According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for college tuition and fees are 1,115.46% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $223,091.99 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2026:College tuition experienced an average inflation rate of 5.71% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, college tuition costing $20,000 in the year 1981 would cost $243,091.99 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.86% during this same period, inflation for college tuition was higher.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 12.41%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for college tuition during the 1981-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation for college tuition was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for College tuition, over time, for $20,000 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $20,000.00 | 12.41% |
| 1982 | $22,687.60 | 13.44% |
| 1983 | $25,048.67 | 10.41% |
| 1984 | $27,614.86 | 10.24% |
| 1985 | $30,122.45 | 9.08% |
| 1986 | $32,560.96 | 8.10% |
| 1987 | $35,009.94 | 7.52% |
| 1988 | $37,676.61 | 7.62% |
| 1989 | $40,665.62 | 7.93% |
| 1990 | $43,947.67 | 8.07% |
| 1991 | $48,422.82 | 10.18% |
| 1992 | $53,630.56 | 10.75% |
| 1993 | $58,647.83 | 9.36% |
| 1994 | $62,742.02 | 6.98% |
| 1995 | $66,515.96 | 6.02% |
| 1996 | $70,279.43 | 5.66% |
| 1997 | $73,871.27 | 5.11% |
| 1998 | $76,992.15 | 4.22% |
| 1999 | $80,048.14 | 3.97% |
| 2000 | $83,357.40 | 4.13% |
| 2001 | $87,619.05 | 5.11% |
| 2002 | $93,597.07 | 6.82% |
| 2003 | $101,437.99 | 8.38% |
| 2004 | $111,049.71 | 9.48% |
| 2005 | $119,340.66 | 7.47% |
| 2006 | $127,338.57 | 6.70% |
| 2007 | $135,306.06 | 6.26% |
| 2008 | $143,744.53 | 6.24% |
| 2009 | $152,382.73 | 6.01% |
| 2010 | $160,298.38 | 5.19% |
| 2011 | $168,351.79 | 5.02% |
| 2012 | $176,516.84 | 4.85% |
| 2013 | $183,972.29 | 4.22% |
| 2014 | $190,767.93 | 3.69% |
| 2015 | $197,387.69 | 3.47% |
| 2016 | $202,700.26 | 2.69% |
| 2017 | $206,751.46 | 2.00% |
| 2018 | $211,323.54 | 2.21% |
| 2019 | $217,357.36 | 2.86% |
| 2020 | $220,348.53 | 1.38% |
| 2021 | $222,263.09 | 0.87% |
| 2022 | $227,065.70 | 2.16% |
| 2023 | $231,438.05 | 1.93% |
| 2024 | $235,427.25 | 1.72% |
| 2025 | $239,930.79 | 1.91% |
| 2026 | $243,091.99 | 1.32%* |
* 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 | 955.224 | 967.810 |