College tuition priced at $20,000 in 1991 $98,415.84 in 2025

College Tuition Inflation Calculator

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Prices for College Tuition, 1991-2025 ($20,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for college tuition and fees are 392.08% higher in 2025 versus 1991 (a $78,415.84 difference in value).

Between 1991 and 2025: College tuition experienced an average inflation rate of 4.80% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, college tuition costing $20,000 in the year 1991 would cost $98,415.84 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.53% during this same period, inflation for college tuition was higher.

In the year 1991: Pricing changed by 10.18%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for college tuition during the 1991-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1991 (4.23%), inflation for college tuition was much higher.

Price Inflation for College tuition and fees since 1977

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1982 (13.44%), 1981 (12.41%), and 1992 (10.75%).

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Buying power of $20,000.00 since 1991

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for College tuition, over time, for $20,000 beginning in 1991. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1991$20,000.0010.18%
1992$22,150.6710.75%
1993$24,223.139.36%
1994$25,914.136.98%
1995$27,472.676.01%
1996$29,027.215.66%
1997$30,510.735.11%
1998$31,799.544.22%
1999$33,062.013.97%
2000$34,429.024.13%
2001$36,188.655.11%
2002$38,657.736.82%
2003$41,896.908.38%
2004$45,866.259.47%
2005$49,290.567.47%
2006$52,594.376.70%
2007$55,884.886.26%
2008$59,370.196.24%
2009$62,937.996.01%
2010$66,207.355.19%
2011$69,533.625.02%
2012$72,905.994.85%
2013$75,985.284.22%
2014$78,792.063.69%
2015$81,526.193.47%
2016$83,720.412.69%
2017$85,393.662.00%
2018$87,282.052.21%
2019$89,774.182.86%
2020$91,009.611.38%
2021$91,800.370.87%
2022$93,783.972.16%
2023$95,589.871.93%
2024$97,237.511.72%
2025$98,415.841.21%*

* 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:

Year1977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
CPI57.90059.90864.66970.83179.62390.32399.723109.938119.923129.631139.385150.000161.900174.969192.785213.515233.492249.792264.815279.800294.100306.523318.692331.869348.831372.631403.854442.115475.123506.969538.687572.283606.674638.188670.251702.758732.440759.495785.850807.000823.129841.332865.354877.263884.885904.005921.413937.295948.653

Adjust college tuition prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2025 / CPI in 1991 * 1991 USD value = 2025 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for College tuition and fees was 192.785 in the year 1991 and 948.653 in 2025:

948.653 / 192.785 * $20,000 = $98,415.84

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20,000 in 1991 has the same "purchasing power" as $98,415.84 in 2025 (in the CPI category of College tuition and fees).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for College tuition and fees in 1977. In addition to college tuition, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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