According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for college tuition and fees were 1,394.57% higher in 2019 versus 1977 (a $278,913.30 difference in value).
Between 1977 and 2019: College tuition experienced an average inflation rate of 6.65% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, college tuition costing $20,000 in the year 1977 would cost $298,913.30 in 2019 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.49% during this same period, inflation for college tuition was significantly higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for College tuition, over time, for $20,000 beginning in 1977. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | $20,000.00 | - |
| 1978 | $20,693.50 | 3.47% |
| 1979 | $22,338.25 | 7.95% |
| 1980 | $24,466.59 | 9.53% |
| 1981 | $27,503.65 | 12.41% |
| 1982 | $31,199.68 | 13.44% |
| 1983 | $34,446.66 | 10.41% |
| 1984 | $37,975.29 | 10.24% |
| 1985 | $41,424.21 | 9.08% |
| 1986 | $44,777.47 | 8.09% |
| 1987 | $48,146.67 | 7.52% |
| 1988 | $51,813.47 | 7.62% |
| 1989 | $55,924.01 | 7.93% |
| 1990 | $60,438.42 | 8.07% |
| 1991 | $66,592.27 | 10.18% |
| 1992 | $73,753.16 | 10.75% |
| 1993 | $80,653.65 | 9.36% |
| 1994 | $86,284.04 | 6.98% |
| 1995 | $91,473.36 | 6.01% |
| 1996 | $96,649.40 | 5.66% |
| 1997 | $101,588.95 | 5.11% |
| 1998 | $105,880.16 | 4.22% |
| 1999 | $110,083.70 | 3.97% |
| 2000 | $114,635.31 | 4.13% |
| 2001 | $120,494.22 | 5.11% |
| 2002 | $128,715.29 | 6.82% |
| 2003 | $139,500.46 | 8.38% |
| 2004 | $152,716.89 | 9.47% |
| 2005 | $164,118.51 | 7.47% |
| 2006 | $175,118.91 | 6.70% |
| 2007 | $186,075.04 | 6.26% |
| 2008 | $197,679.77 | 6.24% |
| 2009 | $209,559.16 | 6.01% |
| 2010 | $220,444.88 | 5.19% |
| 2011 | $231,520.07 | 5.02% |
| 2012 | $242,748.77 | 4.85% |
| 2013 | $253,001.62 | 4.22% |
| 2014 | $262,347.10 | 3.69% |
| 2015 | $271,450.70 | 3.47% |
| 2016 | $278,756.61 | 2.69% |
| 2017 | $284,327.89 | 2.00% |
| 2018 | $290,615.49 | 2.21% |
| 2019 | $298,913.30 | 2.86% |
| 2020 | $303,026.81 | 1.38% |
| 2021 | $305,659.73 | 0.87% |
| 2022 | $312,264.35 | 2.16% |
| 2023 | $318,277.30 | 1.93% |
| 2024 | $322,776.30 | 1.41%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for College tuition and fees:
| Year | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| CPI | 57.900 | 59.908 | 64.669 | 70.831 | 79.623 | 90.323 | 99.723 | 109.938 | 119.923 | 129.631 | 139.385 | 150.000 | 161.900 | 174.969 | 192.785 | 213.515 | 233.492 | 249.792 | 264.815 | 279.800 | 294.100 | 306.523 | 318.692 | 331.869 | 348.831 | 372.631 | 403.854 | 442.115 | 475.123 | 506.969 | 538.687 | 572.283 | 606.674 | 638.188 | 670.251 | 702.758 | 732.440 | 759.495 | 785.850 | 807.000 | 823.129 | 841.332 | 865.354 | 877.263 | 884.885 | 904.005 | 921.413 | 934.437 |