According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for college tuition and fees were 1,377.08% higher in 2021 versus 1978 (a $275,416.13 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2021: College tuition experienced an average inflation rate of 6.46% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, college tuition costing $20,000 in the year 1978 would cost $295,416.13 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.37% during this same period, inflation for college tuition was significantly higher.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 3.47%, which is below the average yearly change for college tuition during the 1978-2021 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for college tuition was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for College tuition, over time, for $20,000 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20,000.00 | 3.47% |
| 1979 | $21,589.63 | 7.95% |
| 1980 | $23,646.64 | 9.53% |
| 1981 | $26,581.92 | 12.41% |
| 1982 | $30,154.08 | 13.44% |
| 1983 | $33,292.24 | 10.41% |
| 1984 | $36,702.62 | 10.24% |
| 1985 | $40,035.95 | 9.08% |
| 1986 | $43,276.84 | 8.09% |
| 1987 | $46,533.13 | 7.52% |
| 1988 | $50,077.04 | 7.62% |
| 1989 | $54,049.82 | 7.93% |
| 1990 | $58,412.94 | 8.07% |
| 1991 | $64,360.55 | 10.18% |
| 1992 | $71,281.46 | 10.75% |
| 1993 | $77,950.69 | 9.36% |
| 1994 | $83,392.40 | 6.98% |
| 1995 | $88,407.81 | 6.01% |
| 1996 | $93,410.37 | 5.66% |
| 1997 | $98,184.39 | 5.11% |
| 1998 | $102,331.79 | 4.22% |
| 1999 | $106,394.45 | 3.97% |
| 2000 | $110,793.53 | 4.13% |
| 2001 | $116,456.09 | 5.11% |
| 2002 | $124,401.64 | 6.82% |
| 2003 | $134,825.37 | 8.38% |
| 2004 | $147,598.87 | 9.47% |
| 2005 | $158,618.39 | 7.47% |
| 2006 | $169,250.13 | 6.70% |
| 2007 | $179,839.09 | 6.26% |
| 2008 | $191,054.90 | 6.24% |
| 2009 | $202,536.18 | 6.01% |
| 2010 | $213,057.09 | 5.19% |
| 2011 | $223,761.12 | 5.02% |
| 2012 | $234,613.51 | 4.85% |
| 2013 | $244,522.75 | 4.22% |
| 2014 | $253,555.03 | 3.69% |
| 2015 | $262,353.54 | 3.47% |
| 2016 | $269,414.61 | 2.69% |
| 2017 | $274,799.18 | 2.00% |
| 2018 | $280,876.07 | 2.21% |
| 2019 | $288,895.79 | 2.86% |
| 2020 | $292,871.44 | 1.38% |
| 2021 | $295,416.13 | 0.87% |
| 2022 | $301,799.41 | 2.16% |
| 2023 | $307,610.84 | 1.93% |
| 2024 | $311,959.07 | 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 |