How Much Will College Cost in 18 Years?
At 6% education inflation, a $30,000 annual tuition today will cost approximately $85,678 per year in 18 years.
How to use this tool
- Enter amount today, annual inflation rate and years in the future in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your future nominal equivalent and the full breakdown beneath it.
Project the future cost of a college education by applying historical education inflation rates over 18 years.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a typical inflation rate?
- The US Federal Reserve targets 2% annual inflation. Historically, the US has averaged about 3% annually over the past century, with periods of higher inflation in the 1970s and early 2020s.
- How does this affect retirement planning?
- Inflation is critical for retirement planning. If you need $50,000/year today, at 3% inflation you'll need about $67,000 in 10 years and $90,000 in 20 years to maintain the same lifestyle.