This Is How Much College Would Have Cost For Your Parents | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Featured

This Is How Much College Would Have Cost For Your Parents

Hint: It's not as much as our generation

17451
college
Wikimedia Commons

In This Article:

The cost of college tuition, room & board is out of control.

With an average inflation rate of 6.19% from 1977 to 2023, that's higher than the inflation rate itself, which has averaged 3.53% in the same period.

In fact, the skyrocketing costs of college tuition are outpacing the rate of inflation by 171.5%.

Adjusted for inflation (2023 USD $), here's the average cost of college through the years, including room & board, showing that it really is going up lately:

1971-72

Private: $19,749

Public: $9,504

1972-73

Private: $20,229

Public: $10,147

1973-74

Private: $19,945

Public: $9,907

1974-75

Private: $18,998

Public: $9,167

1975-76

Private: $18,628

Public: $9,014

1976-77

Private: $19,129

Public: $9,319

1977-78

Private: $19,074

Public: $9,178

1978-79

Private: $19,249

Public: $8,982

1979-80

Private: $18,802

Public: $8,742

1980-81

Private: $18,541

Public: $8,459

1981-82

Private: $18,955

Public: $8,601

1982-83

Private: $20,065

Public: $9,003

1983-84

Private: $21,317

Public: $9,417

1984-85

Private: $22,275

Public: $9,700

1985-86

Private: $22,656

Public: $9,820

1986-87

Private: $24,682

Public: $10,147

1987-88

Private: $25,215

Public: $10,125

1988-89

Private: $27,001

Public: $10,321

1989-90

Private: $27,697

Public: $10,408

1990-91

Private: $28,362

Public: $10,669

1991-92

Private: $28,590

Public: $10,974

1992-93

Private: $29,352

Public: $11,388

1993-94

Private: $30,016

Public: $11,802

1994-95

Private: $30,506

Public: $12,237

1995-96

Private: $31,268

Public: $12,128

1996-97

Private: $32,085

Public: $12,477

1997-98

Private: $33,098

Public: $12,771

1998-99

Private: $34,393

Public: $13,065

1999-2000

Private: $35,351

Public: $13,293

2000-01

Private: $35,308

Public: $13,402

2001-02

Private: $36,886

Public: $13,957

2002-03

Private: $37,888

Public: $14,730

2003-04

Private: $38,879

Public: $15,710

2004-05

Private: $39,793

Public: $16,483

2005-06

Private: $40,360

Public: $17,017

2006-07

Private: $41,122

Public: $17,311

2007-08

Private: $42,134

Public: $17,866

2008-09

Private: $42,156

Public: $17,920

2009-10

Private: $44,682

Public: $19,412

2010-11

Private: $45,901

Public: $20,359

2011-12

Private: $46,108

Public: $20,838

2012-13

Private: $47,240

Public: $21,339

2013-14

Private: $48,111

Public: $21,589

2014-15

Private: $48,884

Public: $21,796

2015-16

Private: $50,441

Public: $22,493

2016-17

Private: $51,704

Public: $22,972

2017-18

Private: $52,673

Public: $23,299

2018-19

Private: $52,815

Public: $23,266

It's clear to see where the trends are heading. For more recent years and additional data, view the full Trends in College Pricing report from the CollegeBoard.

Report this Content
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

168228
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

53943
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

48088
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments