Webinar visualOpportunity Cost Series
Phase 1 · How to Fund College Without Sacrificing Long-Term Wealth Growth — stock market
The Cost of Spending $300,000 on College
Spend it on college and it's gone. Leave the same $300,000 in the stock market and this is what it becomes — using actual S&P 500 returns, 1995–2024.
After 0 years
$300,000
Amount put in$300,000
Growth$0
Market value$300,000
Illustration using S&P 500 total returns 1995–2024 with dividends reinvested; no fees, taxes or added contributions. Year-end values are actual; the month-to-month line between them is illustrative. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Drag the gold handle, use ← → keys, or press Play. PageDown / PageUp moves between phases.