According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for college tuition and fees are 1,344.95% higher in 2024 versus 1979 (a $268,989.80 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 2024: College tuition experienced an average inflation rate of 6.11% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, college tuition costing $20,000 in the year 1979 would cost $288,989.80 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.30% during this same period, inflation for college tuition was higher.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 7.95%, which is above the average yearly change for college tuition during the 1979-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.26%), inflation for college tuition was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for College tuition, over time, for $20,000 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $20,000.00 | 7.95% |
| 1980 | $21,905.55 | 9.53% |
| 1981 | $24,624.72 | 12.41% |
| 1982 | $27,933.86 | 13.44% |
| 1983 | $30,840.97 | 10.41% |
| 1984 | $34,000.24 | 10.24% |
| 1985 | $37,088.14 | 9.08% |
| 1986 | $40,090.40 | 8.09% |
| 1987 | $43,106.93 | 7.52% |
| 1988 | $46,389.91 | 7.62% |
| 1989 | $50,070.18 | 7.93% |
| 1990 | $54,112.05 | 8.07% |
| 1991 | $59,621.74 | 10.18% |
| 1992 | $66,033.07 | 10.75% |
| 1993 | $72,211.25 | 9.36% |
| 1994 | $77,252.29 | 6.98% |
| 1995 | $81,898.42 | 6.01% |
| 1996 | $86,532.65 | 5.66% |
| 1997 | $90,955.16 | 5.11% |
| 1998 | $94,797.19 | 4.22% |
| 1999 | $98,560.72 | 3.97% |
| 2000 | $102,635.90 | 4.13% |
| 2001 | $107,881.53 | 5.11% |
| 2002 | $115,242.06 | 6.82% |
| 2003 | $124,898.30 | 8.38% |
| 2004 | $136,731.30 | 9.47% |
| 2005 | $146,939.46 | 7.47% |
| 2006 | $156,788.39 | 6.70% |
| 2007 | $166,597.69 | 6.26% |
| 2008 | $176,987.70 | 6.24% |
| 2009 | $187,623.62 | 6.01% |
| 2010 | $197,369.88 | 5.19% |
| 2011 | $207,285.79 | 5.02% |
| 2012 | $217,339.12 | 4.85% |
| 2013 | $226,518.76 | 4.22% |
| 2014 | $234,886.00 | 3.69% |
| 2015 | $243,036.68 | 3.47% |
| 2016 | $249,577.85 | 2.69% |
| 2017 | $254,565.96 | 2.00% |
| 2018 | $260,195.41 | 2.21% |
| 2019 | $267,624.65 | 2.86% |
| 2020 | $271,307.58 | 1.38% |
| 2021 | $273,664.90 | 0.87% |
| 2022 | $279,578.18 | 2.16% |
| 2023 | $284,961.72 | 1.93% |
| 2024 | $288,989.80 | 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 |