About CollegeFund
CollegeFund is the 18-year arithmetic: what tuition will actually cost, what a 529 grows into, the monthly savings the target needs, and the loan payment if the gap becomes debt.
CollegeFund exists because college prices are quoted in today's dollars and paid in future ones — a 7%-ish inflation rate that outruns general prices. Parents who see the future number and the required monthly savings early have options; parents who see the invoice late have loans.
Every calculator on CollegeFund shows its formula and its assumptions on the page, so you can check the math, reproduce it in a spreadsheet, or argue with it. Inputs are processed entirely in your browser — nothing is sent to a server, and there are no accounts.
CollegeFund is an independent, ad-supported project. We are not affiliated with any lender, brand, agency, or the sources we cite (IRS and CFPB public guidance). If a number looks wrong, the contact page reaches a human who fixes it.
What makes CollegeFund different
- Your numbers never leave your browser. Every calculator on CollegeFund runs entirely on your device. We never see, store, or transmit the figures you enter — there are no accounts and no server-side processing of your inputs.
- Published methodology. Each calculator page explains the exact formula it uses and the assumptions behind it, so you can check our work or reproduce it in a spreadsheet.
- Free, forever, without a paywall. CollegeFund is supported by advertising. There is no premium tier, no email gate, and no upsell.
Independence
CollegeFund is an independent educational project. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency, lender, insurer, or the organizations whose formulas and public data we reference (such as IRS and CFPB public guidance). All trademarks and referenced standards belong to their respective owners.
Questions, corrections, or suggestions are genuinely welcome — get in touch.