See your percent funded against in-state, out-of-state, and private tuition benchmarks side by side, not just a single savings goal.
You always know where you stand against real in-state, out-of-state, and private tuition numbers, instead of a generic savings goal that may not match your actual bill.
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Parents saving for college usually have one vague savings goal, but tuition costs vary enormously depending on whether a child ends up at an in-state public school, an out-of-state school, or a private university. This tracker sets all three as benchmarks from the start, so you always know your percent funded against each scenario, not just whether you're 'saving enough.'
Enter your one-time or recurring 529 contribution each month and the sheet totals your savings automatically. Set your three tuition targets once using current published tuition rates for schools you're considering, and the sheet calculates your percent funded against all three side by side. Revisit those targets every couple of years as published rates change.
We built this because 'save for college' isn't one number. Being on track for in-state tuition while behind on the private-school benchmark is useful information for the college conversation later, not a pass or fail on a single savings goal.
— DaveWays
In-state, out-of-state, and private tuition benchmarks tracked side by side show exactly where you stand for each.
Every contribution updates your progress against all three benchmarks at once.
Update your tuition targets every couple of years as published rates change, keeping the numbers current.
Does this account for investment growth on the 529 balance?
Enter your actual current 529 balance as reported by your plan provider (which already reflects growth), then log new contributions on top of it going forward.
Where do I find current tuition rates for the three benchmarks?
Use published in-state, out-of-state, and private tuition figures from College Board or individual school websites, updated every couple of years.
Does this work for multiple children?
Duplicate the benchmark and contribution columns per child, or run a separate copy of the sheet for each child's 529 account.
529 College Savings Tracker (Free Preview) — download a condensed version free, no purchase required, to see if it's a fit before you buy.
529 College Savings Tracker is $14.99 USD, one-time payment, instant delivery, no subscription. Covered by our 30-day money-back guarantee. See our refund policy and terms.
