Free calculator · for parents & savers

Know exactly how much to save each month for college.

A big tuition goal is manageable when you break it into monthly amounts — and let growth do part of the work. Enter your goal, savings, and timeline to see your number instantly.

Done-for-you template

College & Education Savings Planner

The monthly amount to hit a tuition goal, growth included.

  • Monthly contribution needed, accounting for investment growth
  • Factors in what you've already saved
  • Test different returns, timelines, and goals
  • See how starting earlier lowers the monthly amount
  • Assumptions-driven · Excel & Google Sheets · delivered instantly
$19one-time · instant download
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Questions

How much do I need to save for college?

It depends on the type of school, how many years away it is, and how much of the cost you intend to cover — many families aim to fund a portion rather than the whole amount. Start from a realistic target for your situation, subtract what you've saved, and let the calculator work out the monthly contribution, including expected growth. The earlier you start, the more growth helps and the smaller the monthly amount.

Does investment growth really make a difference?

Yes, a large one over a long timeline. Money invested for a decade or more can grow substantially, so a meaningful share of your goal can come from growth rather than contributions — which lowers the monthly amount you need to set aside. That's also why starting earlier matters so much: more years means more compounding. This calculator includes an expected return so your plan reflects that.

What is in the paid planner?

A ready-to-use spreadsheet (Excel & Google Sheets): the monthly contribution to reach a tuition goal with growth included, plus scenarios for different returns and timelines — delivered instantly after checkout. AI-assisted, human-built; not financial advice.

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