According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for college tuition and fees are 1,219.25% higher in 2024 versus 1980 (a $243,850.70 difference in value).
Between 1980 and 2024: College tuition experienced an average inflation rate of 6.04% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, college tuition costing $20,000 in the year 1980 would cost $263,850.70 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.08% during this same period, inflation for college tuition was higher.
In the year 1980: Pricing changed by 9.53%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for college tuition during the 1980-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1980 (13.55%), inflation for college tuition was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for College tuition, over time, for $20,000 beginning in 1980. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | $20,000.00 | 9.53% |
| 1981 | $22,482.62 | 12.41% |
| 1982 | $25,503.91 | 13.44% |
| 1983 | $28,158.12 | 10.41% |
| 1984 | $31,042.57 | 10.24% |
| 1985 | $33,861.86 | 9.08% |
| 1986 | $36,602.95 | 8.09% |
| 1987 | $39,357.08 | 7.52% |
| 1988 | $42,354.47 | 7.62% |
| 1989 | $45,714.60 | 7.93% |
| 1990 | $49,404.87 | 8.07% |
| 1991 | $54,435.27 | 10.18% |
| 1992 | $60,288.88 | 10.75% |
| 1993 | $65,929.63 | 9.36% |
| 1994 | $70,532.15 | 6.98% |
| 1995 | $74,774.11 | 6.01% |
| 1996 | $79,005.21 | 5.66% |
| 1997 | $83,043.01 | 5.11% |
| 1998 | $86,550.83 | 4.22% |
| 1999 | $89,986.97 | 3.97% |
| 2000 | $93,707.65 | 4.13% |
| 2001 | $98,496.96 | 5.11% |
| 2002 | $105,217.20 | 6.82% |
| 2003 | $114,033.45 | 8.38% |
| 2004 | $124,837.10 | 9.47% |
| 2005 | $134,157.25 | 7.47% |
| 2006 | $143,149.44 | 6.70% |
| 2007 | $152,105.43 | 6.26% |
| 2008 | $161,591.62 | 6.24% |
| 2009 | $171,302.32 | 6.01% |
| 2010 | $180,200.76 | 5.19% |
| 2011 | $189,254.08 | 5.02% |
| 2012 | $198,432.88 | 4.85% |
| 2013 | $206,813.99 | 4.22% |
| 2014 | $214,453.37 | 3.69% |
| 2015 | $221,895.03 | 3.47% |
| 2016 | $227,867.18 | 2.69% |
| 2017 | $232,421.37 | 2.00% |
| 2018 | $237,561.12 | 2.21% |
| 2019 | $244,344.09 | 2.86% |
| 2020 | $247,706.65 | 1.38% |
| 2021 | $249,858.91 | 0.87% |
| 2022 | $255,257.80 | 2.16% |
| 2023 | $260,173.02 | 1.93% |
| 2024 | $263,850.70 | 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 |