According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for college tuition and fees are 545.21% higher in 2026 versus 1988 (a $109,041.33 difference in value).
Between 1988 and 2026:College tuition experienced an average inflation rate of 5.03% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, college tuition costing $20,000 in the year 1988 would cost $129,041.33 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.69% during this same period, inflation for college tuition was higher.
In the year 1988: Pricing changed by 7.62%, which is above the average yearly change for college tuition during the 1988-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1988 (4.08%), inflation for college tuition was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for College tuition, over time, for $20,000 beginning in 1988. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | $20,000.00 | 7.62% |
| 1989 | $21,586.67 | 7.93% |
| 1990 | $23,328.89 | 8.07% |
| 1991 | $25,704.44 | 10.18% |
| 1992 | $28,468.89 | 10.75% |
| 1993 | $31,132.22 | 9.36% |
| 1994 | $33,305.56 | 6.98% |
| 1995 | $35,308.89 | 6.02% |
| 1996 | $37,306.67 | 5.66% |
| 1997 | $39,213.33 | 5.11% |
| 1998 | $40,870.00 | 4.22% |
| 1999 | $42,492.22 | 3.97% |
| 2000 | $44,248.89 | 4.13% |
| 2001 | $46,511.11 | 5.11% |
| 2002 | $49,684.44 | 6.82% |
| 2003 | $53,846.67 | 8.38% |
| 2004 | $58,948.89 | 9.48% |
| 2005 | $63,350.00 | 7.47% |
| 2006 | $67,595.56 | 6.70% |
| 2007 | $71,824.97 | 6.26% |
| 2008 | $76,304.39 | 6.24% |
| 2009 | $80,889.83 | 6.01% |
| 2010 | $85,091.72 | 5.19% |
| 2011 | $89,366.74 | 5.02% |
| 2012 | $93,701.02 | 4.85% |
| 2013 | $97,658.62 | 4.22% |
| 2014 | $101,265.98 | 3.69% |
| 2015 | $104,779.97 | 3.47% |
| 2016 | $107,600.06 | 2.69% |
| 2017 | $109,750.57 | 2.00% |
| 2018 | $112,177.58 | 2.21% |
| 2019 | $115,380.53 | 2.86% |
| 2020 | $116,968.34 | 1.38% |
| 2021 | $117,984.66 | 0.87% |
| 2022 | $120,534.04 | 2.16% |
| 2023 | $122,855.03 | 1.93% |
| 2024 | $124,972.63 | 1.72% |
| 2025 | $127,363.26 | 1.91% |
| 2026 | $129,041.33 | 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 |