Prices for college tuition and fees advanced 2.3% over the 12 months ending February, matching each of the two prior increases, according to data published March 14, 2023, by the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS collects pricing on thousands of goods and services as a part of their Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is a measure of U.S. inflation at the consumer level.
Usually, college costs outpace the overall rate of inflation. That has not been the case lately, by far, with the latest annual inflation rate at 6.0%.
Chart: Annual Change in Prices for College Tuition and Fees (Average by Calendar Year)
The following chart plots the average change in prices for college tuition and fees by calendar year since 1979. As year 2023 is unfinished, the final point shows the change in prices from February 2022 to February 2023.
Adjusting the Price of College Tuition and Fees for Inflation
For some perspective, average tuition and fees at public 4-year institutions were $9,400 in academic year 2019-2020, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reported. NCES has yet to publish any prices beyond 2019-2020. However, BLS CPI data offers a means to calculate how much they have changed over time. As an example, comparing inflation data from September 2020 and June 2022 shows pricing increased 2.02%, bringing the average price to $9,589.76.
The data and calculations involved in finding the increase follow:
- The average college tuition and fees costs for academic year 2019-2020 was $9,400.
- The CPI average for college tuition and fees in September 2020 was 880.234.
- The CPI average for college tuition and fees in June 2022 was 898.003.
The following formula shows how to adjust the price for inflation:
Academic year 2019-2020 Price x (CPI for June 2022 / CPI September 2020) = Adjusted Price
Using the actual numbers:
$9,400 x (898.003/880.234) = $9,589.76
Table of Inflation Rates for College Tuition and Fees (Percent Change in Prices) from 1978 to 2023
The following table displays the rate of "college tuition and fees" inflation on an annual basis by month and calendar year. In clearer terms, it shows the percent of increase or decrease in those costs over the listed periods. As the figures are 12-month based, look to the December column to find the overall change in prices by calendar year. The last column, "Ave," shows the inflation rate for college tuition and fees by year.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Ave |
| 1978 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 8.6 | |
| 1979 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 8.0 |
| 1980 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 11.7 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 9.4 |
| 1981 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.7 | 12.2 | 12.0 | 12.7 | 12.7 | 12.7 | 12.4 |
| 1982 | 13.6 | 13.6 | 13.8 | 14.1 | 14.1 | 14.2 | 14.2 | 14.0 | 12.6 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 13.4 |
| 1983 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10.9 | 10.9 | 10.9 | 10.6 | 10.5 | 10.6 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 10.4 |
| 1984 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 10.4 | 10.3 | 10.3 | 10.5 | 10.4 | 10.3 | 10.7 | 10.3 | 10.3 | 10.1 | 10.2 |
| 1985 | 10.0 | 10.1 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.2 | 9.3 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 8.6 | 9.1 |
| 1986 | 8.6 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.2 | 8.4 | 7.6 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 8.1 |
| 1987 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 8.7 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 7.0 | 7.6 |
| 1988 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 8.4 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 7.7 | 7.6 |
| 1989 | 8.2 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 7.5 | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 7.9 |
| 1990 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 8.1 | 8.4 | 9.2 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.1 |
| 1991 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 8.7 | 12.3 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 10.2 |
| 1992 | 11.2 | 11.0 | 11.3 | 11.6 | 11.6 | 11.7 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 9.0 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 10.0 | 10.7 |
| 1993 | 10.5 | 10.5 | 10.2 | 9.7 | 9.8 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 9.3 | 8.7 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 7.9 | 9.4 |
| 1994 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 7.2 | 6.7 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 7.0 |
| 1995 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 6.4 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 6.0 |
| 1996 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.7 |
| 1997 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 5.1 |
| 1998 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.2 |
| 1999 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| 2000 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.1 |
| 2001 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 5.1 |
| 2002 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 6.8 |
| 2003 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.8 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.8 | 8.4 |
| 2004 | 10.2 | 10.1 | 10.2 | 10.1 | 10.2 | 10.1 | 9.8 | 8.4 | 8.9 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 9.5 |
| 2005 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 7.9 | 7.3 | 6.8 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 7.5 |
| 2006 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.7 |
| 2007 | 6.6 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 5.5 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 6.2 |
| 2008 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.7 | 6.1 | 5.9 | 5.8 | 6.2 |
| 2009 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 6.5 | 6.4 | 6.4 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| 2010 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.1 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 5.2 |
| 2011 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 5.3 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| 2012 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.8 |
| 2013 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.2 |
| 2014 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.7 |
| 2015 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| 2016 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.7 |
| 2017 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 2.0 |
| 2018 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.2 |
| 2019 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 2.9 |
| 2020 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.4 |
| 2021 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 0.9 |
| 2022 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.2 |
| 2023 | 2.3 | 2.3 | Avail. April 12 |
Table of CPI Data for College Tuition and Fees (1978-2023)
The following table displays BLS’s CPI data for college tuition and fees.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Ave |
| 1977 | 57.9 | ||||||||||||
| 1978 | 58.3 | 58.3 | 58.4 | 58.4 | 58.4 | 58.4 | 58.5 | 58.8 | 62.7 | 62.9 | 62.9 | 62.9 | 59.9 |
| 1979 | 62.9 | 62.9 | 63.0 | 63.0 | 63.0 | 63.1 | 63.2 | 63.5 | 67.7 | 67.9 | 67.9 | 67.9 | 64.7 |
| 1980 | 68.1 | 68.2 | 68.2 | 68.2 | 68.2 | 68.2 | 68.3 | 68.7 | 75.6 | 76.1 | 76.1 | 76.1 | 70.8 |
| 1981 | 76.4 | 76.5 | 76.6 | 76.6 | 76.6 | 76.6 | 77.0 | 77.1 | 84.7 | 85.8 | 85.8 | 85.8 | 79.6 |
| 1982 | 86.8 | 86.9 | 87.2 | 87.4 | 87.4 | 87.5 | 87.9 | 87.9 | 95.4 | 96.5 | 96.5 | 96.5 | 90.3 |
| 1983 | 96.6 | 96.7 | 96.7 | 96.9 | 96.9 | 96.8 | 97.1 | 97.2 | 104.6 | 105.7 | 105.7 | 105.8 | 99.7 |
| 1984 | 105.9 | 105.9 | 106.8 | 106.9 | 106.9 | 107.0 | 107.2 | 107.2 | 115.8 | 116.6 | 116.6 | 116.5 | 109.9 |
| 1985 | 116.5 | 116.6 | 116.6 | 116.7 | 116.7 | 116.8 | 117.1 | 117.2 | 125.5 | 126.4 | 126.5 | 126.5 | 119.9 |
| 1986 | 126.5 | 126.5 | 126.5 | 126.6 | 126.6 | 126.7 | 126.7 | 127.0 | 135.1 | 135.8 | 135.8 | 135.8 | 129.6 |
| 1987 | 136.1 | 136.2 | 136.3 | 136.5 | 136.6 | 136.9 | 137.1 | 138.1 | 144.0 | 144.7 | 144.8 | 145.3 | 139.4 |
| 1988 | 145.6 | 146.4 | 146.4 | 146.4 | 146.4 | 146.7 | 146.9 | 149.7 | 156.0 | 156.5 | 156.5 | 156.5 | 150.0 |
| 1989 | 157.5 | 158.0 | 158.1 | 158.1 | 158.1 | 157.7 | 158.3 | 161.4 | 168.3 | 169.0 | 169.2 | 169.1 | 161.9 |
| 1990 | 169.8 | 170.1 | 170.1 | 170.0 | 170.1 | 170.5 | 171.6 | 176.2 | 182.2 | 183.0 | 183.0 | 183.0 | 175.0 |
| 1991 | 185.0 | 185.4 | 185.5 | 185.8 | 185.9 | 186.6 | 187.7 | 191.6 | 204.6 | 205.1 | 205.1 | 205.1 | 192.8 |
| 1992 | 205.8 | 205.8 | 206.4 | 207.4 | 207.5 | 208.4 | 209.1 | 213.5 | 223.0 | 224.8 | 224.8 | 225.7 | 213.5 |
| 1993 | 227.5 | 227.5 | 227.5 | 227.6 | 227.8 | 228.5 | 229.3 | 233.4 | 242.4 | 243.4 | 243.5 | 243.5 | 233.5 |
| 1994 | 244.0 | 244.1 | 244.1 | 244.3 | 244.4 | 245.2 | 245.7 | 250.3 | 258.7 | 258.9 | 258.9 | 258.9 | 249.8 |
| 1995 | 259.0 | 259.8 | 259.8 | 259.4 | 259.4 | 259.6 | 260.3 | 266.3 | 273.1 | 273.7 | 273.7 | 273.7 | 264.8 |
| 1996 | 274.2 | 274.6 | 274.6 | 274.9 | 274.8 | 274.8 | 275.5 | 281.5 | 287.8 | 288.3 | 288.3 | 288.3 | 279.8 |
| 1997 | 289.3 | 289.3 | 289.3 | 289.3 | 289.5 | 289.5 | 290.5 | 295.9 | 301.3 | 301.8 | 301.8 | 301.7 | 294.1 |
| 1998 | 302.5 | 302.4 | 302.4 | 302.4 | 302.4 | 302.3 | 303.1 | 307.4 | 312.9 | 313.3 | 313.6 | 313.6 | 306.5 |
| 1999 | 314.1 | 314.5 | 314.5 | 314.5 | 314.5 | 314.1 | 314.9 | 319.5 | 325.5 | 326.0 | 326.1 | 326.1 | 318.7 |
| 2000 | 326.0 | 326.2 | 326.1 | 326.1 | 326.6 | 327.8 | 328.6 | 333.1 | 339.5 | 340.7 | 340.8 | 340.9 | 331.9 |
| 2001 | 340.8 | 341.0 | 340.9 | 340.9 | 341.4 | 341.7 | 342.7 | 351.9 | 359.9 | 361.1 | 361.8 | 361.9 | 348.8 |
| 2002 | 362.4 | 362.9 | 362.9 | 363.0 | 363.7 | 365.1 | 366.6 | 376.9 | 385.9 | 387.3 | 387.5 | 387.4 | 372.6 |
| 2003 | 388.6 | 389.4 | 389.6 | 390.0 | 390.6 | 392.0 | 395.1 | 412.8 | 422.6 | 424.9 | 425.1 | 425.5 | 403.9 |
| 2004 | 428.4 | 428.9 | 429.3 | 429.4 | 430.5 | 431.6 | 433.8 | 447.6 | 460.4 | 461.3 | 462.0 | 462.2 | 442.1 |
| 2005 | 462.4 | 463.0 | 463.2 | 463.2 | 465.2 | 466.6 | 468.1 | 480.4 | 491.9 | 492.1 | 492.6 | 492.8 | 475.1 |
| 2006 | 493.5 | 493.5 | 493.5 | 493.8 | 495.2 | 496.4 | 499.7 | 514.3 | 523.9 | 525.4 | 527.2 | 527.2 | 507.0 |
| 2007 | 526.174 | 526.636 | 526.508 | 526.172 | 527.057 | 527.625 | 530.862 | 544.923 | 552.903 | 557.222 | 558.975 | 559.190 | 538.687 |
| 2008 | 559.517 | 559.173 | 558.452 | 559.780 | 560.613 | 561.148 | 564.552 | 579.448 | 589.815 | 591.328 | 591.765 | 591.804 | 572.283 |
| 2009 | 592.071 | 591.782 | 591.115 | 591.571 | 593.848 | 594.178 | 597.671 | 617.211 | 627.302 | 628.981 | 627.294 | 627.061 | 606.674 |
| 2010 | 626.472 | 625.578 | 626.817 | 627.711 | 628.329 | 628.660 | 632.236 | 648.857 | 654.649 | 653.037 | 653.414 | 652.495 | 638.188 |
| 2011 | 654.725 | 655.271 | 655.150 | 654.936 | 656.645 | 656.413 | 662.041 | 683.007 | 691.049 | 690.238 | 691.764 | 691.768 | 670.251 |
| 2012 | 691.260 | 690.527 | 690.570 | 690.168 | 691.213 | 691.295 | 697.731 | 711.449 | 718.908 | 720.332 | 719.962 | 719.677 | 702.758 |
| 2013 | 722.477 | 721.998 | 721.916 | 721.857 | 722.134 | 722.695 | 727.001 | 741.147 | 745.701 | 746.810 | 747.794 | 747.746 | 732.440 |
| 2014 | 747.922 | 749.968 | 749.950 | 750.429 | 751.029 | 752.627 | 755.393 | 765.780 | 770.737 | 773.055 | 773.641 | 773.407 | 759.495 |
| 2015 | 775.175 | 775.041 | 775.426 | 776.190 | 776.379 | 778.244 | 781.714 | 791.039 | 799.221 | 800.426 | 800.652 | 800.690 | 785.850 |
| 2016 | 799.117 | 799.623 | 799.161 | 799.719 | 800.455 | 801.542 | 802.771 | 809.626 | 816.562 | 818.267 | 817.800 | 819.362 | 807.000 |
| 2017 | 815.911 | 815.947 | 814.019 | 814.222 | 814.190 | 817.117 | 818.581 | 824.932 | 833.581 | 835.999 | 836.506 | 836.546 | 823.129 |
| 2018 | 833.625 | 832.620 | 828.234 | 828.112 | 828.332 | 831.156 | 835.314 | 847.084 | 853.208 | 858.998 | 859.711 | 859.588 | 841.332 |
| 2019 | 858.041 | 858.687 | 860.066 | 860.065 | 859.922 | 859.798 | 859.365 | 868.320 | 873.995 | 876.145 | 875.756 | 874.088 | 865.354 |
| 2020 | 874.769 | 874.821 | 874.617 | 874.234 | 874.153 | 874.774 | 877.356 | 879.662 | 880.234 | 881.128 | 880.819 | 880.584 | 877.263 |
| 2021 | 878.569 | 878.405 | 877.503 | 876.996 | 877.052 | 878.506 | 879.192 | 886.919 | 895.395 | 896.770 | 897.128 | 896.184 | 884.885 |
| 2022 | 895.257 | 895.553 | 895.552 | 895.552 | 895.552 | 898.003 | 899.856 | 911.691 | 914.023 | 915.107 | 915.423 | 916.495 | |
| 2023 | 916.002 | 915.969 | Avail. April 12 |
Data Source for Chart and Tables: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: College tuition and fees in U.S. city average, all urban consumers, not seasonally adjusted. Base Period: 1982-84=100.