Calculator · Opportunity cost
The Real Cost of Paying for College
Money spent on tuition doesn't just leave once — it stops compounding for the rest of your life.
If the money keeps growingAfter paying for collegeOpportunity cost
4585
True cost by age 85
$4,881,265
What the college money would have grown to — 9.8× the price paid.
Paid for college
$500,000
Over 8 years, ages 48–55
Growth given up
$4,381,265
Interest that money never gets to earn
Every $1 paid toward college at age 48 would be worth $12.22 by age 85 at 7.0% growth.
› Year-by-year numbers
| Age | Keeps growing | After college | Opportunity cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $0 |
| 46 | $287,500 | $287,500 | $0 |
| 47 | $327,625 | $327,625 | $0 |
| 48 | $370,559 | $308,059 | $62,500 |
| 49 | $416,498 | $287,123 | $129,375 |
| 50 | $465,653 | $264,721 | $200,931 |
| 51 | $518,248 | $240,752 | $277,496 |
| 52 | $574,526 | $215,105 | $359,421 |
| 53 | $634,743 | $187,662 | $447,081 |
| 54 | $699,175 | $158,298 | $540,876 |
| 55 | $768,117 | $126,879 | $641,238 |
| 56 | $841,885 | $155,761 | $686,124 |
| 57 | $920,817 | $186,664 | $734,153 |
| 58 | $1,005,274 | $219,730 | $785,544 |
| 59 | $1,095,643 | $255,112 | $840,532 |
| 60 | $1,192,338 | $292,969 | $899,369 |
| 61 | $1,295,802 | $333,477 | $962,325 |
| 62 | $1,406,508 | $376,821 | $1,029,688 |
| 63 | $1,524,964 | $423,198 | $1,101,766 |
| 64 | $1,651,711 | $472,822 | $1,178,889 |
| 65 | $1,787,331 | $525,919 | $1,261,412 |
| 66 | $1,912,444 | $562,734 | $1,349,710 |
| 67 | $2,046,315 | $602,125 | $1,444,190 |
| 68 | $2,189,557 | $644,274 | $1,545,283 |
| 69 | $2,342,826 | $689,373 | $1,653,453 |
| 70 | $2,506,824 | $737,629 | $1,769,195 |
| 71 | $2,682,302 | $789,263 | $1,893,039 |
| 72 | $2,870,063 | $844,512 | $2,025,551 |
| 73 | $3,070,967 | $903,627 | $2,167,340 |
| 74 | $3,285,935 | $966,881 | $2,319,054 |
| 75 | $3,515,951 | $1,034,563 | $2,481,387 |
| 76 | $3,762,067 | $1,106,983 | $2,655,085 |
| 77 | $4,025,412 | $1,184,471 | $2,840,940 |
| 78 | $4,307,191 | $1,267,384 | $3,039,806 |
| 79 | $4,608,694 | $1,356,101 | $3,252,593 |
| 80 | $4,931,302 | $1,451,028 | $3,480,274 |
| 81 | $5,276,494 | $1,552,600 | $3,723,893 |
| 82 | $5,645,848 | $1,661,282 | $3,984,566 |
| 83 | $6,041,058 | $1,777,572 | $4,263,486 |
| 84 | $6,463,932 | $1,902,002 | $4,561,930 |
| 85 | $6,916,407 | $2,035,142 | $4,881,265 |
Illustration only. Assumes a constant annual growth rate, end-of-year compounding, tuition spread evenly across the payment years, and nominal (not inflation-adjusted) dollars. Not financial, tax, or investment advice.