According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for college tuition and fees were 164.34% higher in 2020 versus 2000 (a $1,643.42 difference in value).
Between 2000 and 2020, College tuition experienced an average inflation rate of 4.98% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, college tuition costing $1,000 in the year 2000 would cost $2,643.42 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.06% during this same period, inflation for college tuition was higher.
In the year 2000: Pricing changed by 4.13%, which is below the average yearly change for college tuition during the 2000-2020 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2000 (3.38%), inflation for college tuition was higher.
The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for College tuition, over time, for $1,000 beginning in 2000. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | $1,000.00 | 4.13% |
| 2001 | $1,051.12 | 5.11% |
| 2002 | $1,122.84 | 6.82% |
| 2003 | $1,216.90 | 8.38% |
| 2004 | $1,332.21 | 9.48% |
| 2005 | $1,431.67 | 7.47% |
| 2006 | $1,527.62 | 6.70% |
| 2007 | $1,623.20 | 6.26% |
| 2008 | $1,724.44 | 6.24% |
| 2009 | $1,828.06 | 6.01% |
| 2010 | $1,923.03 | 5.19% |
| 2011 | $2,019.64 | 5.02% |
| 2012 | $2,117.59 | 4.85% |
| 2013 | $2,207.03 | 4.22% |
| 2014 | $2,288.55 | 3.69% |
| 2015 | $2,367.97 | 3.47% |
| 2016 | $2,431.70 | 2.69% |
| 2017 | $2,480.30 | 2.00% |
| 2018 | $2,535.15 | 2.21% |
| 2019 | $2,607.54 | 2.86% |
| 2020 | $2,643.42 | 1.38% |
| 2021 | $2,666.39 | 0.87% |
| 2022 | $2,724.00 | 2.16% |
| 2023 | $2,776.45 | 1.93% |
| 2024 | $2,824.31 | 1.72% |
| 2025 | $2,881.11 | 2.01% |
| 2026 | $2,937.32 | 1.95%* |
* 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 | 956.144 | 974.799 |