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Education Cost Calculator [2026]
Just select a schooling path from kindergarten through university to automatically calculate the total education cost for one child. Compare savings requirements and see the impact of child benefit funds.
| Stage | Years | Annual Cost | Subtotal |
|---|
| Path | Total Cost | Monthly Equiv. |
|---|
Education Cost Benchmarks
According to the Ministry of Education survey, education costs per child vary widely by schooling path.
| Schooling Path | Total Cost Estimate |
|---|---|
| All Public (National/Public University) | ~¥8M–¥9M |
| Public K–12 + Private Liberal Arts University | ~¥11M–¥12M |
| All Private (Private Science University) | ~¥17M–¥20M |
| All Private (Private Medical School) | ~¥30M–¥35M |
Education is one of the “three major life expenses” alongside housing and retirement. Planning starts from birth.
5 Smart Ways to Fund Education
1. Education savings insurance (Gakushi Hoken)
A savings-type insurance product you can join shortly after birth. Payouts are timed to key enrollment milestones, and premiums are waived if the policyholder dies. Returns run around 107–112%, which suits families prioritizing certainty.
2. NISA (tax-free investing)
Index fund investing through NISA is ideal for long-term goals. ¥30,000/month at 5% per year for 15 years grows from ¥5.4M in contributions to roughly ¥8M — education costs don’t wait.
3. Save all child benefit payments
Child benefit from birth through middle school (¥15,000/mo age 0–3; ¥10,000/mo age 3–15) totals about ¥2,000,000 if saved in full. Setting it aside from day one creates a meaningful head start.
4. Scholarships
Japan Student Services Organization offers both grant-type (no repayment) and loan-type scholarships. Grant types have income requirements; loan types are broadly available. Consider as a supplement when projected costs are high.
5. Education loans
The Japan Finance Corporation offers fixed-rate education loans at approximately 2.25% p.a., up to ¥4,500,000. Interest-only repayment during enrollment is an option. Useful as a last resort if savings fall short.
Related Tools
- Savings Goal Calculator — Build a savings plan to cover education costs
- iDeCo Simulator — Secure retirement funds alongside education savings
- Asset Allocation Simulator — See how education costs fit your overall financial picture