According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for tuition, other school fees, and childcare were 871.18% higher in 2020 versus 1981 (a $174.24 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2020: Tuition, other school fees, and childcare experienced an average inflation rate of 6% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, tuition, other school fees, and childcare costing $20 in the year 1981 would cost $194.24 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.71% during this same period, inflation for tuition, other school fees, and childcare was significantly higher.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 12.24%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for tuition, other school fees, and childcare during the 1981-2020 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), 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 | 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 |
| CPI | 59.783 | 64.675 | 71.192 | 79.908 | 90.508 | 99.683 | 109.767 | 119.717 | 129.592 | 139.983 | 151.042 | 162.675 | 175.692 | 191.342 | 208.458 | 225.292 | 239.842 | 253.833 | 267.142 | 280.367 | 294.250 | 308.358 | 323.925 | 341.025 | 362.050 | 386.600 | 414.250 | 440.833 | 468.025 | 494.056 | 522.082 | 548.979 | 573.207 | 597.225 | 621.005 | 643.699 | 664.786 | 688.795 | 708.103 | 724.647 | 741.242 | 762.745 | 776.057 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Tuition, other school fees, and childcare, over time, for $20 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $20.00 | 12.24% |
| 1982 | $22.65 | 13.27% |
| 1983 | $24.95 | 10.14% |
| 1984 | $27.47 | 10.12% |
| 1985 | $29.96 | 9.06% |
| 1986 | $32.44 | 8.25% |
| 1987 | $35.04 | 8.02% |
| 1988 | $37.80 | 7.90% |
| 1989 | $40.72 | 7.70% |
| 1990 | $43.97 | 8.00% |
| 1991 | $47.89 | 8.91% |
| 1992 | $52.17 | 8.95% |
| 1993 | $56.39 | 8.08% |
| 1994 | $60.03 | 6.46% |
| 1995 | $63.53 | 5.83% |
| 1996 | $66.86 | 5.24% |
| 1997 | $70.17 | 4.95% |
| 1998 | $73.65 | 4.95% |
| 1999 | $77.18 | 4.79% |
| 2000 | $81.07 | 5.05% |
| 2001 | $85.35 | 5.28% |
| 2002 | $90.62 | 6.17% |
| 2003 | $96.76 | 6.78% |
| 2004 | $103.68 | 7.15% |
| 2005 | $110.33 | 6.42% |
| 2006 | $117.14 | 6.17% |
| 2007 | $123.66 | 5.56% |
| 2008 | $130.67 | 5.67% |
| 2009 | $137.40 | 5.15% |
| 2010 | $143.47 | 4.41% |
| 2011 | $149.48 | 4.19% |
| 2012 | $155.43 | 3.98% |
| 2013 | $161.11 | 3.65% |
| 2014 | $166.39 | 3.28% |
| 2015 | $172.40 | 3.61% |
| 2016 | $177.23 | 2.80% |
| 2017 | $181.37 | 2.34% |
| 2018 | $185.52 | 2.29% |
| 2019 | $190.90 | 2.90% |
| 2020 | $194.24 | 1.75%* |