College Cost Calculator

Project total 4-year college costs with tuition inflation. See in-state, out-of-state, and private comparisons.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated September 2026 · Source: College Board — Trends in College Pricing 2025

Years of College
College Type
Room & Board

Today's Annual Cost

$26,150.00

Total (Today's Prices)

$104,600.00

Projected Total Cost

$170,762.01

in 13 years

529 Monthly Savings

$725.27

at 6% return

Year-by-Year Projected Cost

Year 1$19,897.63 tuition + $19,090.94 housing = $40,540.89
Year 2$20,693.53 tuition + $19,663.67 housing = $41,940.57
Year 3$21,521.27 tuition + $20,253.58 housing = $43,389.89
Year 4$22,382.13 tuition + $20,861.18 housing = $44,890.65

College Type Comparison (Total Projected Cost)

In-State Public$170,762.01
Out-of-State Public$311,680.56
Private$404,447.81

2026 Average Annual Costs

  • In-state public tuition: ~$11,950 | Out-of-state: ~$31,880 | Private: ~$45,000 (College Board, 2025-26)
  • Room & board: ~$13,000 on-campus | ~$12,000 off-campus
  • Tuition inflation: ~4% per year historically
  • 529 plans offer tax-free growth for qualified education expenses

Use the College Cost Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

Sticker prices on a four-year degree climb year after year, and projecting the full bill ahead of time is the only way to plan for it honestly. With published tuition and fees at public four-year institutions averaging $11,950 for in-state and $31,880 for out-of-state students in 2025-26, and $45,000 at private nonprofit colleges (College Board), the gap between today's cost and the cost at enrollment can be substantial.

The projection starts from today's average tuition and fees for the school type you pick, plus room and board for your housing choice and about $1,200 a year for books and supplies. Each piece is then inflated from now until the year your child enrolls: tuition at 4% a year, room and board at 3% and books at 2%. The 529 figure is the monthly deposit that grows to the projected total at a 6% annual return by the start of college.

Real outlays will land above or below this number depending on scholarships, financial aid, and how a given student actually spends. The trap worth avoiding is treating today's price as fixed: even modest annual increases compound into a meaningful shortfall by senior year, which is exactly where families tend to come up short.

Example: a 5-Year-Old Headed to an In-State Public University

  1. 1 Input: child age 5 (13 years until college), In-State Public, On Campus, 4 years. Today's annual cost is $11,950 tuition + $13,000 room and board + $1,200 books = $26,150, or $104,600 for four years at today's prices.
  2. 2 Calculate: freshman-year tuition is $11,950 × 1.04^13 = $19,898, room and board $13,000 × 1.03^13 = $19,091 and books $1,200 × 1.02^13 = $1,552, for $40,541. Years 2 to 4 inflate one more year each: $41,941, $43,390 and $44,891.
  3. 3 Result: the projected four-year cost is about $170,762. Reaching it by the first tuition bill takes roughly $725 a month in a 529 plan earning 6% a year.
  4. 4 Context: the same projection comes to about $311,681 for an out-of-state public university and $404,448 for a private one, so the choice of school type moves the bill far more than the inflation assumption does.

Source: College Board — Trends in College Pricing 2025 · Last updated: September 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does college cost in 2026?
Average published tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $11,950 at in-state public four-year colleges, $31,880 for out-of-state students and $45,000 at private nonprofit colleges (College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2025). Room and board adds roughly $12,000-$16,000 per year.
How much will college cost in 10 years?
With tuition inflation averaging 3-5% annually, a school costing $25,000/year today will cost roughly $33,000-$41,000 per year in 10 years. A 4-year degree starting in 2036 could total $135,000-$170,000 at a public university.
How much should I save for college per month?
For a newborn targeting a 4-year public university, saving $300-$500/month in a 529 plan with average investment returns should cover most or all of the projected cost. Starting later requires higher monthly contributions.

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