According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for college tuition and fees are 780.29% higher in 2026 versus 1984 (a $156,058.82 difference in value).
Between 1984 and 2026:College tuition experienced an average inflation rate of 5.32% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, college tuition costing $20,000 in the year 1984 would cost $176,058.82 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.75% during this same period, inflation for college tuition was higher.
In the year 1984: Pricing changed by 10.24%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for college tuition during the 1984-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1984 (4.30%), inflation for college tuition was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for College tuition, over time, for $20,000 beginning in 1984. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | $20,000.00 | 10.24% |
| 1985 | $21,816.11 | 9.08% |
| 1986 | $23,582.20 | 8.10% |
| 1987 | $25,355.87 | 7.52% |
| 1988 | $27,287.20 | 7.62% |
| 1989 | $29,451.98 | 7.93% |
| 1990 | $31,829.00 | 8.07% |
| 1991 | $35,070.11 | 10.18% |
| 1992 | $38,841.81 | 10.75% |
| 1993 | $42,475.56 | 9.36% |
| 1994 | $45,440.76 | 6.98% |
| 1995 | $48,174.03 | 6.02% |
| 1996 | $50,899.72 | 5.66% |
| 1997 | $53,501.10 | 5.11% |
| 1998 | $55,761.39 | 4.22% |
| 1999 | $57,974.68 | 3.97% |
| 2000 | $60,371.41 | 4.13% |
| 2001 | $63,457.89 | 5.11% |
| 2002 | $67,787.46 | 6.82% |
| 2003 | $73,466.23 | 8.38% |
| 2004 | $80,427.50 | 9.48% |
| 2005 | $86,432.20 | 7.47% |
| 2006 | $92,224.66 | 6.70% |
| 2007 | $97,995.10 | 6.26% |
| 2008 | $104,106.65 | 6.24% |
| 2009 | $110,362.84 | 6.01% |
| 2010 | $116,095.73 | 5.19% |
| 2011 | $121,928.40 | 5.02% |
| 2012 | $127,841.92 | 4.85% |
| 2013 | $133,241.51 | 4.22% |
| 2014 | $138,163.24 | 3.69% |
| 2015 | $142,957.58 | 3.47% |
| 2016 | $146,805.20 | 2.69% |
| 2017 | $149,739.27 | 2.00% |
| 2018 | $153,050.59 | 2.21% |
| 2019 | $157,420.57 | 2.86% |
| 2020 | $159,586.92 | 1.38% |
| 2021 | $160,973.53 | 0.87% |
| 2022 | $164,451.82 | 2.16% |
| 2023 | $167,618.48 | 1.93% |
| 2024 | $170,507.65 | 1.72% |
| 2025 | $173,769.32 | 1.91% |
| 2026 | $176,058.82 | 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 |