How much should I save each month for college?

Divide your savings target by the months until college starts. $30,000 over five years is $500 a month. Enter your own numbers above for the weekly and per-paycheck versions.

Should I use a 529 plan?

A 529 offers tax-free growth for education costs and is worth considering for timelines of several years or more. This tool gives you the contribution amount; the 529 is where you'd put it.

Do I need to save the full cost of college?

No. Most families cover college from a mix of savings, income during the college years, financial aid, and scholarships. Save toward the share you want to have in hand.

College savings calculator

Enter the amount you want saved and the date the first tuition bill is due. It shows the steady monthly, weekly, or per-paycheck amount to get there.

College savings target

Saved so far

Target date

How often you're paid

Enter an amount and a future date to see how much to save.

Rough example: $30,000 over about 60 months is around $500/month, $115/week, or $500 per paycheck. Enter your own amount and date above for your number.

Setting a target you can actually save

Full sticker-price tuition is out of reach for most families to save in cash, and that's fine — pick a share you want to cover from savings (say the first year, or half of a state-school total) and let grants, scholarships, current income, and student contributions handle the rest. The number you choose is the goal here.

Simple division vs. a 529 plan

This calculator uses plain division with no investment growth, which suits shorter timelines and keeps the number honest. If college is many years away, a tax-advantaged 529 account can add meaningful growth — use the amount here as your contribution target and expect to arrive early if the market cooperates.

Common questions

How much should I save each month for college?: Divide your savings target by the months until college starts. $30,000 over five years is $500 a month. Enter your own numbers above for the weekly and per-paycheck versions.
Should I use a 529 plan?: A 529 offers tax-free growth for education costs and is worth considering for timelines of several years or more. This tool gives you the contribution amount; the 529 is where you'd put it.
Do I need to save the full cost of college?: No. Most families cover college from a mix of savings, income during the college years, financial aid, and scholarships. Save toward the share you want to have in hand.

Saving for more than one thing?

The full planner keeps every goal in one place, tracks progress with a visual tracker, and lets you shift a target date and see the new amount instantly. Still free, still private, still stored only on your device.

Open the full planner