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529 Calculator

Project your 529 college savings balance against the future cost of college, find the monthly contribution that covers it, estimate your state tax saving and see how long a 529-to-Roth IRA rollover takes.

Updated November 4, 2026. Free, no sign-up; everything runs in your browser and nothing you type is stored.

529 calculator

529 balance now ($)Monthly contribution ($)Expected return (%/year)Years until college

College cost per year today ($)College cost inflation (%/year)Years of collegeYour state income tax rate (%)State deduction cap ($/year, 0 = none)

529 balance at college

–

–Projected cost of college

–Share covered

–Tax-free growth

–Monthly saving to cover 100%

–State tax saving (if your state gives a deduction)

529 to Roth IRA rollover

Leftover 529 to roll over ($)

–Time to roll over (max $35,000)

How a 529 plan works

A 529 plan (a 529 college savings plan, sometimes called a 529 fund or 529 program) is a state-sponsored investment account for education. Contributions aren't federally deductible, but growth is tax-free when spent on qualified education expenses: college tuition, fees, books, computers, and room and board for students enrolled at least half time. More than 30 states give a state income tax deduction or credit, usually only for their own plan.

Example: $5,000 now plus $250 a month at 6% for 12 years grows to about $62,000. Four years of a college that costs $30,000 today, rising 4% a year, would cost about $204,000 starting in 12 years, so the plan covers about 30%; covering it all would take about $930 a month.

2026 529 rules

K-12: up to $20,000 a year per student for K-12 tuition and, since 2025, curriculum, tutoring, testing fees and educational therapies (doubled from $10,000 for 2026).
Credentials: costs of recognized postsecondary credential and license programs now qualify.
Student loans: up to $10,000 lifetime per person.
Gifts: up to $19,000 per donor per beneficiary in 2026 without using lifetime exemption, or $95,000 at once with 5-year averaging ("superfunding").
529 to Roth IRA: up to $35,000 lifetime to the beneficiary's Roth IRA if the 529 has been open 15+ years; money contributed in the last 5 years doesn't qualify, and each year's rollover counts against the Roth limit ($7,500 in 2026).

Non-qualified withdrawals pay income tax plus a 10% penalty on the earnings only (no penalty if the student gets a scholarship, up to the scholarship amount). Parent-owned 529s count as a parent asset on the FAFSA, assessed at up to 5.64%.

Also searched as: 529 plan, 529's and 529s plan.

Common questions

How much should I put in a 529 a month?

Enough to reach your target: covering a $30,000-a-year college in 12 years from $5,000 takes about $930 a month at 6%; most families aim for a share.

What can a 529 be used for?

College costs, up to $20,000 a year of K-12 costs from 2026, credential programs, apprenticeships and up to $10,000 of student loans.

Can I roll a 529 into a Roth IRA?

Yes, up to $35,000 lifetime if the account is 15+ years old, within the annual Roth limit.

Are 529 contributions tax deductible?

Not federally; many states give a deduction for contributions to their own plan.

What happens to unused 529 money?

Change the beneficiary, roll some into a Roth IRA, or withdraw it and pay tax plus 10% on the earnings.

Sources

General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Check important numbers with the official source before acting on them.