According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for tuition, other school fees, and childcare are 1,003.03% higher in 2025 versus 1981 (a $200.61 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2025: Tuition, other school fees, and childcare experienced an average inflation rate of 5.61% 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 $220.61 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.90% during this same period, inflation for tuition, other school fees, and childcare was higher.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 12.25%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for tuition, other school fees, and childcare during the 1981-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation for tuition, other school fees, and childcare was higher.
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 | 12.25% |
| 1982 | $22.65 | 13.24% |
| 1983 | $24.94 | 10.13% |
| 1984 | $27.46 | 10.10% |
| 1985 | $29.95 | 9.05% |
| 1986 | $32.42 | 8.27% |
| 1987 | $35.01 | 7.99% |
| 1988 | $37.79 | 7.91% |
| 1989 | $40.70 | 7.72% |
| 1990 | $43.96 | 8.00% |
| 1991 | $47.88 | 8.92% |
| 1992 | $52.15 | 8.93% |
| 1993 | $56.36 | 8.07% |
| 1994 | $60.00 | 6.45% |
| 1995 | $63.50 | 5.84% |
| 1996 | $66.83 | 5.24% |
| 1997 | $70.14 | 4.96% |
| 1998 | $73.61 | 4.94% |
| 1999 | $77.15 | 4.81% |
| 2000 | $81.05 | 5.05% |
| 2001 | $85.33 | 5.29% |
| 2002 | $90.59 | 6.16% |
| 2003 | $96.73 | 6.78% |
| 2004 | $103.64 | 7.15% |
| 2005 | $110.29 | 6.41% |
| 2006 | $117.09 | 6.17% |
| 2007 | $123.60 | 5.56% |
| 2008 | $130.61 | 5.67% |
| 2009 | $137.34 | 5.15% |
| 2010 | $143.39 | 4.41% |
| 2011 | $149.40 | 4.19% |
| 2012 | $155.35 | 3.98% |
| 2013 | $161.03 | 3.66% |
| 2014 | $166.31 | 3.28% |
| 2015 | $172.32 | 3.62% |
| 2016 | $177.15 | 2.80% |
| 2017 | $181.29 | 2.34% |
| 2018 | $185.44 | 2.29% |
| 2019 | $190.82 | 2.90% |
| 2020 | $194.56 | 1.96% |
| 2021 | $197.31 | 1.41% |
| 2022 | $202.66 | 2.71% |
| 2023 | $209.28 | 3.27% |
| 2024 | $215.95 | 3.19% |
| 2025 | $220.61 | 2.16%* |
* 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 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 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| 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 | 788.712 | 810.078 | 836.543 | 863.224 | 881.827 |