College Tuition Inflation Calculator
Estimate how today’s tuition price tag expands by the time a student enrolls, track savings growth, and identify any funding shortfall before the first semester invoice arrives.
| Academic year | Projected tuition ($) | Cumulative cost ($) | Savings remaining ($) |
|---|
Why tuition inflation matters
College prices rarely stay flat. If today’s annual tuition is 0 and the average annual inflation rate is , the cost in year becomes n
Savings growth is modeled monthly for accuracy. We convert the investment return to a monthly rate and break annual contributions into monthly deposits. Each month the balance evolves according to m+1
| Inflation | Years until start | Total four-year cost |
|---|---|---|
| 3% annually | 4 years | $111,259 |
| 5% annually | 8 years | $147,553 |
| 6.5% annually | 12 years | $212,947 |
Strengthen your education savings strategy
Pair this projection with the college savings goal calculator to see the monthly deposits required, compare degree outcomes in the major earnings comparison tool, and examine financial aid offsets through the college net price calculator. Together these resources align projected expenses with realistic funding sources.
Revisit the plan annually as tuition announcements, scholarships, or investment performance shift. Early course corrections—boosting contributions, adjusting investment mix, or refining school choices—reduce the risk of over-borrowing when college begins.