inflation (5% default): Historically, college costs have increased at approximately 5-6% annually, roughly double the general inflation rate. From 2000-2020, average college costs increased 169% while general inflation was only 53%.^[4] This trend has moderated slightly in recent years but remains significantly above general inflation.

^[1] UC System: Estimated $35-38k/year for California residents (tuition, fees, room, board, books). Sources: UC Berkeley Financial Aid, UCLA Financial Aid.

^[2] Out-of-State Public: Estimated $48-65k/year for out-of-state students. Sources: University of Michigan (US News), University of Virginia (US News).

^[3] Private California: Estimated $85-100k/year (2025-26: Stanford $97k, USC $99k). Sources: Stanford Financial Aid, USC costs (CBS News).

^[4] College Cost Inflation Data: College Board, "Trends in College Pricing" (annual reports); Georgetown CEW, "The College Payoff" (2021); NCES Digest of Education Statistics.

Note: All costs are estimates for planning purposes. Actual costs vary by institution, residency status, and individual circumstances. These figures represent total cost of attendance including tuition, fees, room, board, books, and personal expenses. Financial aid and scholarships can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs.