According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for tuition, other school fees, and childcare were 1,252.97% higher in 2021 versus 1977 (a $250.59 difference in value).
Between 1977 and 2021: Tuition, other school fees, and childcare experienced an average inflation rate of 6.10% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, tuition, other school fees, and childcare costing $20 in the year 1977 would cost $270.59 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.42% during this same period, inflation for tuition, other school fees, and childcare was higher.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Tuition, other school fees, and childcare:
| 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 |
| CPI | 57.800 | 59.792 | 64.692 | 71.223 | 79.946 | 90.531 | 99.700 | 109.769 | 119.708 | 129.608 | 139.962 | 151.038 | 162.700 | 175.715 | 191.385 | 208.469 | 225.300 | 239.823 | 253.831 | 267.123 | 280.377 | 294.238 | 308.385 | 323.969 | 341.092 | 362.108 | 386.654 | 414.292 | 440.862 | 468.062 | 494.079 | 522.098 | 548.971 | 573.174 | 597.208 | 620.979 | 643.681 | 664.780 | 688.814 | 708.115 | 724.655 | 741.262 | 762.749 | 777.716 | 782.017 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Tuition, other school fees, and childcare, over time, for $20 beginning in 1977. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | $20.00 | - |
| 1978 | $20.69 | 3.45% |
| 1979 | $22.38 | 8.20% |
| 1980 | $24.64 | 10.10% |
| 1981 | $27.66 | 12.25% |
| 1982 | $31.33 | 13.24% |
| 1983 | $34.50 | 10.13% |
| 1984 | $37.98 | 10.10% |
| 1985 | $41.42 | 9.05% |
| 1986 | $44.85 | 8.27% |
| 1987 | $48.43 | 7.99% |
| 1988 | $52.26 | 7.91% |
| 1989 | $56.30 | 7.72% |
| 1990 | $60.80 | 8.00% |
| 1991 | $66.22 | 8.92% |
| 1992 | $72.13 | 8.93% |
| 1993 | $77.96 | 8.07% |
| 1994 | $82.98 | 6.45% |
| 1995 | $87.83 | 5.84% |
| 1996 | $92.43 | 5.24% |
| 1997 | $97.02 | 4.96% |
| 1998 | $101.81 | 4.94% |
| 1999 | $106.71 | 4.81% |
| 2000 | $112.10 | 5.05% |
| 2001 | $118.03 | 5.29% |
| 2002 | $125.30 | 6.16% |
| 2003 | $133.79 | 6.78% |
| 2004 | $143.35 | 7.15% |
| 2005 | $152.55 | 6.41% |
| 2006 | $161.96 | 6.17% |
| 2007 | $170.96 | 5.56% |
| 2008 | $180.66 | 5.67% |
| 2009 | $189.96 | 5.15% |
| 2010 | $198.33 | 4.41% |
| 2011 | $206.65 | 4.19% |
| 2012 | $214.87 | 3.98% |
| 2013 | $222.73 | 3.66% |
| 2014 | $230.03 | 3.28% |
| 2015 | $238.34 | 3.62% |
| 2016 | $245.02 | 2.80% |
| 2017 | $250.75 | 2.34% |
| 2018 | $256.49 | 2.29% |
| 2019 | $263.93 | 2.90% |
| 2020 | $269.11 | 1.96% |
| 2021 | $270.59 | 0.55%* |