winpieTaiwan-focused

Children's Education Fund

Enter your child's current age, intended age at college, expected years of study, and today's annual tuition estimate. The tool projects future tuition with inflation, calculates gap vs current savings, and suggests required lump sum or monthly contribution.

Inputs

Includes tuition, fees, and living costs.

Education inflation typically exceeds general inflation; 2–4% is common.

Current preparation

Results
Total tuition future value (4 years)
NT$1.11M
Today's NT$200K/yr × 4 years, growing at 2% per year.
Projected value of current savings
NT$415.8K
NT$200K × (1 + 5%)^15
Gap
NT$693.6K
Two ways to close the gap
Lump sum today
Deposit NT$333.7K now
Monthly contribution
NT$2.6K per month
over 15 years

Assumes tuition grows at the inflation rate and savings compound at the expected return. Education inflation often runs above CPI, and public/private and domestic/overseas costs vary widely. Add a 20–30% buffer for safety.

Taiwan tuition reference

  • Public university: NT$150K–210K / year (tuition + living)
  • Private university: NT$220K–270K / year
  • US college: US$30K–70K / year
  • UK/Australia/Canada: US$20K–45K / year

Education inflation often exceeds general CPI. Set inflation assumption to 2–4%.

Frequently asked

How much do I need to save?
Depends on country. Taiwan public university (with living): NT$600K-850K total for 4 years. Private university: NT$900K-1.1M. US top-tier college: NT$15M-30M total. Tuition continues to inflate at 2-4%, so future totals are higher than today's prices. The tool projects future cost and the monthly savings needed.
What inflation rate for education?
Usually higher than general CPI. Taiwan tuition rose 1.5-2.5% annually over the past decade; US/UK universities rose 3-5%. Private universities rise faster than public. Use 3% conservatively, 4-5% aggressively. Add 1-2% currency-risk cushion if planning to study abroad.
Where should the education fund sit?
Depends on the timeline. ≥ 10 years away: stock/bond ETFs (e.g., 50% global stocks + 50% global bonds). 6-10 years: shift to 30/70. 3-5 years: bonds and CDs. < 3 years: all cash or short-term bonds. Education funds have a fixed deadline that can't be deferred — derisk as you approach it.
Are there 529-style tax-advantaged accounts in Taiwan?
No dedicated tax-advantaged education savings vehicle. Two alternatives: (1) ETF account in the child's name (reduces parental income tax, but watch annual gift-tax limits); (2) education savings insurance (warning: fee drag often makes these worse than direct ETF investing — run /en/tools/savings-vs-etf first).
What if I can't fully fund education savings?
Three paths: (1) student loans — Taiwan government-backed loans run ~1.85% and defer repayment until after graduation, manageable for most families; (2) part-time work; (3) choose public universities or industry-cooperation programs. Don't sacrifice retirement to over-fund education. Retirement can't be borrowed for; education can.
Does this tool store my inputs?
No. All math runs locally in your browser.

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