Engineer (state school, strong ROI) Same in-state university cost, but an engineering salary — the classic 'modest cost, high-paying degree' case where the numbers work out well.

Customize

2033–2036

Undergraduate · State university · engineering

age 18–21

2083

Roth + brokerage at age 68

$13,365,533

Total cost of attending

$180,124

compound inflation

529 after graduation

left in the fund

Rolled into Roth IRA

lifetime cap $35,000

Roth IRA at 68

+ $0 still in 529

Brokerage at 68

$13,365,533

leftover drawn down · $0 lost to tax + penalty

Borrowed (student loans)

$90,617

+ $40,656 interest · paid off at age 28

Starting salary

$110,201

at graduation · 4.0%/yr raises + partner/owner stages

Lifetime saved & invested

$5,895,482

after 28.0% tax + 50.0% spending & loans

Net worth at 68

$13,365,533

assets + equity − loans

Year by year

Phase	Year	Age	Cost	529 End	Brokerage	Salary	Loan	Net worth
Accumulation	2026	11		$10,000				$10,000
Accumulation	2027	12		$16,885				$16,885
Accumulation	2028	13		$24,232				$24,232
Accumulation	2029	14		$32,070				$32,070
Accumulation	2030	15		$40,433				$40,433
Accumulation	2031	16		$49,357				$49,357
Accumulation	2032	17		$58,878				$58,878
Undergraduate · State university · engineering	2033	18	$41,791	$27,245				$27,245
Undergraduate · State university · engineering	2034	19	$43,880	$0			$8,595	$-8,595
Undergraduate · State university · engineering	2035	20	$46,074	$0			$49,141	$-49,141
Undergraduate · State university · engineering	2036	21	$48,378	$0			$95,235	$-95,235
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Entry level	2037	22		$0		$110,201	$87,531	$-87,531
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Entry level	2038	23		$0	$9,115	$114,609	$78,546	$-69,431
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Entry level	2039	24		$0	$19,061	$119,194	$68,202	$-49,141
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Entry level	2040	25		$0	$29,896	$123,961	$56,366	$-26,470
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Entry level	2041	26		$0	$41,679	$128,920	$42,891	$-1,212
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Mid-career	2042	27		$0	$54,474	$181,003	$21,072	$33,402
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Mid-career	2043	28		$0	$72,233	$188,243		$72,233
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Mid-career	2044	29		$0	$95,098	$195,773		$95,098
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Mid-career	2045	30		$0	$144,217	$203,604		$144,217
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Mid-career	2046	31		$0	$197,621	$211,748		$197,621
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Mid-career	2047	32		$0	$255,597	$220,218		$255,597
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Mid-career	2048	33		$0	$318,454	$229,027		$318,454
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Mid-career	2049	34		$0	$386,519	$238,188		$386,519
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Senior	2050	35		$0	$460,136	$311,938		$460,136
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Senior	2051	36		$0	$554,191	$324,416		$554,191
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Senior	2052	37		$0	$655,879	$337,392		$655,879
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Senior	2053	38		$0	$765,703	$350,888		$765,703
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Senior	2054	39		$0	$884,196	$364,923		$884,196
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Senior	2055	40		$0	$1,011,924	$379,520		$1,011,924
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Senior	2056	41		$0	$1,149,487	$394,701		$1,149,487
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Senior	2057	42		$0	$1,297,519	$410,489		$1,297,519
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2058	43		$0	$1,456,694	$502,246		$1,456,694
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2059	44		$0	$1,644,754	$522,336		$1,644,754
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2060	45		$0	$1,846,977	$543,229		$1,846,977
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2061	46		$0	$2,064,269	$564,958		$2,064,269
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2062	47		$0	$2,297,589	$587,556		$2,297,589
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2063	48		$0	$2,547,956	$611,059		$2,547,956
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2064	49		$0	$2,816,444	$635,501		$2,816,444
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2065	50		$0	$3,104,194	$660,921		$3,104,194
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2066	51		$0	$3,412,412	$687,358		$3,412,412
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2067	52		$0	$3,742,375	$714,852		$3,742,375
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2068	53		$0	$4,095,434	$743,446		$4,095,434
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2069	54		$0	$4,473,021	$773,184		$4,473,021
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2070	55		$0	$4,876,647	$804,112		$4,876,647
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2071	56		$0	$5,307,916	$836,276		$5,307,916
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2072	57		$0	$5,768,519	$869,727		$5,768,519
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2073	58		$0	$6,260,250	$904,516		$6,260,250
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2074	59		$0	$6,785,002	$940,697		$6,785,002
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2075	60		$0	$7,344,780	$978,325		$7,344,780
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2076	61		$0	$7,941,704	$1,017,458		$7,941,704
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2077	62		$0	$8,578,013	$1,058,156		$8,578,013
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2078	63		$0	$9,256,077	$1,100,482		$9,256,077
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2079	64		$0	$9,978,400	$1,144,501		$9,978,400
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2080	65		$0	$10,747,629	$1,190,282		$10,747,629
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2081	66		$0	$11,566,561	$1,237,893		$11,566,561
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2082	67		$0	$12,438,154	$1,287,408		$12,438,154
Post-grad (529 → Roth) · Lead / management	2083	68		$0	$13,365,533	$1,338,905		$13,365,533