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.
The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
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 | $20,693.72 | 3.47% |
| 1979 | $22,337.36 | 7.94% |
| 1980 | $24,467.47 | 9.54% |
| 1981 | $27,504.32 | 12.41% |
| 1982 | $31,200.35 | 13.44% |
| 1983 | $34,447.32 | 10.41% |
| 1984 | $37,976.40 | 10.24% |
| 1985 | $41,424.87 | 9.08% |
| 1986 | $44,778.35 | 8.10% |
| 1987 | $48,146.23 | 7.52% |
| 1988 | $51,813.47 | 7.62% |
| 1989 | $55,924.01 | 7.93% |
| 1990 | $60,437.54 | 8.07% |
| 1991 | $66,591.82 | 10.18% |
| 1992 | $73,753.60 | 10.75% |
| 1993 | $80,653.43 | 9.36% |
| 1994 | $86,283.82 | 6.98% |
| 1995 | $91,473.81 | 6.02% |
| 1996 | $96,649.40 | 5.66% |
| 1997 | $101,588.95 | 5.11% |
| 1998 | $105,880.83 | 4.22% |
| 1999 | $110,083.48 | 3.97% |
| 2000 | $114,634.43 | 4.13% |
| 2001 | $120,495.11 | 5.11% |
| 2002 | $128,716.18 | 6.82% |
| 2003 | $139,499.14 | 8.38% |
| 2004 | $152,717.33 | 9.48% |
| 2005 | $164,119.17 | 7.47% |
| 2006 | $175,118.02 | 6.70% |
| 2007 | $186,075.04 | 6.26% |
| 2008 | $197,679.76 | 6.24% |
| 2009 | $209,559.15 | 6.01% |
| 2010 | $220,444.88 | 5.19% |
| 2011 | $231,520.06 | 5.02% |
| 2012 | $242,748.76 | 4.85% |
| 2013 | $253,001.61 | 4.22% |
| 2014 | $262,347.09 | 3.69% |
| 2015 | $271,450.69 | 3.47% |
| 2016 | $278,756.62 | 2.69% |
| 2017 | $284,327.89 | 2.00% |
| 2018 | $290,615.49 | 2.21% |
| 2019 | $298,913.30 | 2.86% |
| 2020 | $303,026.80 | 1.38% |
| 2021 | $305,659.73 | 0.87% |
| 2022 | $312,264.36 | 2.16% |
| 2023 | $318,277.29 | 1.93% |
| 2024 | $323,763.30 | 1.72% |
| 2025 | $330,274.27 | 2.01% |
| 2026 | $336,718.21 | 1.95%* |
* 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 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 57.900 | 59.908 | 64.667 | 70.833 | 79.625 | 90.325 | 99.725 | 109.942 | 119.925 | 129.633 | 139.383 | 150.000 | 161.900 | 174.967 | 192.783 | 213.517 | 233.492 | 249.792 | 264.817 | 279.800 | 294.100 | 306.525 | 318.692 | 331.867 | 348.833 | 372.633 | 403.850 | 442.117 | 475.125 | 506.967 | 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 | 937.295 | 956.144 | 974.799 |