{
    "name": "College Cost Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/college-cost-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/college-cost-calculator.md",
    "category": "Finance",
    "description": "Project the future cost of college from today’s yearly cost and a cost-increase rate, and the monthly saving needed to cover your share by the start date.",
    "summary": "College costs rise over time, so a degree that starts in ten years will cost more than today’s price. Project each year’s cost, then work out the monthly saving that meets it.",
    "also_called": [
        "College savings calculator",
        "University cost calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "cost",
            "label": "Yearly cost today",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "25000"
        },
        {
            "name": "inflation",
            "label": "Yearly cost increase",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "4",
            "unit": "%"
        },
        {
            "name": "years_until",
            "label": "Years until college starts",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "10"
        },
        {
            "name": "study_years",
            "label": "Years of study",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "4"
        },
        {
            "name": "share",
            "label": "Share of the cost you plan to cover",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "100",
            "unit": "%"
        },
        {
            "name": "saved",
            "label": "Saved so far",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "10000",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "return",
            "label": "Expected return on savings",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "5",
            "unit": "%"
        },
        {
            "name": "currency",
            "label": "Currency",
            "type": "currency",
            "default": "USD"
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "monthly_saving",
            "label": "Monthly saving needed",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "total_cost",
            "label": "Projected total cost",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "first_year",
            "label": "Projected first-year cost",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "goal",
            "label": "Your share",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "savings_at_start",
            "label": "Current savings by the start date",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "shortfall",
            "label": "Still to save",
            "format": "currency"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "Cost in study year k = Cost × (1 + g)^(Y + k − 1);  Goal = Share × Σ costs;  Monthly saving = (Goal − S × (1 + R)^Y) × i ÷ ((1 + i)^(12Y) − 1), with i = (1 + R)^(1/12) − 1",
        "variables": {
            "g": "yearly cost increase",
            "Y": "years until college starts",
            "S": "savings so far",
            "R": "yearly return on savings"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "cost": "20000",
            "inflation": "5",
            "years_until": "2",
            "study_years": "2",
            "share": "100",
            "saved": "0",
            "return": "0",
            "currency": "USD"
        },
        "steps": [
            "Year 1 starts in 2 years: 20,000 × 1.05² = 22,050.",
            "Year 2: 20,000 × 1.05³ = 23,152.50; total = 45,202.50.",
            "With no return, the saving is spread over 24 months: 45,202.50 ÷ 24 = 1,883.44."
        ],
        "result": "Two years of college costing $20,000 a year today, rising 5% a year and starting in 2 years, will cost about $45,200, or $1,883.44 a month to save."
    },
    "interpretation": "The monthly figure assumes you have the whole amount saved by the first day. In practice later years can be paid partly from savings made during study, grants or income, so treat it as an upper bound for your share.",
    "assumptions": [
        "Costs rise at a constant rate and each year’s cost is paid at the start of that year.",
        "Savings are made monthly until college starts and earn a constant return.",
        "Grants and scholarships are reflected only through the share you enter."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Financial aid, tax-advantaged plans and taxes on returns are not modelled.",
        "The money needed for later study years is not discounted; this slightly overstates the saving needed."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "What cost-increase rate should I use?",
            "answer": "Look at how the college’s published cost of attendance has changed over the last few years, or use a figure close to general inflation for a conservative-to-moderate estimate."
        },
        {
            "question": "Does this include student loans?",
            "answer": "No. Lower the share to the part you plan to cover from savings, and use the Student Loan Calculator for the rest."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "Student Loan Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/student-loan-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Savings Goal Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/savings-goal-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Inflation Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/inflation-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Savings Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/savings-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "College Tuition Inflation Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/college-tuition-inflation-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": "This calculator gives estimates for planning. It is not financial advice, and lenders’ actual terms, fees and rounding may differ.",
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}