What Is the College Cost Calculator?
The College Cost Calculator is a free online tool that instantly calculates projected total cost. Enter your child's current age, college start age, current annual tuition, tuition inflation rate, current savings, monthly contribution, expected investment return and get accurate results in seconds using professional-grade formulas.
Who Should Use This Calculator?
This calculator is best for anyone who needs to quickly determine projected total cost. Whether you're comparing options, planning ahead, or verifying numbers, this tool gives you reliable results without manual math or spreadsheets.
How to Use the College Cost Calculator
- Enter your child's current age
- Enter your college start age
- Enter your current annual tuition — current-year tuition + room and board at target school
- Enter your tuition inflation rate — historical average: 4-6% per year
- Enter your current savings
- Enter your monthly contribution
- Enter your expected investment return
- Click "Calculate" to see your results
- Review your results: projected total cost, savings at enrollment, funding gap, monthly needed to close gap
Understanding Your Results
The calculator displays Projected Total Cost as primary results, with additional details including savings at enrollment, funding gap, monthly needed to close gap. All calculations use standard formulas trusted by professionals in the field.