How to use the college cost calculator
- Choose the type of college, or pick "My own annual cost" and enter a yearly figure from a college's cost of attendance page.
- For the averages, choose which costs to include: tuition and fees only, tuition plus housing and food, or the full student budget.
- Enter the years until college starts and the years of study.
- Enter the college cost inflation rate, how fast prices rise each year.
- Enter your current college savings and the return you expect on them.
Average college costs, 2025-26
These are the averages the presets use, from the College Board's Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2025 (Table CP-1 and Figure CP-1). They are published "sticker" prices for one academic year for full-time undergraduates, before grants and scholarships.
| College type | Tuition and fees | Plus housing and food | Full student budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public 4-year, in-state | $11,950 | $25,850 | $30,990 |
| Public 4-year, out-of-state | $31,880 | $45,780 | $50,920 |
| Private nonprofit 4-year | $45,000 | $60,920 | $65,470 |
| Public 2-year, in-district | $4,150 | $15,000 | $21,320 |
The full budget adds estimates for books and supplies, transportation and other expenses. The two-year figures are for commuter students. These are enrollment-weighted averages, so a given college can cost much more or less; the calculator treats them as today's cost.
How the projection works
C is today's annual cost, g the cost inflation rate, Y the years until college, S the years of study and r the return on savings. Each year's bill is paid at the start of that academic year. Money not yet spent keeps earning r, so the fund you need on the first day is less than the total of all the bills. The shortfall is that fund minus what your current savings grow to, and M is the end-of-month deposit that grows to the shortfall in Y years.
Worked example
The defaults are a public 4-year, in-state college with tuition, fees, housing and food ($25,850 a year), starting in 10 years for 4 years, with 4% cost inflation, $10,000 saved and a 6% return.
- Year 1 cost: $25,850 × 1.04^10 = $25,850 × 1.480244 = $38,264.31. Years 2 to 4 cost $39,794.89, $41,386.68 and $43,042.15.
- Projected total: $162,488.04 (the yearly figures are rounded).
- Fund needed when college starts: $38,264.31 + $39,794.89 ÷ 1.06 + $41,386.68 ÷ 1.06² + $43,042.15 ÷ 1.06³ = $148,779.68.
- Your $10,000 grows to $10,000 × 1.06^10 = $17,908.48, leaving a shortfall of $130,871.20.
- Monthly rate: 1.06^(1/12) − 1 = 0.48676%, so M = $130,871.20 × 0.0048676 ÷ (1.06^10 − 1) = $805.49 a month.
For a private nonprofit college with housing and food, the same plan projects $382,931.18.
What the sticker price leaves out
Most families pay less than the published price because grants and scholarships lower the net price. The same College Board report estimates that in 2025-26, first-time full-time in-state students at public four-year colleges pay about $16,200 for tuition, fees, housing and food after grant aid, against the $25,850 sticker price. At private nonprofit colleges the estimate is about $32,830 against $60,920. For a personal estimate, use each college's net price calculator and enter that yearly figure as your own cost. In the other direction, a fifth year adds a full year's cost; test it by changing the years of study to 5.
Frequently asked questions
What college inflation rate should I use?
Published tuition at public four-year colleges rose 2.9% from 2024-25 to 2025-26, and 4.0% at private nonprofit colleges, according to the College Board. The calculator's 4% default is a cautious planning figure. Try 3% and 5% to see a range.
Why is the fund needed less than the total cost?
You don't pay all four years on the first day. While your child is in year one, the money set aside for years two to four keeps earning a return, so you need less up front. If the money will sit in cash with no growth, set the return to 0% and the two figures become equal.
Should I count on saving for the whole shortfall?
Not necessarily. Many families cover college with a mix of savings, current income, financial aid and loans. The monthly figure shows what full coverage from savings would take; covering half the shortfall would need half of it. The student loan calculator shows what borrowing the rest would cost.
Related calculators
- Savings Goal Calculator — How much to save each month to reach a goal by a date, or how long your current savings will take.
- Investment Calculator — Project an investment's end value, or find the contribution, return, starting amount or time a target needs.
- Inflation Calculator — What money will cost in the future, and what today's savings will really be worth.
- Student Loan Calculator — Monthly student loan payment, total interest and payoff time, with extra payments or a debt-free goal.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial, tax or legal advice. See our disclaimer.