What is your child's name? (Calculate the costs for one child at a time.)

How many years until your child enters college?

For how many years will your child be attending college? (It may be more than four years in some cases.)

What is the annual cost of the college he/she will be attending? (Include tuition, fees, room and board, books, etc., using today’s prices.)

What rate of inflation do you expect for college costs? (College inflation has continued to outpace the general inflation rate. For the past 10 years, the average college inflation rate at a public four-year college has been more than 5 percent. Recent years have shown an increase in college inflation.)

How much money do you presently have saved for your child’s college expenses? (Include funds that are in your name and your child’s name that have been set aside for college.)

What after-tax return do you expect on your investments (0 to 10 percent)? (Remember, the age of your child may influence how you invest and the potential return you may be able to achieve.)