How much will college cost?

Use the calculator below to get an idea of how much you’ll need so you can set your goals accordingly.

Compare the cost

You can get an idea of how much to shoot for based upon the current costs of college and adjusting for cost inflation. Using 2023 tuition, fees and living costs, College Tuition Compare compiled a national database of total costs for colleges and different types of schools by state. Their data sources include IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and the OPE (U.S. Department of Education—Office of Postsecondary Education). SOURCE: Collegetuitioncompare.com, 2023

The California College Promise Grant can help you pay for your college education. Learn more about Cal Promise Grant.

Current college costs by state

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State Tuition Living Costs
California Public in-state Public out-of-state Private On-campus Off-campus
658 Schools $3,019 $12,848 $26,538 $17,736 $21,604

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Relevant FAQs

With your ScholarShare 529, you’re never locked in. You’ll always have access to several options for this money:

  • Your funds can be used to pay for a variety of eligible education expenses, including at any accredited college, university, apprenticeships, community college or postgraduate program in the United States—and even some schools abroad.1
  • Your 529 can be used for student loan repayment up to a $10,000 lifetime limit per individual.1
  • Up to $10,000 annually can be used toward K-12 tuition (per student).2
  • You can transfer the funds to another eligible beneficiary, such as another child, a grandchild, yourself or a friend.
  • If you just want the money back, you can withdraw the funds at any time. If funds are withdrawn for a purpose other than qualified higher education expenses, the earnings portion of the withdrawal is subject to federal and state taxes plus a 10% additional federal tax on earnings (known as the “Additional Tax”). Non-qualified withdrawals may also be subject to an additional 2.5% California tax on earnings. See the Plan Description for more information and exceptions.
  • Or you can always wait because the funds never expire, and often the choice to go to school is a delayed decision. So if your child changes their mind down the road, your savings will still be available.

  • Effective January 1, 2024, 529 funds may be rolled over to a Roth IRA in the name of the beneficiary of the 529 plan.

    State tax treatment of a rollover from a 529 plan into a Roth IRA is determined by the state where you file state income tax. There are conditions that must be met including the 529 plan must have been in existence for at least 15 years.

    You should talk to a qualified professional about how tax provisions affect your circumstances.

  1. 1Withdrawals for registered apprenticeship programs and student loans can be withdrawn free from federal and California income tax. If you are not a California taxpayer, these withdrawals may include recapture of tax deduction, state income tax as well as penalties. You should talk to a qualified professional about how tax provisions affect your circumstances. Read about eligible education expenses.

    Apprenticeship programs must be registered and certified with the Secretary of Labor under the National Apprenticeship Act.↩
  2. 2Withdrawals for tuition expenses at a public, private or religious elementary, middle, or high school can be withdrawn free from federal tax. For California taxpayers these withdrawals are subject to state income tax and an additional 2.5% California tax. You should talk to a qualified professional about how tax provisions affect your circumstances.↩

Your contributions will always be yours, and you do not need to be a resident of California to open, contribute to or use a ScholarShare 529. Your ScholarShare 529 can also be used for a range of qualified expenses in state, out of state and abroad. If you move to another state, you can keep your money invested and continue making contributions to your ScholarShare 529 account—no problem!

No. Your ScholarShare 529 funds can be used at any accredited university in the country—and even some abroad. This includes public and private colleges and universities, apprenticeships, community colleges, graduate schools and professional schools.1 Up to $10,000 annually can be used toward K-12 tuition (per student).2 In addition, your 529 can be used for student loan repayment up to a $10,000 lifetime limit per individual.1 Review a list of qualifying expenses and the state tax treatment of withdrawals for these expenses in the Plan Description.

  1. 1Withdrawals for registered apprenticeship programs and student loans can be withdrawn free from federal and California income tax. If you are not a California taxpayer, these withdrawals may include recapture of tax deduction, state income tax as well as penalties. You should talk to a qualified professional about how tax provisions affect your circumstances. Read about eligible education expenses. Apprenticeship programs must be registered and certified with the Secretary of Labor under the National Apprenticeship Act.↩
  2. 2Withdrawals for tuition expenses at a public, private or religious elementary, middle, or high school can be withdrawn free from federal tax. For California taxpayers these withdrawals are subject to state income tax and an additional 2.5% California tax. You should talk to a qualified professional about how tax provisions affect your circumstances.↩

Qualified higher education expenses include tuition, certain room and board expenses, fees, books, supplies and equipment required for the enrollment and attendance of the beneficiary at an eligible educational institution. This includes most postsecondary institutions. When used primarily by the beneficiary enrolled at an eligible educational institution, computers and related technology such as internet access fees, software or printers are also considered qualified higher education expenses.

Qualified higher education expenses also include certain additional enrollment and attendance costs at eligible educational institutions for any beneficiary with special needs.

Qualified higher education expenses also include (a) tuition in connection with enrollment or attendance at a primary or secondary public, private or religious school (up to a maximum of $10,000 of distributions per taxable year per beneficiary from all Section 529 programs)1; (b) expenses for fees, books, supplies and equipment required for the participation of a beneficiary in a certified apprenticeship program2; and (c) amounts paid as principal or interest on any qualified education loan of either the beneficiary or a sibling of the beneficiary (up to a lifetime limit of $10,000 per individual).2 Review the Plan Description for additional information, including the state tax treatment of withdrawals for these expenses.

  1. 1Withdrawals for tuition expenses at a public, private or religious elementary, middle, or high school can be withdrawn free from federal tax. For California taxpayers these withdrawals are subject to state income tax and an additional 2.5% California tax. You should talk to a qualified professional about how tax provisions affect your circumstances.↩
  2. 2Withdrawals for registered apprenticeship programs and student loans can be withdrawn free from federal and California income tax. If you are not a California taxpayer, these withdrawals may include recapture of tax deduction, state income tax as well as penalties. You should talk to a qualified professional about how tax provisions affect your circumstances.

    Apprenticeship programs must be registered and certified with the Secretary of Labor under the National Apprenticeship Act.↩
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